Manchester United's heir apparent, but can't play football.

Chapter 151 The National Football Team's Do-or-Die Battle: The Unreasonable Li Luo? (National Football Team Plot)
Nothing special happened.

Li Luo is undergoing low-intensity recovery training, trying to adapt to the climate and environment of the Middle East.

during break.

The translator, Zhao, was extremely attentive, loudly ordering around a group of Ethiopian attendants sent by Crown Prince Hamdan.

"What are you standing there for? Can't you see that Brother Luo wants to drink water? Hurry up and bring the ice bucket over."

The black guys don't speak the same language.

But they could understand the gestures and quickly got to work, since only the smartest people could stay in the royal family and receive high salaries.

"Brother Luo! Have you adjusted to the time difference yet? The Dubai sun is unbearable!"

"Quick, wipe your sweat! The team doctor has prepared chilled electrolyte water and sunscreen spray, so you don't get sunburned!"

Only a few days remain until the Chinese national football team's do-or-die match.

Li Luo, however, felt very relaxed.

Several Chinese volunteers responsible for recording equipment data mustered their courage and gathered around the small rattan chair.

"Li Luo, sorry to disturb your rest, could you please sign your name for us?"

"of course can."

Li Luo never puts on airs in front of his fellow Chinese compatriots.

He stood up, carefully took the notebook and jersey, and signed them one by one.

These volunteers are all college students with clear eyes, none of them have any connections, and they are only a few years older than the Chinese genius.

Although there were several girls in it who were pretty and cute.

But Li Luo kept his eyes straight ahead.

He is a very principled person: he respects his fellow Chinese people, and believes that dating without the intention of marriage is immoral.

There's no way I can have the thought that "I only know one Chinese girl like you."

The next few days.

Crown Prince Hamdan always takes advantage of his rest time to visit and offer his regards, showing great hospitality.

Princess Salama, 17, often accompanied him, her eyes filled with adoration as she looked at Li Luo, along with an undisguised shy admiration.

That girlish sentiment was like a flower quietly blooming in the desert, sincere and touching.

at last.

One day, Crown Prince Hamdan sent his younger sister alone to visit and comfort the Chinese heroes.

Dubai's evenings have a unique desert charm. The open-air rest terraces of the training base are dappled with shadows cast by the trees, and the wind carries a faint fragrance of flowers.

Princess Salama, carrying an exquisite silver gift box, walked slowly to the edge of the terrace.

She wore a simple white dress, her long hair loosely tied up, revealing her slender neck.

Her demeanor was poised and graceful, without the slightest hint of bashfulness; she truly is a flower nurtured by the royal family.

Li Luo was leaning back in a wicker chair watching recent match videos when he heard footsteps. He looked up and saw that it was the princess coming alone. So, he stood up and maintained just the right amount of politeness: "Your Highness."

"Successors to socialism!"

The two exchanged a knowing smile.

The title "successor to socialism" was something Li Luo had taught her before.

Salama stopped two steps away from him and said gently, "Li, I'm here on behalf of my brother Wang to express my condolences to you."

She handed the gift box forward: "This is a handmade pendant from Dubai, which is said to bring good luck. I hope everything goes well for your upcoming competition."

Li Luo guessed that it contained something golden again, and waved his hand to refuse: "It's too valuable, I can't accept it."

The terrace was quiet for a moment, with only the rustling of leaves.

"It's alright, it's not very expensive, it's just a small token of our appreciation."

Salama secretly glanced at Li Luo. The setting sun shone on his well-defined profile, and recalling his dashing and elegant demeanor on the field, her cheeks flushed even more. She added softly, "I've watched your game videos these past few days. You're really amazing. A national sports hero, a sports calling card that China presents to the world."

Thank you for your recognition.

Li Luo nodded in response, his tone serious.

He neither actively continued the conversation nor showed any aloofness; he struck the perfect balance, neither betraying the pure goodwill nor failing to maintain proper boundaries.

There are too many people around!
I wouldn't dare say anything out of line.

Pretending to be engrossed in writing something on her phone, she silently replied to the messages Lauren sent.

