Football: I am only 16 years old, and you want me to retire and make a comeback?

Chapter 496: Memories of the Japanese Team's Bonds, the Indistinguishable Reality and Illusion
"DiDi!!"

"drop!!!"

The car honked its horn.

I never expected there would be traffic congestion in downtown Hangzhou at midnight.

Even the neighboring shopping mall was still lit up, and hundreds of people had gathered in front of its entrance.

The car slowly moved forward, and the driver finally saw the source of the light.

The camera focused on Tang Ye's face, with the Japanese team's wall of players in front of him.

79'23
1: 2.

"Don't these people sleep?"

The wife in the passenger seat widened her eyes: "It wasn't like this during last year's World Cup, was it?"

"Don't speak yet."

The husband interrupted his wife as she was speaking, then pulled the car over to the side of the road and bit his finger.

"call……"

Beep! ! !
The referee whistle sounded.

The previously noisy crowd fell silent instantly.

On the screen, Tang Ye spits on the grass and then begins his running start.

3, 2, 1...

In the final step, extend your left hand and fully stretch out your entire body.

At the same time, Zhang Linpeng and Gao Lin used their bodies to forcefully break through the opponent's wall of men.

Snapped!
He kicked the ball out with his right foot, then fell to the left and crashed to the ground.

The ball was incredibly fast, weaving through the gap between Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gaku Shibasaki, then curving slightly inward before finally entering the goal.

Shuichi Gonda immediately knelt on the ground.

"GOOOO-AAAAA-LLLL!!!"

"Tang Ye!"

"The ball is in!"

"Tang Ye's free kick found the back of the net, leveling the score for China!"

The CCTV commentator accidentally cracked his voice.

But it doesn't matter, because the fans' attention isn't on him right now.

"Roar!!"

Tang Ye dashed toward the corner flagpole at top speed, performed a short slide on his knees, and then stood up from the grass.

"Tang Ye!!!"

"Fucking awesome!"

"Ahhh!!!!"

The scene instantly erupted in cheers, as did the Chinese fans watching the live broadcast on television.

"Ahhhh!!!!"

Madaloni led the Chinese substitutes onto the field, but was knocked down by Wei Shihao after only a few steps.

"Depend on!"

"Wait for me! Wait for me!"

Chinese players created a human pyramid near the corner flag.

"Your technique is masterful—it must be incredibly impressive!"

"Horizontal strokes, left-falling strokes, vertical strokes, right-falling strokes, hooks, dots, and turns—all are handled with ease!"

"Master, my master, strike a fighting pose!"

"I admire you so much, I really admire you!"

……

"Ha ha!"

"Tang Ye is awesome!"

The referee dismissed Madaloni and the Chinese team's substitutes, and Tang Ye walked with his teammates.

Although it was a direct free kick instead of a penalty, it still went in.

So what's the difference?

The current score is...

Tang Ye faced the stands, raising both hands and extending his index and middle fingers respectively.

This is it.

This also represents the score at that moment.

2: 2!

"Tang Ye!"

Boom!

"Tang Ye!"

Boom!

The Japanese players are completely bewildered.

Two free kicks in one game forced a draw, something even Yoshida Maya, with over ten years of experience, had never encountered before.

Minamino Takumi's face was deathly pale, and standing beside him was Doan Ritsu.

"In the end... was it still impossible to defeat them...?"

……

After the score was tied at 2-2, the Japanese team became anxious and eager to widen the gap again.

But Lippi remained calm, directing the defensive players to adjust their positions to counter Japan's attack.

"Take a look, take a look!"

"later!"

Takumi Minamino came down the wing, and it was clear that the Japanese striker was already a bit too tired to run anymore.

Liu Yiming!
boom!
A tackle cleared the ball out of bounds, and Liu Yiming roared at the stands.

"Pretty!"

"Right, that is it!"

"The Chinese team's priority now is to maintain a strong defense and not give Japan any opportunity to enter the penalty area!"

"..."

"The Tang An Law has been passed horizontally to the middle!"

