Chapter 220: Chapter 220

"This is our last chance this season to defeat Juventus!"

"The first match, we lost!"

"The second match, we only drew!"

"The third match, right here in today’s Coppa Italia final!"

"Brothers, this is our last opportunity!"

"Do you remember how Juventus mocked us after they won the championship? If you still have the blood of men, give it back to them on the pitch!"

Rome Olympic Stadium.

An hour before the game, in the locker room.

Inter Milan captain Ranocchia gathered his teammates around, taking on his captain duties, conducting the final morale boost.

The whole team of more than 20 stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a big circle.

Ranocchia stood on a table in the center of the circle, giving a passionate speech.

He was already 1.95 meters tall, and standing on the table, his head nearly reached the ceiling.

He was like a towering giant mountain standing in the locker room!

In his hand was an iPad, showing a video to his teammates.

An episode in the video, like an electrified bayonet, pierced deeply into the hearts of the players.

It happened in Serie A’s 35th round, when Juventus defeated Empoli 3-0 at home, securing their championship three rounds early.

Celebration became the theme for both the team and the fans.

After winning the League Champion, Juventus also rode a bus with the fans to celebrate joyfully.

Juventus players, led by coach Allegri, took an open-top bus from Juventus Stadium, accompanied by chairman Agnelli, his wife, and daughter.

The fans, who had been waiting for a long time, gave them the warmest cheers, and the 30th championship celebration signs were everywhere to be seen.

Juventus players were extremely excited, and the thrilled Chiellini sang:

"Let’s drink together, the chairman drinks with us!"

They indeed had reason to celebrate because Juventus was the first team to win 30 Serie A championships.

According to Serie A rules, every ten league championships, a star can be added to the emblem.

Next season, Juventus players will wear the three-starred emblem, which is a great honor and pride!

You should know, Inter and AC Milan each have less than 20 championships, and Juventus has left them far behind.

However, there were some controversial topics during the celebration.

"Slow Motion" reported that defender Bonucci waved a banner saying, "Enjoy the joy of May 2002 again!"

Without a doubt, this was a mockery aimed at the season when Inter Milan lost 2-4 to Lazio in the last round, thus heartbreakingly losing the championship.

On May 5th, thirteen years ago, Ronaldo’s tears were the eternal pain for all Inter fans.

A photo of Buffon was exposed by Italian media, showing Buffon standing on top of the bus, holding a blue-black banner, which read:

"May 5th, still so beautiful!"

Buffon is an old hand with Juventus; he knows how to poke at Inter’s sore spots.

Nothing delights him more, both physically and mentally, than shamelessly mocking their arch-rivals during the 30th championship celebration.

Tang Long, after seeing this news, downloaded the picture and sent it to Ronaldo, who was involved thirteen years ago.

A minute later, Ronaldo replied with a brief text: "Buffon, that old dog, just finish him!"

With the internet so developed, Chinese fans also saw this news.

Some Chinese Inter fans retaliated in their own way, attacking Buffon.

Some cartoons made by Inter Milan fans were particularly eye-catching.

In a Serie A championship battle between Juventus and AC Milan, goalkeeper Buffon was seen saving the ball even though it had clearly crossed the line, while the linesman, holding a little yellow dog, stood by and did nothing, asserting the ball hadn’t crossed the line—this moment is one of the most controversial in Serie A history.

Both SportMediaset and "Transfer Market" reported on this.

Juventus and Inter Milan are established Serie A giants.

As the first to enter the domestic top five leagues, the Serie A league has a profound base among the masses.

Back in those days, the Premier League and La Liga hadn’t yet risen, and Serie A was all the rage globally.

Both teams have their own fan base in China.

As the Coppa Italia final approaches, the fan clash online is also heating up to a fever pitch.

"Theft is in Juventus’ DNA," "We never throw fake games, nor will we ever drop to B Division," "Moratti’s gold watch," "The championship picked up in 2005"...

All kinds of attacking remarks are flooding in, as fans stand by the teams they support.

With verbal wars and oppositions, comes the traffic!

Especially with Chinese player Tang Long, the only hope of the village, still playing for Inter Milan.

In this way, the Coppa Italia’s contention battle will not only attract a huge number of Inter and Juventus fans but also engage almost all of China’s football fans.

This is a trend that CCTV had long predicted. With half a billion RMB in real cash, not only should they make a splash, but they must create a towering wave!

CCTV’s commentary setup is considered the most luxurious this year!

Coach Zhang often held his bladder due to staying up late to commentate on games, and with age catching up to him, his health has taken a toll, so he’s currently resting at home. f .r e\ewebnov(e)(l).c om

Therefore, today, Sun Jihai and Shao Jiayi are present, accompanied by He Wei.

