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

England advanced to the round of 16 with a resounding 6-0 victory in the group stage, bringing the joy and anticipation of English and domestic fans to a fever pitch.

However, before the team could even revel in their qualification, the Round of 16 was already decided, and England's opponent was Colombia.

Southgate's coaching staff plunged into a conference room piled high with Colombian game footage, the air thick with focus and seriousness.

The tactical board was wiped and redrawn time and time again, with every detail being scrutinized repeatedly.

Just during this intense preparation period, a storm from East Asia unexpectedly swept towards Yan Yuan of the England team.

The cause of the matter is somewhat absurd.

It could even be described as somewhat ridiculous.

Some South Korean media outlets and voices, perhaps envious of Eom Yeon's dazzling performance at the World Cup, have begun to "recognize" him as a relative.

First, sporadic comments appeared online saying that Yan Yuan's appearance was "very Korean." Then, several small Korean tabloids, which were not mainstream, began to seriously investigate Yan Yuan's "Korean heritage" as if they had discovered a new continent.

They claim that, according to research, Yan Yuan's ancestors were Koreans who "migrated" from Korea to China during a certain historical period.

These South Korean media outlets even fabricated a "family history" of Eom Yeon out of thin air, filling in the gaps with their imagination.

It is said that Yan Yuan possesses "noble Korean blood," and some reports have even seriously linked Yan Yuan to the popular Korean drama "Descendants of the Sun," calling him a "descendant of the sun" who has been stranded overseas.

Even more shockingly, a major South Korean sports media outlet with considerable influence openly declared in its website and television program reviews:

"Eom Yeon's real name should be 'Park Yuan'! He is a lost football gem of our Republic of Korea!"

This unhealthy trend quickly spread around the world via the internet.

Yan Yuan, who was doing recovery training in the hotel gym, was suddenly thrust in front of his face by a teammate holding up a news page on his phone.

"Hey Yan, look at this! They say you're Korean, and your real name is 'Park Yeon'!"

Yan Yuan initially thought his teammates were joking or that the media had made a silly mistake.

When he finally saw the "reports" from the Korean English website, especially the name "Park Yeon," he was first stunned, then felt a surge of anger rising to his head, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Yan Yuan felt he had been seriously offended.

"Fxxk... What is all this nonsense? Saying I'm a descendant of the sun, and that my real name is Park Yeon? I'll f*** your mother..."

After training, back in his room, he found the whole thing absurd and disgusting.

This fabricated and attempted-to-steal-identity approach made him extremely uncomfortable.

He immediately dialed the number of his public relations manager, Eduardo.

When the call connected, Eduardo was clearly already aware of the matter.

"Hey Yan, I guess you're calling because of those disgusting news stories from South Korea?" Eduardo's voice sounded somewhat helpless.

"Eduardo, you saw that? This is outrageous! How could they spout such nonsense!" Yan Yuan's voice was filled with barely suppressed anger.

"What Park Yeon?! What Descendants of the Sun?! Eduardo, can you imagine this? Can you imagine what kind of insult this is?"

"I completely understand your anger, Yan," Eduardo reassured him. "It's absurd and incredibly disrespectful. But calm down, we need to think about how to respond."

"How should I respond? To be honest, I really want to curse them out and tell them directly how shameless they are," Yan Yuan said.

"Insults are acceptable, but they must be used strategically," Eduardo said with an air of unwavering confidence and insight.

"Remember, Yan, where is your core fan base now? It's Europe, your birthplace and the place where you reached the peak of your career."

Secondly, your other core fan base is undoubtedly China, your ancestral home. As for South Korea? Do you have any substantial business ties with them?

"no."

"So, since your main fan base isn't there, this kind of 'trying to ride on their coattails' behavior will disgust your true supporters."

My goal in helping you with public relations isn't to win back the Korean market, because that market isn't worth your effort. What you need to do is solidify your existing goodwill with global fans, especially in Europe and China.

He paused, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"So, as your PR manager, my advice is, say whatever you want!"

