Football: Starting from the 05 World Youth Championship

It was thought that Lazio, with their poor record, would strategically abandon the Champions League and focus on maintaining their league ranking.

Unexpectedly, Lazio fielded their strongest lineup against Real Madrid, the strongest team in the group.

Mourinho made slight adjustments to Real Madrid's starting lineup, with Heinze and Cannavaro partnering at center-back, while Ramos, who conceded a penalty in the previous match, was reassigned to the right wing as a full-back.

As for the left-back position, Mourinho chose Brazilian Marcelo.

In midfield, Real Madrid's four midfielders were Lin Feng, Robben, Gago, and Pepe.

Guti, who performed poorly in the last match, was not included in Mourinho's starting lineup.

As for the forward pairing, it remains Raul and Van Nistelrooy, one tall and one fast.

After the match started, Lazio launched a fierce attack, especially on the right flank where Pandev was positioned, which posed a significant threat to Real Madrid.

In the 3rd minute, Lazio intercepted the ball in midfield and launched a counter-attack. Pandev received the ball on the right wing and made a long run forward. He used a feint to deceive Marcelo and then cut inside from the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a powerful left-footed shot that was blocked by Cannavaro's body.

Two minutes later, Lazio intercepted the ball again in the attacking third, and a through pass on the left wing almost created a one-on-one opportunity, but fortunately Ramos appeared in time to intercept the ball.

Mourinho was very dissatisfied with the team's performance and started shouting from the sidelines, demanding that Robben drop back and work with his neutral teammates to strengthen interception and pressing.

The Flying Dutchman waited on the wing for his teammates to feed him the ball, reluctant to come back and do the dirty work.

But seeing that Mourinho was really angry, he didn't dare disobey the coach and could only obediently return to participate in the defense.

Mourinho's requirements are actually very simple: if you can't help the team in attack, then work harder in defense.

If you don't get back to defend, your teammates will be under even more pressure, which will lead to a chain reaction.

Real Madrid's pressing was effective. In the 8th minute, Real Madrid successfully won the ball back in midfield. Before the opponent could foul, Lin Feng passed the ball to Robben on the left wing.

Robben finally got the chance to perform that he had been waiting for, and he started to break through as soon as he got the ball.

At this time, Robben was not seriously injured, was still very fast, and had a very sharp breakthrough.

It is very difficult for a single defender to stop him.

So the opposing team chose the simplest way to stop him—by fouling!
Facing a sliding tackle from a Lazio full-back, the Flying Dutchman let out a scream, made an exaggerated dive, and fell heavily to the ground. After falling, he even hugged his leg and rolled around on the grass several times. The process was so familiar, and the performance was so skillful and natural, as if he were a born actor.

The referee was clearly misled by his screams and exaggerated movements, ran over and showed the Lazio player a yellow card, and awarded Real Madrid a free kick on the wing.

This position isn't good, so Lin Feng didn't plan to shoot himself.

He took a few steps back and then extended his right hand, revealing only three fingers on his palm.

This clearly represents a tactical signal, but the Lazio players don't know exactly what it means.

While they were still pondering what this meant, Lin Feng had already sent the ball into the penalty area.

Van Nistelrooy at the near post jumped quickly, seemingly to contest the opportunity for a header.

As Real Madrid's tallest player, Van Nistelrooy was a primary target for Lazio's defensive players.

His movement immediately drew the attention of all the Lazio players in the penalty area.

However, Lin Feng's pass wasn't actually to Van Nistelrooy; instead, it was lobbed towards the far post.

A Real Madrid player wearing the number 4 jersey burst out from the crowd, leaped high, and slammed the ball into the goal with the force of a mountain crashing down.

The score is now 1-0, with Real Madrid taking the lead!

The goal for Real Madrid was scored by their number four, right-back Ramos!

Ramos was very excited after scoring the goal and ran towards Lin Feng.

Before Lin Feng could react, the other person had already given him a warm hug.

"Lin, you're a genius! The opponent really didn't notice me here. Haha, that was so satisfying to score!"

Although he is a defender, Ramos has a heart set on scoring goals.

He likes whoever can help him fulfill his dream of scoring a goal, it's that simple!
As for things like local gangs and outside gangs, he had long since forgotten about them!

