The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 355 Son of France! [Seeking monthly votes~~]

This attack was just an attempt by France and Gaio.

The game continues.

France continued to put pressure on Georgia, especially in midfield. Deschamps demanded that Georgia run tirelessly and press for wins.

They didn't give the Georgian organization a chance at all.

The midfielders and defenders were barely able to pass the ball freely. They tried to find teammates on the wings through ground passes, but the French team's overall movement speed was extremely fast, and their passing lanes were repeatedly blocked.

Under the relentless running and pressing of the French team, Georgia's attacking organization was repeatedly nipped in the bud.

Faced with such suffocating pressure, the Georgian team's attacking methods became extremely simplistic, even somewhat helpless.

They could only resort to long balls from the backfield time and time again, trying to find the lone striker Kobakhidze in the attacking third, hoping that he could win a point with his individual ability and give the team a chance to breathe.

however,
This simple and crude approach has a pitifully low success rate.

France's central defenders, Koscielny and Abidal, have an absolute advantage in height, physical strength, and anticipation.

They easily defused these high-altitude bombings.

Even when Kobakhize managed to win a few points, the ball was mostly controlled by the defensive midfielder Guilavogui, who was tracking back.

This is exactly the situation Deschamps wanted to see.

France controlled possession for a long time, while Georgia was firmly pinned down in their own half and struggled to defend.

Their attacking threat was minimized, allowing the French team to patiently look for any cracks in the opponent's defense under sustained pressure.

The match proceeded smoothly in the direction Deschamps had anticipated.

And next to Deschamps is Kotsbya.

My hands were clenched tightly, and I was filled with anxiety.

He paced back and forth on the sidelines, his brow furrowed, his eyes fixed on the team's shaky defense on the field.

He felt suffocated, especially by the pressure exerted by the French team on both flanks.

On the left flank, Ribery used his signature explosiveness and strong physical strength to repeatedly attack Georgia's right flank.

His inside cuts kept the defenders scrambling, constantly shifting the balance of the entire defensive line.

What made Kotsbya even more alarmed was Gaio on the right wing.

Gaio's method was more ingenious, and more despairing.

His dazzling footwork and unpredictable changes of rhythm made the left-back Grigarava, who was responsible for marking him, look clumsy and embarrassed.

A few simple shoulder drops and changes of direction can create space for a cross or an inside cut.

Georgia's defensive midfielders had to frequently cover, but this left the middle wide open, giving the French midfielders opportunities to push forward.

"Stay calm! Be careful!"

Kotsbya couldn't help but shout towards the field, but his voice was quickly drowned out by wave after wave of attacks from the French team.

Seventeenth minute.

Gaio received the ball with his back to goal on the right sideline, and Georgian left-back Grigalava immediately closed him down.

Gaio gently pulled the ball back with his right foot, while simultaneously lowering his left shoulder and making a move to turn his body inward.

Grigalava's center of gravity was immediately tricked to this side.

Just as Grigaravá shifted his weight, Gaió flicked the ball forward and to the right with the outside of his right foot, unleashing his full power to overtake from the outside!
Grigalava hurriedly turned around to chase after him, but was already two body lengths behind in the first step.

They were completely outmatched in terms of speed!

The defensive midfielder, Kannawa, quickly moved laterally to block the attack.

Gaio dribbled forward, and just as the two were about to make contact, he pushed the ball to the right again, making a feint to continue down the wing.

Kankawa quickly stretched out his foot to block the outside shot.

But just as Kunkawa kicked the ball, Gaio swerved it to his left!

Push forward with the momentum.

A clean and neat fried meatball!
Kankawa was completely shaken off.

He didn't even manage to grab Gaio as he passed by.

Having dribbled past two players, Gaio had already cut to the right side of the penalty area, tearing apart Georgia's entire defense single-handedly.

After dribbling past two players and entering the right side of the penalty area, Gaio's advance did not stop.

He dribbled straight towards the corner of the six-yard box, forcing Georgia's left center-back Hubtuya to quickly move forward to block him.

Just as Hubtuya lunged forward, Gaio gently passed the ball across to Giroud, who was following up in the middle.

With his back to the goal and leaning against Amisalashvili, Giroud did not attempt to turn, but instead cleverly flicked the ball behind him with his heel!
This was a perfectly timed and coordinated wall-bumping maneuver!

