Japan had gone into halftime trailing by 57 points. That wasn't just ugly—it was a complete and utter slaughter.
Head coach Watanabe Yuta was furious.
Not at his players.
They had given it their all, but the gap in ability was simply too vast. There was nothing they could do about a performance like this.
Nor was he angry at himself.
He had done everything a coach could, but the gap between the two teams was just too great. There was nothing to be done.
He was angry at China Team. Angry at Wang Yi.
Yes, China Team was strong. Wang Yi really was incredible.
They couldn't beat them.
But couldn't they at least show them a little respect?
Wasn't there an old Chinese saying about not pursuing a defeated enemy too far?
Leave some room for others, and you might meet again on better terms.
China was powerful now, and they hadn't shown them the slightest bit of respect or dignity. So when Japan Team grew strong one day, when they produced a player as formidable as Wang Yi, and they faced China Team again, they would leave them not even half a shred of dignity or consideration!
But anger was anger, and fantasies were fantasies. He still had to deal with the reality in front of him.
Seeing that the Bushido spirit he had roused in his players was now shrinking away again, he had no choice but to invoke it once more and fire up their fighting spirit.
To be honest, the Bushido spirit these players had been taught since childhood could come in handy at certain times.
Even after China Team had beaten them into this state, the moment Watanabe Yuta brought up the Bushido spirit, the players lifted their heads, the light of determination beginning