As long as you avoid the minefield, it's fine. For example, racist remarks are a red line that you absolutely cannot cross. 272 ​​has already provided a good example.

Besides that, expressing anger? Showing off your personality? That's all fine, it's great!

Yan, fans prefer idol players who are flesh and blood, with real emotions, not robots who just read scripts. Sometimes, a little appropriate "anger" is an important way to bridge the gap between you and the fans.

"So, you mean I can insult them?"

Yan Yuan was a little unsure, but Eduardo's suggestion was certainly worth considering.

"Of course you can criticize, but you have to be artful with your words, buddy. You can 'condemn,' you can 'directly point out its faults,' or you can even elegantly express 'deep regret and incomprehension.'"

But the key point is that you must clearly state your identity! Tell them who you are and where you come from! You can even mention the disgusting things the Koreans have done in the football field.

Your anger won't incite public outrage; instead, it will make those who love you love you even more! Go for it, young man!

"Understood, thank you, Eduardo."

After hanging up with Eduardo, Yan Yuan felt a little relieved, but his anger was still burning.

He dialed his father's number again.

As soon as the call connected, Yan Yuan's familiar voice boomed out, the volume almost bursting through the receiver.

Yan's father was even angrier than Yan Yuan:

"Fuck those Korean bastards! Son, did you see that?! Have those Korean bastards gone mad?! They've even attributed our ancestors to South Korea?! And they dare call you 'Park Yeon'?"

"Pah! Utter nonsense, shameless! Just as shameless as those referees at the 2002 World Cup! I'm furious!"

Yan Yuan listened to his father's roar, but instead of feeling annoyed, he felt a warmth in his heart, and his last bit of hesitation completely disappeared.

This is a deep-seated indignation stemming from shared blood ties.

It seems that this fiery temper and stubbornness towards "roots" are truly code in one's genes.

"Dad, calm down, I'm thinking of a way to respond."

"Son, don't be polite with them!" the father's voice was firm and resolute.

"They're those Koreans who're used to stealing! Stealing from their ancestors, stealing from their culture, stealing from their festivals, stealing from their reputation!"

Starting from your father and going back eighteen generations, our Yan family has lived on the yellow earth of the Guanzhong Plain. What do we have to do with the Koreans?

Now, these Koreans are planning to steal my son?

"Son, go ahead and curse! Curse with all your might! Let the whole world see what kind of temper the Yan family has! We can't let them think we're easy to bully!"

"Understood, Dad."

With the endorsement of his family and the "authorization" of his most trusted public relations expert, Yan Yuan no longer hesitated.

The pent-up frustration and anger in my heart, ironically, brewed into a clear urge to express myself.

He didn't have a draft or a team to polish it; he just used his social media accounts to type rapidly on his phone screen.

@YAN_YUAN_ARSENAL7：

[Regarding the unfounded speculations and fabrications made by some South Korean media outlets and netizens about my "Korean heritage" status, I, Yan Yuan, hereby issue my formal response.]

[Myself, my parents, my grandparents, and even my ancestors whose genealogy can be traced.]

My paternal family are all native to Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, while my maternal family comes from Jinan, Shandong Province, China.

Although I was born in England, the blood of the Han Chinese flows in my veins, and my roots are planted in the loess soil of the Guanzhong Plain in Shaanxi.

The so-called "blood ties" between me and Koreans are completely a lie fabricated out of thin air by certain people!

The fact that some South Korean media outlets have forcibly defined me or my ancestors as of "Korean descent" is the most serious desecration and humiliation against me personally and against my family history!

I have no intention of slandering all Koreans, but if I may be so bold, the actions of certain individuals and forces over a long period of time are truly disgusting!

From their attempt to steal a victory that didn't belong to them at the 2002 World Cup, relying on home advantage and extremely "brave" refereeing tactics, to their relentless attempts in recent years to steal the treasures of traditional Chinese culture, to steal our festivals, and even to usurp the origins of China's historical figures?!

