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After he had talked to Wood, Twain also made the final decision. He believed it was now necessary for the players to understand what kind of UEFA European Football Championship tournament they would face.

The England team began their new day of training. After the media had completed their allowance of fifteen minutes to film, they were asked to leave the training ground.

The morning sun in Spain shone brightly and the temperature was not too high. The light breeze slowly brought in the chill from last night. The players had just done their warmup and were in a circle listening to the manager.

“Before our training, I have something to inform everyone.”

Twain stood among the players, while Wood was with his teammates.

“Well, it’s like this. Everyone knows George’s right toe is injured, and it has always been in doubt whether he can make it to the UEFA European Football Championship. The media are very concerned about it, and I’m sure you’re concerned too, right?” Twain asked with a smile.

This was a relief to a number of nervous players – the boss could still smile which meant that George’s injury must have been not a problem.

“What I’m going to tell you now is that… He can still join in the UEFA European Football Championship… Don’t get ahead of yourselves.” Twain gestured to interrupt some of people from cheering. He continued, “However, he may not be able to play in the UEFA European Football Championship.”

Looking at the bewildered looks of the players, Twain decided to solve the mystery.

“George hasn’t fully recovered from his injury. The doctor says he will have to wait at least until the knockout stage if he has to play. That means he can’t play in all three games in the group stage.”

There was a commotion among the players. Many people turned their heads to look at Wood, who stood calmly among them and accepted their surprised looks.

“The problem is simple now.” Twain raised his voice amid the commotion to make certain that everyone could hear him. “If we want George to play in the games, we must advance out of the group. Don’t you think so?”

“That’s right!”

“Yes, boss.”

“Yes!”

Everyone agreed one by one.

“I’m not willing to give up any one of you, whether it’s George or anyone else. If any of you have been in the same situation as what has happened to George today, I will also make the same decision – I have decided to keep George in the team, even if he may miss the first three games. I know the burden is going to be heavier on everyone, but I also want to make it clear through this incident that we’re a single entity, not simply a team made up of twenty-three players. We are ‘one’, not ‘twenty-three.’”

Twain reached out his hands to point to “one” and “twenty-three.”

No one raised any objections to Twain’s decision. Even the Nottingham Forest players heaved a huge sigh of relief.

“In that case, it’s decided. George will be waiting for us in the knockout stages. Don’t let him become the laughingstock.” He winked at everyone.

The players laughed as well. At the same time, they looked at Wood, who looked a little discomfited…

“Okay, guys, let’s start training! The UEFA European Football Championship is imminent. No one is allowed to goof off!” Des Walker came forward and took over from Twain.

※※※

Despite Twain’s constant emphasis that George Wood would follow the team to the UEFA European Football Championship, there were still some people who still harbor doubts and thought that Twain was merely steadying his team. Until June 8th, the day before the start of the UEFA European Football Championship, he would have to replace Wood if Wood’s foot injury was still not recovered.

They did not expect that the England team held a press conference two days away from June 8th. At the press conference, Twain took Wood along to meet with the media.

“There’s only one topic for this press conference—” Twain looked around the room. Almost all of the reporters who had been hanging around the training camp these days were here. Not only the British reporters attended, but also the German reporters, Portuguese reporters and other reporters from around the world. They were very concerned about the progress of George Wood’s recovery from his injury.

After letting the players know the truth, Twain was able to face the media calmly. He only needed to be accountable to the players while the media was being used by him to make sport of.

“To inform everyone the status of George Wood’s recovery from his foot injury.”

Twain’s words surprised many media outlets. They had followed the England team’s tail around like flies for so many days, wanting to ask a little inside information about Wood’s injury. But Twain had always tried to cover up. Since when did he learn how to sit in front of everyone and talk so frankly about the issue?

Twain glanced at Wood next to him and gave him a look to indicate for him to speak.

Wood did not seem to see it until Twain cleared his throat a few times before he reacted.

“Well… I decided to stay and play in the UEFA European Football Championship.”

Wood’s words were simple.

The reporters stared blankly and then realized that he had just announced a very important matter!

The scene boiled over, and countless reporters tried to stand up to ask questions. They raised their arms high in the hope that the press officer would point at them.

However, Twain waved his hands and said, “It’s not time for the media to ask questions yet. Ladies and gentlemen, let us finish speaking first.”

He motioned for everyone to be quiet at the scene. Those reporters who were usually dissatisfied with Twain, obediently put down their hands, closed their mouths, and waited for Twain to speak.

