Pellegrini was injured again, and Roberto Mancini was the captain on the pitch.
After the team flags were exchanged, Roberto Mancini saw the coach pointing at Dejan Lu. He stuffed the flag into Dejan Lu's hand and said, "The boss wants you over there."
"Coach, did you need me for something?"
Dejan Lu walked over to the sideline and asked.
"This is for you. Wear it—it'll do you good."
As he spoke, Boskov handed him a pair of wristbands.
Dejan Lu immediately noticed the Orthodox crosses on them. Orthodox crosses had an extra bar, and the Serbs in Yugoslavia were all Orthodox Christians.
That also revealed Boskov's background.
Dejan Lu looked at Boskov in surprise. Football had always been superstitious, but Boskov had never shown much of it before.
Boskov gave an awkward laugh and explained, "I heard a UFO once appeared at this stadium, so I'd feel better if you wore them."
Dejan Lu nodded and put on the wristbands.
This was the era of the qigong craze, when there were even those so-called cosmic signal receiver dishes back home.
The successors were all obsessed with the supernatural, let alone a continent that believed in God.
The whole world held a certain reverence for things from outer space, so Dejan Lu understood what he meant.
No matter what, Boskov meant well.
When Dejan Lu returned, Roberto Mancini noticed the change on his wrist. He could not help glancing at the captain's armband on his own arm. He was no longer the coach's favorite player.
Beep—
Referee Rosario blew the whistle to start the match.
Both sides were quite cautious from kickoff. Neither Fiorentina, who started with the ball, nor Sampdoria showed much aggression.
That was the effect of having famous attacking players.
No matter how famous Inter Milan's defenders were, it did not matter much. Klinsmann was still a foreigner.
But Baggio was different.
His looks, his story, and his style of play were deeply loved throughout the Apennines.
Nappi chose to lay the ball back after receiving it.
Battistini immediately passed it to Dunga.
Dunga took the ball and looked up. Seeing Dejan Lu charging toward him, he quickly chose to pass backward.
Before the match, the coach had repeatedly stressed that they could not give that young Number Seven too many opportunities.
Dunga was highly disciplined in his execution and played a hard, rugged style completely at odds with Brazil's usual approach.
Precisely because of that, he understood Dejan Lu's danger even better.
In Brazil, you could dribble pointlessly to entertain the fans, but from the match footage, Dejan Lu's moves after receiving the ball might have been flashy, yet they always followed one core principle—getting the ball closer to goal.
That was dangerous.
After releasing the ball, he moved into position and stayed with Dejan Lu.
He believed he could strike the right balance between team defense and man-marking.
After Pari successfully won the ball, he immediately looked toward Dejan Lu. Dejan Lu discreetly waved a hand behind his back at him.
He intended to first get a feel for Fiorentina's defensive characteristics.
Then, the first time he got the ball, he would give them something big.
Pari could only pass to Lombardo. Lombardo received the ball with his back to goal, dragged it with his right foot, and turned in one motion. Buso rushed in, but Lombardo leaned back, drove with his lower leg, and flicked the ball with his toe to the retreating Roberto Mancini.
After receiving the ball, Roberto Mancini charged toward Fiorentina's penalty area like a mad dog, knocking the ball ahead with his right foot.
He knew full well that Italian National Team manager Vichini had to be in the stands today. This was his best chance to prove that he was stronger than Baggio.
Battistini was a step late and could only chase back alongside him. Seeing this, Pioli directly rushed out, his movement huge and aggressive.
Roberto Mancini deftly cut inside and got past Pioli, but he grew impatient before entering the box and pushed the ball too far ahead. Facchetti poked it away, and Celeste hoofed it out over the halfway touchline.
In an excited tone, Paolo Paolo said, "Pioli looked very promising when he was at Juventus, but after moving to Fiorentina, he does not seem to have improved at all. He has even regressed somewhat. Roberto Mancini is too anxious. He should learn from Dejan—sometimes patience is a virtue."
Vialli said, "No one can stay calm when facing Baggio. Perhaps Roberto Mancini has not realized there are five top attacking players on the pitch. He counts as one, Baggio counts as two, and Dejan counts as two as well."
Many Italians loved Baggio to the core. When he was sold later, riots and bloodshed even broke out in Fiorentina.
Of course, some people disliked him intensely.
