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

UEFA Nations League match day, Wembley Stadium.

Today, London is filled with the smell of impending war.

Right here, 90,000 seats were filled with fans, and the roar was almost as loud as a tsunami.

After the opening ceremony, the atmosphere surged and swelled within the magnificent bowl-shaped structure, with each time an England player's name was announced over the loudspeaker, it triggered an even more exhilarating frenzy.

All of this stems from the Three Lions' obsession with revenge.

The bitterness of losing in extra time in the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Russia was like an unhealed scar that was torn open again the moment Croatia appeared.

Lin Jianwei and her classmates also came.

The Chinese students at Imperial College London are sitting in very prominent positions in the East Stand today.

Tickets for this location are expensive.

But for these wealthy Chinese students, it's no big deal at all.

Because of their excellent position, they could even clearly see the huge Three Lions emblem above the players' entrance tunnel.

To make it easier to watch the game.

Lin Jianwei wore a simple khaki trench coat today, with a black fitted sweater underneath, light-colored jeans, loafers, and a white England national team support scarf on top.

This scarf was forced on me by my good friend Su Yutong.

Su Yutong said, "This is how you create a real atmosphere when watching the game."

Among a group of Chinese students waving flags and shouting enthusiastically, Lin Jianwei appeared somewhat calm, even a little out of place.

However, only she herself knew.

She wasn't calm; on the contrary, she was extremely nervous.

Lin Jianwei's sweaty palms and his rapidly beating heart were not solely due to the deafening sound.

"Weiwei, look, look! He's coming out! The junior is coming out!" Su Yuqing excitedly grabbed her arm and shook it.

At the players' tunnel entrance, the lights focused, and players from both teams filed out.

When the figure wearing the number 17 white jersey came into view, Lin Jianwei subconsciously held her breath for a moment.

She recognized the player leading the England team as Harry Kane, who was the England captain.

Yan Yuan is positioned very close to the front of the team today.

His face was expressionless, and his calm demeanor, which was beyond his years, stood out even more against the noisy background.

On the green field, he was no longer the quiet, listening boy by the riverside bench just two nights ago.

At this moment, Yan Yuan is one of the core figures of England, and the focus of the expectant gazes of 90,000 people at Wembley.

"Damn, I think Yan Shen looks even more handsome today! His aura is amazing! When he stood behind Kane, I almost thought he was the captain!" exclaimed the male classmate next to him.

"I guess it's because of revenge. Yan Yuan is definitely thinking of taking down Croatia in this match," another male classmate responded.

"Look at the positions! Look at the positions!" Another knowledgeable boy pointed onto the field, "Yan Shen is playing attacking midfielder today! Number 10! He's not playing right winger today!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Jianwei immediately recalled the football knowledge she had crammed for the night before.

The attacking midfielder is the core of a team's organization and the engine of the team's attack.

Why did Southgate put him in this position?

Lin Jianwei subconsciously straightened his back, his gaze fixed intently on number 17, watching even more intently.

The commentator's voice rang out clearly through the broadcast system, carrying a professional excitement and insight.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Wembley! The UEFA Nations League A is a highly anticipated match, with England hosting Croatia! The highlights of this game need no introduction; the rivalry and grudges from the 2018 World Cup semi-final serve as the backdrop for this match!"

But tonight, England manager Gareth Southgate pulled out a new trick!

We see that Yan Yuan, the 18-year-old prodigy who is in red-hot form, did not appear in his familiar right winger position today, but was instead pushed to the attacking midfield position!

Number 10! This is Yan Yuan's first attempt with the national team! This change is very bold! Southgate has clearly recognized Yan Yuan's exceptional vision and top-notch football intelligence shown at the club level, hoping he can become the key to connecting the midfield and attack and breaking down Croatia's defense!

Meanwhile, we noticed changes in the squad list. Dortmund's young winger Sancho replaced Lingard, and Yan Yuan's teammate, Arsenal midfielder Maddison, was also selected for the first time, sitting on the bench! England's youthful storm will once again sweep through Wembley tonight!

Yes, Maddison has also been selected for the national team due to his recent outstanding performances at Arsenal.

"Beep—!" The referee's long whistle was like the fuse of a powder keg! The match began!

Croatia kicks off.

As soon as the ball was passed back to the backfield, England's white wave surged forward with overwhelming force!

Southgate's tactical intentions were extremely clear.

High pressure right from the start!

Use the impact of a youth storm to crush Croatia's experienced but aging midfield "iron triangle" of Modric, Brozovic, and Kovacic!

