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

(Four chapters today. The World Cup chapter ends, and the Premier League chapter starts soon. My writing pace is a bit slow, so to make up for this, I will add extra chapters from time to time.)

(Still 1.6 words)

Messi left the field in tears, while Ronaldo stood forlornly.

The 2018 World Cup cast a huge shadow over all the powerhouses.

The elimination rounds have become a meat grinder, and the process is in full swing.

Next up is England.

After a brief moment of mourning for the legend, the entire England team tensed up instantly.

Their battle is about to begin.

At the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, they will face Colombia, a strong South American team led by James Rodriguez.

Colombia is no pushover; they beat Poland and Senegal in the group stage to advance. Their squad, led by James Rodriguez, Cuadrado, Falcao, and Mina, combines technique, attacking power, and resilience.

From the very beginning of the match, the Three Lions were not favored by the crowd because their opponents were quite strong.

English media outlets are making cautious predictions, leaving fans feeling uneasy.

However, from the very first whistle...

The young and energetic Three Lions team built by Southgate has shown a completely different character from the past.

In the 4th minute of the match, England was awarded a corner kick.

Trippier delivered a precise pass to the near post, where Maguire's massive frame drew the attention of at least two Colombian defenders.

Unmarked, Alli leaped high at the far post and headed the ball into the goal!

Ospina reacted quickly and managed to parry the ball away, but Sterling, lurking on the edge of the six-yard box, cleverly followed up with a shot!

Successful follow-up shot!

The ball went into the net with a thud!

1-0!

England got off to a dream start.

This goal greatly boosted morale.

Colombia was jolted awake by this blow and began to showcase their South American skills and individual abilities.

James Rodriguez attempted to orchestrate the attack, Cuadrado launched a surprise attack down the wing, and Falcao stirred up trouble in the penalty area.

England's midfield and defense withstood the pressure thanks to the solid organization of Henderson, Maguire and Stones, while young Pickford also made a crucial save in front of goal.

In this match, Yan Yuan remained active in the attacking third.

He constantly switched positions with Kane and Sterling, using his running to stretch Colombia's defense.

In the 28th minute, he once again demonstrated his precise decision-making ability.

Colombia made a back pass error under pressure from Yan Yuan and Henderson. Yan Yuan then passed the ball out, and Kane cleverly moved forward to receive it, creating a one-on-one situation.

Colombian center-back Sanchez pulled Kane down from behind inside the penalty area! Penalty! No contest!

Kane stood at the penalty spot, under immense pressure. He took a deep breath, ran up, and shot.

A powerful low shot flew straight into the bottom left corner!

Ospina guessed the right direction, but the ball was too fast; his fingertips touched it but he couldn't stop it from going into the net!

2-0! Captain Kane extended his team's lead with another penalty.

England, leading by two goals, relaxed slightly before the end of the first half.

In stoppage time, Colombia won a free kick in the attacking third.

James Rodriguez sent the ball into the penalty area with his left foot, where the tall and strong center-back Mina overpowered the defenders amidst the chaos.

A powerful header slammed into the net.

2-1! Colombia pulls one back!

In the locker room, Southgate, with a serious expression, emphasized focus and discipline.

It's worth mentioning that this time, Southgate doesn't plan to replace Yan Yuan again.

After the start of the second half, Colombia's morale soared, and they launched a full-scale attack on England.

James Rodriguez's distribution, Quintero's runs, and Falcao's poaching were all quite threatening.

Pickford was the busiest man, making numerous saves, especially a crucial one against Falcao's dangerous header, keeping the goal intact.

After regaining their composure, England began to look for opportunities to launch counter-attacks.

The turning point of the match came in the 57th minute when Colombian midfielder Barrios made an overly aggressive tackle.

He received his second yellow card, which resulted in a red card and he was sent off!

Colombia will have to play with one less player for the remaining 30 minutes!

England immediately capitalized on their one-man advantage.

Their midfield control has improved, and their attacks have become more fluid.

Yan Yuan began to have more space to receive the ball and sprint.

In the 68th minute, it was he who stepped up and completely killed the suspense of the game.

England launched a quick counter-attack, advancing into the attacking third. Sterling received the ball on the right wing, observed the situation, and then crossed it into the middle.

Colombia's defense was slightly loose due to being outnumbered, and Yan Yuan cleverly made a diagonal run between the two defenders.

Near the penalty spot, he met the ball without adjusting and unleashed a powerful shot with the instep of his right foot.

The ball skimmed along the ground and sped into the bottom right corner of the goal!

