The Green Pitch Marksman

Football is great because it carries a sense of patriotism. Shevchenko once said, "My country isn't a football powerhouse, and I might never play in the World Cup. The Champions League final is my World Cup final." Even so, he still joined the Ukrainian national team without hesitation. That's what a man does. Drogba gave up his French citizenship for his country, essentially giving up his World Cup dream. That's what a man does.

Don't include the Chinese national football team, and don't put on a Chinese persona, otherwise it's unwatchable. Although I'm just a casual reader and only know that there are 11 players on the field, plots involving the Chinese national football team usually involve all sorts of sentimental and righteous nonsense, which is really annoying.

I was reading it just fine, but then the author insisted on emphasizing joining the national football team, with interviews and the protagonist making an oath. Is he deliberately trying to disgust readers? Doesn't he know the national football team is notorious? Is he going to have the protagonist single-handedly lead the national team to win the World Cup again?

I only read this book because I was born abroad and assumed it was written by someone of Chinese descent. I thought it was a foreign football story, but the author insisted on changing it. Does the author have no interest in money and only writes out of love for the sport? Those who write about the Chinese national football team don't need your book; if you wrote something about foreign football, you'd be more likely to become popular. Do you think you're Lin Hai Ting Tao?!

Furthermore, if you express your willingness at 16, then the national team will call you up every time there's an issue with the youth or junior national teams. Would you go? It's not like the national team doesn't have this kind of practice; there's someone who treats players like dirt, completely disregarding the impact on their clubs and their careers.

The problem with the Chinese national football team isn't just a few players; it's a systemic issue. Even Cristiano Ronaldo would be at a loss. What's the point of writing so much evasive and secretive stuff? The Football Association is unlikely to value a 16-year-old player. There are too many vested interests and seniority involved. They don't care about results; they just want obedient players they can control.

Seeing that it involves the Chinese national football team made me lose interest in reading this book; writing about the national team is really pointless. It's utterly rotten.

Forcing the national football team into this situation is disgusting. If they wanted to make players for the national team from the start, why didn't they implement a system of sending players abroad from a young age? Either never enter this quagmire of national football, or never get out. This forced system is truly repulsive.

Why was he initially set up as being born in Italy, and then returning to Italy? Why drag the Chinese national football team into this mess? Earlier, it was implied that he was Italian, but later it was said otherwise! Is the Chinese national football team capable of bringing glory to the country? Or is it just a way for the protagonist to gain honor?

The biggest flaw in this book is that it's clearly about Chinese people acquiring Chinese citizenship and then fawning over the Chinese Football Association. Goodbye!