“I have to start by explaining to everyone that George Wood’s injury has not fully recovered.”

The remark caused another uproar. You’re going to take him to the UEFA European Football Championship when he has not recovered yet. What’s going on in your mind, Mr. Tony Twain?

“But if all goes well, George should be able to come back in the knockout stages.” Twain quickly solved the mystery. “He will miss all three games in the group stage. That’s all I have to say. Do you have any questions to ask?”

Without delay, a reporter stood up and fired his question at Twain, “You’ve been saying a few days ago that Wood’s injury was okay to catch up with the UEFA European Football Championship. But now he’s going to miss all the games in the group stage. Were you lying on purpose before?”

Twain spread his hands wide with a look of innocence on his face as he said, “Lying? I said he could make it to the UEFA European Football Championship in time and in fact he did make it in time. Mr. Reporter, are you not putting the knockout stage as part of the European Football Championship, are you?”

The face of the reporter who was asked this question changed colors. Apparently he was in a hurry to ask the question and forgot the basic logic. And Twain caught hold of the loophole.

The second person to ask questions was a German reporter. He asked Twain in halting English, “Mr. Twain, I would like to ask how confident your team is of advancing out of the group stage when George Wood is going to miss all three group games?” As a German, he was proud and at the same time, he could not hide his delight upon hearing that Wood would miss all three of the group games.

In fact, Twain understand his halting English having only listened to it once. But seeing the somewhat arrogant expression on the other man, Twain decided to make fun of him, so he put his hand next to the ear and asked, “I’m sorry, sir. Can you please say that again?”

So, the bald German man had to use his “German style English” and haltingly repeat himself.

Twain still did not understand and said, “I’m sorry, sir…”

The German man once again repeated his question this time at a much slower pace.

The third time Twain raised his hand to the edge of his ear, the German’s face immediately changed. He looked like he was about to face apart.

Twain knew it was time to stop while ahead, so he laughed and said, “I’m only joking, Mr. Germany. I already understood your question. For us, the team’s lineup is not too big a problem. Of course, we will seriously deal with each opponent in the group, to ensure that you will have no chance to take advantage of.”

His words caused the English reporters to break out in knowing laughter.

“The England team is not a team that only belongs to a certain individual. No one’s absence will affect our ultimate goal. The team’s advancing out of the group stage is only the first step. Even if Wood is absent due to his injury, we still have enough ability to go on to the knockout stages. But …” Twain looked at the foreign reporters with a strange smile, “I welcome everyone to think that the England team is a second-rate team without George Wood and will have a problem in advancing. Really, if you think that way, I’m not going to get angry at all and I won’t contradict you.”

He certainly would not refute because the thing he’d liked to see most was for the other team to underestimate them.

In fact, George Wood’s absence really had a big impact on the England team’s strength. After all, he was the core of the team. It was unheard of that a core player’s absence would not affect the team. But if Twain tried his best to cover it up, it would only make his rivals more certain that the England team was actually weak.

As a result, Twain played a “empty city strategy” at the press conference. He opened every door in the city, and then accompanied by his squire, he himself went up to the city gate tower to make music. His confident and relaxed appearance made many of the foreign reporters, who were keen to scout out the real situation, feel baffled.

Moreover, based on Twain’s style, when he said something was “one”, he often did “two” instead. When he said “no”, in fact, he actually meant “yes.” Therefore, he openly admitted that the England team could not do without Wood which implied that he was lying. Had the England team not been training for “a tactic that involved playing without a core” for more than a month? Perhaps the England team had long since ceased to rely on George Wood as the core. Twain’s insistence on taking him along was nothing more than a smokescreen. His real aim was to get everyone to focus on George Wood, England’s “former core player.” Then his “core-less” England team would go on a rampage and cut the opponents to pieces to eventually make it all the way to the top …

The idea hovered in the reporters’ minds, getting closer to the truth.

Twain smiled in his heart as he watched the reporters gather and whisper in discussion.

He waited for a while. When he saw everyone getting more worked up in their discussion, he gave a cough and said, “If there are no other questions, the press conference today will end here…”

As soon as he got up to leave, he saw the reporters standing up and raising their hands to speak one by one.

“Mr. Twain! Can you talk about the first game against Portugal?”

“Mr. Twain, what will happen if George Wood can’t make a comeback in the knockout stages?”

“Tony, who are you going to replace George Wood with?”

“George, do you have anything to say about not being able to play in the group stage?”

Twain waved his hands and said, “You are too noisy. Everyone, quiet down!”

