Manchester United's heir apparent, but can't play football.

Chapter 80 How Loud the Song of Victory Resounds (Chinese National Football Team Story)
"Pretty!"

"The ball is in!"

"Li Luo scored twice!"

"Cut inside and curl a shot into the far corner!"

"He danced on the line in the opponent's penalty area, it was absolutely beautiful."

"An inconceivable pacing frequency."

"An unpredictable rhythm."

"Amazing."

"He has Uzbekistan's defenses completely under his control."

Crash.

The red tide surged violently, and excitement and joy transformed into a tidal wave of applause, pouring down and engulfing the young figures on the green field.

Li Luo jogged along, leaned against the corner flagpole, and smiled brightly.

Click.

The spotlight flashed.

Reporters from all over the world would not miss this shot.

clap clap clap!
A dazzling display erupted from the dense barrage of cannon fire, and colorful ribbons suddenly soared into the air before slowly drifting down.

Studio.

The entire attack was replayed in slow motion from multiple angles, and viewers in front of the TV finally understood what was going on: After the midfield restarted, Li Luo rotated to the front line and formed a "tall and fast" combination with Gao Lin. He then dropped back to the wing to receive the ball and then charged all the way to the edge of Uzbekistan's penalty area.
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[A tribute to Robben.]
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Robben cuts inside from the right wing, while Li Luo cuts inside from the left wing—a mirror image and a tribute.
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[Step-through, cut inside, curl shot.]
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[Li Luo is so handsome, haha. It reminds me of Robben when he was young and had hair; his back view when he cut inside was also very handsome.]
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The key is the rhythm and balance that creates space for shooting.
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It's so simple, without a single fancy detail.
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[Betting on the over, but it doesn't go in; betting on the Chinese team to win alone, but watching it makes my heart race.]
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[That darn director! Why did you cut to the pretty girls in the stands? Don't do that again! I want to see Li Luo.]

Courtside.

Perrin was excited and his heart was pounding.

It felt like we were back in the season when we won the French Ligue 1 double.

He stood in the command area, back straight, the night wind blowing his red tie.

Raise your finger, your eyes resolute:
"Translator Zhao, listen carefully!"

"We need to make targeted changes to our formation and press down on the flanks. The Chinese team must switch to a five-defender formation and let the players use physical confrontation to limit the 'aging' Jeparov! Reduce their passing efficiency on the flanks!"

"Press high-intensity on Uzbekistan's midfielders again. They are playing with a single defensive midfielder, so their space is very limited!"

"Finally, we should strengthen the layering of our attacking transitions, utilizing Wu Lei's speed to exploit the space behind the defense, and allowing Gao Lin to fully play his role as a target man in the attacking third."

"Quickly relay this message to them!"

A whole bunch of gibberish?

The short, stocky translator Zhao nodded blankly, then scurried to the sidelines and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Pass the ball to Li Luo!"

Assistant Coach Li blew on his bangs and then shouted, "Pass the ball to Li Luo!"

The game restarted in the middle circle.

The football was being passed around quickly.

Uzbekistan's head coach, Kamosif, was shouting and yelling on the sidelines.

"They're coming on strong!"

"In the two group stage matches of the Asian Cup, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan thought we were weak. They always tried to control the ball and always tried to press us!"

"It's different now."

"With Li Luo around, do you still dare to press your advantage?"

The Chinese players didn't seem to be that afraid of making mistakes. Even though they were not as skilled, they dared to fight and compete!
gradually.

Uzbekistan discovered that their midfield maestro, Jeparov, was marked by Li Luo, making their passing and receiving inconsistent!

It can only be handed over to the Ahmedov organization.

Once Akhmedov dropped back, the attacking third lost its "variation" and explosiveness.

Don't panic.

The opposing team is the Chinese team; we can slowly take them down with basic attacks.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Li Luo knew that he wasn't actually that "clingy" to Jeparov.

The latter's early kicking style caused too much irreversible damage to the body, gradually losing its explosive power, thus appearing relatively "slow".

Slow speed, slow ball release, slow center of gravity adjustment.

With the help of the spatial perception module, the Chinese teenager controlled all the information on the green field, constantly adjusting his running and defensive positions to hinder Uzbekistan from developing a passing system around Jeparov.

The other Chinese players were going all out against the Uzbek players, pushing their passing game and disrupting the opponent's consistency.

Perrin's player selection is quite interesting; he prefers physically strong players!