This time, he's going to teach these old fogies a lesson.

Before the match, Southgate had already explained the tactics to Yan Yuan.

Yan Yuan's target was clear: Croatia's metronome, Luca Modric.

Yan Yuan started very quickly, with long and powerful strides, and pounced on Modric in an instant.

Instead of blindly lunging to steal the ball, he used his strong physique and accurate anticipation.

They completely blocked Modric's space to receive the ball and turn, while constantly harassing and interfering with him to disrupt his rhythm.

His pressure was extremely aggressive, yet he maintained a degree of restraint, avoiding making rash mistakes.

"Yan Yuan showed toughness right from the start! He marked Modric like a lion, coming on strong right from the start. Southgate's tactical execution was very resolute!" the commentator exclaimed.

Under Yan Yuan's leadership, England's pressing in the attacking third formed a perfect chain.

Harry Kane led the attack, pressuring the opposing center-backs Lovren and Vida;

Rashford on the left and Sancho on the right are like two sharp knives.

The two of them tightly marked Croatia's full-backs Vrsaljko and Barisic, cutting off their connection with the midfield.

Defensive midfielders Henderson and Dier acted like two mobile gates, roaming behind Yan Yuan, ready to intercept any passing lanes attempting to cross the middle.

Croatia's backfield instantly became bogged down.

After receiving the ball, goalkeeper Livakovic found that almost all short passing lanes were blocked.

Henderson and Dier blocked the two center-backs, Yan Yuan positioned himself in front of Modric, and Brozovic was also marked by Henderson.

He could only hastily kick the ball forward.

"England's high pressing is suffocating! Croatia can't get the ball out of play at all! They can only blindly kick it long!" the commentator analyzed.

The ball flew towards England's half, but the towering center-back duo of Maguire and Stones, like two iron towers, easily headed the ball back into midfield.

Croatia attempted to break free through Modric and Kovacic's individual skills, but Yan Yuan, like a persistent leech, remained tightly entangled with Modric.

In the 8th minute, Modric attempted to turn and get away near the center circle.

Yan Yuan seized the opportunity and made a precise tackle, using his physical advantage to steal the ball.

"Interception! Yan Yuan! He intercepted the ball from Modric's feet! Beautiful!" the commentator exclaimed.

Without pausing after intercepting the ball, Yan Yuan looked up and delivered a delicate diagonal pass with the outside of his left foot.

The ball pierced through Croatia's loose defense like a scalpel, precisely finding Rashford making a high-speed run down the left flank.

Rashford dribbled forward at breakneck speed, cut inside to create space, and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot.

Unfortunately, Lovren, who was tracking back, blocked the ball out of bounds with his body!

Corner kick!

"Great goal! Yan Yuan's tackle and pass were executed flawlessly! Rashford's breakthrough was also extremely dangerous! England's attack is very well-structured!"

Croatia's sporadic counter-attacks seemed weak and ineffective; they felt England was much tougher today than they had been in their last World Cup encounter.

Perisic attempted to break through Arnold on the left flank, but the young Liverpool full-back defended solidly and didn't give him many opportunities.

Kramaric was isolated in the attacking third, and his possession was repeatedly thwarted by Stones or Dier who tracked back.

England's possession reached an astonishing 65% at one point, while Croatia was firmly pinned back in their own half and were extremely passive in the game.

In the 15th minute, England's right flank came alive.

Arnold and Sancho executed a brilliant combination.

Sancho used his speed to draw the defense before passing the ball back to Arnold, who made a run down the wing and delivered a fast, perfectly curved cross with his right foot.

The ball flew straight into the center of the six-yard box.

Harry Kane outjumped Vida and unleashed a powerful header.

That's a tricky angle!

"Kane! Header!!!" the commentator exclaimed.

Goalkeeper Livakovic reacted with lightning speed, leaping into the air!

He powerfully tipped the ball over the crossbar with one hand! A brilliant save!

"Livakovic! A world-class save! He saved Croatia! But Kane's header was already perfect, it's a bit of a pity," the commentator exclaimed.

A huge sigh of regret erupted at Wembley Stadium, followed by even more enthusiastic applause.

On the sidelines, Southgate stood with his hands in his suit trouser pockets, his expression serious but his eyes focused. He was clearly satisfied with the high-pressure effect he had created at the start of the game.

Southgate continued to observe Croatia's response.

Yan Yuan's pressure and organizational role in the attacking midfield position was even better than he had expected.

Sustained high pressure consumes a huge amount of energy.

