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

In the semi-finals, England defeated Morocco 2-0, with Yan Yuan and Stones each scoring a goal, while Argentina defeated Croatia 3-0.

This year's final will be a match between England and Argentina.

Lusail Stadium, December 18, 2022.

This is the venue for the final of this World Cup.

In the stands, blue and white stripes and pure white colors stood in stark contrast, while singing, drumming, and shouting intertwined to create a boiling ocean of sound. The decibels were so high that even the ground beneath one's feet trembled slightly.

Billions of eyes around the world are focused on this, and the attendance and viewership of this final are destined to create an unprecedented and terrifying historical peak.

On one side is Argentina, a regular in the World Cup finals, carrying the tragic and yearning desire to win a World Cup trophy for their legend Lionel Messi;

On the other side is England, standing at the threshold of the final again after 56 years, carrying the heavy hope of "bringing football home".

The most crucial aspect of the match was undoubtedly the cross-generational dialogue – the reigning champion of the new generation, the red-hot Yan Yuan, versus the legendary Messi, who might be making his last appearance in the World Cup and dreaming of being crowned champion.

All the storylines, all the grudges and affections, all the dreams and glories, will come to a close in 90 minutes (or perhaps longer).

Beside the deafening roar of the stadium tunnel, the England team's dressing room doors were tightly shut, isolating them from the outside clamor and creating an almost stagnant, oppressive silence.

Inside the locker room, all the players were fully equipped, their white jerseys spotless, and the captain's armband tightly wrapped around Yan Yuan's left arm.

Head coach Gareth Southgate had completed his final tactical deployment. He looked around at every face, whether tense, excited, or solemn, nodded vigorously, then stepped back, handing the stage entirely over to his captain.

"Yan, it's your turn. Say a few words to everyone."

Yan Yuan stood up and nodded to Southgate, then stood in the center of the locker room. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, slowly swept across the faces of each of his teammates.

From veterans Jordan Pickford, Harry Kane, and Jordan Henderson, to middle-aged stars like Harry Maguire and Declan Rice, and then to younger players like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Phil Foden…

His gaze lingered on each person for a moment.

The locker room was so quiet that you could hear each other breathing, and even the heavy, powerful beating of your heart in your chest.

Then, Yan Yuan spoke.

"Brothers."

After a brief pause, he continued.

"It's been 56 years."

Another brief pause, and the number weighed on everyone's mind like a boulder.

"Fifty-six years ago, our Captain Bobby Moore, along with a group of great predecessors, brought that trophy back to us and to England." Yan Yuan's voice was filled with utmost respect.

"Since then, we have experienced failure, ridicule, the mockery of being a team without a title, and the pain of the penalty shootout curse... We have carried too many expectations and endured too many disappointments."

Yan Yuan spoke slowly.

"Today, we stand here. Not because of luck, but because we deserve it! Because we fought our way through the group stage, we defeated the mighty France, we triumphed over the resilient Morocco! Every drop of sweat we shed, every injury we sustained, every effort we made was for this moment!"

Yan Yuan's voice rose, and a burning emotion ignited in his eyes.

"Today, outside, is Messi leading Argentina. They are strong, and they are equally hungry for the championship. They want to bring Argentina's World Cup story to a perfect close. Will we make their story complete?" Yan Yuan's voice suddenly rose, like a thunderclap.

"Absolutely not! Because today on this pitch, there are no individual stories, only team glory! There is no coronation for Messi, no Argentine dream, only England's victory day!"

Yan Yuan took a step forward, waving his arms, his gaze sharp as he swept over every pair of eyes that were fixed on him.

"Look at the people around you! They are your brothers! People you can completely entrust your back to! We stand here today not to prove anything to anyone, but to be worthy of ourselves! To be worthy of this white coat we wear! To be worthy of the three lion emblem on our chests!"

"Fifty-six years, since 1966, that's long enough! All of England, no, the whole world is watching us! We will show everyone how united, how resilient, and how invincible this England team is!"

Yan Yuan's voice reached its peak.

"When the whistle blows, forget the pressure, forget the fear! Only think about the next pass, the next tackle, the next shot! For your brothers, run, tackle, fight! Until the last second, until your last breath!"

"Today, we not only want to win, we want this trophy to come home with us honorably and without any controversy!"

"For England!"

Yan Yuan suddenly raised his fist and let out a final, earth-shattering roar.

That roar was like igniting the fuse of a powder keg!

Inside the locker room, all the pent-up emotions of everyone exploded instantly!

Everyone shouted in unison,

"For England!!!!!!!!!"

All the players, young and old, suddenly stood up and roared with all their might.

Veterans like Walker and Henderson were moved to tears, while young players like Bellingham and Saka trembled with excitement.

An unprecedented sense of unity, a powerful momentum of shared hatred against a common enemy, surged through this locker room.

This England team has never been so united, so full of the belief in victory.

Southgate watched this scene unfold, his eyes welling up with tears.

He knew that his captain had done everything a leader could do.

Yan Yuan ignited the soul of the England team.

The time was approaching, and the staff reminded the England team that it was time to enter the field.

