Emperor of Football: Julien De Rocca

The European Championship schedule wasn't easy. Basically, there was a match every three or four days. After all, a team that ultimately won the championship would play three group matches and three knockout matches in this one month, six matches in total.

This was still with only sixteen teams participating.

UEFA had already passed a resolution that this year's European Championship would be the last with only sixteen participating teams.

Starting in 2016, there would be twenty-four teams.

So, the time for teams to rest and prepare wasn't abundant.

The French team prohibited players from acting independently during the European Championship. Every day, they could basically only move between the training ground and the hotel.

Julien was quite used to this kind of life, it was relatively quiet and allowed him to focus on matches.

However, the reporters wouldn't let the players be so quiet.

There were always reporters who would stake out on the route from team training back to the hotel, or lurk in the hotel lobby, then approach coaches and players from each team for interviews when they saw them.

On the afternoon of June 14th, when Julien and Giroud and others returned to the Victoria Hotel, he saw a reporter.

The reporter was interviewing England's head coach Hodgson, who had lost two days earlier.

A bunch of chattering in English that Julien didn't understand.

He quietly walked past.

The reporter had finished interviewing Hodgson and happened to see Julien, immediately calling out "Excuse me!"

But he didn't know that Julien couldn't understand English.

After Julien had walked some distance away, he asked Giroud, "What did Hodgson just say?"

Giroud thought for a moment and replied.

"The reporter asked Hodgson what he thought about the new generation of young players breaking into international football.

Hodgson said he'd been following their progress closely and that several had impressed him at the tournament with their energy, fearlessness, and technical quality.

He talked about the importance of giving them opportunities at the highest level to accelerate their development. Finally, he gave his thoughts on the French team—and he talked about you."

"Me?"

Julien had vaguely heard his name mentioned and noticed Hodgson glance at him.

"Yeah, Hodgson said France was very strong, that meeting us in the first match was rather unlucky, especially encountering your legendary debut, those magical three minutes. He was both happy for a young player's emergence and worried about England's qualification prospects. That's all."

Julien just nodded and they both started walking.

After defeating England, France had taken control of qualification in the group, basically only needing to win one more match to secure advancement.

Their next opponent was Sweden, led by Zlatan Ibrahimović.

In the last round, Sweden had been reversed by Ukraine, and they desperately needed a win to have any hope of qualifying.

With only three matches, no one dared to be careless.

Sweden's head coach Hamrén, along with Ibrahimović, attended the press conference. Wherever Ibrahimović was, that was where reporters loved to be.

Because this player was too controversial.

His statements often brought media many "excellent" talking points.

Of course, reporters would also be troubled by Ibrahimović's lack of politeness and excessive ego.

Once, ESPN commentator Ivan Chadband used Sweden's capital to compare Ibrahimović's inner world, "His ego is as big as Stockholm."

Someone once asked him whether his football style was Swedish or Yugoslav.

He answered: "Ibrahimović-style."

Once, facing criticism, he said, "Only God can judge me."

And this time, Sweden's biggest star, the nearly 31-year-old Ibrahimović, was shocking with his words again.

When a reporter asked whether they had made any targeted preparations for France's miraculous comeback victory in the last match, which came from seventeen-year-old French youngster Julien De Rocca.

Head coach Hamrén was fairly conventional. "France has been unbeaten in 22 matches across all competitions. Blanc and his players will put tremendous pressure on us. We try to understand each of them clearly so that our players know what they should do on the field."

But Ibrahimović was different.

"De Rocca? Never heard the name. I'm busy at Milan, we try to compete for the Champions League and Serie A titles, not watch some low-level league I've never paid attention to. He's just a greenhorn kid who's never played in a top league, but I'm sure he's heard of the great Ibrahimović's story."

Apart from annoying Julien's fans, others didn't really think there was anything wrong with Ibrahimović saying this.

This was what Ibrahimović would say.

On the other side, At France's pre-match press conference, Blanc attended with captain Lloris.

Among a pile of questions, someone asked, "Will Julien, who performed excellently last match, have a chance this game?"

Blanc didn't answer directly. "All 23 players on the team have chances. We only choose the right player at the right time."

Then another reporter asked, "Someone saw Nasri and De Rocca interacting during training. Does this indicate that the French team is now closely united and no longer has internal strife?"

Hearing this, Blanc frowned. This was clearly stirring up trouble!

How was he supposed to answer?

If he went along with it, wouldn't that be admitting France had internal conflicts?

If he didn't go along with it, he'd be admitting France wasn't united enough?

These reporters, there questions had traps everywhere.

Blanc chose not to answer and turned a blind eye. He replied, "Each of us is working hard for the next match."

Then he got up and left.

The clash between France and Sweden wasn't considered a featured match in the European Championship.

Apart from fans from both countries, not that many people were paying attention naturally.

June 16th.

Just after seven in the evening.

At Donetsk's Donbas Arena, Swedish fans erupted in thunderous cheers.

After an intense first half of battle, less than ten minutes into the second half.

Ibrahimović once again displayed his extremely strong individual ability, with a volley hook shot in the penalty area that broke the deadlock!

Sweden took the lead!

His sixth European Championship goal, second only to Platini and Shearer, and he became the first person to score at least two goals in three different European Championships.

Ibrahimović leaped high at the corner flag, celebrating his goal.

Swedish fans saw hope for advancement, it turned out France wasn't so unbeatable after all.

Although France had maintained a 22-match unbeaten streak since September 2010.

But now they were leading!

Blanc frowned, thought carefully for a moment, then called over Chelsea veteran Malouda.

France made a substitution. Less than two minutes after conceding, Blanc replaced Ben Arfa with Malouda.

When Ben Arfa saw his number on the substitution board.

His face showed complete disbelief. He even pointed at himself, and after confirming he was being substituted, he was filled with anger.

When leaving the field, he had no communication with Malouda.

And he kicked a water bottle near his feet toward the bench.

Julien looked at Ben Arfa. He sneered in his heart: France's problems were surfacing right here and now.

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