The formation once confused Chinese fans: the full-backs were playing center-back, the midfielders were playing full-back, and the forwards were playing midfield.

What we're looking for is something tough, durable, and thick-skinned.

If it weren't for Li Luo, the French would have even benched Hao Junmin.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Uzbekistan gradually found it difficult to penetrate, and repeatedly passed the ball back to their high defensive line.

Wu Lei pressed aggressively in the attacking third, running tirelessly, even when being outmaneuvered, to prevent the opponent from easily establishing an attack.

When there's hope of winning, nobody wants to be a loser!
From the stands, wave after wave of cheers rang out.

"Go China!"

The fans waved their fists, their faces filled with undisguised determination.

How long?
How long has it been since we've seen the Chinese national team fight so hard?

Who still remembers that Chinese team in 2002, who never backed down even when facing the incredibly strong Brazilian team, and instead engaged in a fierce and exhilarating attacking battle with their opponents?

As long as you show fighting spirit and determination, even if you lose, who will blame you?
"Uzbekistan is making a major offensive!"

"Akhmedov's long-range shot hit Zheng Zhi's leg!"

"The football bounced out."

"Mei Fang brought it under control in time!"

"Li Luo has moved to the side."

"Pretty!"

"It's been sent!"

The sea breeze ruffled her clothes and her black hair.

Li Luo, in a sideways stance, receives the ball with his left foot, takes a small hop with his right foot, and turns! His center of gravity shifts with the turn.

next moment.

Accelerate with a quick step!
A blast!
The Uzbek players who charged forward didn't even have time to grab his clothes; they could only watch his back recede into the distance!
Suddenly it was like falling into an icy cave.

The Chinese boy's pace and turning speed were too fast; he was a terrifying force that transcended the scope of the Asian Cup.

Uzbekistan's defenses were hastily deployed.

We must block them!

We can't let that kid have another chance to cut inside!
Li Luo observed that the enemy's defensive line was shifting towards his side.

The speed suddenly decreased.

Slight leg swings.

Long pass!

Snapped!
The football lifted off the ground, spun violently, and flew to the other side!
"A long diagonal pass!"

"Shift to the weak side!"

"Zhang Chengdong, who cut in on the side of the highway, is giving it his all! Oops, he's stopped a bit too far. It's okay, there's plenty of space over there!"

"Hao Junmin controls the ball!"

"Pass it across to the edge of the penalty area!"

"Gao Lin!!!"

"It slipped through."

"Great! We missed it on Li Luo!"

Li Luo was a little confused.

why?
Hao Junmin can cut inside and try to shoot.

Gao Lin could try a powerful shot without stopping the ball.

Even though they created space on the weak side for them, they still gave themselves the opportunity to shoot.

I came from the strong side, and there were people all around me, so the shooting angle was too small.

He did not blame his teammates.

Snapped.

He stopped the ball with his right foot in the wrong direction.

Li Luo followed the trajectory of the ball, moving laterally towards the inside line, creating space between himself and the two Uzbek players, and gaining a shooting angle.

Raise your arms and swing your legs!

The opponent's back line quickly adjusted.

Advantages of strong side construction: compact, elastic, full, and plump.

Goalkeeper Nesterov is on high alert, ready to make a save at any moment, radiating confidence.

Even if you, Li Luo, are possessed by Van Basten, don't even think about it.
"."

There were no shots coming from the front.

The entire Uzbek defense, including the goalkeeper, trembled in fear as Li Luo's movements changed.

Like a deflated balloon.

It's like a kitten closing its eyes, ready to enjoy its owner's petting, but after waiting for a long time, the warm palm still hasn't landed.

It's like a tender moment.
"A feint, a real pass!"

"Pretty!"

"Li Luo's outstretched arm blocked the Uzbek player who was rushing forward to intercept."

"Slant forward!"

"You can transmit it like this?"

"Wu Lei!"

The football, like a sharp watermelon knife, unevenly and diagonally sliced ​​through Uzbekistan's penalty area: the strong side got most of the watermelon, while the weak side got only a small piece.

The route is accurate.

It perfectly embodies the highest level of vision and unexpected imagination.

Wu Lei emerged from "that small piece of watermelon" area.

He is a true genius in the Chinese Super League.

Homegrown Golden Boot.

He started playing professional leagues at the age of 14.

Excellent positioning.

At that moment, countless viewers felt a pang of anxiety: Go in! Don't make a mistake.
The moment Wu Lei touched the ball.

My whole body felt like it was being electrocuted.