"You seized the opportunity yourself. By the way, that header was awesome!"

Ramos was already in high spirits, and Lin Feng's praise made him even more carried away.

Over time, the two almost became like brothers.

Seeing this, Raul's eyes revealed helplessness and exhaustion.

Ramos, Ramos, did a single pass win you over?

You're way too easily bribed!
Guti has lost the coach's trust, and Ramos is about to be turned by the opposing team.

This team is getting harder and harder to manage!

Lazio launched a fierce counterattack after conceding a goal, but Real Madrid were clearly prepared.

Mourinho put a lot of effort into setting up the team's defense, even using the offside trap tactic.

Lazio repeatedly failed to score against a well-prepared Real Madrid and had to return empty-handed.

In the 16th minute, Ramos made a bold run down the right flank and delivered a cross into the center of the penalty area.

Van Nistelrooy played a one-two pass to Raul just outside the penalty area, and Raul quickly started his run, dribbled into the penalty area, and shot directly.

Unfortunately, his shot was cleared out of bounds by Standardo, and Real Madrid missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead.

Ramos scratched his head, thinking, "My boss messed with me! Such a great assist and it didn't go in!"

Although they didn't score, Mourinho was very satisfied with the combination play between the three players.

He especially praised Ramos's bold runs and assists.

After receiving praise from the head coach, Ramos became even more active, rushing forward to provide assists whenever the opportunity arose.

When someone gets the limelight, someone else inevitably gets beaten up.

When Ramos rushed up to assist, Marcelo on the other side could not make any rash moves.

Even when facing Lazio's attack, he had to move inside to the center to form a three-man defense with Cannavaro and Heinze.

His opponents, for some reason, seemed to regard him as an easy target and launched a fierce attack on his side.

Pandev alone was already giving him a huge headache, and soon after, Mutarelli joined the fray, putting Marcelo under immense pressure. In the 22nd minute, Marcelo fouled Pandev, giving Lazio a free kick in a good position.

The opposing team seemed to be trying to emulate Lin Feng's previous free-kick tactics, pretending to kick the ball to the near post while actually passing it to the far post.

Unfortunately, their cross was intercepted by the defenders before it even reached the far post, posing no threat.

The two teams played intensely during this period, exchanging attacks and trying to score through counter-attacks.

But all talk and no action; although they seemed to create many opportunities, they didn't manage to score a single goal.

Lazio's best chance came in the 30th minute when Rocchi made a clever through pass from the edge of the penalty area, allowing Pandev to break the offside trap and create a one-on-one opportunity.

Unfortunately, Pandev's shot went high and wide when facing Casillas.

Wasting opportunities will be punished!
Just as the home fans were still reeling from the disappointment and frustration of missing their chance, Real Madrid had already launched a surprise attack.

In the 31st minute, Real Madrid executed a rapid passing sequence, with the ball being passed by three players in quick succession before being delivered to the forwards at lightning speed.

After receiving the ball, Raul opted to take a long-range shot from outside the penalty area.

Unfortunately, the ball couldn't get past the goalkeeper's outstretched fingers and was saved, giving Real Madrid a corner kick.

Lin Feng opted for a tactical corner kick, passing the ball to Gago, who then passed it back to him. He took control of the ball and charged into the penalty area, before suddenly passing it to the far post from the edge of the box.

It was Ramos again, bursting out of the crowd once more, ready to replicate his previous goal.

But this time, Lazio's goalkeeper was prepared and rushed out first, punching the ball away before Ramos's head could touch it.

This was a very dangerous move; it looked as if the opposing goalkeeper had thrown a straight punch at Ramos.

Fortunately, the opponent was aiming for the ball and didn't touch him. If there had been any other mistake, Ramos could have been knocked out in mid-air!
If someone loses consciousness in mid-air and falls from a great height without awareness or protection, they are likely to suffer serious injuries, and even high-level paraplegia is not impossible.

But Ramos acted as if nothing had happened, showing no fear whatsoever.

Seeing that both players were unharmed, the referee did not blow his whistle, but instead gestured for the game to continue.

The ball, punched away by the goalkeeper, unsurprisingly landed at the feet of a Real Madrid player on the perimeter.