The ball was fed perfectly into Gaio's path to continue his forward run!

at this time,

Georgia's defense was already in a state of panic, with defensive midfielder Kasya, tracking back Kankawa, and left center-back Hubtuya all rushing towards Gaio.

They knew they had to stop Gaio!
In just over ten minutes, this young man had shown them what talent truly is.

The space instantly became extremely cramped.

Gaio protected the ball, and Kunkawa came up behind him, trying to interfere with his dribbling, but he didn't dare to touch him or charge him. Kashia and Hubtuya blocked him from the front, lowering their center of gravity to prevent him from turning or kicking.

All eyes were focused on this small area.

Everyone is wondering how Gaio will handle this.

Without hesitation, Gaio pulled the ball back with his left foot while simultaneously lowering his left shoulder, seemingly preparing to turn and break through to the left.

This feint instantly tricked Kashya, causing him to shift his weight to his right, and Gaio to move half a step to his left.

Just as Kashya shifted his center of gravity and a tiny gap appeared between him and Hubtuya beside him!

Gaio's continuous movements were seamless. His left foot, which was pulling the ball, landed as his supporting foot, and his body, which was originally about to turn around, quickly rotated to the right like a spring!
Even more deadly, as he turned his body, he secretly and quickly kicked the football with the inside of his right foot.

The entire shooting motion was completely integrated into that continuous feint, with minimal amplitude, short burst of power, and extremely concealed!
The football didn't soar into the air; instead, it skimmed along the grass, drawing a swift straight line, and just barely passed through the half-step gap left by Kashia's movement, heading straight for the far corner of the goal!

Swish!
The football quietly went into the net.

Goalkeeper Loria stood there, stunned, staring at the football that had suddenly appeared, completely at a loss.

The ball went in!
Not only Loria, but many people didn't even realize what was happening until the ball rolled into the net.

Hubtuya, Kashia, and the others looked bewildered. They only saw Gaio make a feint, and then the ball inexplicably slipped between them!

Goalkeeper Loria's save seemed more like a desperate attempt to salvage the situation afterward.

"How did they get in?!" This was the first question on everyone's mind.

It wasn't until the large screen at the scene started playing a slow-motion replay that everyone could clearly see Gaio's movements.

The camera clearly captured that during Gaio's feint to turn to the left, the moment his supporting foot stabilized, his swinging leg made an extremely quick, minimal shooting motion!
His shot took full advantage of the moment the defender shifted his center of gravity, creating a time difference.

Boris Paciarze Dinamo Stadium has come to a bizarre standstill.

The fervent expressions on the faces of tens of thousands of Georgian fans froze instantly, their mouths agape and their flag-waving arms hanging in mid-air.

His eyes were filled with bewilderment and disbelief.

In stark contrast was the small away team stand in one corner of the stadium.

The French fans who had traveled from afar instantly went wild!

The blue-clad crowd surged wildly, shouting at the top of their lungs, releasing all their pent-up emotions.

"Geo!"

"Geo!!"

The moment Gaio scored, he turned and sprinted toward the corner flag.

He turned to face the away team's stands, smiling and opening his arms wide.

He scored again!
This is his 15th goal in an official match for the national team!
Giroud was the first to rush over, grabbing Gaio and yelling excitedly in his ear, "Yang! You bastard! How did you do that?! It's unbelievable!"

Ribery ran over laughing and slapped Gaio hard on the back: "Great! Kid! That's how you do it! You made them run around in circles!"

Other teammates joined in the celebration, surrounding Gaio with hugs and pats, their faces beaming with excitement and admiration.

Even Lowry in the backcourt was cheering and pumping his fist from afar.

Gaio became the absolute focus of attention in the crowd, and he even threw a punch at the away team's stands.

This drew cheers from the crowd.

Looking at the spirited Gaio on the broadcast, the Georgian commentator remained silent for two seconds before saying helplessly, "0-1, we conceded a goal, but I have to be honest, this goal was not a tactical mistake, not a defensive lapse, and not even bad luck."

What did we see?
Gaio, the 18-year-old young man and the youngest captain of the French national team, made a feint to break through to the left when facing our double-team. The feint was so realistic that it caused our center-back to completely lose his balance.

And in that very instant, it really was just a moment!

