After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

In late June 2018, in the third round of the group stage, England faced Panama, who were making their first appearance in the World Cup finals.

The atmosphere in this match was far less tense and somber than the previous game against Belgium.

In the stands, the red and white flags of the England fans surged like a tide, and their songs were loud and clear, full of anticipation.

Yan Yuan stood in the player tunnel, adjusting the wristband on his wrist.

Head coach Gareth Southgate patted him on the back, his eyes filled with clear trust:

"Play with ease, but remember what we discussed before: you can be more flexible in your positioning, but defensive discipline is the bottom line."

"Yes, Coach!" Yan Yuan nodded vigorously. The bitterness of the previous match against Belgium and the urgency brought about by the in-depth review had transformed into a calm and focused strength.

In this match, his starting position as right winger remained unchanged, but the sense of responsibility on his shoulders and the freedom given by the coach made Yan Yuan more clear-headed.

The opening whistle blew, and the course of the match almost immediately demonstrated the enormous gap in strength between the two sides.

Panama's players were undeniably aggressive in their pressing, but their defensive system appeared fragile and chaotic under England's skillful passing and speed.

England's first goal came quickly.

In the 6th minute, England pressed down on the left flank, but the ball was hastily cleared by the Panamanian defender to the center, failing to travel far.

Alli made a brilliant interception of the ball near the edge of the penalty area!

Without the slightest hesitation, he looked up and instantly saw the open area on the right.

Yan Yuan has already started his high-speed run, shaking off the full-back marking him!

"Yan!" Ali roared, sending out a perfectly executed diagonal ground pass with the outside of his right foot!

The ball precisely passed through the fleeting gap between the two Panamanian center-backs.

Precisely breach the defenses!

Yan Yuan arrived on horseback.

This ball was relatively easy to handle; he didn't need to adjust his footwork at all. He lightly pushed the rolling ball forward with his left foot, instantly creating a one-on-one situation.

Facing Panama's goalkeeper Penedo, who had abandoned his post and looked panicked, Yan Yuan became even calmer.

He didn't even look at the goalkeeper's direction of the save, and steadily pushed out a low, ground-hugging shot with the instep of his right foot.

The ball skimmed along the grass, moving at incredible speed and with a tricky angle, hurtling straight into the bottom right corner of the goal.

1-0!

The goal came so easily and effortlessly.

Yan Yuan ran towards the corner flag with his arms outstretched, his face filled with pure joy at scoring a goal.

Teammates like Ali and Kane rushed over to hug and celebrate.

This goal came too early and too easily.

It was like a bucket of cold water poured over the already tense Panamanian players.

England's offensive was like a tidal wave, one wave higher than the next.

In the 16th minute, England won a free kick on the right side of the attacking third near the byline.

Trippier stood in front of the ball, observing the crowd in the penalty area.

Yan Yuan didn't squeeze into the crowd to contest the header; instead, he quietly positioned himself slightly to the right of the penalty area line.

Instead of crossing directly, Trippier surprisingly delivered a low cross, aiming for the edge of the penalty area.

Panama's defensive attention was drawn to the high points in the penalty area, leaving a brief opening in the area where Yan Yuan was located.

The ball rolls quickly towards him! Yan Yuan heads towards it!

His right outside of his foot, like a whip, met the incoming ball with a powerful volley.

The movements are not large, but the point of contact with the ball is extremely precise, and the force is short and concentrated.

It has a bit of Kane's influence.

The ball traced a low but exceptionally fast arc, almost grazing the grass, passing the chaotic legs in front of the goal, and skimming the inside of the left post before swiftly disappearing into the net.

2-0!

Yan Yuan scores twice for the first time in the World Cup!

This was a shot that was both incredibly imaginative and technically sophisticated.

After scoring, Yan Yuan rushed to the sidelines, spread his arms, and ran around the field in celebration.

Even his teammates on the bench jumped up excitedly.

England's goal-scoring spree continues.

In the 34th minute, the decisive goal sealed the victory when England gained possession on the right flank of the attacking third.

Yan Yuan received the ball near the sideline, facing a double-team from two Panamanian players.

Instead of forcing a breakthrough or passing the ball back, he calmly looked up and observed.

He keenly spotted the open area at the edge of the penalty area, where Dier was making a high-speed run forward from midfield.

This is a perfect opening for a long-range shot!

Dale was in an excellent offensive position for this play.

Yan Yuan deftly pushed forward with the instep of his left foot, delivering a low cross to the ground.

The ball moved at a moderate speed, its trajectory precisely bypassing the defender in front of him, and rolled right into the path of Dier's sprint.

Dell arrived just in time, without even slowing down or adjusting.

With about 27 or 28 meters from the goal, Dier took a step, swung his right foot, and unleashed a thunderous cannon shot with all his might.

"Bang!" A dull yet powerful thud echoed across the stadium.

The ball flew like a cannonball, whistling through the air, and with unparalleled power and speed, it went straight into the top left corner of the goal!

Panama's goalkeeper Penedo leaped symbolically, but it was too late!

3-0! World wave!

And it's a blind spot!

The moment the ball went in, Dale excitedly opened his arms and let out a deafening roar.

He turned around, his gaze immediately locking onto Yan Yuan, who had provided him with the assist.

Without any hesitation, like a wild beast released from its cage, he sprinted dozens of meters and charged toward Yan Yuan on the sidelines.

Under the watchful eyes of countless cameras and fans, Dale rushed up to Yan Yuan and gave him a solid, powerful bear hug.

He slapped Yan Yuan hard on the back, shouting, "Great pass! Fantastic pass! Yan!"

Yan Yuan responded with a loud laugh, hugging Dell tightly in return.

The two embraced in celebration.

