Team Spirit

Chapter 97 (1 words, please subscribe) The Road to Elite: Beating Up the Argentinian Kids

In June 2001, China's super-golden generation of national youth team competed in the FIFA U20 World Cup.

A few days earlier, the FIFA U17 World Cup also kicked off.

England have qualified for the U17 World Cup finals.

The Chinese team has qualified for the main tournament of the World Youth Championship.

Teams like Argentina, Germany, and Brazil, which are experiencing a surge in talent or possess traditional strength, are pursuing development on two fronts simultaneously.

Compared to the U17 World Cup, the U20 World Cup obviously receives more attention because the U17 World Cup focuses on talent, while the U20 World Cup already has players who can compete immediately.

Many top clubs will sign players who shine in the World Youth Championship.

To date, eight promising young stars have emerged at the World Youth Championships.

They are Saviola, Adriano, Santa Cruz, Van der Vaart, Mexes, Mantorlas, Forsell, and Qu Bo from the Chinese team.

Among them, Adriano was the most outstanding player on the Brazilian team.

Meanwhile, Kaká, whom AC Milan is interested in, is relatively less impressive and cannot be compared to Qu Bo.

Kaka's relatively simple playing style simply didn't meet the standards of the "ball control and technical skill judges."

In fact, if it weren't for Lu's help, Kaka wouldn't even be on AC Milan's list of key players to watch.

To put it bluntly, after getting used to Kobe's fadeaway, McGrady's pull-up jumper, Iverson's dribbling skills, and Carter's soaring dunks, when you see LeBron James dribbling, you'll think he only started playing basketball in college.

What? He skipped college and went straight to the NBA after graduating from high school?

That makes perfect sense.

It's not that LeBron James isn't great, nor is it that Kaka and Lu Kai aren't strong at this stage, but whether someone is like a genius is a matter of feeling.

And feelings can often be deceiving.

This situation only reversed when Kaká went on a tear in the Brazilian league and became a prodigy at AC Milan, making seven in-game and seven out-of-game runs.

From then on, he became a "model of modern attacking midfielder" and "the epitome of European style of play".

6 month 26 day.

China's U20 team was eliminated by Argentina's U20 team with a score of 1-2.

Considering that Argentina was the eventual champion, the ability of China's U20 team is worthy of recognition.

Although the media were unaware of this, they praised the Chinese U-20 team based on their current performance at the World Cup.

At least they qualified.

This is a breakthrough for Chinese football on the international stage.

This also gave the Chinese men's football team a good start in qualifying for the World Cup finals.

People across the country expressed their satisfaction.

An Qi, the goalkeeper who plays abroad, also performed admirably, starting in every match.

It is rumored that he is very likely to be selected for the senior national team, and it is even possible that he will go to the World Cup with the Chinese men's football team!

However, on the very day the Chinese national youth team left the field...

Lu Kai, who had previously caused controversy in the country, stepped onto the competition field.

The domestic media were immediately in an uproar.

Sports Weekly: "China's youth team fought tirelessly, but unfortunately stopped in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Lu Kai, the green-haired striker, managed to cash in and even made it to the semifinals?"

Football News: "This is fate! England U17 is short-handed, and Lu Kai's incredible chance to be promoted to the semi-finals is a miracle!"

Southern Progress Daily: "Lu Kai, the most controversial of the 13 Golden Boys and the 100-goal Golden Boy, accepts the challenge of the World Youth Championship. He may be exposed in the semi-final against the Argentine stars!"

Phoenix Sports: "England's team is facing a talent shortage; calling up Lu Kai is digging their own grave! Developed country Argentina will use victory to show Lu Kai what democracy truly is!"

It tastes great!

The FIFA U-17 World Cup has seen a surge in popularity in a short period, surpassing the FIFA U-20 World Cup to become the main event followed by fans.

Lin Tao, a senior football commentator, was interviewed by the Southwest Metropolis Daily: "Previously, some people in China brought up the fact that England did not call up Lu Kai, saying that Lu Kai was not good enough."

"What do those people think now?"

"I personally have high hopes for the semi-final between England and Argentina because Lu Kai is an all-around player who can play in multiple positions."

"Many people do not acknowledge Lu Kai's ability, including football experts in Europe and America, who believe that Lu Kai's statistics are inflated."

"But the market's reaction is honest; those European and American experts attribute Lu Kai's excellent performance on the field to his status as an all-around player."

"Currently, the market value of players from the hexagonal youth training system has generally increased by more than 30%."