"Shibasaki-dake!"

boom!
A long-range shot was taken, but goalkeeper Wang Dalei punched the ball away.

Haraguchi Genki!

boom!
Another long-range shot.

Zhang Linpeng and Shi Ke simultaneously fell to the ground to block the shot!

"hiss!"

It's clear that the Japanese players are getting a little anxious.

As the dominant side, they naturally planned to end the game within regulation time.

However, the actual situation of the match and the Japanese team's plan seem to have some way out.

Hajime Moriyasu is an excellent coach.

But even the best coach wouldn't expect that a player could score two direct free kicks in a single match.

Considering that the team had one substitution left and that there were less than two minutes left in the game, Hajime Moriyasu ultimately decided to keep the substitution.

……

Dongqiudi pinned post: China and Japan tied 2-2 in regular time, Tang Ye's two free kicks in the first and second halves forced the game into extra time.

The descendants of heroes are truly heroes.

Can they still play in extra time? I feel like Tang Ye might not be able to keep up with his stamina after running for so long.

I think we should be more worried about the other players. No matter how bad Tang Ye's stamina is, it's something he developed in the Premier League.

Damn, I'll have to watch this match until tomorrow morning!

[Screw your sleeping, get up and party! Go China!!!]

The competition is scheduled for the end of January, just one week before the 2019 Spring Festival.

The timing is perfect; fans don't need to worry about going to work the next morning and can enjoy the entire overtime game.

No one spoke in the players' tunnel; all that could be heard was the heavy breathing of the players from both sides.

By this point in the game, everyone's stamina was almost completely depleted, and Tang Ye was helping Hao Junmin up.

Tang Ye was lucky, really. If the Asian Cup had been held in January last year, he probably wouldn't be able to hold on now.

Tang Ye didn't have this much energy back in January last year!
"Brother Hao, how are you?"

Tang Ye helped Hao Junmin sit down.

At this point, the Chinese team's coaching staff was ready.

"We have one substitution left, and my plan is to use it at the full-back position, but if any of you can't continue, you can let me know."

Tang Ye looked up at Lippi.

Mr. Marcello suddenly started speaking faster.

Is he nervous?

Tang Ye doesn't know if Lippi is nervous right now.

All he knew was that he was extremely nervous, and so were his teammates.

This is definitely not an easy match!

……

Meanwhile, in the Japanese team's locker room.

Japan was the team whose score had been tied, so the players all looked dejected and listless.

Endo Wataru sat alone in the corner, looking so dejected that he seemed about to cry.

Maya Yoshida walked over, and Wataru Endo looked up guiltily, his face ashen: "S-senpai..."

"Are we... about to lose...?"

Yoshida Asa didn't speak, but instead placed her hand on Endo Wataru's shoulder: "You remind me of myself when I was a child, when I was also terrified of failure."

The Japanese team's locker room was quiet, with the players listening attentively to Maya Yoshida's speech.

Even Hajime Moriyasu is one of them.

When players are exhausted, some encouraging words can be more effective than tactics.

Noticing his teammates' gazes, Maya Yoshida stood up again and went to the middle of the locker room.

"Our morale has been completely shattered. Even if we sit here foolishly, we'll only end up being defeated and eliminated by China."

"But we must stand up, pull ourselves together, and face our fear."

"but……"

Konda Shuichi's face was covered in sweat.

This didn't come from running away; it stemmed from fear and loss.

The Japanese goalkeeper was completely bewildered. "Well, we're going to lose anyway. No matter what, even if we fight hard and still lose, it's pointless..."

The image of Tang Ye's direct free kick in the second half of the match flashed through Shuichi Gonda's mind.

"You're right, it's completely pointless."

Maya Yoshida's words made the Japanese players in the locker room look up abruptly.

"No matter what your dreams and hopes are, or how hard you train, it's all the same after you're eliminated; you'll ultimately lose the competition."

Maya Yoshida looked at the Japanese players in the locker room, from Wataru Endo to Shuichi Gonda, to Yuya Osako, and then to Takumi Minamino.

