Chapter 338 - 331: He Does Not Submit

The locker room was terrifyingly silent!

No one had the strength to speak. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and they didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly.

The final score of the first half was one-to-one. Argentina had equalized.

For the Chinese players, who had taken an early lead and created many chances afterward, this was a devastating blow.

In fact, during the period after China led when Argentina pushed forward, if the Chinese team had been just a little better at seizing their opportunities, the match would have been over.

But sometimes, that’s just how football is.

A player’s skill can only take them so far.

Once the score was tied, everyone was filled with regret.

Yang Yang had done his best.

He had been tightly marked by Argentina for the entire first half. Sabella was on him practically every second. He expanded his range of movement and constantly created chances for his teammates, but they were never able to convert.

He couldn’t blame his teammates, because they had done their best.

You can’t blame someone who has given their all, even if the result is disappointing, can you?

Conceding an equalizer after taking the lead is a huge blow to morale, especially for a team like China.

The whole world knew that Chinese players were mentally fragile and always choked at critical moments.

Yang Yang had no doubt that if they went into the second half with their current mentality, they were guaranteed to lose.

Many players were already losing confidence, their belief in victory wavering. How could they possibly play like that?

Confidence isn’t something you can just have whenever you want.

It’s completely beyond your control.

But you can fight for it!

Yang Yang stood up from his seat.

His sudden movement startled everyone in the locker room.

Many didn’t even dare to look at him, worried he was about to fly into a rage.

But to their surprise, Yang Yang looked directly at everyone, speaking each word with deliberate, forceful clarity.

"I’m confident. I can score again in the second half!"

It was just one simple sentence, but it made everyone in the locker room lift their heads and look at him in disbelief.

Score again?

’Is that even possible?’

But he really did score in the first half!

Before the match, he had asked the coach for ten minutes, and he ended up scoring in the ninth.

It was the team’s first shot of the game, and he seized the opportunity directly.

And now, he was saying he could score again in the second half.

’What does that mean?’

"I need you guys to defend our goal. Don’t give Argentina another chance to score. I will beat Argentina with a goal—I have absolute confidence in that!" Yang Yang declared forcefully.

The locker room was still silent, with only the echo of Yang Yang’s voice seeming to linger in the air.

’Can he be trusted?’

Of course. If he hadn’t stepped up at critical moments time and time again, would the Chinese Team even be in the final?

’But can he really do it?’

’Maybe he can, maybe he can’t. But does that even matter?’

"I’m with you!" Chen Tao was the first to stand up.

"Me too. I believe you can do it," Feng Xiaoting also spoke up.

"Count me in! No question. I’ll do whatever it takes, even if it means playing as a defender," Gao Lin shouted.

"Count me in," Zhou Haibin said, also getting to his feet.

"Me," Hao Junmin said, raising his hand.

Cui Peng was also infected by the mood. He stood up and said through gritted teeth, "I’m usually one of the lazier ones, but at this point, I refuse to just lose like this. I’ll play my heart out in the second half. I believe you can score!"

One by one, the other teammates also stood up and voiced their support.

Klauen just stood there the whole time, not moving, simply watching in silence.

At that moment, he felt a bit redundant on this team.

Right now, no tactics or adjustments would mean anything.

What they needed was confidence.

Klauen suddenly recalled something the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, once said.

"To reach the top, you need to have an irrational confidence. All the great players have this unreasonable optimism. A player who cannot get rid of the shadow of self-doubt will never reach his full potential."

In that instant, Klauen suddenly realized that Yang Yang was going to become a great footballer.

Because he always possessed that irrational confidence.

Not only that, but his confidence was also deeply infectious to everyone around him.

Perhaps they might still lose this match even with confidence, but without it, they didn’t even have a chance to win.

Besides, even if they did lose, those with confidence could always get back on their feet faster.

...

...

The second half began.

Neither side made any substitutions during halftime.

The Argentina Team largely continued their momentum from the first half, maintaining control of the match and methodically pressing the Chinese Team. It was clear that equalizing before the break had allowed them to play with more patience and stability.

The Chinese Team, on the other hand, solidified their defense, playing cautiously and waiting for a chance to counter-attack.

Just three minutes into the half, Argentina created a chance.

It was another long-range shot from their midfielder Alzubi just outside the box. It flew just wide of the goal, sending a cold sweat down everyone’s spine and serving as an early warning from Argentina in the second half.

Yang Yang realized the team’s midfield was having problems and immediately dropped back to the left wing. He constantly urged his teammates to stay calm and rational, and not to lose their heads.

"Have faith in me!" Yang Yang shouted forcefully.

Chen Tao on the right wing also tracked back to defend, leaving only Gao Lin up front to pressure the opposing center-backs.