A few minutes later, Baggio received the ball and successfully got to the byline. After repeatedly cutting past Mannini and making a fool of him, he chipped a cross straight into Pagliuca's arms.
Though the ball did not create much danger, it still left Mannini looking miserable.
Verchowod glanced at Baggio's back and said, "This won't do. We need to put some pressure on them."
"Isn't Roberto always attacking?"
Mannini said with his hands on his hips.
"Heh, he's obviously not as good as their Roberto. Marco, get forward and support Dejan. I'll handle this side myself," Verchowod said domineeringly.
Baggio was on Mannini and Carboni's side anyway. Even if Marco Lanna could not get back, he would not be under too much pressure.
Lanna hurriedly nodded.
Verchowod's big palm had not even come down yet. He did not want to take a slap.
After the ball was played out from the back, Marco Lanna charged straight forward.
Seeing him asking for the ball, Pari hesitated, but ultimately chose to switch it wide.
After receiving the ball, Lanna had no other ideas. He carried it at speed down the flank. The only thing he had to do was bring the ball into the attacking half and pass it to Dejan Lu.
Dunga: ...
Suddenly seeing a young player charging at him so aggressively, he was somewhat stunned.
Could this be another genius?
Lanna carried the ball well, with long strides and quick feet. He was a little like the later Kaká.
In that brief instant of hesitation from Dunga, Lanna sent the ball past him.
Not good!
Dunga did not even think about it. He immediately turned and ran back.
Dejan Lu, who had received the ball, could not help sighing. This guy really was worthy of becoming Brazil's captain.
Some players would instinctively turn and look back first, which would cost them a step in the recovery run, but Dunga was decisive.
Beneath his playing style that was so out of place with Brazil lay some impressive Football IQ.
Facchetti chose to mark Vialli, while Alberto Di Chiara simply gave up his position and provided support from the side.
Dejan Lu never found an opportunity to enter the penalty area. He carried the ball laterally all the way to the right byline, with Dunga following him the entire way.
This time, Celeste was the one providing cover beside him.
Mannini ran up to offer support, but Dejan Lu, receiving the ball side-on, had no intention of passing. He simply faced off with Dunga on the right flank.
Crack.
Dejan Lu suddenly moved. His left foot shifted one step, and his right foot dragged the ball behind him!
Right foot, still the right foot!
An outside-of-the-foot touch.
A twisted, behind-the-back bull tail.
"DEJAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Forget Dunga—even the many defenders inside the box were stunned.
No one had guessed Dejan Lu would handle the ball that way.
After Dejan Lu controlled it with the outside of his foot, the ball bounced up. Dunga reacted quickly and instinctively lifted his foot, but he only got a touch. Dejan Lu brought the ball down with his thigh, sent it to his right foot, and crossed immediately. Goalkeeper Landucci did not even have time to react before the ball flashed past him. Fortunately, Battistini, who had tracked back into the box, instantly launched himself forward and headed it out for a corner.
Only then did Rossi erupt with a thunderous shout in the broadcast booth: "Dejan!!!"
"A behind-the-back bull tail completely toyed with the iron wall from Brazil. Sometimes God is just so unfair. Even if you are a Brazilian player, you may not possess dazzling footwork, while sometimes your opponent's talent is simply overflowing, allowing him to express himself freely on the pitch. Just one simple little movement can set this world ablaze!"
Dunga's expression was not good. That move had looked incredible.
But being the backdrop for it was not a good thing.
He could already imagine how crazy the fans back home would go when the highlights of this match reached Brazil. It was just that the people in his hometown would not be cheering for him.
Roberto Mancini walked straight toward the corner flag.
Dejan Lu glanced over and chose to stand near the top of the penalty arc.
To his surprise, Dunga still stayed glued to him.
Beep.
After his run-up, Roberto Mancini swung in the corner. Facchetti rose first and headed the ball away.
Dejan Lu immediately turned to chase the ball, and Dunga also burst into motion.
The two ran one in front of the other, separated by only a single body length.
Verchowod came forward. He was closer to the ball and kept waving at Dejan Lu.
Dejan Lu turned immediately, and Dunga instantly sprinted after him.
But Verchowod saw Dejan Lu's hand pointing toward the right flank behind his back. The Tsar could not help feeling a chill for Dejan Lu's opponent.
How was an Earthling supposed to defend The Alien?
Before you continue