Twenty minutes later, England's pressing intensity decreased slightly, but their control remained.

The team began to focus more on ball possession and tempo control, patiently looking for opportunities in positional attacks.

Yan Yuan's position has become more flexible.

He no longer limited himself to simply marking Modric.

Instead, depending on the situation on the field, he would sometimes drop back to a very deep position to support the defensive midfielder Henderson or Dier.

Using his wide field of vision and precise footwork, he calmly turned around and delivered shells to the front line.

At times, he would suddenly surge forward to the edge of the opponent's penalty area, using off-the-ball movement to stretch Croatia's defense and create space for Kane, Rashford, and Sancho.

His unpredictable movements kept Brozovic, who was responsible for marking him, constantly on his toes.

"Yan Yuan's range of movement is enormous! He acts like a lubricant connecting the midfield and the front! Brozovic is completely disoriented by him! It's hard to imagine that such a player's best position is right winger!!" the commentator remarked.

Croatia’s struggles are becoming increasingly apparent.

Modric's touches on the ball decreased sharply due to Yan Yuan's persistent and highly targeted harassment and intense pressing.

Even when they get the ball, it's difficult to turn and organize the offense comfortably.

Yan Yuan has a firm grasp on the Magic Flute today.

Modric's signature breakaways and long passes were severely restricted, and frustration began to show on his face.

Brozovic was like a firefighter today.

He had to fill the gap left by Modric's restriction and deal with Yan Yuan's unpredictable forward runs, which greatly depleted his physical strength.

Vrsaljko and Barisic on the flanks were firmly pinned down in the backfield by the speed of Sancho and Rashford.

Croatia's reluctance to press forward resulted in a lack of width support in their attacks.

So they could only try to break through the middle, but unfortunately, they achieved little.

The deadlock is finally about to be broken.

England center-back Stones receives the ball in the middle of the backfield.

Faced with Kramaric's symbolic challenge, he calmly passed the ball to Dier on his right.

After Dier received the ball, Brozovic immediately pressed forward.

Dale remained calm, leaning against his opponent and gently flicking the ball to Henderson, who was in a better position, with the outside of his right foot.

The Liverpool captain looked up to assess the situation in the attacking third before receiving the ball.

He saw the right flank.

On the right flank, the young Arnold, like a shark smelling blood, made a high-speed run along the sideline, pressing into the right side of the opponent's half!

Today's him is not Route 66.

In the 36th minute, Croatia's left-back Barisic was drawn into the paint by Sancho, creating a brief opening in the flank.

Henderson did not hesitate at all.

He adjusted his stance, planted his foot firmly, tightened the arch of his right foot, and delivered a powerful and precise long diagonal pass.

The ball seemed to have eyes, tracing a low, flat arc before landing precisely in front of Arnold's sprint.

"Henderson makes a long pass! Find Arnold! An opportunity!" the commentator shouted.

Arnold arrived in a flash.

This young full-back, known for his crosses in the top five European leagues, showcased his top-notch ball control and technique.

He faced the falling ball, and instead of stopping to adjust, he swung his foot directly.

It wasn't a stop or a cross.

Instead, he used his signature outside of his foot to volley the ball towards the lower middle part of the ball!

"Bang!" A muffled sound.

The ball was struck by the outside of Arnold's foot, and instead of flying into the air, it skimmed along the grass, drawing a strange and swift arc.

The ball was extremely fast and had a strong external spin.

Like a fast car flying close to the ground, it bypassed the defenders trying to block it at the near post and went straight into the heart of the penalty area.

The moment Henderson passed the ball and Arnold took the shot.

Yan Yuan, who was originally entangled with Brozovic at the edge of the penalty area, looked through the chaotic crowd.

In an instant, it locked onto the fleeting, tiny gap between Lovren and Vida.

Just as Arnold touched the ball,

Yan Yuan's supercar starts!

He made an extremely stealthy yet explosive diagonal sprint!

He instantly shook off Brozovic!

"Yan Yuan!! Advance!!!" The commentator shouted hoarsely!

He cut into the penalty area at lightning speed, ahead of all the defenders.

Arnold's bizarre outside-of-the-foot pass-shot rolled right into his running path.

Facing goalkeeper Livakovic who rushed out to block the near post, Yan Yuan adjusted his footing, and gently tapped the ball with the instep of his right foot.

This is an extremely ingenious way to bounce the Earth.

The ball obediently leaped up, tracing a small parabola, and precisely cleared Livakovic's outstretched arm.

then……

It is attached to the inside of the right-side pillar.

