Chapter Summaries

China national football team controlled much of the match against Wales, and Tang Ye helped Zhang Yuning score the opening goal. China led 1:0 as the chapter ended, with the team celebrating their breakthrough.

• Tang Ye combined with Fernando and helped China build attacks, while Wang Shenchao blocked Bell’s first dangerous run.
• Chi Zhongguo’s misplaced pass gave Wales a chance, but Wang Dalei cleared Willems’s cross before Moore could reach it.
• Tang Ye created a chance for Wu Lei with a Rabona pass, but Wu Lei hit the crossbar and Feng Xiaoting sent the rebound over.
• Escribá replaced Chi Zhongguo with Wu Xi in the 36th minute.
• Tang Ye won the ball, drove forward, and sent a long pass to Zhang Yuning, who turned and scored to put China ahead 1:0.

China defeated Wales 3–0 in their second World Cup group-stage match, with Tang Ye assisting twice and scoring once. The victory gave China six points from two matches and their first clean sheet in World Cup history.

• Tang Ye set up Wang Shenchao's goal, putting China 2–0 ahead before halftime.
• Escribá told China to keep using their wing-switching tactic, and Tang Ye stayed on the pitch despite his exhaustion.
• Tang Ye defended Wu Lei after Ben Davies knocked him down, then calmed himself after being reminded he already had a yellow card.
• Tang Ye combined with Wu Lei and Zhang Yuning before scoring to give China a 3–0 lead.
• China held on for the 3–0 win, earned their first World Cup clean sheet, and reached six group-stage points.

After defeating Wales 3-0, China national football team celebrated its second consecutive World Cup win and took the lead in Group C. The team’s knockout-stage chances looked strong, with avoiding defeat against Germany enough to secure qualification as group winners.

• Tang Ye scored once and assisted twice as China national football team beat Wales 3-0, and the players celebrated their second straight win in the locker room.
• Escribá praised China national football team at a press conference, prompting media accusations that he was pro-China.
• Tang Ye asked Boer to post messages discouraging comparisons between players, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview supporting Tang Ye reignited the controversy.
• China national football team finished the second round on six points, four goals ahead in goal difference, and first in Group C.
• Fans discussed qualification scenarios and concluded China would qualify for the knockout stage unless it lost to Germany while Argentina beat Wales.

China celebrated its two straight World Cup wins as Germany faced mounting pressure to beat China and advance. Before the decisive match, China prepared amid an injury concern and a Football Association investigation, while Tang Ye avoided questions about the scandal; Germany and China then kicked off their final group match with qualification still at stake.

• Germany fans surrounded the team bus after the loss to Argentina, and Flick promised that Germany would advance and would not lose to China.
• The Sun reported that PPBond’s value had surged during the World Cup and discussed Tang Ye’s growing fortune from his stake in the company.
• China trained in good spirits, and Wu Lei showed Tang Ye that “Tang Ye Bible” was leading a poll for the pre-match song.
• China learned that Jiang Guangtai was unlikely to return for the Germany match, while Chen Xuyuan and the Football Association secretary-general were placed under investigation.
• Tang Ye declined to comment on Chen Xuyuan’s situation, then Germany versus China and Argentina versus Wales began simultaneously with the group’s qualification places undecided.

China and Germany met in a decisive World Cup group-stage match after fans embarrassed Tang Ye by playing clips of his complaints about Germany over the stadium speakers. China started aggressively, but Germany’s high press made it difficult for them to move the ball out from the back.

• Chinese and German fans gathered for the match, and Tang Ye chatted with Joshua Kimmich about Jamal Musiala and Thomas Müller before the crowd’s hostility ended their conversation.
• The stadium played Tang Ye’s recorded complaints about Germany, prompting fans to chant his name while Tang Ye and the German players looked embarrassed.
• Coach Escribá warned China that Argentina was likely to beat Wales and urged his team to perform well and limit any defeat before Tang Ye focused for kickoff.
• China attacked immediately, moving the ball from Wei Shihao through Zhang Xizhe and Tang Ye to Wu Lei, but Rüdiger cleared the ensuing chance.
• Germany counterattacked, but Wang Shenchao disrupted Serge Gnabry’s pass, and Tang Ye helped Zhu Chenjie dispossess Ilkay Gündogan before Germany’s press trapped China deep.
• Tang Ye escaped Musiala with a nutmeg, but Leon Goretzka fouled him and received a yellow card.

