Football: Starting from the 05 World Youth Championship

After the start of the second half, the situation on the field was not much different from that of the first half.

Paraguay, wanting to score but also afraid of conceding, had limited attacking power in the frontcourt and could only look for opportunities with long-range shots from outside the box.

Unless you're incredibly lucky and manage a spectacular long-range shot, such a shot is unlikely to pose a threat to Wang Dalei's goal.

In the 49th minute, Santa Cruz passed the ball to Valdes, whose long-range shot from the edge of the penalty area was calmly saved by Wang Dalei.

Five minutes later, Cardozo's shot from almost the same spot went wide again.

The Chinese national football team has been playing rather relaxed lately, giving their opponents many opportunities.

However, as the Chinese national team tightened its formation and strengthened its protection and pressing in the attacking third, Paraguay no longer had any chances to take long-range shots.

Just then, news came from another match: the Italian scored!

This news is not good for Paraguay. The second half has just begun and the Italians have already scored. If they get going and score in succession, Paraguay's situation will be dangerous.

However, only the coaches and substitutes on the sidelines know this news; the players on the field are unaware of it.

But don't worry, a kind person will soon tell them the news!
"Italy has scored!"

In the stands, some Chinese fans, not wanting to miss out on the excitement, started shouting loudly at the field.

At first, their numbers were relatively small, and their voices were quickly drowned out by the noisy environment.

But later, more and more fans realized what was happening and joined in.

Gradually, the sounds from the stands grew louder and clearer.

The Paraguayan players, who were in the middle of the match, became somewhat unsettled after hearing the noise from the stands.

They couldn't tell whether what the Chinese fans were saying was true or false, but they had no way of verifying it.

Some players turned to look at their own bench, but noticed that the assistant coach and substitutes seemed to be avoiding their gaze.

This made them suspect that the opposing fans' shouts were probably true, otherwise the substitutes' bench wouldn't have reacted this way.

This news clearly had some impact on the Paraguayan players' performance. Santa Cruz, who had performed well in the previous attacks, was shown a yellow card by the referee for stamping on a Chinese player during a challenge.

The Chinese team was very dissatisfied with the ruling. Lin Feng, the team captain, took the initiative to find the referee and appealed, believing that the Paraguayan's action deserved a red card.

Faced with a star player like Lin Feng, the referee had to patiently explain his reasoning for the ruling and promised to enforce the rules fairly in the upcoming games, without showing leniency just because the opponent had a yellow card.

In some matches in later generations, players who received yellow cards not only did not restrain their actions, but became even more reckless, as if the yellow card was not a warning, but a talisman.

Having received such a promise, Lin Feng decided to accept the offer and stop while he was ahead.

When appealing to the referee, you can't go too far, otherwise it will be seen as challenging the referee's authority and you may be shown a yellow card or even a red card.

In the 60th minute, the score was still 1-0.
But the Chinese team is about to make substitutions. However, Zhu Guanghu did not specify who he would be replacing, but instead told all the players on the bench to go out and warm up.

It's the last group stage match, and there are still quite a few players on the team who haven't even appeared in this World Cup.

Without affecting the team's performance, Lao Zhu was willing to go with the flow and let these substitute players make an appearance at the World Cup.

Seemingly sensing that the coach was preparing to make substitutions, the Chinese national team players began to feel a sense of crisis, and their performance in the game became more proactive, with them playing with greater effort.

And you know what? It actually worked!

In the 63rd minute, Paraguay's defender Caniza made a mistake in intercepting the ball on the wing, allowing the Chinese team to break through and deliver a cross.

Han Peng headed the ball to the far post, where Gao Lin's volley was saved by the goalkeeper, but the ball landed right at Lin Feng's feet.

It turns out that when people are lucky, they can find money just by going out.

Lin Feng easily accepted this generous gift and sent the ball into the empty net.

The score became 2-0, and the Paraguayan team was stunned, with the players standing there dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, the Chinese fans in the stands, always eager for drama, celebrated their team's goal while simultaneously indulging in spreading false intelligence:

"Italy has scored again!"

"Italy have scored two goals!"

The Paraguayan players, who had been looking ashen-faced, suddenly became incredibly excited upon hearing this.

"Damn it, don't believe them! Italy didn't score, Slovakia scored!"