This kind of force.

This feels so good!!!

So that you don't need any extra adjustments.

Snapped!
The football was pushed into the near corner.

Nesterov, still in his diving position, landed heavily but didn't bump into anything. 3-1!!!

The whole crowd cheered.

"Pretty!"

"In!"

"We're leading by two goals!"

"incredible!"

"Li Luo's exquisite passing, his surgically precise diagonal through balls, his amazing vision, and his incredibly impressive imagination!"

"How could you pass the ball like that?!"

"Wu Lei! He did not disappoint Li Luo's brilliant pass and calmly put the ball into the net."

"Watch the replay carefully. I think Li Luo deliberately called for the ball on the strong side, sacrificing himself to draw the defense and create opportunities for his teammates!"

Li Luo was just about to complain about Gao Lin and Hao Junmin.

Why did you insist on passing the ball back to yourself?
Thoughts were interrupted.

Teammates rushed over to hug him one after another.

Wu Lei didn't celebrate alone; instead, he quickly turned around and ran excitedly toward the Chinese boy.

How could you not be excited to score a goal in such a major tournament?

"Thank you, Li Luo. I don't know how to describe your pass, it was so comfortable. Thank you for letting me score."

Li Luo: "."

If there were a better shooting angle, he would take it himself.

Studio.

The barrage of comments flew by.
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[Wow, that's Li Luo's first assist for the national team!]
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I'm genuinely worried Wu Lei might miss the shot; I feel completely unsafe.
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[Gao Lin is more likely to miss from that position, since Wu Lei is the top domestic scorer.]
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[I really didn't expect Li Luo to pass there. Actually, the angle of the pass wasn't very wide, but fortunately, Li Luo is equally skilled with both feet and can shoot from any direction (180 degrees). There was no way he could shoot; there were too many players on the strong side, the spacing was too short, and there was no space for him to get going.]
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[This is such a great report; it practically tore Uzbekistan's defense apart like summer homework.]
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[We're so happy! We're leading by two goals!]
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[Sobbing, Li Luo is so outstanding, I wonder which lucky girl will be able to marry him in the future!]
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[Look at those famous athletes; it's hard for them to get married. Their commercial value is so high, their income is so high, they'll have many more honors to come, and they don't have a childhood sweetheart, so maybe they won't get married? If I were them, I don't know how I'd get married either.]

Courtside.

Perrin stood with his hands in his pockets, revealing the refined smile of a renowned coach.

Even when the sea breeze blew the red tie onto his face, he refused to take it off.

"Being Li's head coach is such a blessing."

"Selflessness, teamwork, and noble character."

"In that instant, Li didn't choose to shoot himself, but instead used a feint shot followed by a pass to confuse the opposing defense, orchestrating a deadly pass with his extraordinary intelligence and vision."

He rattled off a long string of French.

Zhao, the translator, nodded vigorously, left the embrace of the teaching assistants, and shouted from the sidelines, "Li Luo! Awesome!"

Crash.

In the stands, Chinese fans, still savoring Li Luo's brilliant assist, couldn't help but feel their hearts flutter.

The sound was like a pebble falling into a calm lake.

Ripples were created in circles.

"Li Luo! Awesome!"

"Li Luo! Awesome!"

Throughout Bristol Stadium, this phrase echoed repeatedly, lingering on and on.

The other side.

Uzbekistan's head coach, Kasimov, looked ashamed.

Gazing at Li Luo's retreating figure.

I racked my brains to recall: Did I ever encounter a midfielder like this Chinese prodigy when I was young?
We're down by two goals.

"Maybe that guy Shatkosmin is right."

"Other teams in the group will also suffer a terrible fate if they face the Chinese team."

"There is still a chance to qualify."

He is very pragmatic.

There's no such thing as "not wanting to be seen as a coward by the fans."

In cup competitions, qualifying for the next round is the most important thing!
On the green football field.

The jubilant Chinese team served as a stark contrast to the sorrow of the Uzbek team.

Goalkeeper Nesterov shook his head blankly: He had won ten Uzbek Premier League titles and had a long career in the Champions League.

He has always been very confident.

So confident was he that during the 2011 Asian Cup semi-final, he boldly declared: "I haven't practiced penalty kicks, nor have I studied their penalty kick habits. We will finish them off within ninety minutes."

Tonight, however, they were completely crushed by the Chinese genius.

The game restarted in the middle circle.

Uzbekistan's style of play has changed, becoming more pragmatic.

