Chapter 262 - 255: Devil’s Home Ground

"We just got word. Yang Yang has arrived in Tehran."

In the hotel where the Iran National Team was staying, head coach Ivanovic quickly received intelligence on his opponents.

He had specifically assigned people to monitor the Chinese Team, ensuring he was aware of their every move.

And the player he was most concerned about was eighteen-year-old Yang Yang.

A Chinese prodigy who won the Asian Cup and the Best Player award at just seventeen, and was now lighting up the Eredivisie this season—sixteen goals and ten assists in twenty matches. Such an astonishing record simply couldn’t be ignored.

Champions League winner, European Golden Boy—the accolades surrounding Yang Yang were simply too dazzling.

If he could have his way, Ivanovic would have preferred he didn’t come at all.

But unfortunately, for a player of his caliber, never mind the weaker Chinese Team, even on a global scale, perhaps only a top-tier powerhouse like Brazil could afford to overlook him.

"When did he arrive?" Ivanovic asked with concern.

"Noon today. And he participated in the afternoon training session."

"He just played in an Eredivisie match against Feyenoord. Two goals, one assist, and he was named Man of the Match again. He even outshone the Eredivisie’s star striker, Kuyt."

Listening to his assistant’s report, Ivanovic’s expression grew even more grave.

Yang Yang’s skill was undeniable. He was without a doubt the Chinese Team’s biggest threat, and the one player Iran absolutely had to watch and mark closely—a fact already proven in the Asian Cup semifinals.

But the Iran of today was not the same team from six months ago.

After their disastrous defeat at the Asian Cup, Ivanovic and the Iranian Football Association had reflected on their painful experience, and both sides were determined to make changes.

One of the most crucial changes was recalling the midfielder from Kaiserslautern, Candie.

Ferry Candi, twenty-five years old, currently playing for Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga. He wore the number ten jersey, a number that spoke to his status on the team, and he had been performing exceptionally well in the Bundesliga this season.

Previously, Candie had a personal feud with the chairman of the Iranian Football Association and had refused to play for the National Team. But after Iran’s stumble at the Asian Cup, both the Football Association chairman and Candie took a step back, and he once again accepted the call-up to return to the team.

Candie’s return would undoubtedly make an already strong Iran even more formidable.

Khalimi, Ali Daei, Madavi, Hashemian, and now Candie—the Iran Team’s overall lineup was overwhelmingly powerful. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say their collective strength could crush the Chinese Team.

But Yang Yang was like a razor-sharp dagger, constantly pointed at Iran’s heart, preventing Ivanovic from letting his guard down for even a moment.

"The government has ordered that this match will be free to the public. Everyone can enter Azadi Stadium to watch. The expected attendance will likely exceed one hundred thousand, which will put immense psychological pressure on the opponents," the assistant coach analyzed.

Ivanovic nodded.

Anyone who hadn’t personally experienced a match at Azadi Stadium could never understand just how terrifying Asia’s number one Devil’s Home Ground truly was.

Iran’s astonishing win rate at this stadium was definitely not just for show.

"The other Chinese Team players might be intimidated by the home-field advantage, but Yang Yang probably won’t be," Ivanovic said.

"Why?"

"Think about it. A player who could score the winning goal in a Champions League final at seventeen, and carry the banner for Ajax in the Eredivisie at eighteen... do you really think he’d be scared by the noise from our home crowd?"

The assistant coach saw his point. "But it should at least have some effect on him, right?"

"It’s hard to say. But we have to prepare for the worst. That’s why in this match, we must shut him down completely."

...

...

On the morning of the match.

When the National Team players woke up, washed up, and got ready for breakfast, they still hadn’t seen Yang Yang leave his room.

"Where’s Yang Yang?"

"Is he not up yet?"

"He’s probably a bit tired from the long journey. Let him sleep in a little so he’ll have energy tonight."

Just as they were talking, they saw Zheng Zhi open his door and come out. Everyone immediately asked about Yang Yang with concern.

"Him? He’s been up for ages. I went with him for a run of a few kilometers around the hotel, and when he got back, he dived right into the hotel gym," Zheng Zhi said with a wry, exasperated smile.

"What? We have a match tonight, and he went for a run *and* to the gym?" the National Team players exclaimed in astonishment.

After doing all that, how could he possibly have any energy left for the match tonight?

"I asked him the same thing. But he said today’s training load is much lighter than usual. It’s just a proper recovery and adjustment. As long as he controls it well, not only will it not affect tonight’s match, but it will actually help activate his body. And he’s planning to go for a swim at noon."

The National Team players were all dumbfounded. ’Will that really work?’

However, during the Asian Cup, they had all gotten used to Yang Yang’s unconventional training style where he just did his own thing.

And in fact, throughout the entire Asian Cup, Yang Yang had not only maintained his form perfectly but had also consistently performed at a high level, which was something you just had to admire.

Zheng Zhi had also been influenced by Yang Yang, which was why he had joined him for a run that morning, only to still lose to him.