Looking into his open eyes, Salama felt a shy, girlish admiration welling up inside her, like a flower gently swaying in the breeze. She whispered, "Li, I won't disturb your rest any longer. I wish you and the Chinese team great success."

After speaking, she turned around, her steps slightly faster than when she came, her skirt swaying gently with her movements, like a shy little deer fleeing.

not far away.

Zhao, the translator, and Tom stared wide-eyed.

"Tom, has that princess fallen for Luo Ge?"

"No, it shouldn't be. It's pure friendship. Li only knows her as a Middle Eastern girl."

“I knew it was impossible. Princess Salama’s two older sisters were caught by the royal family after eloping.”

"You can rest assured about that; Li will not abduct the princess."

Several volunteers on the sidelines, responsible for recording equipment data, also witnessed this scene.

I have even greater respect for Chinese geniuses.

He was not greedy for money and repeatedly refused valuable gifts from Middle Eastern royal families.

He was not lustful and maintained appropriate and polite boundaries with the Middle Eastern princess.

Focus solely on football.

We are fully prepared for the national football team's do-or-die match.

How could this spirit not move Chinese football fans?
"Xiao Chen, you're so good-looking, have any talent scouts approached you to act in movies or TV series?"

"Hmm? No, she paused, then her voice was barely audible: "I saw an interview where Li Luo said he doesn't like girls in the entertainment industry." Her voice trailed off, and no one could hear the little thought hidden in the corner of her mind.

With the national football team's do-or-die match approaching, major media outlets have begun to hype it up.

Because of Li Luo's presence, the attention this match received continued to increase.

The Times: Manchester United star may struggle to adapt to extreme weather.

"Echoes: The Golden Knife and the Princess, Li Luo's International Status and Commercial Influence, and the Overtures of Middle Eastern Royal Families."

AS reports: Qatar is experiencing temperatures nearing 32 degrees Celsius. The Asian Emperor, Li Luo, is exhausted after a long journey, making the outcome of this crucial match unpredictable.

The Sun: As he gets older, Li Luo prefers blonde, wavy-haired girls and has no interest in Middle Eastern princesses.

October 8, 2015, Khalifa International Stadium, Doha.

The place was packed with people, and every seat was taken.

The stands on all four sides were submerged in a fiery red, like a churning ocean.

Red flags fluttered in the evening wind on the edge of the desert, and shouts of "Go China!" echoed continuously.

Qatar, pre-match press conference.

China's head coach, Alain Perrin, had a long-unseen sense of relaxation and happiness on his face.

The tone was relaxed.

"Yesterday was October 7th, which was also my birthday."

"I believe the whole world knows what I want for my birthday."

Mixed interview area.

Wu Lei stood in front of the advertising billboard, giving an interview to the media.

A male reporter asked, "Qatar's team emphasizes a tactical system of breaking through on the flanks and strangling in midfield. With temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsius, can the Chinese team cope? This do-or-die match is fraught with difficulties. Are you confident of escaping unscathed?"

Wu Lei nodded and then shook his head: "We have a leader like Li Luo. Our goal is not just to escape unscathed, but to achieve victory!"

The reporter smiled and asked, "How important is Li Luo to the Chinese national team?"

"A pillar of strength! Even if he's on the bench, we'll have more confidence during the game and dare to make bold moves to break free."

"After winning the Asian Cup, he became the spiritual totem of Chinese football."

Wu Lei also wants to play abroad.

However, there are no suitable opportunities at the moment.

In previous years, some good European clubs offered him contracts, but unfortunately, they were rejected by his Chinese Super League club.

Now that I'm getting older, I can only pin my hopes on Chinese-owned clubs in the top five European leagues.

"Zhuangdianertai! Zhuangdianertai! Good evening, viewers!"

"We are now broadcasting live the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Round 40."

"A do-or-die match for the Chinese national football team!"

"On one side is Qatar, a strong team in Asia. They have the advantage of playing at home, have a mature tactical system, and have many naturalized players. Their recent performance has been impressive."

"On the other side, led by Ligue 1 double champion Alain Perrin and Manchester United's midfield maestro Li Luo, the Dragon Team carries the hopes of countless fans!"

"Qatar vs. China!"

"The match is about to begin!"