3-1!

Yan Yuan spread his arms wide, celebrating passionately under the Moscow night sky, his face radiating confidence and release.

Just 7 minutes later, Yan Yuan, number 17, shocked the entire audience once again!

England are awarded a corner kick.

Trippier's pass found the far post again, and this time the Colombian defense made a serious lapse in marking.

Unmarked, Yan Yuan calmly jumped at the edge of the penalty area and slammed the ball into the net with a powerful header!

4-1!

A second time!

Yan Yuan excitedly slid his knees in celebration, and the England substitutes' bench erupted in cheers.

He completely shattered the Colombian's mental defenses with a classic run and header!

In the final stages of the match, Colombia, down to ten men, completely collapsed.

In the 88th minute, England won another corner kick.

Trippier's pass had a beautiful arc, and amidst the crowd, "Big Head" Maguire leaped high, overpowering all the defenders, and slammed the ball toward the goal.

5-1!

Maguire has also joined the goal-scoring spree!

The score remained unchanged until the final whistle!

The final whistle blew.

Spartak Stadium became a sea of ​​celebration for England fans.

The players embraced tightly, and the substitutes rushed onto the field.

They not only advanced to the quarterfinals with a resounding victory, but more importantly, they broke the heavy penalty shootout curse.

Moreover, a resounding 5-1 victory heralded the rise of the Three Lions!

Yan Yuan was undoubtedly one of the brightest stars of the night.

After Mbappe and Cavani both scored twice, Yan Yuan also achieved his own brace in this match.

He proved his composure under pressure and efficient finishing ability in the crucial knockout stage.

The England fans in the stands chanted his name, and the television cameras frequently focused on his young yet resolute face.

After advancing to the quarterfinals, England's next opponent has been revealed.

They defeated the Swedish team that is in Switzerland.

In the group stage, Sweden topped the group, demonstrating exceptional team discipline, a strong defense, and efficient counter-attacks.

Forsberg is the core of Sweden's attack, and the defense, led by veteran Granqvist, is rock-solid.

Suddenly, some optimistic voices emerged.

"Sweden? They should be easier to deal with than Colombia, right?"

However, Southgate and the entire coaching staff knew that the Vikings were no pushovers.

The matches against Germany and Switzerland have already demonstrated Sweden's resilience.

Swedish media also ran headlines like "England? Next to fall!", which were full of provocation.

At the pre-match meeting, Southgate reiterated his high regard for the Swedish team.

He explicitly emphasized to the players that Sweden's defensive system was well-organized, their midfielders were aggressive in pressing, and their flanks dropped deep to compress space.

To break through this defensive wall, patience, accurate passing, and more flexible positional switching and individual skills from the forwards are needed.

Notably, in a private conversation with Yan Yuan, Southgate explicitly expressed his trust in him:

"Yan, you have proven yourself to be a top striker in the past few games. In this game, I need you to have more freedom in the attacking third."

You don't have to stay pinned to the front line all the time. You can drop back to support the attack or drift wide, looking for gaps in their defensive line as they move. I trust your judgment and creativity.

This conversation gave Yan Yuan a lot of confidence.

Southgate not only affirmed Yan Yuan's goal-scoring ability, but also gave him greater tactical weight and freedom, which is a great trust in his skills, football intelligence and on-field decision-making ability.

The quarter-final match between the two teams, Samara Arena and Sweden, kicked off as scheduled.

As expected, Sweden started the match with a tight 4-4-2 defensive formation, with the two holding midfielders, Ekdal and Svensson, acting as two iron gates to block England's attacking routes. Forsberg and Toivonen were looking for opportunities to win back possession and launch counter-attacks in the attacking third.

England dominated possession, but Sweden's space in front of their penalty area was severely limited, making it difficult for Kane and Rashford to get a shot off under the tight defense.

Yan Yuan, following the coach's instructions, demonstrated greater agility.

He would sometimes drop back into midfield to receive passes from Henderson or Lingard and help advance the ball; sometimes he would move down the right flank to combine with Trippier; and he also keenly observed the junction between the Swedish center-backs and full-backs.

The match was somewhat close until the 30th minute when England finally broke the deadlock with a set piece.

England are awarded a free kick on the left side of the attacking third, near the corner flag.

Ashley Young took the penalty and delivered a high-quality cross to the near post!

Maguire once again demonstrated his dominance in the skies.

He leaped out of the ground, overpowering the Swedish defender Lindelof who was marking him, and delivered a powerful headbutt.

