Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 160: 160. The Korean Team’s “Sportsmanship”

Check out advanced Chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari

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[T/N: I don’t know if this information is true or not, just gloss over this]

”CCTV, dear viewers, you are now watching a live broadcast of a 2014 World Cup Group H match... the showdown between South Korea and the Belgium Team. The match has already started. South Korea, wearing red jerseys and white shorts, is attacking from left to right. The Belgium Team, in their black away kits, is attacking from right to left. First, let’s look at the starting lineups...”

Considering this match started at 4 AM, many fans set alarms and got up in the middle of the night to watch. They would turn on the TV or open a webpage, wasting some time and missing the pre-match introductions. Commentators generally wait for a less intense moment in the opening to announce the starting lineups.

”South Korea is using a 4-2-3-1 formation; Goalkeeper is No. 21 Kim Seung-gyu. Defenders: No. 3 Yun Suk-young, No. 5 Kim Young-gwon, No. 20 Hong Jeong-ho, No. 12 Lee Yong. Midfielders: No. 16 Ki Sung-yueng, No. 14 Han Kook-young, No. 17 Lee Chung-yong, No. 13 Koo Ja-cheol, No. 9 Son Heung-min. Forward: No. 18 Kim Shin-wook.”

”Also on the bench are players like Jung Sung-ryong, Kim Chang-soo, Park Chu-young, Ji Dong-won, and others.”

”Next, let’s look at the Belgium Team. Lance, the young Chinese player who came off the bench and performed excellently in the last match, is in the starting lineup today. Goalkeeper: No. 1 Thibaut Courtois. Defenders: No. 2 Toby Alderweireld, No. 3 Thomas Vermaelen, No. 4 Vincent Kompany, No. 18 Nicolas Lombaerts.”

”Midfielders: No. 19 Moussa Dembélé, No. 8 Marouane Fellaini, No. 7 Kevin De Bruyne, No. 39 Lance, No. 10 Eden Hazard. Forward: No. 9 Romelu Lukaku...”

Just by looking at the Belgium lineup, it’s clear that coach Marc Wilmots is serious. He has fielded his strongest 11 players on paper! Lance definitely has the ability to secure a starting spot!

Coupled with his other teammates in the front field, it looks very luxurious.

”Director Gong, Lance has moved from a forward position to an attacking midfielder today. Is there any particular reason for this?”

The commentary guest, Gong Lei, had already noticed this change and had a certain understanding of it.

”Actually, while Lance played as a forward at Bayer Leverkusen, he was more of a No. 10. He has a certain ability to organize and support, not a traditional target man in the box. In the attacking midfielder position, the responsibilities are quite similar.”

”Before, the focus might have been on Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne on the wings, creating chances for Romelu Lukaku, with more attacks coming from the flanks. Now with Lance in the attacking midfielder position, the Belgium Team might increase some ground penetration through the middle and half-spaces.”

”In terms of his ability to handle the ball in tight spaces, Lance is absolutely the highest-level player I’ve ever seen! Don’t let his youth fool you; he’s truly calm when on the ball. This might be the key to winning against South Korea today...”

At the start, South Korea was extremely cautious, to the point of being somewhat afraid. Son Heung-min and Lee Chung-yong on both flanks almost retreated to the full-back positions, with all 11 players staying within a 30-meter area.

This completely bewildered the Belgium players. Marc Wilmots scratched his head, unable to resist complaining.

”Is it really necessary?”

”Indeed, it’s a bit of an overreaction.”

Thierry Henry couldn’t help but chuckle. He had never seen an opponent play like this, whether in the France Team or at Arsenal. No matter how weak the opponent, at least someone would apply pressure in the attacking third, rather than completely retreating to the back.

This allowed Belgium to attack recklessly, with all players pushing past the halfway line, creating immense pressure on South Korea.

”Lance, he also played as an attacking midfielder for a period at Bayer Leverkusen, so he’s not unfamiliar with the midfield... Beautiful, a clever ball control to get past Koo Ja-cheol...”