Seeing his players being led astray by the opposing fans, the Paraguayan coach on the sidelines was frantic.

Did the Italians score or not?
The Paraguayan players on the field were completely bewildered, unsure of whom to believe!
Logically speaking, they should trust their own head coach, not the Chinese fans.

However, when they asked the bench for confirmation, the substitutes and assistant coaches avoided their gaze, which made them waver and slightly doubt the coach's words.

While the opposing team's fans might give false information, wouldn't your own coach also deceive them?
Once the seeds of doubt are sown, they are not so easy to uproot!

Seeing that the team had scored again, Old Zhu was completely relieved.

In the 65th minute, the Chinese team made the first substitution.

Zhao Junzhe came on as a substitute, replacing Lin Feng, who had performed well and scored two goals for the team.

More than 30,000 Chinese fans who came to the scene stood up and chanted Lin Feng's name, giving him thunderous applause.

Although everyone wanted to continue watching Lin Feng's performance on the field and was reluctant to see him substituted, they could understand the head coach's arrangement to prepare for the knockout stage in advance.

This kind of treatment—being substituted early and receiving applause from the fans—was something that not only the other Chinese players on the field, but even the opposing players felt envious and jealous of!
Online, fans also had a discussion about the Chinese team's substitution:
Although I know that Coach Zhu wants Lin to rest more and prepare for the upcoming knockout stage, Lin has already scored two goals. If he plays a little longer, it feels like he might be able to complete a hat-trick!

[It is indeed a bit of a pity, but Lin Feng himself probably doesn't care about that. Look at the expression on his face after the match; you can't see any complaints or dissatisfaction at all!]

Lin Feng isn't obsessed with scoring goals or padding his stats, especially since he's already scored 5 goals and is the top scorer in this World Cup.

As long as the team wins, it doesn't matter if he doesn't score.

As for hat tricks and the like, there's even less need to deliberately try to get them.

If Gao Lin knew what Lin Feng was thinking, he would definitely scold him for being a well-fed man who doesn't know the hunger of a starving man.

He's so calm because he's scored five goals, while Gao Lin hasn't scored a single one yet!

With another national team striker, Han Peng, having scored two goals, Gao Lin's failure to score makes him seem somewhat lackluster.

So he desperately wanted to prove he wasn't a dud, much less a sucker in big games. But scoring goals sometimes requires a bit of luck, and Gao Lin's luck was clearly not good today.

After Lin Feng left the field, the Chinese national team's control in midfield decreased.

After making adjustments, the Paraguayan team gradually recovered from the previous chaos.

Conceding two goals has left them with no way out. Now, all Paraguay can do is score as many goals as possible to catch up in total.

In that case, even if Italy defeats Slovakia, they will still be able to advance by surpassing the defending champions when the final score is based on goals scored and goal difference.

In the 70th minute of the match, Paraguay's Cardozo took a free kick from 30 meters out, but the shot went high over the goalpost.

Seeing that the team's attack was somewhat lacking, Paraguay made substitutions in order to further strengthen their offense.

In the 72nd minute, substitute striker Barrios came on, replacing Cardozo.

Barrios is Gao Lin's teammate at the club. After joining Borussia Dortmund last season, he showed impressive ability. In his first season with the team, he scored 19 goals, surpassing Gao Lin and other competitors to become Dortmund's top scorer.

His first shot after coming on almost resulted in a goal.

In the 73rd minute, Caniza received a tactical corner kick from the right side of the penalty area. Barrios' header from 12 meters out was brilliantly saved by Wang Dalei, and Caceres' follow-up shot was blocked by Du Wei.

Paraguay's continuous attacks threw the Chinese team's penalty area into chaos, but fortunately the Chinese players managed to overcome the challenge.

Realizing that he was losing control of the midfield, Zhu Guanghu immediately made a second substitution.

Cui Peng came on, replacing Han Peng, and the Chinese team's formation changed to 4-5-1.

The three defensive midfielders formed a barrier in front of the Chinese team's penalty area, making it difficult for the opponent to organize effective attacks in midfield.

As time ticked away, the Paraguayan players on the field grew increasingly anxious.

In the end, they simply stopped organizing their attacks and started launching long balls directly to the forwards.

To be honest, the Chinese team is quite afraid of this style of play because they don't have an advantage in physical confrontations.

