What Do You Mean, This Is a Tiger-Style Shot? (Double Chapter)

China's livestream.

The barrage of comments flooded the screen in perfect unison.

[Leo Kang is fucking awesome! He steamrolled three little Japanese punks with ease!]

[Takumi Minamino and Wataru Endo are down on the ground and can't get back up.]

[That's too exaggerated, isn't it? I thought Leo Kang would play soft, sissy football in the Spain National Football Team, but he's still this fierce! So violent—I love it!]

[Seeing this generation of young Spaniards, I have a feeling the fallen Matador Dynasty is about to rise again. It's terrifying. Tactical competition in world football is so intense—when will the China National Football Team ever make it into the World Cup knockout stage?]

Ajinomoto Stadium. Tens of thousands of Japanese fans were stunned.

Most of them did not seem concerned at all about whether the Japanese players had been injured.

Instead, they stared fixedly at the Asian player wearing the red number 98 jersey.

Could a yellow-skinned man possess such a beastly physique?

Halilhodžić did not roar at his players or protest to the referee.

Instead, he fell unusually silent.

The style of football Leo Kang had displayed in this match.

Reminded him of his national team teammates during his playing days.

That had been the glorious era of Yugoslavian football.

On the other side.

Del Bosque opened his eyes and excitedly walked to the technical area. "He's different," he murmured.

Miñano asked in confusion, "Boss? What's different? Yes, Leo is very strong physically! He's also taller than the other kids."

The Spain manager pondered for a moment, then smiled, shook his head, and turned back toward the bench.

It was hard to find a template for this type of midfielder in the history of Spanish football. How exactly should he be used?

On the pitch.

Takumi Minamino and Wataru Endo groaned in pain, while Takuma Asano was covered in grass clippings and mud.

Beep!

The referee stopped the match.

"Let's see how this is ruled. There was definitely nothing wrong with Leo Kang's challenge—it was a fair physical contest."

"The referee has shown a yellow card to each of the three Japanese players!"

"The standard of officiating in this match is rather strict!"

"The medical staff are coming on. Takumi Minamino is getting back up, Wataru Endo is being carried off on a stretcher! Takuma Asano appears to be fine!"

The other Japanese players did not argue with the referee.

A trace of fear appeared in Takumi Minamino's eyes as he looked at Leo Kang.

Dennis still felt lingering fear. Good thing I didn't provoke Leo Kang too badly when we first assembled...

The match resumed.

The tempo seemed to slow down.

Under Dennis's control, Spain did not continue their ceaseless possession-based advance.

Instead, they passed the ball around near the center circle.

The youngsters began strolling.

Leo Kang dropped back a few steps and received Dennis's pass.

Deulofeu drifted sideways, drawing Musashi Suzuki away.

When Takumi Minamino and Takuma Asano tried to press him.

The ball left Leo Kang's left foot.

It rolled toward the advancing Bellerín.

With one touch.

The ball arrived at Dennis's feet again.

The cycle repeated.

No matter how frantically Japan's midfielders and forwards pressed, they could not take the ball from Spain's youngsters.

The dull scene gradually made people sleepy.

"This is the sight Spain know best. Once they take the lead, they deliberately slow the pace of the match."

"The spacing between every player, the passing lanes, the timing, and the weight of each pass are all near-perfect."

"This style may look simple, but it actually demands an extremely high level of match-reading ability from the players. They need a deep understanding of time and space, while the entire formation must keep moving at a steady rhythm."

"It's difficult for other teams to maintain this style under sustained pressure!"

At that moment, Leo Kang realized that not being the midfield core felt rather relaxing.

It was just like the possession game at La Masia Academy, where he could play with his eyes closed.

Dennis was the most exhausted one.

In the entire formation, only he kept sprinting relentlessly, constantly forming three-point passing options with his strolling teammates in defense and attack.

For the Spain National Football Team's tactical system, possession was the best defense.

Even De Gea ran outside his penalty area and received the ball twice.

But he was nowhere near as bold as Claudio Bravo, and quickly retreated back into the box.

Time ticked away.

The football kept moving back and forth between the red shirts.

Sketching out precise, logical lines.

The Japanese fans shouted themselves hoarse, yet their players still could not complete a successful press.

Takumi Minamino was like a little dog.

Constantly sprinting back and forth to press.