Germany took the lead against China through İlkay Gündoğan, while Tang Ye created chances but could not score past Manuel Neuer. Germany then doubled their lead in the 39th minute when Niklas Süle’s header crossed the goal line before Wang Shenchao cleared it, leaving China under mounting pressure as Argentina led Wales 2:0.

• Gündoğan scored after Germany’s press forced a chance, putting Germany ahead 1:0 and leaving Wang Dalei and China’s defense frustrated.
• Tang Ye helped China build a promising attack, but Wei Shihao’s shot went straight into Manuel Neuer’s arms.
• Messi scored to give Argentina a 2:0 lead over Wales, worsening the stakes for China’s Group C qualification.
• Wang Dalei launched a long throw to start a counterattack, and Tang Ye’s curling shot was saved by Neuer.
• Germany attacked again in the 39th minute, and Süle’s header crossed the goal line before Wang Shenchao cleared it, making the score 2:0.

Germany led China 2:0 at halftime and needed more goals to reach the knockout stage, but Tang Ye scored a spectacular volley to pull China back into the match. With Argentina widening its lead over Wales, Germany pressed desperately, while Tang Ye helped create a late foul that the referee awarded only as a free kick.

• Süle headed Germany's second goal, putting China 2:0 behind as Tang Ye urged his teammates to stay focused.
• At halftime, Flick demanded that Germany score at least two more goals, while Escribá prepared China to use possession and attacking play to shore up its defense.
• Tang Ye linked up with his teammates as China built attacks, and he scored a volley from Wei Shihao's wayward cross to make it 2:1.
• Jamal Musiala tested Wang Dalei, but Argentina's third goal over Wales left Germany needing at least three more goals to improve its qualification prospects.
• Tang Ye set up Fernando near Germany's penalty area, where Lukas Klostermann brought Fernando down; the referee awarded China a free kick instead of checking VAR for a penalty, angering Tang Ye.

Tang Ye scored a late free kick to bring China level with Germany, and the 2–2 draw secured China first place in Group C and a place in the World Cup knockout stage. The chapter ended with Chinese fans celebrating while Germany's players faced elimination.

• After the referee denied China a penalty, Tang Ye scored directly from a free kick in the 81st minute to make it 2–2.
• China defended its lead as Germany pressed for the four goals it needed to qualify, while Tang Ye stopped Leroy Sané and Fernando carried the ball forward to run down the clock.
• Argentina beat Wales 4–0, but China finished the match with a draw and seven points, securing first place in Group C.
• The final whistle confirmed China's second-ever advance to the World Cup knockout stage, and Tang Ye celebrated with his teammates and the fans.
• Tang Ye briefly comforted Joshua Kimmich as the German players stood dejected, while a banner in the stands declared that China had reached the knockout stage.

Tang Ye celebrated China’s dramatic draw against Germany, which sent China through the group stage as Group C winners. As China waited to learn its round-of-sixteen opponent, Tang Ye urged Rodri to make sure Spain did not lose to Japan.

• Tang Ye and Escribá celebrated China’s qualification, while teammates held Tang Ye down and polished his shoe as fans cheered.
• China finished Group C with seven points, ahead of Argentina, and secured a seeded place in the knockout stage.
• Hajime Moriyasu praised Tang Ye as Japan’s role model and declared Japan’s goal was to win the 2030 World Cup.
• Tang Ye said he expected China to face Japan rather than Spain in the round of sixteen, then argued with teammates that Japan could not beat Spain.
• Tang Ye called Rodri before Spain’s match against Japan and urged him not to lose, prompting Rodri to fire up his teammates.

After China advanced from the group stage as leaders, Tang Ye streamed Japan versus Spain and confidently predicted a Spanish win, expecting China to face Japan in the knockout round. Rodri scored, but Daizen Maeda equalized late, leaving Spain second and setting up China’s Round of 16 match against La Roja.

• Tang Ye told Escribá he had expected China to finish second in its group, then privately agreed with Erik that China could beat Japan in the knockout stage.
• Tang Ye streamed Japan versus Spain and argued that Japan could not get past Spain’s midfield, especially Rodri.
• Tang Ye watched Spain struggle and celebrated when Rodri scored a header from a corner, giving Spain a 1-0 halftime lead.
• Tang Ye hoped Spain would hold the lead so China could face Japan, while Zhang Yuning joked with him about their chances.
• Gavi’s mistake helped Japan build an attack, and Daizen Maeda scored a late equalizer as Tang Ye yelled at the screen and ended the stream.
• Japan secured first place in the group, leaving China to face Spain in the Round of 16.

