July 9, 17:00, Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil.
World Cup semifinal: China faced Argentina.
Before the match, Real Madrid officially announced that the club's honorary president, Argentine legend Di Stéfano, had just passed away in Madrid at the age of eighty-eight after suffering a heart attack.
The players of both China and Argentina wore black armbands and observed a moment of silence for Di Stéfano before the match.
Once the two teams lined up, everyone wore solemn expressions, especially Yang Yang.
He played for Real Madrid and had interacted with Di Stéfano frequently. In recent years, the legendary player's health had never been good. When Real Madrid celebrated winning the title before, he had already attended in a wheelchair. He had also given Yang Yang plenty of advice about his career, helping him considerably.
His sudden death left Yang Yang feeling quite upset.
Football was heartless, and professional football was even more brutal, but there were feelings between people.
Just like he and Messi: they were opponents, enemies, but also friends.
Argentina still lined up in their 4-3-3 Formation. Messi remained in the attacking midfield position, with Higuaín leading the line, Lavezzi on the left, and Enzo Pérez on the right. The Double Defensive Midfielders were Mascherano and Biglia. From left to right, the back line was Rojo, Gare, Demichelis, and Zabaleta, with Romero in goal.
China's lineup for this match was somewhat unexpected. Queiroz deployed a five-three-two formation.
Wang Dalei was in goal. The back five consisted of Ren Hang, Mei Fang, Feng Xiaoting, Zhang Linpeng, and Zhang Chengdong. The three midfielders were Zhou Haibin, Zheng Zhi, and Chen Tao, while Yang Yang and Gao Lin formed the front two.
Unlike the previous starting lineup, Queiroz had dropped a winger this time and brought on a defender.