His stamina drained rapidly.

He had never encountered an opponent like this even at Red Bull Salzburg.

Halilhodžić sat back down on the bench, arms crossed over his chest as he watched helplessly.

Miñano desperately wanted to yawn. He fought to control his expression and put on the air of a world-class manager.

Morata began warming up, eager to get on. Japan's local midfield and attack are fucking awful!

In the 45th minute.

Junya Ito and Yosuke Kashiwagi were positioned too far forward.

Using God's Perspective.

Leo Kang spotted the gap between Japan's midfield and defense.

He made a gesture.

Spain's tempo instantly accelerated!

All the youngsters began to run!

The ball moved faster and faster!

An exquisite ink painting was drawn across Japan's half.

The smooth, flowing possession-based advance had returned!

Only the Japanese fans seated high in the stands could truly sense the beauty of that passing game!

"Against all expectations!"

"Little Denis is the static core of this Spain National Football Team!"

"Leo Kang! He is the initiator of the attack! The engine! The gear!"

"Del Bosque is too wise! He has split Xavi's responsibilities between two players!"

Japan's defensive line began to panic!

Without the protection of their midfield shield, the defenders found it difficult to directly deal with such a fierce attack.

Tomoaki Makino had a strong urge to press forward.

Without hesitation, he charged at the ball-carrying Deulofeu.

As the captain of J League powerhouse Urawa Red Diamonds, he had great confidence in his tackling ability!

Unfortunately.

He was facing Deulofeu, currently fifth in the world for foot frequency!

Deulofeu dipped his shoulder and stepped across.

Easily sending Tomoaki Makino sprawling!

"Wonderful!"

"Deulofeu's agility during changes of direction is absolutely world-class!"

"A gap in Japan's defense."

Maya Yoshida quickly covered over!

He had faced Spanish prodigies several times in the Premier League and understood their characteristics!

He did not commit to a tackle lightly!

Deulofeu leaned his upper body left, then flicked the ball behind his standing leg with his heel.

The ball was knocked toward the edge of the penalty arc.

"Leo Kang!"

"He's going to sho—"

Before Duan Xuan could finish.

Leo Kang's left foot had already lashed out fiercely!

The football deformed in an inconceivable way.

Bang!

Accompanied by an explosive boom!

The ball screamed toward the far corner of Japan's goal!

Its force was fierce and domineering!

Like a tiger bursting from its cage!

Violent spin.

Terrifying speed.

The ball became a black blur in midair.

Shusaku Nishikawa stood frozen, with no time to make any kind of save.

In all his professional years in the J League and Belgium, he had never seen such a horrifying shot!

This is Spain's second team?

Even their full-strength starting lineup might not have anyone capable of a shot like that!

After the ball whipped up the white net.

It continued spinning wildly!

Only falling to the ground several seconds later!

0:2!!!

Ajinomoto Stadium fell silent for a moment.

Then a childish voice suddenly cried out, "Tiger Strike!!!"

Immediately after.

The gazes of all the Japanese fans upon Leo Kang became increasingly fervent.

"Tiger Strike!!!"

"Tiger Strike!!!"

"Tiger Strike!!!"

Takumi Minamino's mouth fell open in shock.

He had always believed he was not much inferior to Europe's talented players. He had never even regarded a weak side like the China National Football Team as worthy of attention, and even before facing Spain, he had not cared much.

Until today.

His pride was completely shattered.

That Leo... he seems to be of Chinese descent...

"Beautiful!"

"It's in!"

"The ultimate in violent aesthetics!"

"Chinese-descended youngster Leo Kang! With an earth-shaking thunderbolt of a shot! He has blasted open Japan's goal once again!"

"Shusaku Nishikawa had no time to react at all!"

"A brace! A perfect debut for Leo Kang in the Spain National Football Team!"

"He has helped Spain extend their lead."

China's livestream.

The big screen replayed the entire scoring sequence.

The comments flooded the screen again.

[Leo Kang is fucking incredible! That was insanely awesome! He's practically an anomaly in sissy football!]

Have those little Japanese fans gone crazy? Why do they look like they're cheering? Their own team is behind, and they're acting like this? Freaks!

Leo Kang started that faster attack, and Deulofeu's rabona assist was fucking amazing too!

It's so conflicting. Such a great Chinese-descended player, but he won't play for our China National Football Team. I want to watch him play, but I don't want him representing another national team.