Previously, there was a subtle distance between the two during national team training, and a sense of alienation caused by their club affiliations or subtle competition.

After Yan Yuan's assist and Dell's goal, the flames of that world-class strike vanished in an instant with Dell's heartfelt embrace!

Sometimes, a perfect pass, a brilliant assist, and a satisfying goal are all it takes to build understanding and trust on the football field.

The teammates on the bench and the coaching staff on the sidelines all wore relieved smiles.

At halftime, England went into the locker room with a commanding 3-0 lead.

The atmosphere in the locker room was relaxed and pleasant. Southgate affirmed the team's performance, especially praising the efficiency of the attacking play and the courage of the midfielders to push forward and take long-range shots, particularly Dier's powerful shot.

At the same time, Southgate also reminded everyone to stay focused, but not to overexert themselves.

At the start of the second half, England continued to control the game.

In the 48th minute, England won a corner kick.

Trippier delivered a precise, curved cross, finding Stones, the center-back lurking at the far post.

Stones leaped high, outmuscled the Panamanian defender beside him, and with a powerful header, slammed the ball into the net!

4-0! Stones excitedly ran towards the corner flag to celebrate.

With a 4-goal lead, the game is essentially over.

Southgate began making personnel adjustments to protect key players.

In the 52nd minute, Yan Yuan was substituted off, and Lingard came on as a substitute to play as a right winger.

When Yan Yuan left the field, enthusiastic applause rang out from the sidelines.

This is both an affirmation of his outstanding performance of two goals and one assist in this match, and an understanding of his being substituted for protection.

Yan Yuan jogged off the field, high-fiving Lingard who came on, and then high-fiving Southgate and the coaching staff on the bench.

He wore a satisfied smile, his eyes clear and relaxed.

This match truly showcased their fighting spirit and energy.

The match continued.

In the 61st minute, England was awarded a penalty.

A Panamanian player clearly pulled Maguire while defending a corner kick in the penalty area, and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot!

Captain Kane, as the penalty taker, naturally stood at the penalty spot.

He calmly took a run-up and shot with his right foot into the bottom right corner of the goal. Although Panama's goalkeeper Penedo guessed the right direction, the ball was too fast and the angle was too sharp, so he could only watch the ball go into the net.

5-0!

In the final stages of the match, in the 78th minute, the active Lingard also scored a goal.

He received the ball in the middle of the field and, facing Panama's loose defense, Lingard dribbled the ball for a moment before unleashing a sudden shot from the edge of the penalty area.

A tricky low shot once again pierced Penedo's defenses! 6-0!

Lingard excitedly slid on his knees in celebration.

As the final whistle blew, England secured a resounding 6-0 victory, bringing their group stage journey to a perfect close.

England finished with two wins and one loss, accumulating 6 points and advancing to the knockout stage as the second-placed team in their group!

Belgium, with three wins out of three, advanced as group winners without any doubt.

The absolute focus of this match was undoubtedly Yan Yuan, who was responsible for all three goals.

He contributed more than just goals and assists; he also demonstrated a mature ability to read the game, precise passing vision, and amazing shooting skills.

The mixed zone after the game was packed with people.

Almost all media outlets focused their cameras and microphones on this rising star who had just turned 18.

Yan Yuan gave a rare brief interview in the mixed zone, and his remarks remained humble:

"I'm very happy to have helped the team achieve a big victory and advance. The goal was the result of the whole team's hard work, especially my teammates who created a great opportunity for me. We still need to work hard; the knockout stage is the real test."

When asked about his personal goal tally and the possibility of winning the Golden Boot,

Yan Yuan smiled and shook his head: "It's too early to talk about this now. There are too many superstars in the World Cup. No one knows the outcome until the very last moment."

English media outlets have also begun reporting on this.

The Sun: "18-year-old Three Lions superstar Yan makes a stunning World Cup debut! His perfect link-up with Dier ignites the dressing room! The Three Lions score 6 goals in a single match to advance to the knockout stage! Shocking the football world! Chinese fans are going crazy for him too!"

The Daily Mirror: "England 6-0 Panama! Yan Yuan shines on the World Cup stage! Perfect link-up with Dier breaks the ice! Is the Three Lions' new ace aiming for the World Cup Golden Boot?"

Daily Mail: "Southgate's keen eye! England's rising star Yan Yuan heralds a new era with an unparalleled starting performance! England advances as group runners-up, leading the race for the Golden Boot!"

The BBC's post-match commentary was even more blunt: "Mr. Southgate, please give Yan more freedom and the right to shoot! He has the ability to decide the game! Perhaps we are witnessing the birth of a World Cup Golden Boot winner?"

Following this match, the latest odds for the World Cup Golden Boot were released.

With three goals, Yan Yuan is now tied for first place with Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who has also scored three goals.

The English football fan forums are filled with excited discussions:

"Yan's shot was so calm!"

"His passing vision is superb! Dier's goal and assist were brilliant!"

"I dare say that Southgate will play him the full 90 minutes in the knockout stages! The Three Lions desperately need his firepower!"

Apart from Group G, where England is located, the situation in the other groups is gradually becoming clearer.

South American powerhouses Uruguay and Brazil also demonstrated strong dominance, advancing with three consecutive victories.

Brazil has now advanced to the knockout stage as group winners for the tenth consecutive time.

Traditional powerhouses such as Spain, Portugal, and France also advanced smoothly.

After a goal-fest in the final round of the group stage, the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia officially entered the more brutal and suspenseful knockout stage.

In the England squad, the young figure wearing the number 17 jersey will undoubtedly be the most anticipated firepower for the Three Lions in their quest for higher goals.

For the first time, Yan Yuan's name was so clearly associated with the highest individual honor, the "World Cup Golden Boot."