Chapter 961: The Rightful Strongest National Team

Chapter 961 -3: The Rightful Strongest National Team

Ding Li played as a defensive midfielder in the Champions League final, and if it’s just defense duties, he can completely replace Zhang Wenxuan and even switch positions with Chen Zhong.

Ding Li’s appearance brought immediate change. He was actively running and covered a large area.

More importantly, he liberated Chen Zhong to some extent.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti gestured from the sidelines: Chen Zhong to push forward! When transitioning from defense to attack, Chen Zhong no longer remained at the defensive line but boldly moved ahead to the defensive midfielder and even central midfielder position, using his expansive view and precise long passes to directly initiate attacks! This change instantly revitalized China’s midfield.

The match entered the last 20 minutes. The high temperatures seemed to have drained the last bit of strength from the players on both sides, slowing the pace but intensifying the tension.

Belgium still held a ball control advantage, but China used Ding Li’s midfield sweeping and Chen Zhong’s forward organization, alongside the united defense of the whole team, to dissolve Belgium’s offensive repeatedly outside the penalty area.

In the 83rd minute, China seized the gaps left by Belgium’s heavy attack to launch a lethal counterattack!

Wang Xiaolei threw the ball to launch a fast attack, the ball accurately found Ding Li near the center circle.

Facing pressure, Ding Li calmly passed the ball to Chen Zhong, who retreated to support. Chen Zhong raised his head, watching Sun Fei on the left flank speeding up like an arrow! Belgium’s right back Meunier had already been left two body lengths behind!

Chen Zhong understood perfectly, even without stopping to adjust, he swung his left foot and sent a long-distance cross half the length of the field! The ball traced an arc in the sky, surpassing Belgium’s entire defense and landing ahead of Sun Fei’s sprint line!

“A long pass from Chen Zhong! Amazing! Sun Fei! It’s an opportunity!!!” The commentator’s voice rose sharply.

Sun Fei used every bit of his strength to catch up with the ball, his speed was fully displayed at this moment!

He drove the ball into the penalty area, facing the advancing goalkeeper Courtois and the trailing Belgian center-back Van Den Eynde!

Sun Fei did not get greedy! His sharp gaze scanned the center! He saw a tall red figure charging in from the middle with unstoppable momentum, it was the captain Chen Zhong!

After completing that marvelous long pass, Chen Zhong didn’t stop at all, charging towards Belgium’s penalty area like an enraged lion!

Sun Fei decisively made a horizontal pass! The ball passed between Courtois and Van Den Eynde, accurately rolling towards the penalty spot area!

Chen Zhong, who arrived galloping, faced an open goal without the slightest hesitation!

He didn’t even need to adjust, meeting the incoming ball, he shot low with his right foot, ahead of another defending Belgian player who attempted a sliding tackle!

The ball, like a bullet, stayed close to the grass, powerfully crashing into Belgium’s goal!

2:1!!!

“It’s a goal!!!!!!!!!”

“Chen Zhong!!!!!”

“Captain Chen Zhong!!!!”

“Final blow!!!!!”

The entire Aztec Stadium was thrown into chaos! All Chinese fans jumped up, waving the national flag, screaming at the top of their lungs!

“Chen Zhong! From the backfield’s long pass guidance, to the frontline’s fatal strike! This is China team’s captain! This is the soul figure of the strongest national team in history!” The commentator’s voice carried an irrepressible choke and excitement!

After scoring, Chen Zhong didn’t sprint to celebrate; he freed himself from the embracing teammates and rushed directly towards the corner flag area, facing the ocean of red, roaring at the sky! All the pressure, all the responsibility, all the passion erupted in this cry! Hao Chen, Zhao Mingzhe, Sun Fei, Wang Xiaolei… all the players rushed over, hugging their captain tightly, piling up together! Players on the bench also dashed frantically onto the field!

Ancelotti on the sidelines, still with that calm expression, just slightly raised the corner of his chewing gum mouth, his eyes gleaming with the satisfaction unique to wise coaches. He gently clapped his hands.

Belgium players were dumbfounded, Courtois frustratedly pounding the grass, De Bruyne hands on hips, shaking his head helplessly.

The last few minutes plus the lengthy seven minutes of injury time became the ultimate test of China’s willpower.

Ancelotti used the last two substitution quotas to bring on fresh legs to strengthen defense.

Belgium almost crazily launched their siege, with aerial bombardment, ground penetration, trying every means possible.

In the 94th minute, Belgium gained an ideally positioned free kick near the penalty area.

De Bruyne stood over the ball again. The entire stadium held its breath.

Run-up, shot! The ball bypassed the wall, spinning fiercely towards the top left corner of the goal!

It’s again Wang Xiaolei! He leapt up, stretching to the limit, using one hand to palm the ball out of the crossbar! This was his most spectacular, yet also most crucial save of the match!

“Wang Xiaolei!!!!!!! He denied De Bruyne’s equalizer hope! He guarded China team’s victory prize!” The commentator was completely frenzied.

Ultimately, the referee blew the whistle to end the match!

The score was frozen at 2:1!

“Game over! The game is over!” The commentator shouted excitedly, “We’ve won! China team won! In the first match of the 2026 World Cup, at Mexico City Aztec Stadium, against the powerful European Red Devils Belgium team, China team, relying on Zhao Mingzhe’s world-class shot and Captain Chen Zhong’s final blow, alongside Wang Xiaolei’s multiple divine saves, defeated the opponent 2 to 1! Achieving a precious victory at the start! Tonight, belongs to China Red! The strongest national team in history, they fully deserve it!”