During the twist of his body, he used the inside of his right foot to execute an extremely concealed shot!

The entire shooting motion was completely hidden within a feint, with such a subtle movement that it was almost imperceptible!

That's talent, that's the stark gap between us and the world's top players.

While our players are still figuring out how to position themselves and how to block, players of this caliber can already make the most lethal choices in the blink of an eye.

What can we say in the face of such a goal?

Our players did their best, but sometimes, there are insurmountable barriers on the football field that cannot be overcome by effort. Tonight, Gai showed us painfully what true genius is.

The caddie area standing on the sideline.

Kvalatskhya's eyes were wide open, staring unblinkingly at the blue number 10 figure's back.

When Gaio dribbled past the defender with that almost dance-like movement, he instinctively held his breath as the ball seemed to be magically bypassed the defender and entered the net.

A surge of hot blood exploded in his small chest.

Tactical discipline and defensive positioning were completely forgotten at this moment.

In 12-year-old Hervica's eyes, Gaio's move was the coolest, most stylish, and most captivating thing in the world!

"That's amazing," he muttered to himself, his hands unconsciously mimicking Gaio's dribbling moves, waving them in the air. "So that's how you play football."

He recalled that the youth training coaches always emphasized that passing should be simple and ball handling should be reasonable.

But Gaio's flamboyant playing style struck him like a bolt of lightning.

This style of play not only wins, but wins in such a cool way!
this moment,
Kvalatschlia's understanding of football has been completely refreshed.

Isn't the highest level of skill about handling heavy tasks with ease, dancing on the edge of a knife with effortless grace?
He stared at the number 10 on the field, who seemed to glow, with only one burning thought in his mind: "I want to play like that from now on! I want to be that cool!"

The French team's celebrations at the away game did not last long.

The game quickly resumed.

This goal was also seen on television screens and in bars across France.

The whole of France seemed to be ignited in an instant.

In a bar in the heart of Paris, the previously silent patrons suddenly erupted into deafening cheers. Golden beer bottles were tossed into the air, and strangers embraced each other, shouting "Gayo! Gayo!"

In the square of Marseille's Old Port, fans gathered in front of a giant screen, waving tricolor flags wildly, their horns blaring, their shouts mingling with the cheers of the crowd.

In an ordinary family in Lyon, the father excitedly picked up his child and pointed at the television screen, shouting, "Look! That's our captain!"

On Corsica, the reaction from Bastia was the most fervent!
At Sunset Cafe & Bar, the moment the football went into the net, an incredibly wild roar erupted!
"Gaio's goal was so cool!"

"His footwork is absolutely superb. Liverpool really hit the jackpot by spending 80 million to buy Gaio!"

"Gaio is really useful in tough games. Whenever we can't break the deadlock, just give the ball to Gaio."

Martin slammed his fist on the table, tears welling in his eyes. He pointed at the blue number 10 surrounded by his teammates on the screen and shouted to everyone around him, "I fucking told you! This kid was born to do this!"

The bar was instantly flooded with memories.

His first match at the Stade de la Cerámica; that goal against Paris Saint-Germain; the way he led Bastia to victory.
The revelry in the tavern turned into a kind of pride and nostalgia, almost like "our own child has made something of himself".

For them, Gaio is not only a hero of the French team, but he will always be the boy who came from Corsica and led them to create miracles.

Seeing him shine on a bigger stage fills French fans with a greater sense of pride than anywhere else!

Suddenly, Bertrand began to sing, "Your figure is a hurricane in Bastia! Your shots burn the enemy's net."

When that familiar melody appeared.

Others joined in as well.

The entire tavern erupted in cheers for Gaio, their voices so loud they seemed to travel across the Mediterranean to distant Tbilisi.

this moment,
From north to south, the whole of France was abuzz with excitement over the goal and for their French captain.

at the same time.

Manchester, England.

At the AON training center, also known as the Carrington training ground, Moyes and his assistants watched the French team's match with grave expressions in his office.

They certainly don't care about the results of either the French team or the Georgian team.

Their focus is on Gaio.

Manchester United will be traveling to Merseyside to face Liverpool in the third round of the Premier League after the international break – a true Merseyside derby!
Manchester United were champions last season, while Liverpool finished seventh.

However, in the new season, Liverpool has become incredibly strong without significant changes to their squad.