Pepe intercepted the ball and, without thinking, passed it to Lin Feng, who had quietly arrived in the middle of the field.

Lin Feng raised his foot to pass the ball, but seeing that the opposing goalkeeper was positioned to the left after making his run out, he immediately changed his mind, switched his supporting leg to his right leg, and swung his left foot to take a long shot towards the right side of the goal.

Barota was taken aback and quickly moved his feet, trying to block Lin Feng's shot.

But it was too late. Lin Feng's long-range shot, delivered at incredible speed, found the top right corner of the goal.

Real Madrid extended their lead to 2-0 in the 33rd minute of the first half.

The goal was scored by Real Madrid's number eight player – Lin Feng!
"Unbelievable! Lin Feng has scored again!"

"He scored in every game he played!"

"Who can stop this man? Perhaps only God can!"

The Spanish commentator rattled off a whole bunch of things in one breath, like firecrackers going off.

Oh my God, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes!

[This guy is insane! No wonder he's called Lin Feng the Thief. From today onwards, I'm a die-hard Lin Feng fan!]

[One more die-hard fan!]

Real Madrid fans in Spain, along with their commentators, went into a frenzy.

Throughout Real Madrid's over 100-year history, countless top stars have joined the team.

But players like Lin Feng, who joined the team without any adjustment period, seamlessly integrated into the team's tactics and teammates, and consistently delivered outstanding performances in different games, are truly rare.

That's why Real Madrid fans were so surprised, even ecstatic!

Compared to foreign fans, domestic fans, while also happy and even excited after seeing Lin Feng's incredible performance, were much more restrained in their reactions.

Lin Feng has really improved! He's only been with Real Madrid for a month and has already scored 10 goals in just 7 games. This is probably unprecedented in Real Madrid's nearly 100-year history!

I've never seen this before. Maybe those ancient gods like Di Stefano and Puskás accomplished something similar?

Regardless, Real Madrid's €100 million investment was absolutely worthwhile. It wasn't just buying a midfielder; it was like buying a striker and getting a midfielder as a bonus!

[That's true. Lin Feng not only scores goals, but he's also very consistent. He scores in both the league and the Champions League, which is different from some players who only dominate in the league but become weak in the Champions League!]

If they continue playing like this, do Real Madrid have a chance to lift their tenth Champions League trophy this season?

It's hard to say. Real Madrid has significant weaknesses in both the defensive midfield and defense positions. They might be okay against weaker teams, but they could easily be punished by stronger ones!

[Actually, Real Madrid's attacking line has significant vulnerabilities. Van Nistelrooy's role is too important; if he's absent, Real Madrid's attack will be greatly affected!]

I think the most important person in Real Madrid is Lin Feng. Last season, without Lin Feng, they were just a round of 16 team. This season, thanks to Lin Feng's arrival, they have made great strides in both the league and the Champions League.

However, if Lin Feng misses the match for some reason, Real Madrid could very well be exposed and their true form revealed!

[Haha, it's not just a simple case of being brought back to square one. Look at Inter Milan, their performance has plummeted, they're practically a different team from just a few months ago!]

Without Lin Feng in the new season, Inter Milan's players seem to have forgotten how to play football.

The team just lost to Roma in the Super Cup, and was thrashed 4-1 in the league. In the Champions League, even a team like Fenerbahce could easily defeat them.

It seems like overnight, Inter Milan has been reduced to its original state, even worse than before!
Whether Moratti regrets it or not is unknown, but Inter Milan's fans, coaches, and players on the field all do.

If I had known earlier that Lin Feng's departure would have such serious consequences, I would have held onto him no matter what and prevented him from leaving!

……

Seeing Lin Feng score with a long-range shot, Mourinho excitedly hugged and celebrated with his assistants.

He's increasingly enjoying the feeling of having a superstar on the team and being carried by that superstar.

Whenever Lin Feng appeared on the field, he felt exceptionally at ease and relaxed.

He finally understood how Mancini developed a dependence on Lin Feng. With a player like that, the head coach really didn't need to do much. He just needed to explain the tactics and leave the rest to the player.

But Mourinho is an ambitious person, and he doesn't want to give up so quickly.

So he decided to challenge his weakness! (End of Chapter)