These two are quite famous in the Chinese football circle!

Sun Jihai played 130 matches for Manchester City in the Premier League and was selected into Manchester City’s official Hall of Fame.

Shao Jiayi was once the main midfielder for Cottbus, famous for his precise free kicks in the Bundesliga, and he was beloved by the fans.

Once upon a time, Sun Jihai and Shao Jiayi were undisputed icons of Chinese footballers abroad.

They shone brightly in the top five leagues and showcased the flair of Chinese players in key positions.

However, Tang Long’s sudden rise eclipsed the careers of both Sun Jihai and Shao Jiayi!

Tang Long, the only player in so many years in the Chinese football circle capable of being a core member in a traditional European powerhouse team.

Half an hour before the match, in the backstage of the CCTV5 studio, Shao Jiayi and Sun Jihai were nervously flipping through the materials of both teams, their anxiety evident.

"Hey guys, you seem a bit off today; just relax," He Wei teased them.

"Oh, ever since I took this task, I haven’t done anything else this past week, just watched past matches between Inter Milan and Juventus. I must familiarize myself with their tactics and play styles to have something to say during the match!" Shao Jiayi said, rubbing his hands.

"This Coppa Italia final featuring Tang Long is under worldwide scrutiny. We absolutely cannot fumble our words in front of billions of viewers nationwide, especially not mispronounce names, or else, considering Tang Long’s popularity domestically, we’d be roasted!" Sun Jihai said nervously.

Seeing these two, once the flag bearers of Chinese football, now as nervous as school kids, He Wei, a commentator who has covered European football for many years, couldn’t help but feel emotional.

Previously, when these two participated as guest commentators, they generally didn’t do much prep work.

They could discuss various tactics and configurations effortlessly.

This was due to their rich experience on high-level football stages.

But today’s Coppa Italia final made these veterans break into a sweat~

Such a scene, He Wei had never witnessed in all his years in the industry.

"Alright, viewers, the camera is now on the players’ tunnel."

When He Wei uttered his first line, thinking he wouldn’t be nervous, a sudden tension gripped his heart, and his voice trembled slightly.

"This is the 2014-2015 Coppa Italia final, with Inter Milan facing Juventus, held at the neutral Rome Olympic Stadium."

This is a match the station spent half a billion on, so we must commentate well!

He Wei forcefully pressed down his trembling left thigh with his hand and glanced at Sun Jihai and Shao Jiayi beside him, both wearing serious expressions.

Meanwhile, in the Sky Sports studio in Italy, they were also on high alert.

Host Dilata was accompanied by two famed stars—Ronaldo and Trezeget.

These two are legends of Inter Milan and Juventus, respectively.

Sky Sports specially invited the legendary stars from both sides to the studio, along with Sky Sports’ leading beauty host Dilata to provide commentary for this match, aiming to create some show effects.

The director privately whispered to Dilata, "You should stir up emotions, best to get Ronaldo and Trezeget to argue, that’s when the ratings soar!"

With just a faint smile, Dilata said she knew how to control the rhythm.

The Italian President came out holding the heavy Coppa Italia trophy, placing it on a podium at the center of the player tunnel exit.

It seems this national derby has garnered significant attention from Italian politics as well.

Players from both teams filed out of the tunnel.

As Tang Long passed the podium, he lightly tapped the base of the Coppa Italia, feeling a refreshing metallic chill on his palm.

"Welcome to the live broadcast of the Coppa Italia final this season at the Rome Olympic Stadium by Sky Sports."

"Players have taken to the field from the tunnel, let’s quickly introduce the starting lineups."

"Juventus is playing their traditional 3-5-2 formation."

"Three center-backs, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini."

"Three midfielders, Pirlo playing deep, with Vidal and Pogba on either side."

"Two wing-backs are Lichtsteiner and Evra."

"Forwards Llorente and Tevez."

"Inter Milan, on the other hand, are in their familiar 4-2-3-1 formation."

"Goalkeeper Handanovic."

"The two center-backs are Ranocchia and Juan."

"Left-back Santon, right-back Yuto Nagatomo."

"The two holding midfielders are Gualin and Medel."

"Left Shaqiri, right Podolski."

"The lone striker is Bonazzoli, with Tang right behind him as the attacking midfielder!"

When announcing Tang Long’s name, Dilata’s volume instantly went up eight octaves, catching the attention of Juventus legend Trezeget.

As the host at Sky Sports, Dilata watches all sorts of football matches, and doesn’t favor any particular Serie A team.

But at this moment, she couldn’t help but hope faintly that Inter Milan would defeat Juventus and win the Coppa Italia.

Even with the broadcast’s bird’s-eye view unfolding, Dilata’s gaze remained fixed on Tang Long.

"The referee blows the whistle!"