"This is the impact Lu Kai has had."

"However, I have a question: if it is proven that all-around players cannot perform above their potential, then how can those experts explain the Dartford miracle without acknowledging Lu Kai's abilities?"

After all.

Lu Kai is awesome; he solved the problem with just four words.

But whether in China or abroad, those experts would rather die than say this, and this has led to a number of theories and judgments.

It was as if saying that made them lose their dignity.

However, experts are never of any value.

The only ones who have real value are the players and the fans.

……

[Ding! You have won the FA Cup and the English Premier League title. Rewards:]

[Aggressive Steal - Bronze 3]

[Short-blade straight pass - Bronze 3]

[Attacking Full-Back - Bronze: When you play as a full-back, your speed, acceleration, dribbling, and crossing receive a slight boost]

[The "heel technique" has been upgraded to a "scorpion tail" with a critical hit.]

[Scorpion Tail - Silver: Your balance and agility are improved. Your ability to handle the ball behind you is improved. Your scorpion tail attack accuracy is improved.]

The "banana kick" has been upgraded to the "Bai's curve".

[Beckham's Curve - Gold: Your free-kick ability is greatly improved. Your free kicks have a greater curve, making it easier to get past defenders. Crosses have a chance to trigger the "lock-in" effect, accurately finding teammates. The probability of scoring when shooting from a zero angle is increased.]

Steals: 55+2

[Short pass: 63+2]

[Speed: 60+1]

【Burst: 70+1】

Dribbling: 71+1

Crosses: 59+1

[Ball Control: 75+3] (This attribute cannot be improved further at this time)

[Balance and Flexibility: 45+3]

【Set-pieces: 64+1+4】

???

The "Heel Technique" increases ball control attributes.

The upgraded [Scorpion Tail] adds [Balance and Agility], which is definitely a win, since the latter is a high-level red attribute.

The ability of the "Beckham Curve" is self-evident, as it can extend to free kicks and crosses.

Once the "lock" effect is triggered, it will be an absolute nightmare for the opposing defenders and goalkeeper.

Moreover, there's a small chance of scoring from a zero-angle angle.

The effect is very powerful.

but……

What's with this ball control attribute not being able to be improved any further?

A system notification popped up in front of Lu Kai:
[When a player's single attribute (ball control) reaches its maximum value (75) on the panel, the "Elite Path" will be unlocked. Before completing the Elite Path, this single attribute (ball control) will no longer increase. Attribute points will be randomly allocated to attributes below 60.]

[Path to Elite: You are transforming from an ordinary player into an elite player—a magnificent metamorphosis that will help you surpass your limits. Completing the Path to Elite will significantly increase skill drop rates and quality, and you'll also have a chance to obtain special item boosts. You need to complete the following five challenges; each completion will grant you an additional reward:]

[1. Career total goals reached 100, currently: 85]

[2. Career total assists reached 100, current: 71]

[3. At least five attribute values ​​reach 75, current: 1 (Ball Control)]

[4. All attribute values ​​have reached 60, current status: 11/27]

5. Selected for the national team or youth national team. Current status: Completed.

[Ding! Selected for the England U17 National Team, received "Kidney Tonic" *3]

[Kidney Tonic: Can heal minor injuries and illnesses, and triple the recovery speed for moderate injuries and illnesses. Requires a member of the opposite sex with a relationship level of 80 or higher to apply the tonic for ten minutes (cannot be repeated with the same member of the opposite sex)]

???

In most aspects of life, a player's physical potential is not static.

During their adolescence, players have to open a blind box.

Some people develop extraordinary physical talents from this point on.

Some people were talented before, but failed to develop further and became just another ordinary person.

The most typical example should be Virgil van Dijk, the future center-back for Liverpool. He grew nearly 20 centimeters in height in one summer when he was seventeen, transforming from an ordinary person into a prodigy.

The "Path to Elite" program simulates this situation.

This means that even if a child is very fast, their speed might only be around 70 on the scale. Only after their body has fully matured can they reach the human limit.

Furthermore, since every body has its limits, poor data in some of the more than twenty categories will restrict a player's overall growth.

For example, if a player has maximum speed but poor dribbling and agility, then that player won't be that fast when dribbling.

For example, someone might have perfect shooting skills, but lack footwork, so their shooting ability might not even rank among the top five in the world.

There are too many such examples in reality, and the situation is too complicated.

However, the "Path to Elite" program has solved this problem in one go.

