Football: Starting from the 05 World Youth Championship

CCTV!

CCTV!

"You are now watching the 2007 AFC Asian Cup final, the match between China and Japan!"

Inside the CCTV studio, commentators Zhang Lu and Zhan Jun, familiar faces to the fans, excitedly delivered their opening remarks and immediately began introducing the starting lineups for both sides:

"The Chinese team is fielding a 4-4-2 formation today, with Han Peng and Gao Lin as the starting forwards."

Behind the two midfielders were Shao Jiayi, Lin Feng, Zheng Zhi, and Zhao Xuri.

The four defenders are Sun Xiang, Li Weifeng, Feng Xiaoting, and Sun Jihai, in that order.

Unlike the group stage, the Chinese national team made adjustments to the midfield and forward lines today. Mao Jianqing, who had performed well previously, did not appear in the starting lineup. Instead, Gao Lin, who has a stronger ability to create chances and is a good target man, replaced him.

In midfield, Zhu Guanghu substituted Chen Tao with Zhao Xuri, a defensive midfielder, to strengthen the backline. It seems Lin Feng will focus his energy on attacking in this match!

Zhang Lu immediately saw through Zhu Guanghu's intentions. Previously, when Mao Jianqing was on the field, the national team had a bunch of passing experts in midfield to pass the ball to him, with the aim of using his speed and explosiveness on the wing to break through the opponent's defense.

However, in this match, Mao Jianqing was dropped, and the Chinese national team's attacking focus shifted to the central area.

The inclusion of Gao Lin, who excels at creating chances, and Zhao Xuri, a defensive midfielder, were all preparations made to free up and assist Lin Feng in completing the attack.

Moreover, besides Lin Feng, Zhu Guanghu's choice of two forwards was also very deliberate.

Both forwards, Gao Lin and Han Peng, are tall and have good heading ability, especially Han Peng, whose heading is his biggest weapon.

Apart from Yuji Nakazawa, the other members of the Japanese team are all under 1.85 meters tall.

This height difference gives the Chinese national football team an advantage when contesting headers in the attacking third.

Therefore, in this match, the Chinese national football team will likely use the same aerial bombardment tactics used against Southeast Asian teams against the Japanese team.

After Zhang Lu finished introducing the Chinese team's lineup, Zhan Jun immediately took over and began introducing the Japanese team's starting lineup.

The Japanese team fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation with a lone striker, Naohiro Takahara, a 28-year-old striker who plays for Bundesliga team Eintracht Frankfurt.

Naohiro Takahara is currently at the peak of his career. Last season, after transferring to Eintracht Frankfurt, he scored a total of 17 goals in the league, cup and Europa League, performing exceptionally well.

In this Asian Cup, Naohiro Takahara also tied for second place on the top scorers list with 4 goals, alongside Gao Lin and others.

Just as Zhu Guanghu predicted, the Japanese team positioned five players in midfield behind Naohiro Takahara.

Yasuhito Endo, Shunsuke Nakamura, Kengo Nakamura, Yuki Abe, Keita Suzuki, and others all made an appearance.

All five are very young, with an average age of around 26, and are in the prime of their careers.

On the defensive line, both full-backs with outstanding attacking abilities, Akira Kaji and Yuichi Komano, were fielded. For center-back, Yuji Nakazawa, who has a height advantage, was paired with Satoshi Yamaguchi, who has a solid backhand and outstanding frontal defense. This approach can both prevent the Chinese team from launching high balls and deal with the Chinese team's strong frontal attacks.

Overall, the Japanese team has a very balanced lineup, capable of both offense and defense.

Although their head coach is Bosnian, he seems to favor a more total football style of play than the Dutch head coach of the South Korean team.

After the match started, neither team launched an attack rashly. Instead, they tried to create space and probe each other's strength.

Although Japan defeated China in the last Asian Cup final.

But three years later, the Chinese team in front of them has changed drastically, making them feel very unfamiliar.

What's unfamiliar isn't just the Chinese team's lineup, but also their record over the past few years.

Among the top contenders for the Asian Cup title, both Iran and South Korea were defeated by China.

Moreover, the Chinese team won very easily, with four goals in both matches.

This shows that the team has a very strong attack, and they could easily concede a goal if they are not careful, which makes the Japanese team quite wary.

Seeing that the Japanese team wasn't taking the initiative to attack, the Chinese team became less polite.

After receiving another pass from his teammate, Lin Feng, facing pressure from the Japanese players, did not pass the ball back. Instead, he executed an extremely fast takoyaki move, easily dodging the opponent's tackle.