It was because of Gaio's joining.

Therefore,
Moyes understood that to beat Liverpool, he had to find a way to contain Gaio.

Currently, no team in Ligue 1 or the Europa League has truly contained Gaio.

Even Liverpool's first two Premier League opponents couldn't contain Gaio.

Stoke City made some attempts, and they were quite successful.

But that still didn't stop Gaio.

Moyes couldn't possibly use the same tactics as Stoke City. For the great Manchester United fans, they were used to success and championships.

Having won more than half of the Premier League titles, they not only want to win, but to win beautifully!
"His ball control is amazing; to be able to break through in such a tight space like that shows real confidence."

One of the assistants suddenly spoke up, and at that moment the screen showed Gaio charging towards two defenders and then passing the ball out.

Moyes nodded solemnly and said, "This is where his talent lies, and also where our difficulty lies."

“The timing of his cut,” Moyes suddenly spoke, his voice low as he tapped the screen, “Did you see that? Just as Giroud was pulling to the other side, he wasn’t moving blindly; every step was purposeful.”

"Fletcher, if it were you, how would you follow up on this ball?" Moyes asked a defensive analysis coach without turning his head.

“It’s difficult,” Fletcher’s assistant shook his head. “His burst of speed was too fast, and look at that feint before he passed the ball. If our full-backs hadn’t tackled him easily, they would have definitely been beaten. We need very timely support from the midfield, and…”

“And if we cover for them, we’ll leave other players out,” Moyes chimed in, rubbing his temples. “Liverpool isn’t the French national team. They have Sturridge and Coutinho up front. Which one of them would you dare leave open?”

Another assistant showed him footage he had just recorded, a replay of Gaio receiving the ball on the flank outside the penalty area. "David, that's the most troublesome thing. Not only can he break through on the wings, he also really likes to cut inside and receive the ball here. In this area, he can shoot directly, he can play a through ball, and he can do things like this."

In the video, Gaio deftly swiped and turned to shake off his close defender.

“That’s the most deadly thing,” Moyes said with a hint of helplessness. “He makes defenders feel helpless. If you press too hard, he’ll use his agility to get past you. If you keep your distance, he’ll have space to pass the ball or make his next move. Whether he cuts inside or goes down the wing, it’s very tricky.”

He then mentioned Gaio's goal.

"Did Georgia's two center-backs make a mistake in that goal? Strictly speaking, no. They held their positions and marked Gaio, but Gaio was just able to find that one and only line in that instant and put the ball in the most reasonable way. This is not something that tactics can completely solve; it's pure talent that overwhelms them."

There was a brief silence in the office.

Faced with such a seemingly unsolvable point of attack, a sense of powerlessness filled the air.

“Carrick’s physical contact might be able to distract him,” an assistant suggested. “Let Carrick keep a close eye on him and stick to him like glue.”

Moyes pondered for a moment: "That's an idea. Gaio is indeed relatively weak in physical duels, but if Carrick goes out to cover him, our midfield will be exposed. And can Carrick really keep up with him?" He paused, then sighed. "Most importantly, Manchester United fans won't accept our purely defensive tactics. They want to see us press Liverpool, not passively take the beating, even away from home."

Moyes shook his head. "Well, gentlemen, here's the problem: we can't park the bus like Stoke City, that's not in line with Manchester United's identity, but we also have to contain the hottest attacking talent in the world."

He picked up a pen, got up, and started drawing on the whiteboard.

“We need a smarter approach. Perhaps it's not about marking him tightly, but about limiting his space to receive the ball and cutting off his connections with his teammates, especially with Gerrard and Henderson. We need to put more pressure on them in midfield.”

His voice gradually lowered as he fell into deep thought. How to find the key to containing Gaio while maintaining Manchester United's attacking tradition—this difficult problem would determine the outcome of his first major test in charge of Manchester United.

The Manchester night was deep outside the window.

When Moyes paused to think, only the sounds of explanation and occasional note-taking filled the office.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Just as Moyes was starting to get a clue, the voice of the commentator on TV suddenly rose!
It broke the silence in the office.

"Ribery shoots! Goal!! France leads Georgia 2-0 away from home! Just 40 minutes into the first half, Georgia still couldn't hold on and conceded another goal!"
This time, Gaio attracted the attention of nearly five defenders on the right wing!
He single-handedly drew Georgia's entire defensive focus away from them!

