Chapter 962: Argentina Arrives in the Round of 32

Chapter 962 -4: Argentina Arrives in the Round of 32

In a group of 4 countries, having conquered the toughest opponent, Belgium, the remaining Ghana and Canada did not pose too much trouble for China. The whole country was filled with joy and laughter, and every corner was covered in Chinese red. Such scenes have become quite common in the past World Cups.

Yet seeing it happen again still fills people with emotion.

When did China in the World Cup group stage become so reassuring?

Scoring a goal, winning a match, drawing a game, these are no longer the “goals” of the Chinese team.

This is also China’s 4th time participating in the World Cup; they have become regulars.

When it was confirmed that China advanced to the next round by defeating their last opponent, Canada, everywhere was filled with the joy and laughter of fans. On TV, the players, led by Chen Zhong, expressed their gratitude to the fans who traveled from afar in the stands.

Hao Chen, Sun Fei, Zhao Mingzhe, Rooney, Li Ji, Zhang Wenxuan, Shi Hai, Chen Zhong, Xu Lei, Xu Ping, Wang Xiaolei, Ding Li…

One by one, the Chinese team players held hands and thanked the fans in the stands.

This team led by Ancelotti fills Chinese fans with endless expectations. The players dare to fight, have skills, and spirit, and the coach has abilities, ambition, and methods…

Don’t talk about South Korea or Japan.

Even when faced with Spain or France…

When China faces these opponents, the fans remain calm.

In China, parades and activities of all kinds began to take place in streets and alleys. The central squares of major cities, bustling shopping areas, and bar streets filled with fans were instantly overwhelmed by deafening cheers and car horns.

Countless people poured into the streets, waving national flags, singing the national anthem, and impromptu rally songs.

Shouts of “China team awesome!” “Chen Zhong! Captain!” “Wang Xiaolei! Door God!” rose one after another, merging into a surging wave of sound. Firecrackers (despite bans in many places) sporadically went off in streets and alleys, like an early Chinese New Year celebration.

On social media, World Cup topics were frantically refreshed.

In the past, everyone went to the World Cup except China, but now, Chinese fans also have their own home team.

#ChinaSuccessfullyAdvances!

#ChenZhongMiracleGoal

#WangXiaoleiDescendedFromHeaven

#AncelottiMiracleSubstitution and other topics soared like rockets, instantly dominating the top few spots on all platform trending lists. Servers were once overwhelmed. User comments flooded in like a deluge:

“Cried!!! Really cried!!! Once in a lifetime series!!”

“Chen Zhong! What a core! What a captain! Long pass planning + miracle goal! Rushing from defense to attack!!”

“Wang Xiaolei! Papa! You’re my papa! Those saves, especially that last save from De Bruyne in the Belgium match, I watched it on my knees!”

“In the Belgium match, Ancelotti’s substitution was genius! Ding Li came on to free Chen Zhong, then Chen Zhong advanced to organize the offense, a masterstroke! A master is truly a master!”

“When Zhang Wenxuan courageously blocked the shot, I knew the brothers were fighting with all they had! Steel-blooded!”

“Sun Fei’s speed is really fast! Passes beautifully! Not greedy for glory!”

“Belgium? World number two? We won! The strongest national team ever! Truly deserved!”

“Who downstairs brought the gong??? Keep banging it!!! Don’t stop!”

Also, in schools, dormitory buildings in major universities nationwide felt like they experienced a minor earthquake. Windows were thrown open as cheers, whistles, and the sound of banging basins echoed. Some even used lights to spell out huge national flag patterns or “CHN WIN” on dormitory buildings.

In the past, it was because of esports, or some other madness.

Now, something once hard to boast about, where only the young people would shout “China team awesome”, now truly is awesome, and they can proudly say, we are Chinese fans.

Enthusiastic families glued to their TVs also started to smile as soon as the team’s advancement was confirmed.

Some old fans sighed: “Honestly, I never thought we could really have such a day…”

“Chen Zhong has truly changed our football history!”

…

There’s no need to say more about the media; some video and social apps promptly issued pop-ups and notifications about “China team successfully advancing to the World Cup”. The performances of those players were fervently edited into short videos.

In the past, the poorer the video quality, the stronger the national team. Now, the clearer the video quality, the stronger the national team.

The strongest national team deserves its name.

Needless to say, even at their peak in the past, there were not as many Chinese players playing abroad, nor were there so many of them in the top five leagues. Let alone with Chinese players on teams like Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.

China’s next challenge is Argentina Team.

Before this match, five teams were seen as the most likely to win the championship, namely Argentina, England, Spain, France, and Brazil…

Argentina completed a crucial leap in the 2026 World Cup power rankings, topping the South America qualifiers by sweeping Brazil 4-1, replacing Spain as number one.

In this matchup labeled as a “South American Derby”, Argentina showcased the champion’s heritage and resilience. Even without Messi on the field, new generation players like Thiago Almada tore apart Brazil’s defense with precise tactical execution and efficient attacking coordination.