He was also starting to realize that after a series of scientific training routines, Yang Yang’s physical condition had begun to surpass everyone else on the National Team. Not only was his stamina excellent, but his improvement in physical confrontations was also very obvious.

Don’t be fooled by his seemingly slender build, which gave the impression that he lacked strength; in reality, it was not easy to push him off the ball.

Driven by curiosity, the National Team players all made their way to the hotel gym.

Through the transparent glass wall, they saw Yang Yang inside, already drenched in sweat as he pedaled on a stationary bike.

Wearing a pair of athletic shorts and shirtless, he no longer looked as thin as he had during the Asian Cup. The muscle groups all over his body were now quite defined—clearly the result of his intense training over the past period.

Those who had been chosen by Arie Haan for the National Team were all among the best players in the country, but at this moment, watching Yang Yang train so hard in the gym with their own eyes, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of shame.

By the standards of domestic players, Yang Yang was already China’s number one star, accomplished and famous. Yet he was still so driven, so diligent. How could they not feel inadequate in comparison?

"He’s holding in all this energy, ready to take on Iran. After he goes back to the Netherlands, he wants to compete with Kuyt for the Top Scorer title and help Ajax win the Eredivisie championship. That’s what’s keeping him so motivated," Zheng Zhi said, full of admiration.

He was a few years older than Yang Yang, but in terms of football, he felt he couldn’t compare.

But he would work hard to learn from Yang Yang.

He had his own dreams and goals too.

...

...

As the Chinese Team walked into Azadi Stadium, the entire stadium erupted in a frenzy of boos.

The sound came crashing down from all directions, as if the sky itself were collapsing.

This startled the National Team players who had just walked out of the players’ tunnel.

Yang Yang looked up and thought to himself, ’Whoa.’

It was a multi-purpose stadium with the pitch in the center, separated from the stands by a wide athletics track. Normally, this wasn’t ideal for fans to generate noise, but there was no getting around the sheer number of people.

At this moment, the stands were a sea of black, packed with people. Even the walls of the uppermost tier of the stands were filled with seated fans. The teeming scene was like a disturbed anthill, enough to give one goosebumps.

If it were just a matter of numbers, that would have been one thing.

But the deadly thing was, this crowd was also incredibly organized.

A dense drumbeat echoed through the stadium. For every two beats of the drum, the entire crowd let out a unified shout.

The collective roar of over a hundred thousand fans sounded as if it could bring the whole stadium down. It was more like a cry from the depths of hell, sending a chill down one’s spine.

Two drumbeats, one shout.

This was how the Iranian fans supported their team.

As the Chinese Team players stepped onto the pitch, they were indeed taken aback by the sudden spectacle.

It was terrifying!

So this was Asia’s number one Devil’s Home Ground!

"Jeez, isn’t this a bit over the top?"

"Yeah, I didn’t really have a concept of a hundred thousand fans before, but now..."

Yang Yang was also startled at first, but it was just a momentary shock. He quickly calmed down, and in its place rose a fighting spirit, eager for the challenge.

Perhaps it was Ibrahimovic’s influence, but he now had a powerful urge: to score a goal right under the noses of these hundred thousand-plus fans. That would surely be an unforgettable, delightful experience.

...

...

Arie Haan was clearly wary of Iran’s Devil’s Home Ground as well.

Even before the match, he had repeatedly emphasized that the team needed to focus on defense. And for this match, he would deploy a 4-5-1 formation, with Yang Yang as the lone striker and a five-man defensive midfield.

This wasn’t a sign of weakness, but a very wise choice.

Going head-to-head with Iran at Azadi Stadium was practically suicide.

Especially considering the Chinese Team’s overall strength was weaker than Iran’s, and Candie’s return had only widened that gap.

When the players finished their pre-match warm-up and returned to the locker room, Arie Haan once again stressed the need to maintain a solid defense.

"This is their home ground. For them, it’s a huge advantage, but it’s also a source of pressure. They have an undefeated record here, so they’ll want to win. They’ll want to devour us right from the start."

"At a time like this, what we need to do is defend with all our might, wait patiently for a chance to counter-attack, and when that chance comes, seize it!"

"Candie’s return has indeed strengthened Iran, but that’s just on paper. It might not translate to the pitch, because he’s been away from the National Team for a long time. He might not have good chemistry with his teammates."

"So, I believe that as long as we can endure the pressure and defend our goal, we will definitely get our chance!"

For this match, Arie Haan deployed three defensive midfielders, and Shao Jiayi was moved to the left wing. It was a clear statement that they were going to defend stubbornly and rely on counter-attacks—the only way the Chinese Team could possibly win.

And as it turned out, the Iran Team did indeed launch a ferocious assault right from the start.

Led by Khalimi, Candie, and Ali Daei, the Iranian players launched an all-out attack from the kickoff, repeatedly creating dangerous situations in front of the Chinese Team’s goal.

The Chinese Team was forced to retreat into their own half, and the defensive line, led by Zheng Zhi and Li Weifeng, was pushed back all the way to the penalty area.

There was a palpable sense of crisis in front of the goal, and the goal itself was in imminent danger.