After the press conference was slowly brought under control, he continued to speak, “First of all, I won’t answer any questions about the player replacing George Wood and tactics. Secondly, we will deal with the game against Portugal seriously. Thirdly, I don’t want anyone to use when George Wood will come on to disturb my team in the future.”

His first answer made the reporters more certain that even without George Wood, the England team would have a way to win. As for the reporters from Germany, Portugal and Wales, it was enough. They had gotten the most important information.

The other reporters were still clamoring but Twain had already ignored them and turned around to leave with Wood.

※※※

The news that George Wood was able to play in the UEFA European Football Championship and that George Wood would miss all three of the group games had been impactful.

If the England team was placed in a weak group, the news would reassure many England fans. It would not be hard for England to advance playing in a group like that. But now they were in the group of death, which had two strong teams like Germany and Portugal. Only Wales might be considered a weak team. This was worrying.

What if… What if the England team could not advance out of the group stage? One must know that the last group game was against Germany. If they were lucky enough to have a two-game winning streak in the first two games and advance ahead of time, then it did not matter what kind of game they played against Germany.

But was the Portugal team an easy team to deal with?

Miguel Veloso, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Pepe… These were all famous star players. The Portugal national team composed of them was not a soft team easily bullied by others.

The first game with them was six days away. The England team without George Wood was really worrying to people.

Of course, there were those people who felt that the current England team was not without hope since George Wood could not play. No matter what, it was still considered a first-class strong team in Europe. How could it be that the other star players were playing a small role?

What had Twain been doing for more than a month? Was it all not for preparing the England team to play without Wood? As the continent’s most successful manager, he must have had countless alternatives to counter. Then neither Portugal nor Germany were England’s worthy opponent. Even without George Wood, we still have Tony Twain!

The two ideas collided among the English fans, and no one could convince anyone.

The debate over England’s future at this European Championship would still continue right up till the game.

※※※

After laying his cards on the table to the public, Twain breathed a sigh of relief that he and his team could finally prepare without interference. He did not have to think about how to deal with those reporters, like moths to a flame, about the question of whether George Wood would be able to play in the UEFA European Football Championship. After his press conference, there were fewer reporters, who usually lingered around the training camp from those three countries. For them, the most valuable news was already in hand, so there was no need to continue to waste time here.

George Wood carried out rehabilitation training alone every day. He worked hard but the team doctor did not allow him to overdo it for fear of another injury before he recovered. Currently, the most painful thing for George Wood was watching his teammates train together, while he could only do his own rehabilitation training in the corner.

He found himself experiencing something which he had never before, to be so eager to play football. As soon as he saw the football rolling before his eyes, his feet would shake involuntarily, as if they were producing a resonance with the football.

His first injury experience was so indelible that he never wanted to go through it a second time.

Submerging himself in the water, he looked up at the blue water surface above.

The pool that allowed him to recover was like a prison cell, holding his body in confinement and making his every move incomparably heavy.

As long as he broke through the shackles of the water, he could be reborn…

No matter what kind of opponent he faced, he would expend ten times the energy that he had been bottling up for so long!

The team doctor in charge of looking after Wood suddenly found that George Wood seemed to have been submerged in the pool for several minutes.

Stunned by his own discovery, he dropped the notebook in his hand and kicked over the chair he was seated. He almost scrambled to the edge of the pool, shouting toward the pool in horror, “George!! Come out, George! Don’t scare me…”

With a “crashing” sound, a dripping wet George Wood suddenly crashed through the water surface and appeared in front of the team doctor. His eyes bright and full of expression were staring at him.

The team doctor was so startled that he immediately sat by the pool and watched Wood take big gulps of air. He said, “You scared me to death, George! What happened to you?”

“I slept for a while below.”

Wood’s answer made the team doctor’s heartbeat faster again. “Sleep … Sleeping? You mean you fell asleep underwater?”

Wood pressed his hands to the edge of the pool and held on. He said, “It looks like it.” He shook his head and the water droplets in his hair were all splattered on the team doctor’s body.

The team doctor only drew back the corners of his mouth in surprise. This monster!

Wood picked up a towel to wipe the water on his body, as he recalled the feeling he had just felt below the surface of the pool.

The hazy feeling felt like he was asleep, but his consciousness was awake. There was a voice in his mind that repeatedly spoke to him:

I want to play football, I want to play football, I want to play football! No one can stop me, not even an injury can do it!

I will be back; I’ll prove it to all of you!