With a wide-open view ahead, Lin Feng suddenly accelerated, dribbling the ball towards the opponent's half.

His acceleration was like a signal, causing the entire Chinese team to suddenly speed up their pace. The previously slow Chinese team pressed forward like cheetahs.

Lin Feng, dribbling forward, first got rid of Nakamura Shunsuke's interception, and then with a clever spike and change of direction, he got past Abe Yuki.

Seeing Lin Feng dribble past three players in a short period of time, the fans in the stadium were also stirred up, and they all stared intently at the court, afraid of missing anything.

Faced with China's aggressive attack, the Japanese team retreated to defense across the board, with their only remaining defensive midfielder abandoning Shao Jiayi and rushing towards Lin Feng.

But as soon as he moved, Lin Feng passed the ball to Shao Jiayi.

Shao Jiayi didn't hold onto the ball; instead, he sent a through pass from the left flank area, passing the ball to Gao Lin's feet.

After receiving the ball with his back to goal, Gao Lin passed it back to Lin Feng, who was making a forward run, while also blocking the Japanese defender Yamaguchi Satoshi, who was trying to get around him.

"Stop him! Don't let him shoot!"

Seeing Lin Feng heading for the ball, Nakamura Shunsuke shouted anxiously from behind, trying to remind his teammate.

But it's too late!
Facing Gao Lin's pass, Lin Feng immediately shot.

A powerful cannon shot blasted towards the goal!
Japanese goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was taken aback and immediately lunged to make a save, but the ball was too powerful. Although his fingertips touched the ball, he was unable to stop it from going into the net.

With a sharp swishing sound, the football crashed into the Japanese team's goal.

The score became 1-0, and the Chinese team got off to a dream start!
With a deafening roar, the stands at the Grosselabon Cano stadium exploded instantly.

The gasps, cheers, and applause from countless fans instantly raised the decibel level of the stadium.

The sound was so loud that even a jet plane flying overhead couldn't drown it out.

The most excited were the more than 4 Chinese fans who came to the scene. They never dreamed that the national team's goal would come so early and so suddenly!
At this moment, their excitement was beyond words. When they saw Lin Feng break down the door, many of them went blank and could hardly believe their eyes!

China, you're already in the lead?
Only after seeing the referee's gesture confirming the goal was valid did the naturally cautious Chinese fans finally relax.

Immediately afterwards, the emotions that had been suppressed for three years erupted like a volcano.

"China team, awesome!"

"Lin Feng, you're awesome!"

"Well done, Chinese national football team!"

"Ore ore ore ore!"

The sudden explosion from the stands behind her startled Liu Yifei, who was standing in front of her.

But at this moment, she felt just as excited as the ordinary fans, or even more excited.

Feeling her heart pounding wildly, and recalling the moment Lin Feng scored the goal, the rush of adrenaline through her veins to her head gave her a very fresh and exciting feeling.

Is this the charm of football?
No wonder so many people are fascinated by it!
She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she suddenly felt that Lin Feng, running on the court, was more charming than before.

China's sudden goal caught Japan off guard.

On the opposite side of the stands, more than 10,000 Japanese fans stood frozen in shock, exchanging bewildered glances.
Is this considered outdated?
We haven't even had a chance to sit down properly, and you're already telling me the other side is in the lead?

When did the Chinese team become so strong?!

Japanese fans began to look at the Chinese team with suspicion and uncertainty, while their gazes toward Lin Feng were filled with apprehension.

As expected of the world's number one young player, Lin Sang's strength is indeed formidable!
Japan's head coach, Ivica Osim, was equally shocked.

The instant Lin Feng took the shot, Osim jumped to his feet, his expression changing drastically!

Too fast! The Chinese team's attack is too fast!
From the sudden change in direction to Lin Feng's successful goal-scoring, only a few seconds elapsed.

The Japanese team didn't even have time to react; many players hadn't even gotten into position before the opponent scored!
He now finally understands why the opposing team didn't field that fast number 20 winger.

It turns out that the Chinese team's attacks from the middle were faster and more lethal than those from the wings!

On the field, Lin Feng, who had just scored, ran all the way to the corner flag and performed his signature celebration once again.

"Siu!"

The fans at the scene were exceptionally cooperative, spontaneously making the same sounds.

Even though they couldn't speak the language, it didn't stop the fans from participating in the celebration.

The combined voice of 70,000 to 80,000 people was incredibly powerful.

This also made other members of the national football team extremely envious.

"If one day so many people cheer for me, I will die without regrets!"

Gao Lin sighed, and surprisingly, the others didn't refute him; some even nodded in agreement.