"I am Duan Xuan, the commentator for this match."

Studio.
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With Li Luo back, this match is no longer a life-or-death struggle.
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The game hasn't started yet, has it? I'm fighting with my son for the TV remote!
-
[The LED screen in this shopping mall is also broadcasting the World Cup qualifiers live, causing a bunch of people on the street to stand still, haha.]
-
[32 degrees Celsius? How can we play?]
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Don't panic, the stadium has advanced technology that might cool the temperature down to 17-24 degrees Celsius, but who knows what underhanded tactics Qatar might pull.
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[Every time I, Lopez, return to the national team, I come back with glory. Not long ago, he just completed a hat-trick of free kicks for Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.]
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Don't panic, I, Luo, am back to show off!

"The director's camera cut to Li Luo in the aisle."

"Oh? He's wearing the national team captain's armband!!!"

"His eyes were calm."

"He exudes the aura of a leader."

"."

The fighting prowess of China's geniuses has reached a new level.

The title of "Asian Extreme Emperor" no longer adequately describes his strength.

Hao Junmin hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Gao Lin's face showed slight tension: "Li Luo, I'm sorry, I've dug a big hole for you. We have to win this match, otherwise..."

Li Luo smiled and said, "It's alright, I'll handle it."

The referee led both teams out of the tunnel.

Khalifa International Stadium was instantly ignited, with cheers and drumbeats merging into a surging torrent.

Chinese fans shouted the name that carried the hopes of millions.

"Li Luo!!!"

"Li Luo!!!"

"Li Luo!!!"

The cheers, like a tidal wave, echoed repeatedly in the stands.

haven't seen you for a long time.

It's been a long time since we've seen Li Luo wearing the national football team jersey.

The dazzling red color blended with the fervent cheers, instantly gripping the hearts of countless people and filling them with surging emotions.

Our hero will surely lead the Chinese team to victory in this life-or-death battle, right?
The national anthem ceremony before the game.

Red flags fluttered in the wind, and the prelude to the song blaring from the loudspeakers, imbued with profound emotion, drowned out the clamor from the stands.

"stand up!"

A unified chorus gradually rose from the stands, like a tide overflowing its banks, like a spark igniting a prairie fire.

"Get up! Get up! Get up!"

"We are united as one."

The camera slowly panned across the faces of the Chinese players.

"go ahead!"

"Forward! Advance!"

The songs have not yet ended, the sparks of revolution continue, and the red flag still flutters in the wind.

The guessing game is over.

The players from both sides took their positions.

Beep!
With the referee's whistle, the match officially began.

Qatar has possession of the ball.

"Here are the starting lineups for both teams." "Qatar's formation is 4-4-2!"

Goalkeeper:

"the other side."

"The Chinese team is using a 4-4-2 formation!"

Goalkeeper:

"Li Luo and Gao Lin formed a combination of 'one tall and one fast'."

"Perrin's actual formation should be 4-2-3-1, and Li Luo will definitely drop back to organize and coordinate."

On the green field, the football rolled slowly along the ground.

The camera zooms in: the Qatari players look relaxed, firmly in control of the ball.

Tactical linchpin Hassan Haidos orchestrated the attack from the center, his short passes weaving like silk threads, each pass extremely accurate, attempting to break through the Chinese team's central defense with ground penetration.

The camera abruptly cut to the sidelines command area.

Perrin stood proudly, impeccably dressed in a suit and a striking red tie.

Zhao, the translator, stood on tiptoe.

Teaching assistant Li blew on his bangs.

"Qatar is very fierce."

"They want to attack us tonight."

"Hassan Haidos!"

"oops!"

"The pass was misplaced."

Snapped!
Hassan Haidos stopped and sent a diagonal pass, but it hit Wu Lei's shin.

what?
Captain of the Qatar national team.

The famous "Desert Fox" in Asian football.

He was a key player who was repeatedly named Qatar Footballer of the Year.

Did they actually make a mistake?
Cheers came and went.

"OK!!!"

"Wu Lei!"

"A proactive defensive retreat! It worked!"

"He passed the ball to Hao Junmin."

"Yes, let our teammate with the best footwork pass the ball to Li Luo!!!"