Seventy-five is a critical age.

After that, 85 or 95 might be a hurdle.

Overcoming each major hurdle is equivalent to entering a new stage, where one's strength can increase rapidly.

As one approaches a major hurdle, the rate of improvement in strength will gradually slow down, leading to a bottleneck period.

If you do the math, Cristiano Ronaldo should have completed the "Path of the Elite" at least three times.

The first time was around 2001, when he was physically developing and successfully opened a blind box. He jumped five times in one year and directly entered the first team.

The second time was in 2006, after his physical development was complete. He underwent strength training, which caused his muscles to grow rapidly and his personal abilities to transform, turning him from a dazzling rookie into a top star.

The third time was after a major injury when he began to transform, and this time it was mainly a transformation in terms of technique, tactics and mentality.

If you put it into a game, it's essentially the ascension system in Fantasy Westward Journey, or the star-level quality upgrade in card games, and so on.

The three attribute points that were overflowing from [Ball Control] were allocated by the system to [Heading].

Headers: 55+3

Now we'll have an extra 60 attribute right away.

Lu Kai has quite a few attributes that are close to 60.

The main attributes that are difficult to improve are the red attributes and the defensive attributes.

However, data overflow will solve this problem.

This is actually the most essential part!

The red advanced stats have a huge impact on the game, but are very difficult to improve.

We might not see each other for three to five months at a time.

Lu Kai took advantage of the overflow rules of the [Path of Elites] to make up for these shortcomings.

Putting everything else aside, as long as he raises his Balance and Agility to 99, even if he can't play football, people will still call him a football genius.

As for "Kidney Tonic," that's even better.

Even if Lu Kai's injury resistance attribute is currently 4, even if it reaches the top level of 7, it doesn't mean he won't get injured.

Especially injuries sustained before crucial matches can be extremely devastating.

Shenbao can completely solve this problem.

If we keep the power on at crucial moments, it benefits both him and me!
However, the conditions for using Shenbao are quite strict.

Lu Kai glanced at the list and found that there were only three women whose favorability rating was over 80.

Jiang Mengyun, Emily, Eva.

So regardless of whether there are still items like the Kidney Tonic in the future, Lu Kai only has three chances to recover quickly.

And it can't be a sensitive area like the groin.

Otherwise, Shenbao would become Indian God Oil.

……

On the day of the FIFA U17 World Cup semi-finals, Argentina and England entered the stadium.

"Dear viewers... I'm Huang Jianxiang, here to install a radio..."

"Because of our World Youth Championship, everyone knows a lot about the Argentine team."

"But according to the Argentinians themselves, their U20 players are not as talented as the U17 players."

"Argentina's forward Tevez, midfielder Mascherano, and full-back Zabaleta are all unparalleled super talents."

that's the truth.

Argentina's U20 team didn't have any superstars.

There are two or three top-tier stars, and several ordinary players who are "big but not necessarily good" and don't even qualify as stars.

On the U17 side, there are two superstars.

Zabaleta: You flatter me! You flatter me!
"In a pre-match interview, Argentine striker Tevez said that he had never heard of Lu Kai, but after watching Lu Kai's game, he thought it was just average."

"The exact words were that this level of ball control would be impossible to play football in Argentina. But it fits the rough style of English football."

Tevez wasn't intentionally making sarcastic remarks.

He was simply stating his own feelings.

As for the England team...

Head coach Stanley welcomed Lu Kai's arrival but did not intend to let him play.

The team was welcomed because Lu Kai brought a camera to the team, which also brought a huge amount of traffic.

If they can beat Argentina, Stanley will keep his job.

The reason he didn't let Lu Kai play was because he didn't recognize Lu Kai's ability.

What a joke! Which player on his team wasn't exceptionally talented and famous from a young age?
That player wasn't a key prospect for any of the major clubs.

Playing in a semi-professional league at such a young age?

It's probably ruined.

Lu Kai also noticed this.

But since he came, he certainly wasn't just going through the motions.

Only if England wins the title will Dartford have a chance to jump to the fourth tier of professional football.

Therefore, Lu Kai conducted a thorough background check on the way.

This England U17 team is plagued by injuries, especially lacking strikers and wingers.

The current two strikers and left winger are all substitutes.

The right winger was injured so badly that there was no one left to play.

In the last game, Raven moved up to right-back and filled in, but he didn't play very well.

As a result, after the match, the substitute right-back also got injured, so Raven had to come back.

From this perspective, the right winger position is the best.