But instead of forcing a breakthrough, he delivered a long pass with excellent vision, precisely finding Ribery, who was completely unmarked on the left flank.

Moyes and his assistants instinctively turned to stare intently at the replay on the screen.

The footage clearly shows that when Gaio received the ball on the right wing, almost half of Georgia's defensive formation tilted towards him, while Ribery on the left wing was left with a huge gap in the air.

“Damn it,” an assistant muttered, his voice filled with helplessness, “He can not only score himself, but he can also kill the game this way.”

Moyes's brow furrowed even more. "That's the scariest part. We were just discussing how to defend against his individual attacks, but he also has a passing game. He can draw at least two, even three, four, or five defenders with his individual threat, creating absolute opportunities for his teammates."

The office was completely silent.

This night at Carrington base was destined to be long and heavy.

Boris Paciarze Dinamo Stadium.

In the stands.

Georgian fans were somewhat frustrated. Although they knew there was a significant gap between them and the stronger teams, Gaio showed them an insurmountable chasm.

Someone in the stands said, "I really envy France for having a player like that. When will we have our own Gaio?"

This is also the opinion of most Georgian fans.

They need both luck and their absolute best to qualify for the European Championship finals.

The World Cup, on the other hand, is something that can only be hoped for but never achieved.

Georgia had no energy left to attack, and under the French team's offensive pressure, they could only passively defend.

Kotswaya kept urging his players to strengthen their defense and increase the intensity of their physical confrontations.

They at least need to avoid conceding another goal in this half.

We'll see how things go in the second half and make adjustments accordingly.

however,
In the 46th minute of the match, with three minutes of added time, Gaio made a strong run down the right flank, causing chaos in the Georgian penalty area.

This startled Kotsbya so much that his heart was in his throat.

Gaio's performance in the second half was truly nerve-wracking.

The Georgian players quickly returned to their defensive positions and rushed towards Gaio.

Gaio didn't force an attack; realizing there was no opportunity, he quickly passed the ball back to Sanya, who was making a run down the flank.

Sagna quickly moved the ball around.

quickly,

The ball came to Ribery's feet.

Ribery's task is simple: just like Gaião, he just needs to get the ball and charge inside!
Ribery forcefully cut inside from the left wing, created space, and unleashed another powerful shot!

But this time, the ball didn't fly towards the goal; instead, it struck the raised arm of Georgian right-back Lobzhanidze, who was covering for the ball!

A muffled cracking sound was clearly audible.

The football changed direction and bounced back.

"Handball!!" Ribery immediately raised his hands and shouted excitedly to the referee.

The French players in the attacking third also raised their hands and shouted for the ball to be played.

The referee hesitated for a moment before blowing his whistle decisively!
He pointed clearly to the penalty spot with his right hand.

Lobzani immediately rushed to the referee, his face full of grievance and anxiety, explaining that his arm was swinging naturally and close to his body, which was a "passive touch".

Giving away a penalty during stoppage time is something no one can stand.

But the referee, while backing away, firmly shook his head and pointed to his upper arm, indicating that his hand was clearly raised outward, expanding the defensive area.

Georgian captain Kankawa also ran over to argue, but the decision could not be changed.

Gaio didn't engage in the argument; he silently picked up the football and calmly walked towards the penalty spot.

The entire Boris Pachazedinamo Stadium erupted in boos and protests, as Georgian fans expressed their discontent and despair.

Kotsbya angrily yelled at the fourth official, "This isn't a penalty! It absolutely isn't!"

But they also knew that tonight's outcome was basically already decided.

French fans, meanwhile, began to anxiously anticipate the arrival of their favorite pastime.

Everyone thought the first half was over, but then there was another chance to score.

Gaio placed the ball.

Loria kept clapping and jumping on the goal line, trying to put pressure on Gaio.

The French commentator noted that Gaio had never missed a penalty in his professional career.

drop! !

Soon, the referee blew his whistle, signaling that the penalty kick was allowed.

Gaio took a deep breath.

He then took a running start.

His penalty kicks were very simple and direct, without any fancy little steps, sudden pauses, or feints.