"China team, switch from defense to offense!"

Hao Junmin was filled with excitement.

Finally, I can fight alongside Li Luo again.

There were no unnecessary or dragging adjustments.

He decisively passed the ball to the Chinese prodigy who came to provide support.

Li Luo couldn't remember the names of the Qatari players at all.

too long.

They remember the other person's characteristics purely by their number.

but.

This level of competition doesn't require deconstructing complex concepts or executing smooth teamwork.

Do it yourself! More efficient! More stable!
He received the ball, turned around, and charged straight towards the middle.

Almost instantly, deafening cheers erupted at Khalifa International Stadium.

A red ocean, churning violently.

The white away jerseys fluttered in the wind.

He kicked the grass hard.

Lone force, frontal assault!
An indomitable spirit!
Countless people were stunned.

The Qatari coach was trembling.

The headscarve-wearing men in the stands were struck as if by a heavy blow.

Perrin looked happy.

The Qatari defenses are concentrated in the middle; is Li Luo planning to tear them apart? How wonderful!
No one in the Chinese coaching staff would question Li Luo's abilities.

Several of the Chinese teammates with high football intelligence decisively began to "wash their feet".

Run hard and widen the attack width.

Gao Lin immediately made a diagonal run down the right flank. He anticipated that Li Luo would pass the ball across before being double-teamed, so he deliberately left half a body space, which not only avoided the full-back's cover but also allowed him to directly cross or cut inside after receiving the ball, creating opportunities for the center to follow up.

Instead of clustering in the middle, Hao Junmin moved laterally to the left flank, forming a one-two with the left-back. He kept his eyes on Li Luo's dribbling route, anticipating that the opponent's midfielder would expose gaps behind him when chasing back. Once Li Luo passed the ball to the wing, he could immediately overlap and pass it back to the edge of the penalty area with a low cross.

It sounds complicated.

It's actually very simple.

They usually play like this with foreign players in the Chinese Super League.

The Qatari team is not stupid.

The team has several experienced naturalized players.

The defensive line tightened instantly, the center-backs moved inward to compress the central space, and the full-backs abandoned their attacking runs and returned to their positions at full speed, creating a three-layer defensive depth. All the players' movements revolved around one goal: to cut off Li Luo's connection with his teammates and lock the attack in the middle.

"The encirclement by Karim Boudiaf and Abdulhadhihamid."

"It's dangerous."

The two Qatari midfielders quickly closed in.

The two players' double-teaming was entirely about "control rather than tackling": they first used physical confrontation and lane blocking to buy time, allowing the center-backs and full-backs behind them to cover and completely fill the defensive gaps that had been created.

The gasps from the stands had barely begun when Qatar's defense had already formed an impenetrable encirclement.

The sound of the wind is roaring.

Li Luo raised his arms and swung his legs!

The headscarve-wearing men in the stands were dumbfounded.

Wait a minute?
What is that Chinese kid up to?
Shouldn't it be a graceful dribble and pass? Shouldn't it be an explosive burst of speed with maximum footwork?
So far from Qatar's goal! Could it be...?
Qatar was dumbfounded.

The Chinese teammates were also confused: Huh? Doesn't Li Luo need us to wash his feet?

The desert evening wind lifted her black hair and blew up her white clothes.

Li Luo's posture as he drew his bow and shot an arrow sent adrenaline soaring.

90 points for shooting, 89 points for footwork, and 94 points for arc.

Perfect unity.

In the Premier League, I'm almost at the pinnacle.

Bah!
The sound of the ball being touched resounded through the sky, deeply stirring the hearts of countless spectators.

The entire city of Doha was as if it had been struck by an earthquake!
The football shot out.

It is spinning violently.

The air seemed to be slicing through with a sharp whistling sound.

A powerful and domineering force intertwines with a breathtaking arc.

An unstoppable super arc-shaped heavy cannon!
Qatar's entire defense was shattered in an instant!
Completely crushing everything in its path!

The Qatari goalkeeper stood frozen in place, completely dumbfounded.

This incredibly terrifying force is simply beyond the ability of the Middle East defenses to withstand!
The white net was violently struck and swung high into the air, like a victory flag suddenly raised.

0:1! ! !