Considering there would be more positional play today, Lance still brought the [Nagi Seishiro] template. For ball control in tight spaces, including creating chances and shooting inside and outside the box, [Nagi Seishiro] can be more effective.

Against such dense defense, [Bachira Meguru] would find it difficult to have space for his Beast Dribbling. The auxiliary can be used at critical moments, with [Monster Passing] and [Beast Dribbling] maximizing their effect in counterattacks.

Of course, there’s one most important point! Playing against South Korea, using the [Nagi Seishiro] template to accumulate rage can be very fast! Extremely fast!

Equipped Template: Nagi Seishiro (Fusion Value 100%)

—Skill: Perfect Ball Control

—Skill: Hardcore Shot

—Skill: Mirror Learning

Rage Value: 97%

Auxiliary Character: Bachira Meguru - S (Fusion Value 30%)

Auxiliary Status: On

In less than 10 minutes, 97% rage accumulated! It’s outrageous! Lance had never seen a situation like this before.

Just by looking at the so-called ”Taegukgi” stolen on the opponent’s chest, his rage value would surge! What’s more, the Koreans’ ”sportsmanship” kicked in!

Since they couldn’t beat Belgium with pure strength, they resorted to dirty tricks! South Korea had already familiarized themselves with the officiating habits of the Saudi referee, Fahad Al Mirdasi, before the match.

His officiating standards, running range, probability of issuing cards, preferred cards... they knew almost everything like the back of their hand. With this information, South Korea players began to constantly probe from the start of the match.

All sorts of subtle dirty tricks and small fouls emerged endlessly! They gradually gained control over the referee. When the referee looked over, South Korea players would pretend to be innocent, leaving the referee puzzled for a moment.

Annoyed by the opponent’s continuous dirty tricks, the Belgium players were having a very tough time. Kevin De Bruyne’s calf had already taken quite a few sneaky dark kicks.

He almost wanted to rush over and confront the opponent, but thankfully Lance held him back.

”Calm down!! First, calm down, we can’t lose our heads.”

”But they are too disgusting!”

”Since the referee won’t punish them, then I will punish them!”

Lance had already clenched his fists! [Rage Value 100%]!

”Another foul. South Korea is playing... with a lot of fighting spirit today.”

Liu Jianhong originally wanted to say they were playing dirty, but since he was a CCTV commentator, he had to rephrase it. Belgium was awarded a free kick, more than 40 meters from the goal, making a direct shot difficult.

Kevin De Bruyne stood over the ball, recalling Lance’s words.

”Find my position, and leave the rest to me.”

After saying this, Lance ran into the box alone. De Bruyne stood there bewildered. Fortunately, he knew Lance well; this kid never promised anything he wasn’t sure of. Since he made such a promise, there must be a solution.

De Bruyne naturally trusted Lance unconditionally. Beep——

”Kevin De Bruyne takes a run-up, a curved ball into the box!”

”At the far post!! This ball seems a bit too long!”

Liu Jianhong shook his head, watching the ball head towards the byline, certain it was going out. Marouane Fellaini, Jan Vertonghen, Vincent Kompany, and other players in the box all waited in vain.

South Korea players also breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone said De Bruyne’s passing was amazing. Now it seems, it’s nothing special! Koo Ja-cheol even felt like laughing; it must have been the media overhyping him, perhaps De Bruyne was actually just a mediocre player...

In the box, only Son Heung-min suddenly realized!

”Where’s Lance?”

Oh no!! He couldn’t see Lance’s position! Something was definitely wrong!

Sure enough, just as the ball was about to fly out of bounds, a figure suddenly flashed out from the crowd, extending a leg in mid-air to make an extreme stop of the ball!

”It’s over.”

Son Heung-min’s heart tightened; he had seen this scene before! Lance had scored similar goals at Bayer Leverkusen!

Indeed, in the next second, as Lance landed, he turned, and volleyed the shot in one fluid motion! The ball became a shooting star, entering the goal like lightning from a 0-degree angle! Stunning the entire stadium!