It was a powerful shot into the corner!
Being able to guess the direction and make the save is a skill of the opposing goalkeeper!
Bang!
Gaio kicked the football hard.

The football flew instantly towards the top right corner!

A tricky angle, with tremendous force!
Loria judged the direction correctly, but it was too far out of reach; he couldn't reach the top corner at all.

Swish!
The football slammed into the net, creating a white splash.

0-3!

Gaio scores twice!

After scoring, Gaio didn't run wildly; he simply rushed towards the blue away team stands.

He stood firmly, his arms outstretched in his signature pose.

"Geo! Geo!!"

The French fans in the stands had already gone wild.

They shouted his name at the top of their lungs, and countless arms stretched out in his direction, as if trying to reach through the fence to embrace their hero.

Smiles were on everyone's faces, filled with excitement and pride.

Listening to the cheers of the fans.

Gaio stood quietly, arms outstretched, like a king receiving a pilgrim, or a wanderer returning home, fully embracing the overwhelming love that surged forth.

He tilted his head back slightly, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale this thrilling passion into his lungs and transform it into strength.

The next second, his teammates swarmed up from behind. Giroud was the first to rush up and hug him tightly around the neck. Ribery laughed and patted him on the back. More people surrounded him and hugged him.

this moment,
A peculiar atmosphere settled over the Boris Paciarze Dinamo Stadium.

The anger and disappointment on the faces of many Georgian fans had not yet faded, but their eyes involuntarily revealed another emotion.

A complex feeling towards Gaio.

An elderly fan wearing a traditional Georgian beanie shook his head and clapped his hands lightly a few times unconsciously. Then, as if realizing something was amiss, he awkwardly lowered his hands, but his gaze never left the young French number 10 on the field.

He then muttered, "Too strong, there's nothing I can do, I really can't defend against it."

This conflicting feeling permeated the stadium.

They were heartbroken by the team's crushing defeat, but deep down they couldn't help but be captivated by Gaio's talent and performance on the court.

They hated that Gaio had destroyed their national team's hopes, yet they had to admit that being able to witness such a genius's performance was a privilege in itself.

Courtside.

When Gaio scored, Deschamps raised his arms in triumph.

Steady!

He failed to score in three friendly matches this summer and faced a lot of criticism.

They believe he can't win without Gay.

The same is true.

But he didn't care!
Who says giving the ball to the best player isn't a tactic?

Right?

Not far away, Kotsbya shook his head helplessly, pinched the bridge of his nose, and felt somewhat powerless.

Trailing by three goals at halftime, how can we possibly continue?

drop! ! !
When the halftime whistle blew, Kotsbya did not hesitate and strode towards the locker room.

The players on both sides displayed two completely different expressions.

The fans, and even the commentators, are completely different.

The Georgian commentator expressed regret over the result.

The French commentator, however, said with a smile, "I think this first half was a personal show for Gaio. Two goals and one assist, he was directly involved in all three goals! That's what he brought us—a decisive difference!"

I must say without exaggeration that the French team with Gaio and the French team without him are completely different levels of attacking teams!

Look at this half of the game! When the opponent parked the bus, he was still able to break through the defense with his individual skills. When the opponent heavily defended his side, he was able to create scoring opportunities for his teammates with his wide vision and accurate passing. He made our attack full of unpredictability.

In the three friendly matches during the summer, no one from the French team stepped up like that.

Three games without a goal – it's enough to make you wonder if the French team has run into some problems again.

This further demonstrates Gaio's indispensability.

And the most incredible thing is that he is only 18 years old!
An 18-year-old, under such high pressure in an away game, handled the situation with ease and dominated the game. This is not just talent, but an innate kingly aura. Watching him play, you might even forget his age, because the calmness and maturity he shows completely make people ignore his age.

This is the player we've been waiting for, after Platini and Zidane!
This is the son of France!

He comes from our Clairefontaine, and he carries our football dreams!
In him, we see Zidane's elegance, Henry's sharpness, and even more so, an all-powerful charm of football belonging to a new era!
He is the attacking soul of this French team!
I want to say that having him is a blessing for French football, but I also hope that France has more than just one Gaio, because that would be another kind of misfortune.”

In the French dressing room.

Deschamps stood in front of the tactics board, a satisfied look on his face.

The atmosphere in the locker room was relaxed, with the players replenishing their fluids while quietly discussing their teamwork from the first half.