They didn't focus on combining play on the wings and in the middle, ball control, and ground penetration.

"Kasimov's team still has a chance to appear."

"They defeated North Korea in the first round of the group stage."

"And in the match that ended a few hours ago, Saudi Arabia defeated North Korea."

"If the Chinese team wins this match, they can secure first place in the group and advance based on head-to-head results!"

The commentator's tone was excited.

But I dared not show it too much, because I had some reservations and was worried that some kind of "black three minutes" scenario would unfold again.

As the old saying goes, things are accomplished in secrecy.

In a football match, you never know the outcome until the very last moment.

gradually.

The scene became intense again.

The Uzbek players are old and their physical condition is declining rapidly, but the glory of their youth makes them unwilling to fall to the Chinese team.

After more than a decade, are we finally going to lose to the Chinese national team? Impossible!
Especially Jeparov.

This two-time winner of the "Asian Footballer of the Year" award.

The flowers and applause of the past cannot be given up!

"The army is pressing forward!"

"A ball made of knives! Oh dear, what a pass!"

"My physical fitness has declined significantly, and I am prone to making mistakes in my movements."

"Kasimov on the sidelines had a rapid change in mood, going from anger to encouragement."

"Chinese team, you must hold on!"

"No need to guard!"

"Li Luo has launched another offensive!"

Zhang Linpeng provided timely support on the flank, helping Zhang Chengdong intercept Tursunov's ball.

After more than a decade, the Chinese team finally has the opportunity to break the curse once again.

How can we give up so easily?

We finally got to fight such a well-funded battle, how could we let it drag us down!

It's not just you Uzbekistan who have fighting spirit; we are human beings too, and we can have fighting spirit too!

Snapped!
The football naturally ended up at Li Luo's feet.

Bah!
It was accompanied by a breathtaking explosion.

The football soared into the air from the Chinese team's backfield, spinning violently inward, shattering the Brisbane night.

A long, inward-spinning pass!

Kasimov gaped in astonishment.

Will we see such advanced long passing techniques at the Asian Cup?
Uzbekistan's high defensive line was torn apart as easily as a piece of paper soaked in water.

The center-back turned around, intending to track back.

However, it was discovered that after the football hit the ground, it did not bounce back up, but instead deflected laterally.

A long, inward-spinning pass that makes it impossible for the defense to predict the landing point.

"Gao Lin".

"Don't kick it away!"

"Nestrov has gotten rid of it!!!"

"In!"

"Pretty!"

"A breathtaking skill in long passes."

"Li Luo was involved in four goals, contributing two assists and two goals! A genius midfielder for the Chinese national team!"

"Exceptionally talented, exceptionally elegant, graceful, and a master strategist."

"Shining in Asia!"

He Wei and Coach Zhang were somewhat incoherent, their knowledge seemingly disrupted by the master's stunning performance.

Gao Lin turned around and jogged all the way from near the opponent's penalty area to the Chinese team's half, where he hugged the Chinese boy tightly.

Li Luo couldn't help but want to criticize the Chinese striker's footwork.

I wish I had two versions of myself on the national team.

One player made long passes from the backfield, while the other acted as a counter-attacking point in the frontfield.

but.

He would still feel happy if his country achieved victory.

finally.

The final whistle pierced the clamor of Brisbane Stadium.

Those two rapid "beep! beep beep~" sounds were like a thunderclap, cleaving away all the lingering anxiety.

There were no unbearably bitter three minutes.

China defeated Uzbekistan 4-1.

"The match is over."

"We've qualified."

The commentator's voice trembled uncontrollably.

Before the words were even finished, the already boiling crowd in the stands instantly surged into an even bigger wave.

I don't know who started it, but the familiar melody spread with the evening breeze, weaving into a chorus:

The five-starred red flag flutters in the wind.

"How resounding is the song of victory!"

The red flag is like a cluster of dancing flames.

The stands on all four sides transformed into a sea of ​​red, dyeing the night sky of this foreign land with the red of China.

The song contained sobs, roars, and the release of long-suppressed emotions; every note struck the heart, overlapping with the image of players embracing and weeping on the field.

At this moment, just seconds before the final whistle blew, it felt like an eternity of waiting.

The evening breeze in Brisbane was no longer chilly; it carried songs and cheers, sending the words "qualified" to every eagerly awaiting corner.

Li Luo lay on the grass as if he were lying on a sea of ​​red, gazing up at the stars and the moon in the sky.

(End of this chapter)