Japan drew with Spain and advanced as group winners, while China’s Round of 16 opponent became Spain instead of Japan. Rodri admitted to Tang Ye that Spain had deliberately avoided risking a win, then struggled with the prospect of standing in China’s way.

• Moriyasu praised Japan’s progress, said he would rather face Argentina than China, and promised Japan would catch up to China by 2026 and pursue the 2030 World Cup.
• Jason accused Spain of deliberately playing for a draw against Japan, and the completed bracket paired China with Spain and Japan with Argentina in the Round of 16.
• Rodri called Tang Ye and admitted Spain had drawn with Japan to avoid Argentina, while insisting he had played wholeheartedly and scored.
• Rodri told Tang Ye that Japan had studied Spain closely, and Tang Ye accepted that China would now have to face Spain in the knockout stage.
• After the call, Rodri lamented that he had become an obstacle to Tang Ye’s hopes of taking China to its first World Cup quarterfinal, while Olmo urged him to accept the draw.

China national football team arrived in Al Rayyan to prepare for its round-of-16 match against Spain, while Escribá discussed the challenge and Tang Ye encouraged Zhang Yuning. The chapter left Zhang Yuning with a personal good-luck video from Erling Haaland ahead of the knockout match.

• China national football team arrived in Al Rayyan, where Spain's plane had parked beside theirs, and the players joked about Zhang Yuning's confidence and hairstyle.
• Escribá told reporters that Spain would be a difficult opponent, noted its young players and potential weaknesses, and said Jiang Guangtai might return for the round of 16.
• Tang Ye led the group-stage scoring list with five goals, while fans debated his chances of winning major World Cup awards if China advanced further.
• Tang Ye arranged for Erling Haaland to send Zhang Yuning an encouragement video, in which Haaland praised Zhang's talent and greater potential.

As China prepared to face Spain in the World Cup Round of 16, Tang Ye faced mounting doubts about the team’s chances and his own resolve. Escribá rallied the players before kickoff, and the chapter ended as Tang Ye and Rodri’s midfield duel was about to begin.

• Cristiano Ronaldo defended Tang Ye and China national football team at a press conference, while criticizing Erik ten Hag, and James also posted support for Tang Ye.
• Escribá and Mati concluded that China needed an unconventional tactic against Spain, while Tang Ye and Zhang Yuning discussed the pressure and their hopes of advancing.
• The Netherlands defeated the United States 3-0 to become the first team to reach the quarterfinals, as commentators highlighted Tang Ye’s coming contest with Rodri.
• Spain fans criticized Tang Ye for choosing Manchester United over Barcelona, while pre-match reports noted Jiang Guangtai’s return and Spain manager Flick’s confidence.
• Escribá urged China’s players to play their best football and chase a miracle, and the teams’ lineups were announced before the match.
• The broadcast showed a poster of Tang Ye and Rodri facing off as the China-Spain match approached kickoff.

Tang Ye led China against Spain in a World Cup knockout match, where the team weathered early pressure and then scored through Tang Ye’s spectacular free-kick rebound. China took a 1–0 lead, leaving Spain to chase the match.

• Rodri greeted Tang Ye in the tunnel before the two captains prepared to face each other.
• Spain opened aggressively, creating several chances, but Dani Olmo hit the post and Gavi missed the rebound.
• Tang Ye urged China to keep its defensive shape as Spain controlled possession and pressed forward.
• Tang Ye drove China’s attack and won a direct free kick after Busquets pulled him down.
• Unai Simón saved Tang Ye’s curling free kick, but Wang Shenchao recovered the rebound and Wei Shihao poked it toward Tang Ye.
• Tang Ye struck a Rabona past Spain’s defenders and goalkeeper to give China the lead.

Tang Ye gave China an early lead against Spain with a stunning Rabona, but Dani Olmo equalized before halftime. The teams went into the break at 1:1, with Tang Ye frustrated and Rodri warning Spain to stop underestimating China.

• Tang Ye scored a spectacular Rabona in the 20th minute to put China ahead, then celebrated by summoning the Flame Dragon Armor.
• Tang Ye urged China to attack while Spain struggled, but Rodri stopped his advance and Wei Shihao’s shot was saved.
• Dani Olmo scored for Spain after a blocked shot rebounded to Marco Asensio, bringing the score to 1:1.
• The referee reviewed Jordi Alba’s challenge on Tang Ye with VAR and ruled that China would not receive a penalty.
• Tang Ye fired toward the top corner in stoppage time, but Spain’s goalkeeper saved it as the first half ended.
• Rodri criticized Spain’s form in the locker room and warned his teammates that Tang Ye would seize every opportunity.