The locker room doors burst open, and a white torrent, carrying an unwavering determination and an iron will, stepped onto the path leading to the legendary battlefield.

Outside, there was a deafening roar, the final chapter of fate, and the call of history.

……

Today, the Lusail Stadium is probably the most watched place on the planet.

The noise here reached a peak that was almost ear-tearing just before the players' tunnel doors opened.

The deafening roar filled every inch of the stadium.

Inside the players' tunnel, the lighting was dim, a stark contrast to the daytime-like brilliance outside.

England and Argentina are lined up in two rows.

Yan Yuan stood at the very front of the England team, his bright red captain's armband gleaming in the sunlight.

He raised his head slightly, his gaze piercing through the shadows of the passageway to the patch of grass whose fate was about to be decided. His face was expressionless, only showing an almost frozen focus, as if he had internalized all the tension, excitement, and pressure into burning fuel.

Behind him stood the resolute face of veteran Kane, the eager eyes of Bellingham, and the calm, deep breaths of Pickford.

Next to the England team was the Argentina team, wearing blue and white stripes.

Standing at the very front was Lionel Messi. Unlike Yan Yuan's sharp gaze, Messi's eyes were more complex, containing a calm that had weathered countless storms, a burning desire for glory, and perhaps a hint of the heaviness of what might be his final dance.

De Paul, Otamendi, Martinez...

Every Argentine face bears the mark of a do-or-die determination.

At this moment, the stadium's loudspeaker began broadcasting, and the guides made hand gestures.

Yan Yuan took a deep breath and looked back at his teammates one last time.

Then, he took the first firm step and stepped out of the passage.

"They're out! The players from both teams are coming on!" In the commentary booth, He Wei's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Ladies and gentlemen! You are now watching the final of the 2022 Qatar World Cup! England vs. Argentina!"

When the two teams stepped onto the turf that shimmered like jade under the lights, the entire stadium erupted in cheers!

In the stands, flashbulbs flashed like a galaxy, flags waved, and songs and shouts mingled, creating an overwhelming atmosphere.

"We can see the players from both sides!" Xu Yang's voice was equally loud.

Leading the way are the captains of the two teams: Yan Yuan of England and Lionel Messi of Argentina! This is a direct confrontation between old and new kings, a clash and inheritance of the past decade and possibly the next decade or so in the world of football!

The national anthem began to play at the scene.

As the melody of "God Save the Queen" played, English soldiers placed their hands on their chests and sang loudly, their white ranks solemn and resolute.

The Argentine national anthem that followed triggered a tsunami-like sing-along from the stands, a surging wave of blue and white cheers.

After the national anthem ceremony, the two team captains chose their sides and took a group photo.

The final is about to begin.

"We have just received the latest data from FIFA," He Wei's voice was broadcast around the world.

"The attendance at this World Cup final reached an astonishing 88966 people, with every seat filled!"

And the live viewership figures from major global broadcasters... we've already seen a preliminary count: it surpassed 15 billion viewers before kickoff! This is an unprecedented, staggering peak! It fully demonstrates the immense attention this match has garnered globally!

Xu Yang then went on to analyze the unparalleled significance of this match.

"Behind this number are so many stories and emotions carried by this game."

For Argentina and Messi, this could be the final dance of Messi's World Cup career, the ultimate battle for the Pampas Eagles to lift the trophy again after 36 years, bringing the perfect end to the legendary Lionel Messi's career. A victory would solidify Messi's status as the king of football.

He paused, his tone becoming more serious and full of expectation.

"And for England, and for Yan Yuan, it's equally significant! If England can win the title, it will mean 'football is coming home,' it will mean the Three Lions are back on top of the world after 56 years! And for Yan Yuan personally... my God, it's unbelievable!"

He Wei picked up the conversation, his tone filled with amazement.

"Yes! England captain Yan Yuan is only 22 years old this year! But he has already won the Champions League, the Premier League, the Bundesliga, the Club World Cup, the UEFA Nations League, and the European Championship."

In terms of individual honors, the Ballon d'Or, FIFA World Player of the Year, European Golden Boot, and European Golden Boy are already his for the taking!

If he can lead England to victory in the World Cup today, he will achieve a super grand slam of team and individual honors in his career at the age of 22!

He will undoubtedly be crowned the "King of Football" of this era, ushering in a new era that may be even more glorious than we can imagine. Tonight will be his night of ascension!

"On one side, a legend's coronation; on the other, the ascension of a new king. This final has long transcended an ordinary football match; it is a final showdown destined to be recorded in history—a clash of legacy, glory, and dreams!"

The camera then focused on Yan Yuan and Messi near the center circle.

Yan Yuan was whispering something to Kane, his eyes sharp as knives.

Messi gently touched the Argentina team crest on his chest, looked up at the noisy stands, and gazed into the depths of the sea.

The referee looked at his watch and checked the time.

The players from both sides took their positions in their respective halves of the field.

The ball rests quietly on the center circle tee box.

The whole world held its breath at that moment.

"Beep—!"

The referee's clear and loud whistle, like a starting pistol, pierced the night sky over Luselle!

The 2022 World Cup Finals have officially begun!