The moment the scoreboard suddenly jumped, the cheers from the entire audience exploded like thunder!

"Pretty!"

"The ball is in!"

"Li Luo has scored his first goal in this World Cup qualifier!"

"Roaring thunder!"

"An unstoppable arcing cannon! Breathtaking!"

"An unreasonable super burst of fire."

"Overbearing power and exquisite arc, one man tears apart Qatar's entire defense line, the ultimate in individual heroism!"

"Completely shattered the do-or-die anxiety of Chinese fans!!!"

The commentator's tone was excited.

The red tide surged violently.

Li Luo didn't feel any pain. As his body developed, he seemed to have completely adapted to the load brought by 89 points of foot strength. As for the aftereffects? Let the injury module slowly repair them.

It can be controlled and released at will.

He jogged up to the billboard, opened his arms wide, and smiled broadly, facing the night breeze.

Click!

Lights flicker.

Reporters excitedly pressed their shutters, capturing the moment: "A battle to the death? A Chinese hero breaks the deadlock single-handedly!"

Cheers and applause poured down from all four stands like a tsunami, sweeping across the entire stadium.

The Chinese teammates were thrilled.

So cool.

The pressure of the life-or-death battle vanished without a trace as Li Luo unleashed his ultimate heavy artillery.

Studio.
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[Holy crap, Li Luo unleashed a super-powerful shot from that distance!]
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[A dimensional reduction attack.]
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[Little Qatar, how dare they mention a life-or-death battle in front of me!]
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That's awesome!
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[I think Li Luo has become even stronger. He's even more unstoppable than during the Asian Cup! Watching the replay, it's pure brutal beauty!!!]
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During the Asian Cup, Luo needed to dribble past opponents to create chances; now it's just unreasonable.
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[Please do not believe any negative reports about Li Luo from foreign media: My daughter is a volunteer with the Chinese national team, and she said that Li Luo is approachable, maintains a reasonable social distance from everyone, has no interest in Middle Eastern princesses or gold and silver treasures, trains hard, and practices free kicks diligently every day.]
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Forget it, my boss goes crazy reporting Li Luo's scandals with girls from different countries. She even reported and censored all the content from The Sun translated by fans. She also said that Li Luo should find a mature partner like Rooney—someone who isn't shy, is enthusiastic, proactive, and unrestrained—so that she can relate to him.

Courtside.

Translator Zhao and teaching assistant Li embraced each other excitedly.

Perrin raised his fists.

"Mr. Van Gaal seems to be much, much more capable than that Black Gold guy?"

"Perhaps influenced by the Manchester United manager, Li's playing style in the national team has become more concise!"

The other side.

The Qatari coaching staff was completely bewildered.

How can we defend against this?

Such a powerful shot from such a distance—is this really a World Cup Asian qualifier?
On the green football field.

The Qatari players looked unfocused.

I was completely stunned!

So terrifying.

No defensive strategy will be effective.

Just like in the friendly match between Wales and South Korea, Bale dribbled the ball, accelerated, and broke through the South Korean defense. It was as if they were playing a completely different kind of football.

In the stands, the Middle Eastern dignitaries wearing headscarves looked on with fervor, their eyes fixed on Li Luo, who had scored the goal. After all, this was Qatar, the host country of the 2022 World Cup, and no potential cultural value could escape their notice.

"Ambassador! Li! He must become the World Cup ambassador!"

Someone slapped the chair and made a loud suggestion, their tone urgent.

"This glittering business card can unlock so many resources!" The person next to him immediately chimed in, his tone excited: "Maybe in the next few years he can even win the Champions League, and the influence of leading Manchester United to a complete revival will be even more unpredictable."

"Wait!" someone suddenly changed the subject, lowering their voice but unable to hide their excitement: "Does any of you have a princess of marriageable age?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone next to him slapped his thigh, his voice filled with regret and urgency: "Oh no! Crown Prince Hamdan has probably already beaten us to it!"

"Forget it, authoritative media say that Li prefers blonde girls with big waves."

They weren't in it for the money.

It is for the purpose of sports diplomacy and national image, international reputation, world recognition, political connections, and implicit showing off.

(End of this chapter)