Soccer: From the 2005 U-20 World Cup
Chapter 3

Kakabenka?

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26d ago•

Kakabenka?

"What a beautiful goal!"

"That switch of play was pure genius!"

"What incredible vision! How did he spot Gao Lin's position?"

"Brother Linzi is fucking amazing!"

"Gao Lin's pass was great too, full of flair!"

"Is no one going to praise King Dong? That physique of his—damn, he's really built!"

"Of course. How could a man Sir Ferguson had his eye on possibly be bad?"

Seeing China Youth Team finally score, the fans back home watching in front of their televisions all breathed a sigh of relief and lavished praise on everyone involved in the attack.

Although Dong Fangzhuo's finish had been brilliant, quite a few fans credited Lin Feng with the lion's share of the goal.

Without him spotting the defensive gap on the opponent's left and delivering such an accurate long pass, China Youth Team would never have had such a good scoring opportunity.

After seeing Lin Feng perform so outstandingly, all the fans who had questioned him earlier fell silent.

Quite a few people even raised a soul-searching question:

Why hadn't such a good player been brought on earlier?

In many people's eyes, if Klopp had not kept Lin Feng in reserve and had sent him on sooner, perhaps this match would have been wrapped up long ago instead of turning out like this.

Just imagine it: if Lin Feng and Chen Tao formed a double Attacking Midfielder pairing, this midfield would be invincible!

At the 2002 World Cup, the Brazil Team had used a double Attacking Midfielder tactic with Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. The strength of that Brazil Team had been plain for the whole world to see.

Of course, that was merely the fans' fantasy. This China Youth Team was far too far behind that Brazilian side.

At best, Lin Feng and Chen Tao's midfield partnership could be called a youthful, budget version of Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.

Watching the China Youth Team players celebrate wildly by the sidelines, the German team players were utterly dejected.

Victory had originally been within reach, and they had already been preparing for the semifinal.

But with their opponents' goal, they watched helplessly as the victory that was practically in their hands flew away!

When China Youth Team scored, there had been less than a minute left in the match. They had truly been only a few dozen seconds away.

For young players whose mentality had not fully matured, the shock of suddenly falling from heaven into hell was simply too much.

Injury time ended with the two sides tied 3:3, and the match was dragged into extra time.

Because there was too little time, the players did not have time to return to the locker room and instead gathered around the Head Coach by the sidelines to discuss their extra-time tactics.

The five-minute break quickly ended, and the players from both sides returned to the pitch.

Perhaps because their mentality had taken a severe blow, or perhaps because China Youth Team's substitutions had greatly increased their combat power.

Once extra time began, China Youth Team's morale soared and their attacks came in waves.

The German team, on the other hand, was low on morale and riddled with anxiety.

Before long, China Youth Team had completely seized the initiative and began pinning the German team back.

This sight made the Chinese fans who had just been looked down upon by German fans feel immensely vindicated, their backs straightening considerably.

"What fucking European powerhouse? They're nothing special!"

"Exactly! World Cup runners-up, my ass. They only got there by riding the South Koreans' coattails!"

During the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, a certain country had used underhanded tactics to upset and eliminate top European teams such as Italy and Spain, allowing the German team to face the weakest of the final four—South Korea team—in the semifinal.

After being warned by Football Emperor Beckenbauer, their opponents did not dare continue using off-field tricks, and the German team ultimately advanced to the final.

The German team at that World Cup had not been a top-tier powerhouse, and they had lost the final cleanly, so many fans called them the weakest runners-up in history.

Many believed that if Italy or Spain, rather than South Korea team, had advanced to the semifinal, it would have been hard to say whether the German team could have reached the final at all.

Ever since then, many people had mocked the Germans, saying their runners-up finish had been picked up for free.

Apparently unable to tolerate his team being so passive, the German team's Head Coach waved his hand and told the players to implement a high press.

Compared to Asians, Europeans had obvious physical advantages. Relying on their superiority in Physical Confrontation and stamina, they had always been able to gain the upper hand against Asian Teams.

But this time, the German team's rabid pressing not only failed, it also exposed the gaps behind them.

In the 95th minute, China Youth Team defensive midfielder Cui Peng won the ball back in midfield and immediately passed it to Lin Feng without hesitation.

Although Lin Feng had not fought alongside them for very long, he had already earned his teammates' recognition and trust through his outstanding performances.

By the time Cui Peng passed the ball, Lin Feng was already accelerating into a sprint.

After receiving the ball, his speed did not drop in the slightest. He even continued accelerating.

This terrifying acceleration left the fans who had come to watch the match wide-eyed.

"A counterattack from the Chinese team! Lin Feng is charging forward with the ball!"

"What incredible speed! He's beaten German team number seven Benetzki, then shaken off number four Matip, who was trying to catch up! He's still accelerating! He's like a violent gale, toppling the German War Machine to the ground!"

From above the pitch, one could see a red figure amid a sea of white, like a sharp blade cutting through every obstacle and charging onward without pause.

Nearby German team players rushed at him one after another, yet like waves crashing against a dam, they were all beaten back.

No one could stop him!

Lin Feng sprinted forward with the ball, running faster and faster until even the German team's deepest defender was completely left behind by sheer pace!

That terrifying speed and that immensely forceful attacking style.

It sent the fans' blood boiling and drove them into a frenzy!

At that moment, every fan in the stadium stood up. Almost no one remained seated.

Everyone craned their necks and watched the German team's goal in eager anticipation.

No matter how dazzling the run had been, it would still be useless if it did not end in a goal.

But if this ball went in, its meaning would be completely different. It might even become the finest goal of this Youth World Cup!

"Come on, Brother Linzi!"

"Charge, Brother Lin!"

"Don't chicken out! Fuck them up!"

Countless domestic fans watching the match in front of their televisions were also cheering Lin Feng on.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Lin Feng shook off the last defender, charged into the penalty area with the ball, and went One-on-One!

The German team goalkeeper chose to come off his line.

His choice was correct, but it did not matter.

The instant the goalkeeper rushed out, Lin Feng had already swung his right leg and smashed it into the ball.

Bang!

The football shot toward the goal like a cannonball leaving its barrel.

The German team goalkeeper only felt a blur before his eyes. Before he could see anything clearly, he heard a crisp swish.

The ball was in!

The score became 4:3, and the Chinese team had taken the lead once again.

Now, it was the German team that was behind.

Yet no one at the stadium or in front of a television cared about that result anymore.

Everyone had been stunned by the way Lin Feng had scored that goal.

Too brutal!

No one had expected that this young man, who looked refined and scholarly, with a handsome face and an elegant, easygoing air about him, possessed such a violent side.

The stark contrast immediately reminded people of another player in the Football World—Milan's Hotshot, Kaka!

End of Chapter
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