"Well done, lads!" Deschamps' voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention. "We completely controlled the tempo in the first half, and our attack was very clear, especially our teamwork in the attacking third, which is exactly what we've been emphasizing."

He looked specifically at Gaio and nodded: "Yang, your performance was phenomenal. You completely read the game."

His gaze then swept over Ribery, Giroud, and others. "Frank's running and Olivier's pivotal role were both crucial."

He walked to the tactics board and began to make adjustments and deployments.

"We will make some adjustments in the second half. Our primary goal is to control the game and keep a clean sheet. We'll drop back a bit, keep the formation compact, and let them attack. Remember, avoid any unnecessary risks. I want a solid victory, not an open goal-fest. Don't give the opponent any chance to gain momentum, and don't let your guard down! Understand?"

"Got it, coach!"

After the arrangements were completed,

Deschamps walked over to Gaio, who was tying his shoelaces, patted him on the shoulder, and explained in a calm tone: "Young, I plan to substitute you in the second half. On the one hand, the game is under control, and on the other hand, I also want to give Paul, Ngolo, and Rafael some opportunities to get back on the court and find their rhythm."

Gaio looked up, his face showing no displeasure, and nodded readily: "I understand, Coach, no problem."

He really didn't care.

Whether he plays the entire game or not has never been his standard for measuring his own value.

Deschamps smiled and nodded.

He turned back to his own arrangements, telling Kanté to warm up quickly.

He plans to bring on Kante at midfield to strengthen midfield control, and then find an opportunity to substitute Guilavogui with Pogba.

Gilavogi is indeed of little use.

He came through the Saint-Étienne youth academy and had his best season at Saint-Étienne last season. This season, he was spotted by Simeone and his transfer to Atlético Madrid was just officially announced.

Atletico Madrid spent ten million euros on him.

This shows how highly they regard him.

but,

In this half, Guilavogui's performance was mediocre in confrontations with players like Georgia.

Deschamps shook his head.

They essentially gave up on Gilavoji in secret.

He has been constantly trying out new players and searching for potential talents to form the core of a championship-contending team.

unfortunately,

There is still too little talent in France.

the other side.

Gaião then explained the substitution to Deschamps, who had just explained it to him.

I saw what was behind it.

Coach Deschamps, a seasoned and iron-fisted manager, will now make a point of coming over to explain a simple tactical substitution to him in a consultative tone.

This subtle change signifies a substantial shift in status.

When Gaião proved himself to be the team's true core with his consistently outstanding performances, even French legends like Deschamps had to start to take his feelings seriously and respect them.

This influence no longer needs to be demonstrated through words or demands; it has silently permeated every tactical decision-making consideration.

That's the status of a superstar—even if he remains silent, his very existence is a crucial factor that the coaching staff must prioritize.

soon.

The intermission is over.

When the players returned to the field, the home fans were surprised to find that Gaio had been substituted.

Some people are wondering if Gaio has suffered some kind of injury.
Need protection?
However, many fans believe that Deschamps simply felt the game was over and started resting his players.

When the game begins.

Although the French team still controlled possession, they had clearly lost the lethal threat they posed in the first half when Gaio was on the field.

The flanks continued to create opportunities for crosses, and Giroud had several chances to head the ball, but he was unable to change the score again.

The French commentator's tone gradually shifted from the passion of the first half to a regretful one: "We saw that even after Gaião left the field, our attack was still able to suppress the opponent and create opportunities. However, without his individual ability to break the balance near the penalty area, our attacking efficiency clearly dropped. Giroud's role as a target man was still excellent, and Ribery's breakthroughs were still sharp, but in the final shot, there was always that one decisive element missing. I think this once again proves Gaião's importance to the French team. We cannot lose our captain."

Conversely, we saw that after Kanté came on, his coverage and interception abilities in midfield greatly enhanced our defensive solidity. Georgia struggled to organize effective attacks through midfield, and their passes were repeatedly cut off.

The second half of the game proceeded at a somewhat dull pace.

France's defense was relatively solid, but their attack reverted to the style of the summer friendlies.

Lacking offensive power.

finally.

The moment the whistle blew, the entire match came to a standstill.

3-0.

France continues to lead the World Cup qualifiers Group I standings!

(End of this chapter)