Chapter 188 181: China Won

The evening of June 10th. The Toulon Cup final, France versus China.

"Seventy minutes into the match, and the score is still tied at zero-zero."

"The France Team has clearly learned its lesson from the group stage, strengthening its defense against Yang Yang. The Chinese Team has likewise learned from its mistakes in the semifinal against Sweden, adopting a more conservative strategy."

"This was especially true in the second half. After the France Team intensified its attack, the Chinese Team's two consecutive substitutions were both to bolster their defense."

"Both sides have adopted highly targeted tactics. Coupled with the fact that this is their second meeting in just one week, they're quite familiar with each other, and neither has been able to create any solid scoring opportunities."

"Right now, the Chinese Team has placed the entire burden of their offense on their striker, Yang Yang. Despite his slender build, he has shouldered the banner of the Chinese Team's attack, and he's created several decent chances. Unfortunately, none have resulted in a goal."

"It must be said that Yang Yang has continued his excellent form from the previous matches, but his teammates haven't given him enough support. This has made it difficult for him to get the ball in dangerous areas, and the France Team has set up their defense specifically to counter this."

"Zianni, Columbus, Flamini, and Mawuba—the France Team has completely frozen Yang Yang out of the center of their backfield."

"The players on both sides are now heavily fatigued, especially the Chinese Team, who are starting to look like they can't hold on."

"The France Team is also looking to ramp up their attack. After all, they're playing on home turf and are dead set on winning the title."

...

"An attack from the France Team, the ball goes upfield. Pongler controls it and passes to Letai."

"Letai's first touch is poor! China's Feng Xiaoting intercepts and clears it with a long ball."

"The ball finds Hao Junmin on the left wing. The Chinese Team launches a fast counter-attack!"

"Hao Junmin dribbles down the left flank as the France Team scrambles back to defend."

"Zianni and Columbus need to be careful of Yang Yang..."

「 ... 」

When he saw Hao Junmin rapidly advancing with the ball down the left flank, Yang Yang did the same thing he had done several times before: he sprinted forward.

Even though the past few attempts hadn't created a threat and his teammates hadn't managed to get the ball to him, he still did it.

For an attacker, failure isn't scary. One success is all it takes to be lethal.

As Yang Yang sprinted, he continuously observed the situation around him using [God's Vision].

He saw Hao Junmin start to cut in from the left toward the half-space—a very smart choice—so he immediately dashed forward.

The two French Central Defenders, Zianni and Columbus, tracked back quickly. This had been a major feature of the France Team's play in this match; even when attacking, they were still shaken by the threat of China's counter-attacks.

In an instant, Hao Junmin had charged into the France Team's final third, and the surrounding French defenders refused to backpedal any further.

'I have to go support him!'

Yang Yang made a split-second decision. Just at the edge of the penalty area, he suddenly changed direction, cut to his left, and raised his hand to call for the ball.

Hao Junmin had been watching Yang Yang the whole time. The moment he saw him run over, he immediately passed the ball.

It was a great pass. It bounced once just outside the arc, leaving Flamini helpless.

Zianni and Columbus, who had been tracking Yang Yang all the way back into the box, reacted. Columbus, the first to move, immediately rushed behind Yang Yang, trying to block him and prevent him from turning.

In any match, the center of the penalty area is always the most densely defended zone. It gives attacking players the least amount of reaction time and places the strictest demands on their ability to control the ball.

Even though he was facing the French Youth Team, it was still quite a challenge.

The instant the ball bounced off the ground and flew toward him, Yang Yang made his decision. He met the rising ball with a light flick of his right foot, lifting it over the right side of the onrushing Columbus as he simultaneously spun around to chase after it.

This was a flick-and-turn move he had seen Bergkamp use in the Super Training.

Columbus had lunged at Yang Yang's back, and a bit too aggressively at that. As a result, not only did Yang Yang flick the ball past him, but he also smoothly turned to evade him. Columbus's attempt to body him up suddenly turned into an overly aggressive tackle that hit nothing but air.

But just to his side, Zianni immediately rushed over to cover. The two central defenders had a well-established understanding.

Yang Yang caught up to the ball just to the left of the penalty spot, but Zianni had already charged over, positioning himself between Yang Yang and the goal.

Just when everyone thought Yang Yang could no longer create a threat, he seemed to know Zianni's movements like the back of his hand. He suddenly cut the ball back with his left foot...

The French Central Defender was so focused on covering that even though he watched the ball roll right under his nose—he only needed to stick out a foot and give it a slight poke to clear it—he couldn't free either of his feet. He could only watch helplessly as Yang Yang cut the ball from his left foot to his right.

With that single cut, the shooting angle that had been completely sealed off was suddenly wide open!