Argentina advanced cautiously, slowly pushing their formation past the halfway line.

The Chinese Team organized a tight defense, determined to keep their goal secure at all costs.

Every single player gave their all, running tirelessly across the pitch to cover ground, fighting for every ball and every opportunity.

Argentina’s attack was met with tenacious resistance.

In the stands, the Chinese fans began singing their stirring national anthem, wanting to support the players on the field in this way.

The fans from the Netherlands were also inspired, cheering continuously for the Chinese Team.

The Ajax players also felt the spirit of the match from their seats.

Before, when they were on the field themselves, they hadn’t noticed it, but now, sitting in the stands, they found it incredibly exciting to watch.

The Chinese Team was admittedly weak in terms of overall skill, but they were incredibly resilient.

Every one of them seemed to be clinging to a final sliver of hope, struggling on the brink of death.

Some might not understand. Why continue to struggle so desperately?

But in the fifty-eighth minute, when an Argentine passing error created an opportunity, they understood.

Cui Peng made a sliding tackle, kicking the ball to his club teammate Zhou Haibin.

After receiving the ball, Zhou Haibin immediately sent it forward to the feet of Gao Lin.

The Chinese Team’s tall center-forward used his body to shield the ball from Garay, controlled it, and laid it off.

Just then, Hao Junmin made a run from deep, received the ball facing forward, and smoothly played it through into the space behind the Argentine defensive line.

Yang Yang had just tracked back to defend within his own thirty-yard zone, but now he exploded forward at top speed like a red arrow, streaking up the left side. He simply blew past Sabella with sheer pace, using his body to shield the ball from the Argentine player.

The moment Yang Yang reached the ball, the entire Koegenwaard Stadium erupted in a collective gasp.

Many fans were so excited they had already leaped out of their seats.

Yang Yang caught up to the ball and charged all the way into the penalty area.

The Argentine right center-back, Palletta, sprinted back desperately, tightly blocking Yang Yang’s right side.

The goalkeeper, Ustari, stood to the left side of his goal, crouched down with his arms spread wide, waiting for Yang Yang to take the shot.

With a defender on his right, there was no angle for a shot.

Ustari and Pasata had sealed off every possible shooting angle.

’What to do?’

Inside the box, Yang Yang suddenly came to a screeching halt, pulling the ball back.

The sudden change of pace took Pasata completely by surprise. He tried to stop as well but overran his mark slightly.

After stopping, Yang Yang used his left shoulder to lean into Pasata, stabilized himself with his left foot, and took a touch toward the center with his right. After a quick adjustment, he swung his leg and curled the ball.

Aiming for the far corner!

"Yang Yang! Yang Yang!! YANG YANG!!!"

"IT’S IN!!!!"

"Oh my god, the fifty-eighth minute! The fifty-eighth minute!"

"Yang Yang has put them in the lead again with a goal!"

"An absolutely impressive counter-attack! Yang Yang carried the ball over forty meters, relying on his individual skill to score against the Argentinians yet again!"

"Two-to-one! The Chinese Team is back in the lead!"

...

The entire Koegenwaard Stadium absolutely erupted!

All the fans rushed from their seats, spontaneously chanting Yang Yang’s name.

Ibrahimovic and Maxwell, Yang Yang’s closest friends, were screaming themselves hoarse.

Yang Yang’s parents, his uncle Shen Ming and his wife, Su Wenhong and his wife... all his friends and family stood up. Many were even moved to tears by the atmosphere, while Su Ye was so emotional she bit her lower lip so hard it nearly bled.

She knew. She had known for a long time, ever since last year’s Champions League final, that she would never, ever be able to forget him!

She could never forget that figure, the one who never gave up, who was always running on the pitch!

...

"The great Yang Yang!"

"We’re running out of words to describe him!"

"I can only say, Yang Yang, I have to bow down to you!"

"That was beautiful!"

"When the team needs you most, you always step up! You’re practically invincible!"

"Yang Yang’s performance is just so stunning! So magnificent!"

...

The commentators, the crowd in the stands, and the fans watching on TV were all stunned by Yang Yang’s goal.

The players on the field were no different.

The Argentine players were devastated, while the Chinese players were in disbelief.

He actually scored! He actually scored again!

At the start of the match, Yang Yang said he could score, and he really did.

At halftime, he said he could score again, and he really did it again!

If there really are gods on the football pitch, then Yang Yang is one of them!

An omnipotent god!

All the Chinese players rushed toward Yang Yang, every one of them filled with a reverence bordering on worship.

But behind them on the pitch, Argentina’s number eighteen, Lionel Messi, clenched his fists, grinding his teeth as he watched Yang Yang’s wild celebration on the sideline.

He could hear almost the entire stadium chanting Yang Yang’s name.

He refused to accept it!