In the 79th minute, Paraguay's long pass found Barrios, whose powerful shot from the right side of the penalty area went wide of the goal.

Two minutes later, Santa Cruz passed the ball back from the left wing, and substitute Benitez's powerful shot from 15 meters out on the left side of the penalty area was once again saved by Wang Dalei.

Barrios rushed into the penalty area to try and get a rebound shot, but Feng Xiaoting blocked him and he didn't get a chance.

In the 82nd minute, seeing that the Chinese team's defense was too tight and unable to find an opportunity, Barrios passed the ball back, and Vela, who followed up, tried another long shot in the middle, but still failed to hit the target.

Since Lin Feng left the field, the Chinese team has been on the defensive.

The situation has changed from one where the opponent was dominating to the other being dominated.

This stark contrast made Chinese fans clearly appreciate Lin Feng's immense role and irreplaceable importance in the Chinese national team.

In some ways, the current Chinese team represents the true level of Chinese football.

It's normal to be dominated by a long-established powerhouse like Paraguay in Latin America.

But the Chinese national football team is not the same team it used to be. The outstanding performance in the past few years has brought about a complete transformation in the players.

Even when they were on the back foot, the players did not lose confidence.

Instead, they are actively looking for opportunities to launch a counterattack!

In the 82nd minute, Benitez crossed from near the left byline, and Barrios' header from 9 meters out went wide again.

China immediately launched a counter-attack. Zhao Junzhe, who came on as a substitute, drew a foul from the opponent during a breakthrough in the attacking third, earning China a free kick opportunity.

"Shall we do it, or should we?"

Zhao Junzhe and Shao Jiayi stood in front of the ball and whispered to each other.

"Why don't you do it?"

Shao Jiayi modestly offered the opportunity to Zhao Junzhe, since the latter didn't get many chances to appear.

"Forget it, my free-kick technique isn't as good as yours. In our team, besides the captain, your free-kick ability is the most outstanding. You should take this shot; I'll cover for you!"

Zhao Junzhe politely declined the offer, saying he was already satisfied to be able to step onto the World Cup pitch again and there was no need to pursue goals to make up for the regrets of the past.

After all, for him now, scoring a goal in the World Cup is just too difficult.

"Okay, here I come!"

Shao Jiayi didn't refuse anymore. His feet had been itching for a long time. If Lin Feng hadn't been there, he wouldn't have dared to argue. He would have had to shoot Lin Feng a few times to satisfy his urge.

Compared to Lin Feng, the Paraguayan goalkeeper was unaware of Shao Jiayi's free-kick ability.

After all, everyone knows Lin Feng's free-kick prowess. As long as he's on the field, he'll definitely be the one taking the free kicks for the Chinese team, so there's no need to waste time and energy studying other players.

However, the drawbacks of this insufficient preparation became apparent at this time.

Facing such an unfamiliar free-throw shooter, Villar was completely bewildered and had no idea where the opponent was going to throw the ball.

Was it his own shot?

Should we pass the ball into the penalty area for our teammates to contest for a header, or should we simply execute a tactical play?
After carefully placing the ball, Shao Jiayi stepped back a few meters. She didn't deliberately strike a pose, but her eyes were incredibly determined.

Beep!
The referee blew the whistle, and Shao Jiayi started his run-up.

Inside the penalty area, players from both sides began to pull and tug at each other. The wall of players was watching his movements closely. The moment his foot touched the ball, he leaped high, trying to block it.

The football traced a strange arc in the air, flew over the wall of players, and headed towards the left side of the goal.

However, just as the goalkeeper anticipated that the ball would land on the left, it unexpectedly changed direction in the air and flew to the right.

The goalkeeper, caught off guard by the feint, was completely helpless and could only watch as the ball flew into his own net.

An S-shaped free kick!?
The commentators from various countries who were broadcasting the match were all stunned by this scene.

The cameras on site instinctively pointed at Lin Feng on the bench, trying to capture the changes in his facial expressions.

This S-shaped free kick is Lin Feng's signature move, and there are very few people in the entire football world who can consistently use this move.

However, today, they actually saw an S-shaped free kick that did not belong to Lin Feng in the Chinese team. How could this not be shocking?
The score became 3-0. Shao Jiayi's goal almost killed Paraguay's hopes of advancing!
Is Italy going to win by default? (End of Chapter)