「 ... 」

"Yang Yang cuts past Zianni! He has a chance..."

"He takes the shot!"

"IT'S IN!!!!!"

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"

"Oh my God, oh my God! In the seventy-second minute, the Chinese Team is the first to score!"

"A shot from Yang Yang!"

"This is his fourth goal in the Toulon Cup! He's going to be the tournament's top scorer!"

"What's even more astonishing is that he also has four assists. He is the number one contributor to the Chinese Team's journey to the final."

"Yang Yang... Let's remember that name!"

...

The moment he struck the ball with the inside of his right foot, Yang Yang knew it was in.

Overcome with excitement, he sprinted off the pitch, waving his arms and roaring, releasing all his pent-up excitement and exhilaration.

Finally, he ran to the stands where the Chinese fans were, opening his arms to them as if to embrace every single supporter in the stadium.

Behind him, his National Youth Team teammates rushed over and mobbed him in a group hug.

One-nil. This was truly a goal worth its weight in gold!

...

"From the replay, we can clearly see that Yang Yang's control on that ball was brilliant."

"Previously, many media outlets reported that Yang Yang's ball control was poor. But judging from that touch, even in a youth team match, you can absolutely see his skill."

"Of course, the intensity of the France Team's defense can't be compared to that of a top professional team. But regardless, Yang Yang's ability is outstanding among his peers. Especially after being tempered by a major event like the Champions League final, the confidence he exudes is far greater than anyone else's."

"One-nil. Yang Yang has scored the winning goal."

"Things are looking quite grim now for the French coach, Raymond. There isn't much time left, and he's already used two of his substitutions. He has to strengthen his team's attack now and try to equalize as soon as possible."

...

Yang Yang stood at the edge of the pitch, his teammates still hugging him from behind, as he forcefully pulled up the national flag on his chest and lowered his head to kiss it.

He loved his country, loved his countrymen, and he was willing to fight for them!

To him, this was the greatest of honors!

At this very moment, he was using this gesture to prove his determination!

「 ... 」

The France Team quickly used its last substitution. As expected, Raymond brought on a striker, replacing Zianni, whose stamina was completely spent. Zianni had been marking Yang Yang for the entire match and was already exhausted.

After taking the lead, the Chinese Team adopted a park-the-bus strategy. Even Yang Yang dropped back into his own half to help with the defense up front.

The frantic France Team launched attack after attack. Inspired by their lead, the Chinese Team erupted with a fierce desire to win and an indomitable fighting spirit, managing to block France's onslaught time and time again.

In the last few minutes of the match, the game became completely one-sided. The France Team attacked relentlessly while the Chinese Team defended tenaciously. Both teams displayed an unprecedented passion for the game.

But time eventually ran out.

The referee added five minutes of stoppage time, which was already quite favorable to the host nation. But unfortunately for them, the France Team ultimately failed to break through the Chinese Team's goal. The backline, led by Feng Xiaoting, held firm right up to the final moment.

When the final whistle blew, all the Chinese players on the field collapsed to the ground.

Yang Yang also felt as if the whistle had drained all the strength from his body. He fell to his knees on the grass, supporting himself with his hands as he panted heavily.

His body was utterly exhausted, but his spirit felt like it was on fire, his emotions running high with excitement.

China's best previous result in the Toulon Cup was fourth place in 1998. Just by reaching the final this time, they had already achieved their best record in history. But because they had narrowly defeated France one-nil in the group stage, everyone from the team to the fans back home had high hopes for the final.

The France Team in the final was clearly stronger than the one in the group stage. They were superior in terms of form and tactical cohesion, and they firmly controlled the initiative for the entire match. But the Chinese Team's defense was also more tenacious.

They had learned from their mistakes.

After the first half against Sweden, everyone understood the team's key to victory very clearly.

And the facts proved that when you are technically, tactically, and physically inferior to your opponent in every way, you can only make up for it by playing as a collective unit.

One-nil. China had won!

Yang Yang shakily got up from the grass and looked at his surrounding teammates. Several were even covering their faces, sobbing.

In the stands, the more than one thousand Chinese fans who had come to the stadium began to sing their national anthem in unison.

Gradually, the sound of the "March of the Volunteers" spread throughout the entire stadium.

Many players couldn't help but start singing along.

What a hard-won championship this was!

Even if it was just the championship of the less influential Toulon Cup, it was still something everyone had given their all for, something they had fought bitterly to achieve. Looking back on their journey, if they had slacked off even slightly, they never would have made it this far.

And they all knew that the reason the team had come this far was entirely thanks to Yang Yang.

It could even be said that, to a certain extent, Yang Yang had single-handedly dragged the team onto the champion's podium.

Four goals and four assists were the most convincing proof.