Of the three players called up this time, the other two can also play as forwards and right midfielders.

No matter how you arrange it, it seems like you can't get a spot on Lu Kai's list.

but……

Deploying troops is not a game.

Even in the game, you might put stronger, more reliable players in positions they're not as good at, especially key positions.

Because newcomers cannot be trusted.

therefore……

“Coach, I played in many positions when I was in Arsenal’s youth academy, and later I also played as a full-back in the lower leagues.” Lu Kai volunteered, “You must know my free kicks. Players with this kind of footwork are usually good at crossing.”

"And I'm very good at defense, and I'm also very willing to play defense."

"If the team is short of a right-back, I can play there."

Lu Kai handed over his game data statistics, analysis, and summary tables to Stanley.

This series of actions completely baffled the two guys who had been temporarily drafted together.

We're short of a right winger right now, so why are you vying for a right back?

Has the semi-professional league become this amateurish?

Raven was playing perfectly well at right-back...

“Great!” Stanley beamed and immediately decided, “Then you can try out the right back position for the match against Argentina.”

The team's original right-back, Raven, will continue to play as a right winger.

The two guys could only sit on the bench and wait for their chance.

I learned a lot.

Of course, they are not entirely without a chance.

If Lu Kai performs poorly at right-back and becomes a liability, Stanley will definitely substitute Lu Kai and bring Raven back.

Winning first doesn't guarantee victory.

The real tragedy in football is when players don't play in their best position, resulting in poor performance and missed opportunities.

This is why many players would rather stay on the bench than change their playing style and become a jack-of-all-trades.

Playing football is always about making choices. No matter what you choose, someone will be right. The key is whether you choose correctly.

……

With the sound of a whistle, the highly anticipated World Youth Championship semi-final began.

England's starting lineup is as follows:
Profit, Smyth
Routledge, Gardner, Mannix, Raven

Borodell, Small, James, Lu Kai

德伦
-

To the average fan, these are almost all unknowns.

But you should know that these were the most talented group of players in England's U17 class.

England launched an attack immediately after kickoff.

Without further ado, let's start with a long pass and cross.

Under pressure from Profit and Routledge, Zabaleta opted to head the ball out of bounds.

The Argentine coach nodded in agreement.

Being cautious is the right thing to do.

They are the team with the highest probability of winning this tournament. If they play normally, they can crush England.

It's worth noting that even the highly touted Spanish team, boasting stars like Torres and Iniesta, was no match for Argentina.

Spain's team went straight home from the group stage this time, it seems they won't produce any superstars.

Iniesta: ...

Torres: MMP!

England are preparing for a corner kick.

Stanley then noticed that Lu Kai had also entered the restricted area: "Hey, Lu..."

Stanley ultimately did not tell Lu Kai to step down.

Because Lu Kai's latest height has been revealed: 1.81 meters.

England's U17 players are generally over fifteen years old.

Lu Kai is considered tall.

It's perfectly reasonable for them to participate in the corner kick attack.

When defending, he needs to run faster to avoid being caught on a counter-attack...

beep!

The referee pointed to the center circle, indicating that the goal was valid.

The whole audience was shocked.

"GOAL!"

"One to zero!"

"Incredible goal!"

"Lu Kai! The player who scored the opening goal for England is none other than the popular Lu Kai!"

"This was his first touch of the ball in the match! And it was his first match of the tournament! He was temporarily called up!"

"And the way Lu Kai scored was so spectacular!"

The stadium screen is showing a replay of Lu Kai's goal.

Mannix's corner kick was poorly executed, lacking both curve and height, and the ball landed directly at the near post.

Lu Kai "seemed not to have expected the ball to come directly towards him," and could only hook his leg to let the ball pass.

The next moment, Lu Kai gently tapped his leg behind him.

The football changes direction and flies towards the goal.

[Scorpion Tail Swing]!
"I knew it!" Stanley shouted, raising his arms in triumph!

He shouted into the camera filming the Dartford documentary "My Confessions at Assen Green," "I knew there was a reason he was there!"

"Thank God, I didn't let him go back!"

"Now let's see who the loser is!"

England, Argentina.

Bilateral relations.

Football rivalries.

You know everything.

So while reaching the semi-finals is a good result, Stanley would lose his job if he lost this match.

From that moment on, at least in Stanley's mind, Lu Kai's talent had risen to the level of the team's midfield core, Mannix.

This is how real-world experience and firsthand observation change people's thinking.

The camera then focused on Tevez.