This behavioral pattern fully exposes the deep-seated inferiority complex, emptiness, and morbid, predatory desire for the honor and culture of others in certain groups!

This behavior, lacking cultural confidence and a genuine sense of national honor, is utterly shameful!

I urge certain South Korean media outlets to stop their absurd, ridiculous, and shameless attempts to curry favor!

I have nothing to do with the ridiculous "Descendants of the Sun" story you've fabricated, and I find the laughable name "Park Yeon" utterly repulsive!

I am ashamed that you have dragged me into this mess!

My pride and honor come from my Chinese heritage. Please stop using your fabricated lies to tarnish my name and my origins!

This is my final statement.

If I see any more of this absurd talk online, I will personally take legal action against those spreading it!

After this tweet was posted.

Like a bombshell, it instantly exploded across the global internet!

The immediate reaction was: South Korean internet exploded!

Within minutes, thousands of abusive Korean comments flooded Eom Yeon's Twitter comment section like a filthy tidal wave:

"Aish, you don't deserve to be a descendant of the sun!"

"You ungrateful bastard! Shake it!"

"You Chinese pig, go back to lick your Chinese daddy's boots!"

"Trash! You are not worthy of the bloodline of our Great Korean Kingdom!"

"You think you're the Golden Boot winner? Just wait until Son Heung-min tramples you underfoot in the Premier League!"

The anger of the Koreans is violent, but also weak and powerless.

Because they are facing a clear, undeniable fact and a star player who is not afraid to go head-to-head with them.

However, a bigger wave of noise and a more surging tide came from outside South Korea!

Fans around the world reacted extremely strongly to this tweet, which was full of anger and personality:

Portuguese fan: "Caro Yan, tens toda a razão! Esses coreanos são uma piada mundial! Força!" (Dear Yan, you're absolutely right! Those Koreans are a laughingstock of the world! Keep it up!)

"Well said! Yan! Do you remember what they did in 2002? Shame on them!"

A Portuguese netizen provided a perfectly matched set of photos: a compilation of moments from the 2002 World Cup match between Italy and South Korea, including Totti's red card and Moreno's controversial penalty.

Italian fan: "Finally! Someone with balls said it! Korea 2002 NEVER FORGET! Justice for Totti! Justice for Italy! @YAN_YUAN_ARSENAL7 is my HERO now!"

Related Italian-language posts with hashtags such as #2002Robbery and #ForzaYan quickly became trending topics in Italy.

South American fans (such as those from Argentina and Brazil): "This Chinese guy is really something! Well said! The Koreans always try to steal what doesn't belong to them, and now they're even trying to steal good players? I'm ashamed for them!" (This Chinese guy is really something! Well said! The Koreans always try to steal what doesn't belong to them, and now they're even trying to steal good players? I'm ashamed for them!)

European fans from Germany, the Netherlands, France, and other countries: Numerous likes, shares, and supportive comments.

Comments such as "Truth Bomb!", "This is how you deal with BS!", "Love his fire! Real guy!", and "Respect from XXX!" filled the comment section.

British fans: "Oh my god! Yan just went off! Love it!"

"Absolutely amazing scene! Yan telling the Koreans where to shove their propaganda! A legend in the making on and off the pitch!"

"Get in Yan!!! F*** yeah! Stand up for what's right! Proud you're in the Three Lions!"

The servers of the England football fan forum were almost overwhelmed, and related discussion threads piled up like mountains.

Explosive support!

The loudest, most surging, and most excited outcry undoubtedly came from Chinese fans! Yan Yuan's Weibo account was instantly flooded with comments!

"Yan Shen!! You're so cool! I love you!!!!"

"That felt so good! So satisfying!! Those Koreans are going to be utterly humiliated!"

"No need for further explanation, Yan Shen is awesome! This is the kind of spirit we Qin people should have!"

"Brother, from today onwards, I'm officially your fan!"

"Those Korean bastards stole the Dragon Boat Festival, traditional Chinese medicine, and Hanfu, and now they're even stealing from Yan Shen himself? Do they really think we're dead? Yan Shen, you're right to criticize us! We're going to support you in your post!!!"