Tang Ye helped China rally from a 1:2 deficit to draw Spain 2:2, forcing extra time in their World Cup knockout match. As the teams prepared to continue, Tang Ye questioned Rodri about whether Spain had truly held back against Japan.

• At halftime, Tang Ye complained that Alaba’s shove should have earned a penalty, then warned Escribá that Rodri might move back to defensive midfield.
• Busquets received a yellow card for pulling Tang Ye down, and China created several attacks after Fernando replaced Zhang Xizhe.
• Morata scored in the 67th minute to give Spain a 2:1 lead, and Rodri moved into defensive midfield as Tang Ye had predicted.
• Tang Ye beat Rodri and set up Zhang Yuning, who passed to Wu Lei for the 77th-minute equalizer.
• China and Spain finished regular time tied 2:2, and Tang Ye covered 14.1 kilometers before extra time.
• Tang Ye asked Rodri whether Spain had really held back against Japan, then wondered if Rodri would blame him if China lost.

China held off Spain in extra time, and Tang Ye assisted Fernando’s late corner-kick goal to give China a 3:2 victory. China advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time, and Tang Ye celebrated as the final whistle sounded.

• Rodri recalled Tang Ye’s warning about Spain’s strength and urged his teammates to finish the match in extra time.
• China defended with five players and used switches of play to run down the clock as Spain pressed for a goal.
• Tang Ye took a corner in the 111th minute, and Fernando scored to put China ahead 3:2.
• Fernando received a yellow card for time-wasting while China tried to protect its lead.
• Chinese fans sang Blooming Life as Tang Ye and his teammates held on through the final minutes.
• The referee blew the final whistle, confirming China’s 3:2 victory over Spain and its first World Cup quarterfinal appearance.

China defeated Spain 3-2 in extra time to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in team history, with Tang Ye earning Player of the Match. As celebrations spread, Tang Ye briefly sought out Rodri, while Escribá and Fernando reflected on the victory; China’s next opponent was the Netherlands.

• Tang Ye celebrated the win with Escribá, then thanked the fans and joined them in declaring that reaching the round of sixteen was no longer enough.
• The match report credited Tang Ye with a goal, an assist, and 16.2 kilometers covered as China secured its first-ever World Cup quarterfinal berth.
• Tang Ye waited outside Spain’s dressing room and exchanged a few words with Rodri, who said they could talk privately later.
• Escribá defended the victory as the result of hard work, said he felt born to coach China, and began looking ahead to the Netherlands.
• Fernando said Tang Ye had helped him feel part of the team and that he had learned Tang Ye’s celebrations.
• Chinese fans celebrated outside the stadium, and one fan shouted that the China national football team was fucking awesome.

After China national football team reached the World Cup quarterfinals by defeating Spain, the players joked about their historic run while Tang Ye worried that even his stamina above 100 might not be enough against the Netherlands. The chapter left Escribá trying to identify any advantage China had before their quarterfinal match.

• Chinese fans celebrated the victory over Spain with campus streaking and costumed stunts that spread across TikTok.
• The quarterfinal lineup was set, and media debated whether China’s success reflected the strength of Asian football as a whole.
• FIFA named Tang Ye’s goal the best goal and Tang Ye the best player of the Round of 16.
• On the team bus, Tang Ye and Wu Lei joked about coaching and winning a World Cup after retirement.
• Tang Ye’s stamina increased to 88, but he doubted his boosted stamina above 100 would suffice against the Netherlands.
• Escribá discussed the timing of China’s stadium walk-through, then struggled to name further advantages for the team.

Japan’s team returned home determined to improve, while China prepared for its World Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands amid fatigue and uncertainty over Wang Dalei’s form. Tang Ye then received a staggering tax-free offer from Saudi Arabia’s PIF, but postponed any decision until after the World Cup.

• Hajime Moriyasu admitted Japan had fallen short of its quarterfinal goal and vowed to challenge China at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and pursue the 2030 World Cup.
• China trained for the Netherlands as Escribá urged the players to restore pressure and deliver their best, while Wang Dalei and his teammates worried about form and recovery.
• Reports said Al Hilal had offered Manchester United £350 million for Tang Ye and proposed a tax-free annual salary of $300 million, prompting Manchester United to plan a response.
• Before China’s match against the Netherlands, Mohammed Jose met Tang Ye in the dressing room and raised the offer to $500 million a year, with the possibility of paying $1 billion upfront for a two-year contract.
• Tang Ye thanked José for the offer but said they should discuss it in detail after the World Cup.