Before the match, he thought Lu Kai had a poor feel for the ball.

But when it comes to scoring a goal, what does ball control matter?
In the ninth minute, Tevez deliberately drifted to Lu Kai's side, received the ball, and challenged Lu Kai.

He wanted to use Argentina's dreamlike dance moves to...

boom!
Lu Kai charged straight at him, giving him no room to maneuver.

Tevez wanted to steady himself first, and then get past Lu Kai.

But Lu Kai made a series of tackles, giving Tevez no time to fully stabilize.

Aggressive defense!
Tevez was eventually pushed aside. Lu Kai successfully intercepted the ball and dribbled forward.

With the support of a fast winger and an attacking full-back, his forward runs are quite impressive.

As Lu Kai approached the center line, he passed the ball to Mannix and then continued to move forward.

The Argentine wing defenders had poor defensive habits and failed to mark their opponents as they left the field.

If Mannix had just played a through ball, Lu Kai would have taken the lead on the right flank.

Unfortunately, Mannix passed the ball across to Gardner, and the team shifted their attack to the other side.

Lu Kai's trip was in vain.

Lu Kai shook his head slightly.

This is ineffective control.

Effective control of the field can neutralize the opponent's pressing, create gaps in their positioning, and break down their defense.

Ineffective control of the field means failing to seize opportunities when they arise, passing the ball around in a seemingly legitimate manner, but with fewer and fewer chances left.

Mannix has limited talent.

In other words, a midfielder capable of effectively controlling the game has always been a rare find in England.

This also involves the integration of new players.

Players are not very willing to pass the ball to new teammates. I don't know your abilities, so naturally I can't trust you.

Young players don't have that high level of tactical awareness, which is especially true for them.

In the 15th minute, Tevez, also a key player, was not going to put all his eggs in one basket.

They tried attacking from the other side, and sure enough, they succeeded.

They launched a shot at the goal.

Unfortunately, the shot missed.

In the 23rd minute, Zabaleta also joined the attack on the right wing, playing with great flair.

Zabaleta makes a cross.

Tevez received the ball and passed it back.

Mascherano's long-range shot went just over the crossbar.

The Argentine coach nodded repeatedly.

Once the tactics are executed, a goal is not far off.

In contrast, England's defense on the left flank was somewhat disorganized just now.

In the 28th minute, Argentina relentlessly attacked down the other flank.

Lu Kai moved inwards, running to the vicinity of his right back waist.

Stanley frowned, and just as he was about to send Lu Kai back to his defensive position, Lu Kai stretched out his leg and stole the ball from Tevez, who was dribbling laterally.

Tevez was completely numb.

How old are you?

Nothing more than [focused on monitoring and defense].

In this match, Lu Kai was keeping an eye on Tevez.

After intercepting the ball, Lu Kai flicked it to the right and dribbled forward.

He didn't go to the middle lane because there are more people there, and the opponent would fight fiercely for it.

They might even commit tactical fouls.

However, coming down the flank poses little threat, so many players will give you a break. They'll quickly return to their defensive zone and get into position, so your runs from the flank might not create any real danger.

Sure enough, Lu Kai easily dribbled the ball down the right flank into the attacking third.

"Oh dear! Lu Kai brought too much."

"Lu Kai slowed down this counterattack, and the Argentine team retreated quickly, so they don't have many attacking opportunities now."

"This is what non-professional players are like. They lack vision, tactical discipline, and tactical insight. Look how angry Mannix and Smyth were when they were asking for the ball!"

"Smith's stopped running!"

As a speed-type striker, Smyth asked Lu Kai for the ball several times, but Lu Kai never gave it to him.

He's offside now, what the hell is he doing kicking?!
boom!
During the conversation, Lu Kai on the right suddenly made a long pass.

[Beckham's Curve] + [Long Pass Guidance] + [Angel's Cross]!
The football, like a blade cleaving through the sky, sliced ​​through the air and nestled at the far post.

There, unmarked left winger Routledge had rushed into the penalty area and headed the ball towards goal.

It was practically an open goal.

Swish!
White waves surged.

"GOAL! Two to zero!"

"That's incredibly accurate! Are you sure I was watching England U17 and not the England senior team? Was that Beckham really not the one crossing from the right wing?"

"In less than 30 minutes, England are leading by two goals!"

"Lu Kai stunned the Argentinians with his assist and goal!"

"That pass was of such high quality! It completely pierced through Argentina's complete defense, delivering a fatal blow!"

