Football: Start with the Kaka template, dominate the football field!

When the chartered plane carrying the entire Chinese team landed at Brisbane Airport, they were greeted by a long line of cameras and microphones that had been waiting for them, like sharks smelling blood.

"Qin! Did you see today's Sydney Morning Herald? They're saying they're going to end your fairytale!"

Are you confident you can lead the Chinese team to the next round against the host country?

"There are rumors that your body can't handle the intensity of the Australian team. What's your opinion on that?"

Flashbulbs went off wildly, illuminating the passageway as if it were daytime. Qin Feng, wearing a baseball cap, didn't answer any questions, simply bowing his head as he was escorted through the crowd by security. But on the other side of the airport, hundreds of overseas Chinese and international students spontaneously unfurled a huge red banner, responding to the Australian media's provocation with their loudest songs.

"The five-starred red flag, you are my pride—!"

Qin Feng stopped, turned around, and waved vigorously at the small red ocean.

……

That night, at the hotel where the Chinese team stayed.

"...Their style of play is not simply brutal."

During the tactical analysis meeting, Qin Feng stepped forward and pointed to the video on the screen. "You see, every time they press forward, it's not a solo action. As Jedinak moves forward, their full-backs immediately tuck inside to block our passing lanes. It's a meticulously calculated 'zonal strangulation' tactic that uses physicality as a weapon."

Perrin nodded approvingly and added, "Qin Feng is right. They're not mindless brutes. Tomorrow, we can't afford to get into a physical battle with them. We need to use passing and running to find the gaps left by their advanced formation."

Veteran captain Zheng Zhi looked at Qin Feng with a hint of seriousness in his eyes. He knew that Perrin's tactics were correct, but how difficult it would be to execute smooth passing and movement in an away game filled with hostility and physical confrontation.

……

Brisbane, Brisbane Stadium.

The hillsides covered in yellow and green foliage transformed the sports field into a hostile arena for the Kangaroo Army!

"beep--!"

Game start!

The Australian team demonstrated their suffocating "strangulation" tactics!

The second minute of the match!

Qin Feng had just received the ball in midfield and hadn't even had time to look up when captain Jedinak charged at him from the side and behind like a brown bear!

boom!

A dull thud of muscles colliding!

Qin Feng instantly lost his balance and was knocked to the ground, ball and all! But in the instant he fell, he had already seen the opposing full-back's inward movement out of the corner of his eye!

"Just as analyzed!"

In the tenth minute, Qin Feng received the ball again. This time, he was prepared!

Just before Jedinak charged at him, he didn't choose to take the hit head-on. Instead, he used an extremely subtle backheel flick to try and pass the ball to Wu Xi, who had dropped back to receive it, in an attempt to create a "penetrating" combination!

This is a battle of football intelligence!

But just as the ball rolled away, Australian midfielder Milligan, as if he had a premonition, appeared in the passing lane and intercepted the ball firmly!

"Useless, kid!" Jedinak ran past him, muttering contemptuously. "Before absolute power, your petty tricks are worthless!"

Qin Feng got up from the grass, his brows furrowed.

"No... they anticipated our moves. It wasn't just their physical abilities; their tactical discipline was far beyond what we imagined!"

For the first time on the Asian stage, he felt a sense of powerlessness, as if he had been "seen through".

His most prized "brain" seemed to have failed him in the face of this finely tuned "muscle machine".

The game completely fell into the Australians' rhythm. Every pass from the Chinese team was interrupted by fierce pressing; every breakthrough ended in a hard physical collision.

Wu Lei's speed was rendered useless by the opposing defenders' superior speed and physicality in tracking back. Veteran captain Zheng Zhi, despite his best efforts and repeated tactical fouls to slow down the opponent's attack, looked like a lone Don Quixote struggling against a windmill.

……

First half, 41st minute.

Following continuous high-altitude bombing.

Australia has been awarded a corner kick on the right side.

The ball, spinning intensely, flew towards the center of the penalty area!

Inside the penalty area, people and horses were thrown about in chaos!

Tim Cahill! Leaping high above everyone's heads!

With incredible hang time and core strength, he got ahead of everyone else and headed the ball towards the goal!

The ball slammed into the Chinese team's goal!

1: 0!

"Goooooooooooooooooooooal!!! CAHILL!!!"

"Cahill again!!! A header!!!"

"At the moment when the team needed a goal! This 35-year-old veteran scored with a header, breaching the Chinese team's defense!"

The entire Brisbane Stadium erupted in cheers!

Cahill excitedly rushed towards the corner flag area and unleashed a series of fluid punches at the orange corner flagpole!

The Chinese players stood there blankly, their eyes vacant. Young center-back Zhang Linpeng knelt on the ground in frustration, pounding the turf with his fists.

Zheng Zhi walked over, pulled him up from the ground, and roared in a hoarse voice, "The game isn't over yet! All of you, get your heads up!"

In the stands, in a red corner composed of overseas Chinese and international students, a five-star red flag hung limply.

At this moment, the shadow of "Australia phobia" seemed to become tangible, weighing heavily on the hearts of every Chinese person.

Qin Feng looked at Cahill celebrating wildly in the corner flag area, then looked at his teammates around him, their heads hanging low, their eyes filled with double despair after being completely outmaneuvered tactically and physically.

He clenched his fists tightly. His fingernails dug deep into his flesh.

"Tactics...body control..." He frantically reviewed the situation in his mind, "If these two paths don't work... then only the last one remains..."

"beep--!"

The referee blew the whistle to end the first half.

The Chinese players, like defeated roosters, dragged their heavy steps toward the players' tunnel.

At the narrow entrance to the passage, Qin Feng brushed past Cahill, who had just finished celebrating and was walking back triumphantly.

The Australian veteran stopped in his tracks, glanced at Qin Feng, a contemptuous smile playing on his lips, and then made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand.

Qin Feng also stopped walking and did not respond.

He simply stared at Cahill, his pupils devoid of any emotion.

Then he turned and walked into the darkness leading to the locker room.