The ball traced an arc, passed over goalkeeper Olsen's fingertips, and nestled into the far corner of the goal!

1-0!

England broke the deadlock once again with a set piece! Southgate's set-piece tactics were a resounding success!

In the second half, England, leading by one goal, maintained a more composed mindset.

The Swedish team was forced to push forward more, which gave Yan Yuan his favorite counter-attacking space.

In the 58th minute, England intercepted the ball in their own half and quickly launched a counter-attack.

Yan Yuan received the ball on the right flank, near the center. Instead of diving down the flank like a traditional winger, he keenly observed Ali's run into the middle!

Yan Yuan flicked the ball with a deft backheel, passing it to Ali who was making a high-speed run into the box.

Ali strode into the penalty area and, facing the onrushing goalkeeper Olsen, calmly fired a low shot with his right foot!

The ball went through Olsen's legs and rolled into the net!

2-0!

Yan Yuan delivered an imaginative backheel assist!

This assist perfectly demonstrates the significance of the freedom Southgate gave him; he is no longer just a finisher, but has become a key link in connecting the offense and creating opportunities!

Gareth Southgate on the sidelines clenched his fists, thrilled by Yan Yuan's flash of brilliance and the brilliant teamwork that led to the goal.

With a two-goal lead, England played with even more ease.

The Swedish team's morale was severely damaged, and their attack seemed to lack solutions.

As the competition drew to a close, Yan Yuan once again became the finisher.

In the 83rd minute, after a patient passing game on the right flank, Trippier broke through to the byline and crossed the ball, but the first header was blocked by a Swedish defender.

Rashford received the ball on the left wing, cut inside, created space, and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot!

The ball was parried by Swedish goalkeeper Olsen, but he didn't clear it far!

At that moment, the figure wearing the number 17 England jersey appeared in front of the goal like a ghost.

Yan Yuan astutely spotted the ball's trajectory and easily pushed it into the empty net from just in front of the goal line.

3-0! Victory secured!

Yan Yuan opened his arms and ran towards the corner flag area to celebrate.

His face beamed with pure joy and a burning desire to score.

After scoring, he ran over to Southgate on the sidelines to give him a high-five and express his heartfelt gratitude.

The final whistle blew.

England defeated Sweden 3-0.

They marched confidently into the World Cup semi-finals.

The England fans in the stadium went wild! Players hugged and celebrated, and the chant of "Football's Coming Home" echoed through the stands.

This is the first time England has reached the World Cup semi-finals since 1990!

From the match against Colombia to the match against Sweden, Gareth Southgate delivered on his promise in two consecutive crucial knockout games.

He let Yan Yuan play the full 180 minutes in both games without him being substituted.

This 18-year-old prodigy did not disappoint the head coach's absolute trust.

Against Colombia, he scored twice to secure the victory for his team; against Sweden, he contributed a goal and an assist, and played the role of a "free agent" in the attacking third throughout the game, greatly enriching the Three Lions' attacking layers and threats.

After the two matches, Yan Yuan returned to the top of the World Cup top scorer list with an excellent record of 3 goals in the group stage and 3 goals in the knockout stage.

The second and third spots are occupied by Mbappe and Lukaku, respectively.

The mixed zone after the game.

Facing the camera, Yan Yuan's excitement was palpable: "Honestly, it feels amazing to advance to the semifinals! It's the result of a team's hard work; everyone gave their all, and my teammates and our coaching staff were incredibly supportive."

When Yan Yuan was being interviewed, he saw Rashford pass by and greet him. Yan Yuan also raised his right hand to greet Rashford in return.

When asked by reporters about his consistent contributions in playing two full knockout matches, Yan Yuan's eyes became exceptionally sincere, and he answered clearly in English:

"Yes, I must especially thank Coach Gareth."

He placed a great deal of trust in me, allowing me to play the entire game and giving me more freedom to perform.

This is very important to me. In a game of this level, being able to feel the head coach's unreserved trust and support gives you endless strength to fight, to try, and to contribute to the team.

I am very grateful for the opportunity and space he gave me, and I will continue to repay that trust with my performance on the field.

His words were simple and direct, without any fancy words, yet full of sincerity and power.

Yan Yuan's consistently outstanding performance made Southgate realize how timely his decision had been.

Southgate is very glad that the kid had the foresight to not go to England U21, otherwise the first team would have lost a very important attacking point.

England's journey to Russia is progressing rapidly towards incredible heights thanks to the trust and understanding between the manager and players.

The opponents for the semifinals have been revealed.

They will face a strong Croatian team.