"Of course, Routledge also ran well this time. If he hadn't kept pushing forward, he wouldn't have been able to seize this opportunity."

Stanley kept shaking his head.

Without a doubt, Lu Kai is a level above the other players on the field.

It's not about tactics or techniques, but about the temperament... the temperament that's completely different between veterans who have actually been on the battlefield and child soldiers.

Even Lu Kai himself noticed it.

This match was easier than any of the matches he played in the FA Cup, the Premier League, the Europa League, or even the FA Cup and the Kent Premier League.

It feels like a game-changer.

If one had to find a single word to describe it, then "beating up a kid" would probably be the most fitting.

On the pitch, the England players began to celebrate.

Lu Kai was already surrounded by everyone.

This scene severely provoked the Argentine players.

Being defeated by someone with no talent is the greatest disgrace in South American football.

After the restart, the Argentine team launched frequent attacks.

The England team was caught off guard for a while.

In the 36th minute, Mascherano delivered a superb through ball.

Tevez beat the offside trap and scored on a one-on-one opportunity.

They pulled one back for the team.

"Roar!!!"

Tevez and others charged toward the corner flag area, roaring at the camera.

Argentina's goal-scoring blitz is about to begin!
This made it even harder for the England players to cope.

In the 41st minute, Mascherano dispossessed Mannix in the middle of the field.

The latter was too hesitant.

Mascherano connects with Tevez, and the Pampas Eagles launch another counterattack.

After dribbling the ball, Tevez noticed Lu Kai guarding the area and immediately tried to pass the ball.

However, Lu Kai immediately moved inward, blocking Tevez's passing lane.

During a counter-attack, players usually only have one or two passing lanes, which are not difficult to block.

The difficulty lies in... once you block the opponent's pass, it becomes very difficult to block their breakthrough.

So, Tevez couldn't find a passing lane, so he simply dribbled the ball himself to try and get past his opponent.

Just as he flicked the ball away, Lu Kai suddenly moved forward and took the initiative to attack.

Lu Kai, with his height and long legs, poked the ball away first.

Then he chased the ball with Tevez.

Although Tevez was agile, he still managed to turn around.

Lu Kai seized the opportunity to block Tevez, then suddenly rammed Tevez backward before rushing toward the ball.

boom!
[Low-altitude long pass].

Counterattack against Argentina!

At this point, Argentina's defense had been completely breached.

Smyth sprinted at full speed, received the ball, and was then roughly tackled by the opponent.

The referee had no choice but to blow his whistle and give the Argentine center-back a yellow card.

"Oh, that's a free kick in a good position."

"But England's free-kick scoring efficiency has been very low so far. Their number 10, Mannix, has tried three direct shots, failing to get over the wall twice and missing the target once."

"On the contrary, they scored once from a tactical free kick."

"Huh? Lu Kai went over there, what's this...?"

Lu Kai walked over to Mannix and said, "Mannix, let me take this free kick. I'm in good form today."

"I think Mascherano kicked your foot just now, right before he passed the ball to Tevez... I think you'd better take a break, don't get injured."

"We can't find a player who can replace you."

Mannix certainly didn't want to concede a free kick.

But Lu Kai tends to expose people's shortcomings.

In other words: I'm the hero right now. You almost scored because of the ball you conceded earlier, but I stopped Tevez. Of course, you're the midfield maestro, irreplaceable.

A little criticism, a little self-praise, a little praise, and if you add a little bit of idiocy...

"Yeah, Lu's been on fire today." Routledge, who had received an assist from Lu Kai, also chimed in.

To demonstrate his magnanimity, Mannix had no choice but to hand the ball to Lu Kai.

The situation is better than people.

As core players, the coach will still teach them this kind of overall perspective.

If you were to use some ordinary strikers, they might not necessarily fall for this tactic.

"Will Lu Kai take the free kicks for England? Perhaps many people don't know that he was known as Lu Kaiham in the lower leagues."

"He once scored a goal in Beckham's style in front of Beckham."

"He also defeated the team led by Ferguson's son, Darren, with a scimitar."

"He even mastered many different types of free kicks, and the knuckleball, which everyone knows, was brought back to life in England because of him."

Huang Jianxiang kept exaggerating.

Lu Kai, on the other hand, was relatively relaxed.

Because... Argentina's defensive wall was too short.

It's not even as tall as the life-size cardboard cutout of him when he practices free kicks.

