Doha, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- At the Bay Stadium on the 14th, Teo Hernandez and Ashraf, the former Real Madrid teammates, met on the stage of the semifinals of the World Cup in Qatar.
Morocco's Ashraf (center) and France's Te'o (right) fight during a match on December 14. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lan Hongguang
Like a mirror image, the two are similar in age and style, Te'o is the French team's left "perpetual motion machine", and Ashraf is the Moroccan team's right "supercar", they are like two competing cars in the race, frequently facing each other, and occasionally verbal exchanges. When they became Real Madrid's "outcasts" in 2018, Te'o and Ashraf could not have imagined that they would meet in such an important field as the main players of their respective national teams a few years later.
It was the summer of 2018, before the start of the World Cup in Russia, Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in the Champions League final, and once again lifted the "Big Ear Cup". Te'o and Ashraf shared the joy of being on the podium with their teammates, but the joy was short-lived, as Real Madrid had Marcelo and Carvajal on the wing at the time, and the two youngsters who had little chance had to pack their bags and catch the train leaving the Bernabeu.
On 26 May 2018, Real Madrid won the final of the 2017-2018 UEFA Champions League in Kiev, Ukraine. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Zhuang
Ashraf said goodbye to Real Madrid, who had been in the field for more than 10 years, and joined Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on loan; Special O'o, who had been here for only one season, went to Real Sociedad in the same way. This seemingly unavoidable choice became a turning point in the duo's careers, and the two cars that were holding back finally turned into the fast lane.
In Dortmund, which focuses on running ability, Ashraf has become the most powerful wing of the "Bumblebee" along with Sancho, Royce and others, who are also known for their speed. After two seasons at Iduna Park, Ashraf was signed by Inter Milan for a transfer fee of more than 40 million euros, scoring on his Serie A debut, and he was described as a "Ferrari", and he became an important contributor to Inter's re-win of the league title. Another year later, Ashraf moved to Paris Saint-Germain for a new transfer fee.
Paris Saint-Germain's Ashraf (left) celebrates a goal with teammate Kylian Mbappe during a match on September 11, 2021. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Gao Jing
Te'o arrived in Serie A a year earlier than Ashraf, and at AC Milan, under Maldini's words, Te'o became Serie A's best left-back. In addition to sparing no effort on the defensive end, Te'o's attacking attributes have also been greatly unleashed, and his left flank with Portuguese winger Leon has become the most terrifying wing combination in the Apennines. In the 37th round of Serie A last season, AC Milan beat Atalanta 2-0, and Te'o ran more than 70 meters from the local penalty area, and after several people, he scored a "dragon" goal, which was also rated as the best goal of the season in Serie A.
Te'o and Ashraf's outstanding performances naturally earned them tickets to Qatar. Despite his young age, the Qatar World Cup is already Ashraf's second World Cup trip. Compared with the rush of the last World Cup, in Qatar, the Moroccan team shined, and the right flank guarded by Ashraf and Ziyech became the sharpest fangs of the "Atlas Lions".
AC Milan's Teo Hernandez celebrates a goal during a match on May 15. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Augusto Casasoli)
On the contrary, despite the high calls for Te'o to be selected for the national team, it was not until 2021 that he put on the French shirt for the first time. In 2018, older brother Lucas Hernandez rose to the top of the world with the team; This time, the opportunity came to his younger brother Teo. Due to Lucas's serious injury in the opening game of the World Cup, substitute Te'o took over his brother's gun, he lived up to his mission, providing an assist in his World Cup debut, and in the semifinal against Morocco, it was Te'o who broke the deadlock for the team.
Two young students who were unsatisfactory four years ago have now heard applause from the world in the highest hall of football. Te'o and Ashraf are just a microcosm, whether in the Moroccan team or the French team, there are many players who have similar experiences to them, such as Ziyech, who once sank himself, such as Rabiot, who has been depressed in the club and national team for a long time... They should all be grateful to the self who never gave up.
This is still true of small football, not to mention our long lives?!