Tang Ye shook off Wataru Endo and moved closer to the opponent's goal.
A counterattack after winning the ball in the frontcourt—this was clearly a good attacking opportunity for the China national football team.
Now it was a matter of how they would seize it!
Wu Lei accelerated toward the byline, while Wang Shenchao and Zhang Yuning combined on the other side.
The China national football team players on the pitch did everything they could to create more passing options for Tang Ye.
That was Escribá's instruction, no doubt about it.
But the players quickly discovered a problem.
Every China national football team player making a forward run was being marked!
Damn!
Tang Ye cursed. He had not expected Japan's defense to be this good even during a counterattack.
By conventional logic, the China national football team had to produce complex crisscrossing runs in the final third at a time like this, ensuring Tang Ye had enough passing lanes.
However, Tang Ye obviously could not demand the same things from his national-team teammates that he did from his club teammates.
I'll try it myself first!
Having made up his mind, Tang Ye moved toward Maya Yoshida.
Zhang Yuning came over to help, but it had no obvious effect.
Smack!
He found Elkeson first.
As Elkeson returned the ball, Tang Ye accelerated.
He poked the ball with his toe, but it struck Maya Yoshida.
He had planned to nutmeg him, but it did not work!
!
After recovering the ball, Tang Ye changed his approach and slowed down near the top of the arc.
Maya Yoshida was smart. Rather than retreating into the box, he chose to engage Tang Ye physically.
"Receive it!"
Escribá was getting a little anxious.
Zhang Xizhe and Wu Xi!
Tang Ye passed back to Wu Xi.