"Brothers! Go outside the wall to support Yan Shen and help him fight back!"

The hashtags #YanYuanConfrontsSouthKoreanMedia# #YanYuanShaanxi# #StealingChina# #2002WorldCupCorruptionRefereeing# instantly dominated the top ten trending topics on Weibo!

Meanwhile, the official account of the cultural counselor of the Chinese Embassy in England also liked the news screenshot of Yan Yuan's tweet.

Just as the global internet was abuzz with Yan Yuan's tweet, an even bigger explosion occurred!

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar who is always active on social media and never hides his likes and dislikes, actually liked Yan Yuan's original tweet!

This is not over yet.

Just minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo's account directly retweeted Yan Yuan's tweet.

He wrote a very brief comment:

"Truth #Integrity"

(Truth, #Integrity)

Although the comment was short, its meaning was clear: Ronaldo believed that Yan Yuan was right.

Cristiano Ronaldo's retweet and comment were like an atomic bomb dropped on a volcano.

The attention of global sports media was instantly diverted:

Cristiano Ronaldo speaks out in support of Eom Yeon, who criticizes South Korea!

CR7 praises transfer player Eom Yeon and condemns inappropriate behavior by South Korean media!

"The King of Football's Stance! Cristiano Ronaldo Clearly Expresses Support for the Rising Star of Chinese Descent!"

"Did Ronaldo use 'Truth' to allude to 2002?"

Cristiano Ronaldo's comment section immediately went wild.

A massive debate erupted between Portuguese fans, his global supporters, and a flood of South Korean netizens.

Undeniably, Ronaldo's support elevated Yan Yuan's "defensive counterattack" to an unprecedented global and morally justified level.

His influence has made countless fans who might have been neutral start to become curious about and inclined to support Yan Yuan's position.

Unsurprisingly.

Public relations manager Eduardo's prediction came true with remarkable accuracy.

Yan Yuan's tweet, which ignited global public opinion, did not damage his image like a traditional public relations crisis.

Instead, it was like a violent volcanic eruption that washed away the stereotypes of him as a "newcomer" and "polite to everyone."

It creates an incredibly distinct, angular, responsible, and clear-cut image of a star player.

Although South Korean media and some radical netizens launched even more frenzied attacks against Eom Yeon, and even demanded that FIFA punish him.

(Of course, FIFA usually doesn't directly intervene in such controversial personal statements. As long as it doesn't involve racial discrimination or other topics, FIFA is too lazy to get involved.)

However, the mainstream voice in the world, especially the general reaction in the football world, is understanding, admiration, and even support.

His frankness and "tough guy" style won him the hearts of many non-Korean fans.

The tweet also caused a stir within the England team.

The next day during training, Southgate spoke privately with Yan Yuan. He didn't comment on the incident itself or the content of the tweet, but simply patted him on the shoulder and said with a deep gaze:

"Yan, the storm off the field will eventually be quelled by your performance on the field. Keep focusing on football and shut everyone up with your feet."

During the break, Kane, the team's senior player, came over and whispered something to him:

"Kid, your tweet was awesome, well done, but I think Sun definitely wouldn't want to see it."

Kane was referring to his teammate Son Heung-min when he said "Son".

Yan Yuan shrugged and said.

"Captain, Son shouldn't be that petty. I said in the original post that I wasn't targeting all Koreans. Besides, the Korean team has already been eliminated in the group stage."

"Okay, you're right," Kane said.

The online uproar was just a passing phase.

This storm attracted a great deal of attention to Yan Yuan, but also aroused some hostility.

But he has no regrets.

He clearly defined the boundaries of his identity and expressed his intolerable stance.

More importantly, he felt an unprecedented power from his true self.

He is not a puppet to be smeared or defined by others.

This time, the whole world has come to realize the significance of the name "Yan Yuan".

He is not only a star player on the field, but also a sharp-tongued and unyielding young fighter.