Chapter Seven: China, China, China (A Tribute to 2002)

Page (1/3)

PS: This chapter is shorter than usual, but I absolutely love it. Watermark ad test. After the last line, I feel adding any more words would be redundant. From now on, each chapter will be at least 4,000 words. Continuous updates, with quality. That is my promise. Because, I truly love football. Pure football.

From the very start, the match was locked in a fierce struggle. Frankfurt kicked off first, with their striker, Pavel Krizalovicz, passing the ball to attacking midfielder Skola.

Meanwhile, Chen Yang had already surged forward, sprinting toward Hannover 96’s defensive half. Skola, seeing this, wasted no time and launched a powerful long pass, finding Chen Yang in the open space behind Hannover’s backline.

Chen Yang leapt high, chesting the ball down, and before Hannover’s defenders could close in, he unleashed a thunderous shot straight at the goal.

Bang—the football smashed against the crossbar and bounced far away. With this forceful shot, Chen Yang made his presence known to Hannover 96’s players.

Back in China, fans were following the match by any means possible. It was October 19th, 2001—China had already secured qualification for the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

As the first Chinese player to join a top-five European league, and as a standout performer for Frankfurt, Chen Yang naturally attracted special attention. Watching his domineering strike, even though it didn’t score, the Chinese viewers watching live were exhilarated.

Ordinarily, the second division of Germany wouldn’t be broadcast, but with several Chinese players fighting in the league, exceptions were made! Jia Yi Shao had confirmed his transfer to Bundesliga’s Munich 1860, Hui Xie was playing for second division Aachen, and, of course, Chen Yang was with Frankfurt.

Chinese fans are simple, pure.

Perhaps today there are thousands cursing the national team’s failures, but if one day the team truly rises, there will be a hundredfold, a thousandfold more people standing proudly behind Chinese football!

Chen Yang’s powerful shot may not have scored, but it showcased Chinese prowess. Sitting on the bench, Mo Mo’s eyes shone with excitement.

“Hey, Mo Mo! That Chen Yang—isn’t he Chinese like you?” asked a fellow Hannover 96 substitute, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Mo Mo turned, answering loudly with pride, “Yes! We’re both Chinese players!”

His shout drew the attention of players around him, even head coach Peter Neururer.

Page (2/3)

Peter Neururer turned, pointing at Mo Mo. “Keep quiet! If you can’t, go wait in the locker room!”

Mo Mo shrank back; he didn’t want to miss witnessing Chen Yang’s magnificent performance. Even in his previous life, whenever Chinese journalists visited Frankfurt, they’d be asked about Chen Yang.

The situation on the pitch was overwhelmingly one-sided. Though the match was being played at Hannover 96’s home ground, AWD Arena, Frankfurt showed no fear.

In their previous meeting at Frankfurt’s Waldstadion (Forest Stadium), Frankfurt had been regretfully held to a 1-1 draw by Hannover 96. Now, they had returned with the aim of reclaiming the victory they’d lost.

A fierce fighting spirit burned in Chen Yang’s eyes. The World Cup qualification had ignited a raging fire within him. Today, here, at Hannover’s home, he was determined to defeat Hannover 96!

Peter Neururer grew nervous. This was their home ground, AWD Arena, packed with Hannover 96 supporters. He would not allow Hannover to lose at their own doorstep, not even if they were under relentless pressure.

“Push up! Push up! Attack! Attack! This is our home! Bill, organize the offense! Karl, don’t just stand there! Use your size—challenge for the ball! Don’t hesitate! Damn it!”

Neururer’s shouts seemed to inject new energy into his players. They began aggressively marking and pressing, and the match quickly became deadlocked. At that moment, the stadium rang out with Hannover 96’s anthem, “Love of ’96.”

“No one stands alone. We join hands and move forward. Together, we are strong as iron walls.

Thank you—you’ve given us so much. You are precious in our lives.

The love of ’96. Your red is far more beautiful than blue or yellow.

Let others boast about Bayern and Bremen. We’ll always stand with you, ’96, our Hannover!

For so long you’ve earned our trust. With you, we never lose hope.

No matter rain or snow, we are still here.”

Page (3/3)

“Not just when the sun shines and the weather is fair.

Sometimes things don’t go as we wish, but our love never fades.

We may shed tears. Yet even in the toughest times, we keep rowing our red ship onward.”

The Hannover 96 supporters’ song seemed to imbue the players with immense strength. Their defensive line pressed higher, faces flushed with a fighting spirit as if ready for battle. It was time to cool their fervor.

When Hannover 96 surged forward once more, after withstanding wave after wave of their attacks, center-back Lasyievski cleared the ball with a powerful kick deep into Hannover’s half.

Then, like a bolt of red lightning, Chen Yang burst forth, shattering the harmonious chorus in AWD Arena and transforming it into a cacophony of shocked cries. He poured a chilling bucket of water over the excitement of Hannover’s surging players.

Chen Yang! It was Chen Yang! Frankfurt’s number 21, Chen Yang, sprinting with the ball straight toward Hannover 96’s goal. No one could match his pace—it was a breakaway! Now Chen Yang had Hannover 96 by the throat.

Closer, closer—he charged into the penalty area! No one could stop him now. Hannover’s players chased in vain behind him, and panic swept across the faces of the Hannover fans.

The Hannover goalkeeper rushed out to confront him. Chen Yang fired a powerful shot! He always favored such thunderous strikes, and they always worked. The ball zipped past the keeper, who failed even to react properly.

Goal! The Chinese audience watching at home was not disappointed; Chinese fans were not disappointed. Just as in the World Cup qualifiers, Chen Yang had once again made his mark! A tremendous wave of jeers erupted throughout Hannover’s stadium.

Chen Yang turned, leaping over obstacles, shouting something toward the gathered Frankfurt supporters. Mo Mo couldn’t hear the words, but he felt sure Chen Yang was calling,

“China! China! China!”