It rolled gently into the net!

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLL!!!!" The commentator went completely wild! "Goal!!! England leads Croatia 1-0!!! Yan Yuan!!! It's him again! At Wembley! In the revenge match! He opened the scoring for England!!"

This is Yan's first time! His first goal as a midfielder for the national team!!

"Perfect positioning, top-notch goal-scoring instinct! Extremely calm handling! Arnold's outside-of-the-foot cross was exquisite, and Yan Yuan's positioning and shot were the finishing touch!"

"It seems Southgate's decision to place him in the attacking midfield position was absolutely correct. This goal was a perfect combination of teamwork and the player's individual ability!"

The entire Wembley Stadium erupted instantly.

The red ocean stirred up towering waves!

The deafening roar of "Yan!" nearly lifted the roof off.

Yan Yuan opened his arms and rushed towards the corner flag area, his face radiating passion and unwavering determination.

Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Arnold...

All his teammates rushed towards him and surrounded him.

On the sidelines, Southgate clenched his fists, swung them forcefully, and a relieved yet incredibly excited smile appeared on his face.

This tactical change and this goal proved that his tactical approach was correct.

That's how you have to play Croatia!

Croatia is known for its strong midfield, right? Well, I'll play midfield with you guys too.

Meanwhile, the Chinese students in the stands, especially those around Lin Jianwei, erupted in cheers.

Su Yutong screamed and jumped up, hugging Lin Jianwei tightly and shaking her excitedly.

"It's in! It's in! It's in! Weiwei! Did you see that?! Yan Shen made it! So cool!!" The other students were also shouting, jumping, and waving their scarves wildly.

Lin Jianwei was held tightly by Su Yuqing, her body swaying with the movement of the crowd.

She watched as number 17, surrounded by his teammates and receiving the adoration of the entire stadium, looked at his spirited young face under the spotlight, and heard the deafening cheers and excited screams of his friends.

An unprecedented, intense, and burning emotion surged through her entire body like an electric current.

She was no longer the academic high-achiever who could calmly observe from the sidelines, nor the novice who needed to understand the rules to appreciate the game.

At that moment, Lin Jianwei clearly felt the most original and pure charm of football.

It's that kind of adrenaline-pumping passion, that kind of fervent unity, that kind of integration of individual talent into the team.

The ultimate thrill of turning into a fatal blow!

Lin Jianwei was not even aware of it.

Her own lips were already turned up high, her eyes were shining brightly, and she couldn't help but cheer.

She hugged Su Yuqing tightly, but her gaze never left the white figure of number 17 on the court.

The quiet young man by the riverside bench, and the shining goal-scoring hero on the green field.

Two completely different Yan Yuan.

They overlapped perfectly at this moment.

In the final stages of the first half, England's morale soared after scoring, and they continued to put pressure on Croatia.

The Croatian players' faces were filled with frustration and resentment.

Modric attempted to mount a counterattack, but Yan Yuan's close marking remained tight.

In stoppage time, Perisic made a strong cut inside from the left wing, shook off Arnold, and unleashed a powerful shot, but Pickford remained focused and caught the ball securely.

"Beep—! Beep—!" The whistle blew to signal the end of the first half.

England leads Croatia 1-0!

The players headed toward the players' tunnel, where Yan Yuan high-fived Arnold, Sancho, and others, exchanging smiles.

Southgate stood at the entrance of the passage, giving each of his disciples a high-five, a satisfied smile on his face.

When Yan Yuan and Southgate high-fived, Southgate patted Yan Yuan's shoulder with considerable force and said with a smile.

"Good lad, I should have put you in midfield sooner!"

Yan Yuan replied jokingly.

"It's not too late to start now, coach, hahaha..."

The cheers from the stands remained enthusiastic.

Lin Jianwei still felt her cheeks burning and her heart was still pounding.

She subconsciously straightened her disheveled scarf, her gaze following the back of number 17 as he walked towards the passage.

In the first 45 minutes, she seemed to have undergone a completely new baptism.

The allure of football, the Three Lions' burning desire for revenge, the brilliance of talent, the teamwork...

The strength and wisdom that Yan Yuan displayed on the field, which were completely different from what she had imagined, were deeply imprinted in her mind.

What will happen in the second half?

This was the first time Lin Jianwei had ever felt genuine and eager anticipation for the second half of a football match.

She didn't even notice that her hands, resting on her knees, were unconsciously tapping out a rhythm.

She started to get nervous about a football match.