Football: Starting from the 05 World Youth Championship

Sometimes I feel that this thing is hard to explain, it's very mysterious.

But the moment Ronaldo took the free kick, he felt he had the ball.

The ball rose rapidly in the air and then suddenly fell, flying into the goal just before the Real Madrid goalkeeper could block it.

"Goal!!!!"

"Cristiano Ronaldo was like a god descending to earth! That was a perfect free kick. He proved his ability with this goal; he is one of the greatest superstars on the planet!"

When Cristiano Ronaldo scored from a free kick, the Sky Sports commentators were practically going crazy with excitement.

The match had just begun, and while Real Madrid were constantly threatening Manchester United's goal with their attacks, and everyone was on tenterhooks for Manchester United, Ronaldo scored a goal that instantly established Manchester United's lead and completely changed the course of the game.

With this goal, Manchester United has much more tactical options, and the players on the field can be more composed when dealing with the game.

The morale and mental boost was very noticeable; the Manchester United players were in completely different form before and after Ronaldo's goal.

Mourinho was furious about the goal conceded.

Conceding a goal so early completely disrupted his pre-match battle plan.

Thinking of this, he looked at Marcelo with extreme displeasure, which also implicated Casillas.

While Casillas can't be entirely blamed for the goal, his short stature and weakness in aerial balls were clearly evident in this free kick.

This made Mourinho consider buying a tall goalkeeper. If it had been his former Chelsea teammate Petr Cech guarding the goal, perhaps the ball wouldn't have gone in.

……

Lin Feng glanced at Ronaldo, who was celebrating wildly with his teammates; Ronaldo's penalty kick was indeed beautiful.

Even if he were to take the shot, he probably couldn't execute such a high-quality free throw.

Cristiano Ronaldo, that kid, really has some skills.

He knew that Ronaldo was very strong in his prime, but his impression was that it was after Ronaldo joined Real Madrid and was inspired by Messi that the two were chasing each other and competing in terms of statistics.

I didn't expect him to be this good during his time at Manchester United.

However, upon closer reflection, it makes sense. If Ronaldo hadn't demonstrated exceptional talent and ability, Real Madrid wouldn't have paid €9600 million for his transfer.

Although the script of falling behind at the start was indeed somewhat unexpected for Lin Feng, it only fueled his fighting spirit.

Having already led his team to a Champions League title last year, his desire for further honors inevitably diminished.

But now, his desire to beat Manchester United and win this game has been fully ignited.

……

"Blanco, let's slow down our offensive tactics for now. I need you to do this..."

Before the kickoff, Lin Feng took the initiative to find his teammates Raul and Sneijder and discuss the upcoming offensive tactics with them.

After taking the unexpected lead, Manchester United's next options are essentially twofold:

One option is to take advantage of the current high morale and Real Madrid's dampened spirits to continue the attack and try to extend the lead.

The second option is to play it safe and retreat to a defensive position to withstand Real Madrid's potential furious counterattack.

Then, take advantage of the opportunities exposed by Real Madrid's aggressive attack to launch a counter-attack.

Lin Feng didn't know what Manchester United would do, but he had a plan for both scenarios.

If Manchester United wants to play an attacking game, then play with them.

Once the pace of the game picks up, both sides will make more mistakes rapidly.

The competition will come down to the ability of both sides to fight in chaotic battles. Whoever can reduce mistakes and capitalize on the opponent's mistakes in a fast-paced offensive and defensive battle will gain the upper hand.

If Manchester United chooses to play it safe, then Real Madrid will have to find a way to make some moves in positional play to break down the opponent's tight defense.

After listening to Lin Feng's words, the two nodded in agreement with his plan.

The Red Devils truly live up to their name, displaying the aura of a top-tier team.

After the game restarted, Manchester United did not choose to play it safe, but instead tried to seize the opportunity to continue their attack.

But Real Madrid were prepared. From the front, the three attacking midfielders, Lin Feng, Raul and Sneijder, began to press Scholes, Carrick and even the opposing defenders relentlessly.

This move caught Manchester United off guard. Although some people used this tactic in this era, its popularity was far less than it would be more widespread a decade or so later.

They seemed bewildered by Real Madrid players' immediate counter-pressing after losing possession and their own high pressing during attacking plays.

In the 19th minute, Carrick was dispossessed by Lin Feng while dribbling, and Real Madrid launched a counter-attack on the spot.