"So playing football is meaningless? Is our dream of winning the Asian Cup meaningless? Are the achievements our predecessors fought for useless?"

"No, no!"

Maya Yoshida's pupils suddenly dilated.

"Only we can give meaning to our hard work and sweat!"

!!!

After Maya Yoshida finished her speech, the Japanese team's locker room became unusually quiet, without the slightest sound.

The players looked up at the ceiling.

Yuya Osako said softly, "If this match is over, I guess I'll have no regrets in life..."

All 23 players on the Japanese team had dilated pupils, as if they had entered a strange state.

According to Hajime Moriyasu, the 23 players on the Japanese team seemed to be connected by a deep blue thread.

Although they are different people, the images that are now appearing in their minds are exactly the same.

My parents and my immature older brother.

The lack of understanding from parents and teachers, being ostracized by classmates for liking football in school, and the girl he liked the most going to a different university.

"You should choose football. Maybe this is the best way for things to end," the girl said.
The 23 players on the Japanese team suddenly opened their eyes.

Isn't this the stadium I've been longing for?

This deafening sound is—

"Keep it up, kid! Isn't this exactly what you've been striving for? Don't give up so easily, Minamino-san!"

"Osako-san, Tomiyasu-san..."

The names of the Japanese players echoed through the minds of the players on the field.

The match has restarted, and the Japanese players have entered a wonderful state.

Their opponents seemed to be playing the way they wanted to play.

boom!
Takumi Minamino stole the ball from Hao Junmin and then accelerated to the frontcourt.

Wang Dalei is on the far end!

In the eyes of the Japanese players, the Chinese team's goalkeeper's face was full of provocation.

"Hehe, instead of running away, you're walking towards me?"

Wang Dalei said in Japanese.

Even so, they still couldn't break through the goal behind me!

Minamino Takumi looked disdainful in the face of the provocation.

How could they possibly understand!

How could they possibly understand the pain we've been through!

"Don't underestimate this ball; it embodies... the belief of me and my loved ones!"

boom!
Takumi Minamino unleashed a long-range shot, the ball being flattened by the immense force and blasted away with a blue flash.

The passage of time seemed to slow down across the entire world at this moment.

A ball glowing blue flew past Zhang Linpeng's ear.

"Ma, Masaka... (Is it possible that...)"

Zhang Linpeng looked terrified, with sweat beading on her forehead from fear.

boom!
"GOOOO-AAAAAA-LLLLLL"

The ball went in!
3: 2!

Takumi Minamino led the Japanese team players and rushed out quickly.

The figure jogging in the morning, the ridicule of classmates, the father drinking wearily at night, the face of his older brother, the girl he liked boarding a plane and leaving right in front of him...

"We did it!!!"

The Japanese players hugged each other tightly.

Senior, did you see that?

We did it!
……

Dongqiudi live match report: In the 98th minute, Takumi Minamino scored a world-class goal, giving Japan a 3-2 lead.

Time resumed its normal flow.

Swish!
Tang Ye used his shoe nails to scratch the grass on the ground.

"Why didn't you stop their striker who ran all the way from the wing to the center?"

"Brother Hao, weren't you over there?"

The score went from 2-2 to 2-3, and the Chinese players are now completely stunned.

I don't know why the Japanese team was able to play even more aggressively in extra time than in regulation time.

There seemed to be light in the eyes of the 11 players on the other side!

"Fuck, fuck!"

Madaloni was furious, and the next second Lippi substituted Hao Junmin with Wei Shihao.

The last substitution was originally intended for the penalty shootout.

But the Chinese team can't wait any longer!

If China fails to score within the next 20 minutes, they will be the loser in this match!
The blue warrior will sing a song in front of them!

"Tang Ye!"

Wei Shihao ran over and gave Tang Ye a high-five, then brought Lippi's tactics.

With the team trailing, Lippi signaled to Tang Ye to abandon the defensive midfield position and return to the attacking midfield position.

Gao Lin, Wu Lei, and Wei Shihao will form the three forwards!