This is also a characteristic of Argentine football: compact, powerful, and fiercely courageous.

boom!
Lu Kai kicked out.

The football, like a crescent moon, easily soared over the wall of players.

The ball flew straight into the top right corner of the goal!
[Bainstein Curve]!
Swish!
“GOAL!!!”

"Goal! Goal! Goal!"

"As expected of Beckham, the Green Gun! A swift kick and a swift strike!"

"Lu Kai's free kick was absolutely beautiful!"

"This is a complete dead end."

"Through slow motion, we can see that Lu Kai's shot had a perfect arc; even if the Argentine player had jumped a little higher, he wouldn't have been able to touch the ball."

"Three to one! At the crucial moment, Lu Kai once again helped the team widen the score gap."

"Oh my, Lu Kai's signature celebration is here!"

In the footage, Lu Kai leaps high into the air, performs a 180-degree turn in mid-air, and then descends from the sky, truly embodying the four words he uttered at the investment promotion conference... "A god descends to earth!"
The Argentine players turned green with rage.

But there's nothing we can do; they started the mocking celebrations first.

The first half ended with a score of 3-1.

Both sides returned to the locker room.

Everyone was embracing Lu Kai, who had scored two goals and provided an assist, including Mannix.

After all, he definitely couldn't score that goal.

"Hey Lu Kai, what are your playing habits? Tell me about them so I can see how the team should coordinate with you in the second half." Stanley took out his notebook.

He would remember everything Lu Kai said.

The photographers who were filming nearby kept nodding in approval.

With this attitude, he's destined to become a renowned coach!
Alfred is probably going to have trouble sleeping.

"Actually, as long as I move forward, our center-backs can position themselves a little to the right to avoid the opponent having an open space."

Lu Kai has finished speaking.

Stanley immediately communicated with the two center-backs.

Even left-back Borodell was told not to go up, since he's not good at attacking anyway, and should just stay back.

Give the opportunity to move forward to Lu Kai.

The second half of the game began fifteen minutes later.

Argentina also clearly emphasized attacking.

In the 47th minute, Zabaleta dribbled past several defenders on the wing before delivering a cross.

Tevez feinted a shot inside the penalty area, directly tricking Small into taking a shot.

Tevez fell to the ground.

Nothing to say.

Yellow card + penalty kick!

Ten seconds later, Tevez converted the penalty, completing his brace.

Two to three!
Argentina is keeping the score close once again!
The Argentine youth team is the most talented in the last decade, and that's no exaggeration!

In the 55th minute, Tevez, positioned slightly to the right of center, evaded his marker and unleashed a long-range shot, which was saved.

He's really learned his lesson; he's not coming to Lu Kai's side anymore.

But if the mountain doesn't move, the road will.

In the 61st minute, Zabaleta crossed the ball from the wing.

Tevez runs to the far post.

After all, his height wouldn't allow him to get a proper spot.

But doesn't this just fall into Lu Kai's hands again?
Lu Kai outjumped Tevez and headed the ball behind him with a powerful header.

He then turned and chased after the football.

It not only cleared the ball, but also kept possession of it.

This is because Tevez did not put pressure on Lu Kai when he was competing for headers, which allowed him to play with ease.

How could Tevez endure such a humiliation?
He turned around and slid in at Lu Kai to try and win the ball back.

As a result, Lu Kai predicted Tevez's move from his expression, executed a V-shaped pull, and waited for Tevez to slide past him.

Tevez is going crazy.

In his opinion, Lu Kai's dribbling skills were really poor.

However, Lu Kai's timing in releasing technical movements was excellent.

Although the movements are unsightly, a cat is a good cat as long as it catches mice, regardless of whether it's black or white!

Lu Kai took two steps forward after dribbling the ball and encountered Mascherano coming to the rescue.

Lu Kai made a cross to Mannix and then made a forward run himself.

Having received instructions from Stanley during halftime and knowing who the two kings were, Mannix cooperated by sending a one-two through ball.

Mascherano would rather foul than let Lu Kai go unpunished.

But Lu Kai was prepared and dodged Mascherano's pull with a graceful twist of his waist.

[Stride forward] Let’s go!
Taking advantage of the opponent's vulnerable mid lane, Lu Kai pushed directly down the mid lane.

After approaching the opponent's penalty area, he started using a series of bicycle kicks.

boom!
Just three times later, Lu Kai flicked the ball to the right, trying to create an angle to prepare for a shot.

But the opposing center-back stretched out his leg to block it.

boom!
Lu Kai did not shoot with his right foot.