Raul and Sneijder reacted almost the instant Lin Feng intercepted the ball, one making a run and the other receiving the pass. Lin Feng wasted no time and decisively took a shot to pass the ball out.

Because the transition between attack and defense happened so quickly, most Manchester United players didn't have time to get back to defend. If Lin Feng had passed the ball out, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Left with no other option, Carrick had to resort to a tactical foul, bringing Lin Feng down in his own half of the court.

The referee treated everyone equally, giving Carrick a yellow card just like he had given Marcelo before.

"This is a good position. Will Lin Feng choose to shoot directly?"

When the referee awarded Real Madrid a free kick in the attacking third, the commentators and countless viewers in front of their televisions were filled with curiosity.

Compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, Lin Feng is the more recognized free-kick master in the football world.

He still holds the record for most free kick goals in a single season. Although he hasn't scored as many direct free kick goals for Real Madrid this season as he did last season, he has still managed to score 6.

With Cristiano Ronaldo already scoring a goal from a free kick, countless fans are eagerly anticipating a performance from Lin Feng, the free-kick master.

One of the highlights of this match is the battle of wits between two superstars, Lin Feng and Cristiano Ronaldo.

While leading a team to victory certainly demonstrates their strength, direct competition in certain events might be a more direct indicator.

Lin Feng did not disappoint the fans; he stood behind the ball without hesitation, ready to take the penalty himself.

Seeing Lin Feng standing in front of the free kick, Manchester United were on high alert.

They were all well aware of Lin Feng's free-kick ability. Last season in the Champions League, Lin Feng scored two free kicks in a single match against Manchester United.

Including his low free-kick goal in the first leg, Lin Fengguang scored three goals against Manchester United with free kicks that season.

Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick technique has improved rapidly this season, largely due to the inspiration he received from Lin Feng.

Those two matches left a very deep impression on everyone at Manchester United, to the point that they almost developed PTSD related to Lin Feng's free kicks.

So seeing Lin Feng take a free kick makes me feel inexplicably afraid.

Compared to Casillas, Manchester United goalkeeper Van der Sar is much taller and more imposing, standing at 1.97 meters with a wingspan exceeding two meters, giving him a very wide blocking range. Moreover, Van der Sar is not the bulky type of tall man; his reaction speed, anticipation, and positioning ability are all top-notch. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to maintain his position as Manchester United's starting goalkeeper at the age of forty.

To deal with a goalkeeper who has no obvious weaknesses, there is no other way but to maximize the speed, power, and angle of your shots, leaving the opponent no chance to make a save.

After placing the ball, Lin Feng retreated step by step, as if measuring the land.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who was forming a human wall with his teammates, felt a sudden jolt when he saw Lin Feng's action. He saw a strong sense of déjà vu in the other man.

Is this guy going to use that move too?
Ronaldo guessed correctly. Although Lin Feng didn't retreat as far as Ronaldo, from the way he started his run-up and the way he swung his leg and exerted force at the end, Ronaldo was absolutely certain that this was his signature knuckleball!

Lin Feng's footwork was astonishing. The ball flew into the sky at an extremely fast speed, and after clearing the wall of people, it suddenly plummeted down as if it had been slapped down from the sky.

The moment Lin Feng took the free throw, Van der Sar's heart was already in his throat.

Logically speaking, a 38-year-old veteran like him shouldn't have such poor mental fortitude.

But Lin Feng's free kick reminded him of the knuckleball he took at the San Siro last year against Inter Milan.

The same extreme speed, the same astonishing power, and even more tricky angles.

This guy's free-kick skills have actually improved again in the past year.

In the blink of an eye, before Van der Sar could think, the ball was already flying over the goal.

Relying on his senses and goalkeeper instincts, he pushed off the ground with all his might and lunged towards the top left corner.

Van der Sar's twenty years of goalkeeping experience were not for nothing; his predictions were extremely accurate.

Lin Feng did indeed aim for that angle, but the ball was too fast and the angle too tricky. Even a tall, long-armed goalkeeper like Van der Sar was powerless to stop it.

He felt as if his fingertips brushed against the ball, but was violently knocked away by the football and plunged headfirst into the net.

boom!
Luzhniki Stadium erupted in cheers!
Whether they were Real Madrid supporters, neutral fans, or even many Manchester United enthusiasts, they were all impressed by Lin Feng's free kick.