Conflicting my ass. If he came back to play for the China National Football Team, he wouldn't be able to make it.

By the sidelines.

Halilhodžić wore a complicated expression.

Winning or losing did not seem to fill his thoughts.

"Why can Spain produce this kind of genius too?"

"This is clearly something only Yugoslav football should possess."

On the other side.

Del Bosque rushed excitedly to the touchline and raised both fists!

He could no longer stay calm.

Leo Kang possessed something the Spain National Football Team lacked!

Xavi's successor?

Dennis might become Xavi's successor!

But once Leo Kang matured over the next few years, he would undoubtedly usher in a new dynasty for La Roja!

Miñano excitedly shouted at Leo Kang, "Leo! We're amazing!"

In a corner of the stands, a small child in a dark blue jersey said sadly, "Mr. Okada, Spain's number 98 is Asian too. Why is he..."

The middle-aged man lowered his head, thought for a moment, then slowly said, "Watch the match carefully. He may be the next great trend in European football! La Masia Academy has produced too many geniuses. Leo is clearly their new experiment from the past decade or so! Don't be sad! We must learn from the strong. Defeat is not shameful. Japanese football is on the rise! Sooner or later, we'll be able to defeat them!"

The child's expression gradually became firm. "Yeah! Learn from those stronger than us! Just as our ancestors learned from China! Sooner or later, in football too, we'll stand at the pinnacle of the world!"

Beep! Beep-beep~

The referee then blew the whistle for the end of the first half.

The Japan National Football Team players walked off the pitch dejectedly.

At the edge of the center circle, Miñano hugged each of the young Spain players in turn.

"Kids! We were incredible!"

"Especially Leo! His two goals put us in control!"

Morata looked disdainful. Was beating a weak Japan National Football Team really worth getting so excited about? Of course, Leo Kang really was great. He was a lot like me at seventeen!

Japan National Football Team dressing room.

Halilhodžić angrily pounded the tactics board.

"Our first conceded goal can be forgiven! It was the coaching staff's responsibility! We weren't prepared enough before the match. We didn't expect these youngsters to play possession football too!"

"The second goal! That should never have happened! Where was the problem? Junya Ito and Yosuke Kashiwagi were too impatient and failed to notice that they had pushed too far forward! Tomoaki Makino was far too rash. Your defensive ideas were not unified with Maya Yoshida's!"

"Damn it, if we keep playing like this, we won't just concede two goals!"

"In the second half! Give up the forty-meter zone, compress the space, and look for chances to catch them on the counter in the thirty-meter zone!"

Even the interpreter was startled by the furious roar.

He did his best to relay the Japan National Football Team manager's tactical instructions.

The players were angry but dared not speak.

They did not like this tough, stubborn new manager at all.

Spain dressing room.

The atmosphere was very relaxed.

Del Bosque was not there.

Miñano had held it in for a long time, but he had no idea what to say.

Talk tactics? These gifted youngsters seemed to understand tactics even better than he did!

He was just a fitness coach who had been made permanent.

All he could do was offer some encouraging platitudes. Looking at the eager Morata, he had already decided on his first substitution.

Dennis elbowed Leo Kang. "I won't get the chance to return to Barcelona until next year, maybe even the year after. How about you transfer to Villarreal during the winter window? The two of us can absolutely give Barcelona and Real Madrid hell in La Liga!"

Deulofeu sprayed water all over Bellerín's face. "Give Barcelona hell? You've still got La Masia blood running through your veins, damn it!"

Dennis immediately corrected him. "You've got it wrong! I came through Celta's academy! I only went to Barcelona in 2013!"

"Good evening, viewers! Welcome back!"

"Bringing you an international A-level friendly!"

"Japan National Football Team versus Spain National Football Team!"

"Del Bosque has made his first substitution!"

"Morata replaces Dennis!"

"With that, the match seems to have even less suspense!"

"Morata came through Atlético Madrid's academy and performed outstandingly at Real Madrid. He is now Juventus's leading striker! This August, a torn muscle in his left calf was set to sideline him for thirty days and cause him to miss the opening match of the 2015–16 Serie A season! But it appears that he has now recovered from injury! We look forward to his performance in this match!"

No time to thank everyone—I have to get back to work. I'll thank you all in the next chapter.