"come on! Come on!!!"

After Zheng Zhi left the field, the captain's armband was passed to Zhang Linpeng, who shouted the loudest he had ever done since the national team's defenders were born.

"We've brought the score back, we've brought it back!"

The players clapped each other together, then dispersed.

Overtime continues!
"We can see that the Chinese team has made a substitution."

"With only 20 minutes left in the game, if the Chinese team cannot equalize the score in the next 20 minutes, then the Japanese team will win this game!"

Go China!

The CCTV commentators also started chanting along with the fans.

Official commentary must be neutral!
"Tang Ye!"

Shouting Tang Ye's name, Wang Dalei threw the ball out, accurately finding Tang Ye in the attacking third.

Right next to him was Shibasaki Gaku, and Tang Ye turned around to take a look.

Step the ball on the ground, then tap it back with your heel!

Tang Ye has successfully pierced Shibasaki Gaku's crotch!

"Ohhh!!!"

The fans in the stadium haven't sat down since the start of overtime.

It's now the 108th minute of extra time!

Gao Lin accelerated forward, preparing to receive the ball on the left flank, but Tang Ye passed it directly to him.

Doan Ritsu and Gao Lin ran together.

Gao Lin has a positional advantage!

Gao Lin stretches out his leg to receive the ball!

The two were entangled, and in the end, Doan Ritsu pushed Gao Lin away.

Beep! !

Although Gao Lin did not fall to the ground, the foul by Ritsu Doan was very obvious, so the referee still blew the whistle decisively.

This is already China's seventh direct free kick in this match.

"but……"

The commentator and the fans both frowned: "The position of this free kick is a bit poor..."

The ball was too close to the left flank and still quite a distance from the goal.

It's okay, you can treat a direct free kick as an indirect free kick.

Tang Ye and Wei Shihao went to the spot where the referee had drawn the white line. Wei Shihao covered his mouth and said, "I'll set a screen for you, pass it back a bit, they'll definitely be marking Gao Lin, you pass it to Wu Lei or..."

I just called it.

"what?"

Wei Shihao seemed not to have heard what Tang Ye said clearly, so Tang Ye repeated it again.

"This position isn't good, but I just calculated it, and shooting directly should have the highest success rate."

Wei Shihao looked up at the Japanese team's goal.

It's not that the distance is far, it's just that the ball is in such an off-center position...

"you sure?"

"Brother Hao, you guys won't blame me if I don't score, will you?"

Tang Ye bit his right thumbnail: "It's not easy to score, but I'm in great form with free kicks today... Phew, I want to give it a try."

"..."

Wei Shihao clenched his right fist and punched Tang Ye in the chest: "Awesome!"

Wei Shihao ran into the penalty area, and Tang Ye began to retreat in the shot.

"Look at the Chinese team's wall setup: Gao Lin at the near post, Wu Lei and Zhang Linpeng at the far post. If Zhang Yuning were there, the success rate of this shot might not be lower, but the Chinese team doesn't have any more substitutions."

"Hmm...actually, since it's a cross, we could have Wei Shihao take it, and then Tang Ye could prepare at the edge of the box, because we all know that Tang Ye has a very good long-range shooting ability..."

As the commentators chatted, the camera once again focused on the top of the home team's bench.

Tang Zhengxiong and several Chinese fans still carried Tang Xianmin's portrait, in which Tang Xianmin had a smile on his face.

"Beep!!!"

"China's set piece..."

"Tang Ye"

Tang Ye quickly took a running start, tightened his core muscles, and then powerfully swung his right leg out.

It looked like a volley shot, but Tang Ye actually touched the ball with the outside of his right foot.

Snapped!
Grass clippings flew up, and the ball pointed directly at the camera hanging above the goal.

"Hey, what's Tang Ye doing here!"

There is an arc that shifts to the left, and after reaching its highest point and falling, it begins to change direction to the right again.
Accelerating downwards!
The ball went into the net from the top right corner of the goal.

……

(End of this chapter)