What is this "violent aesthetics"?
With terrifying speed and power, and an extreme angle, this goal was even more spectacular than Ronaldo's free kick earlier; it could be considered a perfect textbook example of a knuckleball.

Some fans had imagined that Lin Feng would respond to Ronaldo with a free kick, but no one expected it to be so fast and of such high quality.

The happiest people were the Real Madrid fans, who had been worried about their team falling behind just minutes before.

But now, the worries on their faces have vanished, replaced by unrestrained laughter.

"Lin Huang is awesome!"

"Holy crap, that was an incredible shot!"

"Cristiano Ronaldo just scored a goal with a free kick, and Lin Feng immediately followed up with an even more beautiful goal in the same way. That's an answer ball!"

"That's more like it! Both teams are exchanging goals, with superstars Lin Feng and Cristiano Ronaldo showcasing their unique skills without reservation. This is the kind of match we've been hoping to see!"

The fans were thrilled; the game had only been going on for a little over twenty minutes when both teams had already scored.

At this rate, the number of goals in this match will be high.

The championship trophy has nothing to do with most fans, so they simply hope to see a great match, like last season's Champions League final.

Last year's final saw Inter Milan and AC Milan trade goals, resulting in a thrilling and intense match. By the end of the game, a total of eight goals had been scored, providing a spectacle for fans worldwide.

We don't expect the total number of goals in this game to reach 8, but even if it's halved, four goals would be enough for most fans.

……

As the ball flew towards him, Ronaldo jumped with all his might, but he still couldn't stop it.

He turned his head urgently in mid-air to look at his own goal, and saw Van der Sar make a narrow save and the ball crash into the net.

The ball... went in...

Cristiano Ronaldo was momentarily stunned and subconsciously looked at Lin Feng.

The opponent was celebrating his goal with his signature celebration, and seeing Lin Feng's celebration only made Ronaldo feel worse.

There's always this feeling that something precious of mine has been stolen...

Lin Feng's goal brought the two teams back to a level playing field, and after a passionate celebration, Mourinho regained his composure.

Seeing that Lin Feng and others were pressing very aggressively in the attacking third, he was worried about the midfield becoming disjointed, so he moved Gago's position slightly forward.

In this way, if Lin Feng and his team fail to counter-attack, he can step in in time, entangle the opponent for a while, and buy time for his teammates behind him to set up a defensive line.

For Manchester United, Ferguson's good mood lasted only a few seconds.

Lin Feng's goal left him speechless, his right hand trembling uncontrollably, whether from shock or overwhelming emotion, it was hard to tell.

If Manchester United were riding high just now, then Real Madrid are now riding high.

Under Mourinho's instructions, Real Madrid pressed forward, relentlessly pressing and suffocating Manchester United's players in the midfield and attacking third.

In the 24th minute, Scholes and Diarra both made hand movements when they were vying for a header.

The latter angrily shoved Diarra, who retaliated by shoving Ginger Head back. The two then got into a fight, which dragged in nearby players.

Fortunately, Van Nistelrooy and Ferdinand worked hard to maintain order and separate the two parties involved, which prevented a full-blown fight from breaking out.

When the referee ran over, Scholes' nose was bleeding profusely, and his jersey was soaked.

Cristiano Ronaldo, standing nearby, grabbed Scholes' arm and said to the referee in an exaggerated tone:
"Sir, look at my teammate! This is a malicious foul! You can't let the criminal get away with it!"

Lin Feng was furious when he saw that Ronaldo was playing dirty tricks, trying to get Diarra a red card this way, just like he had framed his teammate Rooney.

"Hey Chris, don't lie through your teeth. You can find out whether my teammates committed a foul intentionally or not by asking them!"

After saying that, he ignored Ronaldo, turned to the referee, and explained to him the dirty trick that had just happened between Scholes and Diarra.

The referee questioned several assistant referees and the parties involved, confirming that what Lin Feng said was true.

So he pulled out yellow cards, giving both players a 50/50 warning, and showed them yellow cards respectively.

The vast majority of the Russian spectators present were neutral fans who were excited to see two teams representing the highest level of European football about to engage in a full-blown brawl in their own stadium.

One by one, they excitedly started to cheer:
"Fight!"

"Beat him!"

"I bet 500 rubles that Manchester United will win!"

"It's boring, I want to see a river of blood!"

The Russians, expecting a spectacle, were quickly bored as the chaos was quickly quelled. (End of Chapter)