We're all football players, who doesn't want to be famous and have millions of fans?
It's not that I don't want to, but that I simply can't!
……

Falling behind at the start was clearly not something the Japanese team had anticipated.

This caused the Japanese players to become impatient after the game restarted.

Especially Shunsuke Nakamura, who is also a midfield core. The Chinese team's midfield core has already scored a goal, but apart from the moment Lin Feng dribbled past him, he didn't get any other shots of himself.

This made him feel deeply ashamed, and he was eager to prove himself through his actions.

Japan's formation strengthens their control in midfield, aiming to give them possession of the ball and control of the game.

Then, by utilizing the aggressive forward runs of the full-backs on both sides, a numerical advantage can be created in certain areas to open up the game.

In their previous match against Saudi Arabia, Japan used this tactic to gain a significant lead in possession over their opponents.

Now, they are preparing to use the same tactics against the Chinese team.

However, the effect was not so good. In this match, the Chinese team arranged two defensive midfielders. In addition to Zhao Xuri, a defensive midfielder, Zheng Zhi also focused his main energy on defense.

Furthermore, because the Chinese national team retreated after scoring, the Japanese team's space for movement in the attacking third was significantly reduced.

The ball was passed around by the Japanese team more than a dozen times, but they still couldn't find a good opportunity.

Left with no other choice, Shunsuke Nakamura had to risk dribbling forward himself, seemingly trying to replicate Lin Feng's earlier move.

However, he clearly overestimated his abilities. He had only taken a few steps forward when he immediately fell into the trap that the Chinese team had prepared for him.

In the blink of an eye, three or four Chinese players surrounded him from all directions, ruthlessly brought him down, and stole the ball from his feet.

Shunsuke Nakamura, who had been brought down, sat on the ground and protested with his hands outstretched, but the referee did not blow his whistle.

After intercepting the ball, Lin Feng delivered a precise long pass from near the center circle, finding Han Peng on the front line.

The latter won the ball and passed it to his strike partner Gao Lin. Gao Lin made a beautiful inside-of-the-foot cut and change direction, getting rid of the defender and dribbling into the penalty area.

The Chinese fans in the stands stood up excitedly, their hands already half-raised in their hands, ready to celebrate.

Unfortunately, because he was too focused on finding the right angle, Gao Lin's low shot after breaking into the penalty area went wide.

The Japanese team escaped a close call, and everyone on the defense, including the defenders and goalkeeper, felt a sense of relief, as if they had just survived a disaster.

Fortunately, it wasn't the opposing team's number 8 player who took the shot, otherwise they felt like they would have to retrieve the ball from the goal again.

Gao Lin, devastated by his missed opportunity, clutched his head in frustration, looking utterly heartbroken.

"Gao Lin, Gao Lin, I gave you a chance but you failed!"

However, his teammates did not blame him. Han Peng and Lin Feng both ran over to comfort him.

It's already quite remarkable that Gao Lin managed to get past Japan's defender Yuji Nakazawa and find his own shooting opportunity.

As for the final shot going wide, isn't that something that often happens to forwards?

Quite a few players miss open goals; missing these kinds of shots isn't a big deal.

The momentum between the two teams had completely shifted to one side. After encountering a series of dangerous situations, the Japanese players on the field became extremely nervous and were forced to retreat to their own half to strengthen their defense.

Meanwhile, the Chinese team, launching a relentless offensive, pressed forward and put continuous pressure on the Japanese team's defense.

In the 15th minute of the first half, Sun Xiang's cross was blocked out of bounds by the opposing full-back, giving China a corner kick on the left.

Because of the opponent's height advantage, Lin Feng didn't use any complicated set-piece tactics.

After glancing at the position of Japanese center back Yuji Nakazawa, he gave a tactical signal.

Han Peng, Gao Lin, and the others understood immediately and suddenly started running in two different directions.

At that moment, the Japanese defenders, including Yuji Nakazawa, hesitated noticeably, seemingly unsure of who to follow.

Seeing this, Lin Feng decisively kicked the ball out.

But this ball wasn't aimed at Han Peng at the near post, nor at Gao Lin at the far post.

Instead, the ball was passed straight to the center of the penalty area!

Here, Gao Lin and Han Peng's pulling and pulling drew away the Japanese defender who was originally guarding this area, creating a brief opening in the center of the penalty area.

The Japanese goalkeeper had realized the danger and tried to rush out to clear the ball.

But it's still too late!

A red figure suddenly rushed out from behind, and with a diving header, headed the ball into the goal before the goalkeeper's fist could reach it!
The score is now 2-0!

The goal was scored by Li Weifeng, the captain of the Chinese team and number five defender! (End of Chapter)