Instead, he delivered a [curved cross]!
The football pierced through the opponent's legs, arcing across the grass, luring the Argentine goalkeeper out two steps before connecting with Smythe on the other end.

The latter slotted the ball into the empty net.

"GOAL!"

"Four to two! Lu Kai has widened the score gap once again!"

"That was a brilliant counterattack!"

"Lu Kai has too much experience in the game. No one knows better than him when to do what."

"To be honest, although they are all the same age, I feel that Lu Kai is much more mature than the players on the field."

"Are the lower-level competitions in England really that good for developing players?"

"What happened to Lu Kai's lack of talent? He's completely dominating the Argentinian team!"

"With two goals and two assists, Lu Kai single-handedly slammed the Pampas Eagles, who were about to take off, into the ground!"

In the 73rd minute, Argentina's left-back dribbled past Lu Kai one-on-one and then delivered a cross.

But Lu Kai was already having a blast.

After being hit, he turned around and immediately stretched out his leg, a series of Lee Sin first-person perspective plays.

A library!
They blocked the cross directly.

In the 76th minute, Argentina sent a through ball over the top, looking for the far post.

Lu Kai cleared the ball with a header.

Stanley watched with trepidation from the sidelines.

In the 84th minute, England won a corner kick.

After Profit's header was saved by the goalkeeper, Argentina launched another counter-attack.

Mascherano received the ball outside the box and was about to launch a long pass.

Lu Kai pulled and dragged him down.

Zabaleta rushed forward to take a quick shot, but as soon as he put the ball on the ground, Lu Kai kicked it away.

"What the hell do you mean?!"

Zabaleta blushed and rammed into Lu Kai.

Lu Kai slightly stepped aside, and Zabaleta fell flat on his face.

“I mean, I want them to hear your ruling.” Lu Kai then turned to the referee and said, “I just want them to hear your decision.”

The referee said "Thank you" and then showed Lu Kai a yellow card.

Honestly, this is definitely a good deal.

One tactical foul, plus one time preventing the opponent from fast-break.

If you break it down, you can get a yellow card if the referee is too lenient.

Of course, it's really unlikely that this would result in a direct red card.

After Zabaleta fell to the ground, the Argentine players rushed over to him.

But the key point is that Lu Kai didn't make a move.

That would make it less likely to cause trouble.

With the team trailing, Mascherano could only suppress his anger at being defeated by Lu Kai and urge everyone not to waste time and to get back to the game.

While he was trying to persuade them, Lu Kai had already sent his teammates back to the backcourt to prepare for defense.

Stanley was completely numb from watching.

What kind of monster is Lu Kai?
The core of the attack?

A defensive gatekeeper?

Metronome?
One-on-one elite soldier?

team leader?

A football conspiracy mastermind?
This is so versatile!
The top, mid, bot, and jungle champions in the Chinese server are all solo laners!
what?
You're asking where the support is?
Sorry, I always get MVP when I play support!

In the 88th minute, Lu Kai even had the energy to complete a breakthrough and cross from the wing.

His physical fitness is also a level above that of the players on the field.

The ball was cleared.

England are awarded a corner kick.

Mannix takes a corner kick.

On the England side, the players have shown their team spirit, intentionally or unintentionally setting screens for Lu Kai.

Waiting for the football to fly over.

Lu Kai easily took off, landing among the Yordles, including Mascherano and Tevez.

Another powerful header, a furious smash into the goal!

The football went into the net.

"GOAL! Five to two!"

"England completely thrashed Argentina!"

"Lu Kai has completed a hat trick!"

"I swear, I've never seen such a strong 15-year-old player!"

"The match is over!"

"The England U17 team, which is short of players, has finally found its true hero!"

"The Green Gun King reigns supreme at the U17 World Cup!"

"Just one match showed people his terrifying abilities!"

"Now, it's time for us to talk about Lu Kai's talent again!"

"You can argue that he's not strong in terms of ball control, technique, or theory."

“By presenting data and talking about honors, you can also say that lower-level competitions are weak.”

"But now, when it really comes down to a fight, how are you going to fool Lu Kai about his ability to dominate the entire situation?"

"Keep making things up! Keep making things up!"

"What bullshit talent, what Ten Demon Stars, Thirteen Protectors, Three Super Golden Boys... all of you get lost! You're all trash!"

"Among talented players aged sixteen and under, I only recognize Lu Kai, the 100-goal prodigy!"

(End of this chapter)