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

Chapter 97 Emperor Luo (Chinese National Football Team Story)

Without any psychological defense.

The extremely impactful violent scenes left all the viewers speechless.

The first time I saw Li Luo, he scored a goal with such an "active" and domineering style of confrontation: during an aerial header contest, he directly charged at the falling football and violently knocked down Kim Young-gwon, one of Asia's top center-backs.

Li Luo landed steadily and then met the ball with a low shot, breaking through the South Korean goal.

3:1! ! !

The Australian stadium was silent for a fraction of a second before erupting into a deafening roar of cheers.

The tense nerves of countless viewers in front of their televisions suddenly relaxed at this moment. The tension left by the history of fear of South Korea was leveled, and like a balloon that was suddenly punctured, it turned into boiling blood and confidence in the blink of an eye.

So cool.

What, this "fear of Korea"? Go to hell!
"Beautiful! So domineering!"

"The ball is in!"

"Li Luo!"

"He leaped up like an arrow, overpowering the strongest center-back in the AFC Champions League in mid-air, calmly passing the ball to his front, landing, and shooting! The ball grazed the inside of the post and went into the net!"

"Asia Cup final, hat-trick!!!"

"A hero of Chinese football!"

He Wei's voice trembled.

Victory is getting closer and closer.

Coach Zhang looked excited. Could it be that he would really see the Chinese team lift the Asian Cup championship trophy in his lifetime?

Studio.

The big screen repeatedly played the moment of the goal.
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That shooting stance is so cool!
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[At the pinnacle of Asia, Li Luo achieved a hat trick, proving himself to the realm of the Asian Heavenly Emperor, becoming Emperor Luo.]
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【Awesome! 】
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Kim Young-gwon, who defended against us so fiercely, was once again crushed by Lee Nak!
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Li Luo is about to make history for Chinese football! We're witnessing it firsthand!
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Seeing Li Luo actively seek confrontation for the first time is incredibly exciting.

Li Luo raised his hand and bumped fists with the blue phantom in mid-air.

The night wind blew.

As the evening breeze gently swept by, cracks appeared on the illusory figure, seemingly carrying a hint of a relieved smile, gradually turning into tiny particles of light that slowly melted into the feet of the Chinese boy.

Only when the slight coolness on my fist completely dissipated in the wind did the surrounding sound waves suddenly break through the invisible barrier, surging and echoing in my ears.

"Li Luo!!!"

"Li Luo!!!"

"Li Luo!!!"

Li Luo felt like the whole world was calling his name.

He rubbed his shoulders.

He spread his arms and ran towards the sidelines.

Pei Lan, translator Zhao, teaching assistant Li, and all the staff from China rushed forward.

A salute was fired from the nearby stands, and golden ribbons rained down!
Kim Young-kwon looked dejected and slowly got up.

It wasn't physical pain, but emotional pain.

He claimed to be the strongest center-back in the AFC Champions League, having suppressed countless excellent attackers along the way, yet he was defeated twice head-on by Li Luo at the top of Asia!
The Chinese team's fear of South Korea has not completely dissipated, while the South Korean team's fear of South Korea is gradually emerging.

too scary.

Li Luo.

This kid is too strong.

Amidst the frustrated and disheartened South Korean crowd, someone still stood up and shouted:

"Damn it, how can we lose to the Chinese team!"

"After losing the Asian Cup final, how can we face our hometown?"

"South Korea's overall strength is so much greater than China's! How can we be willing to fall like this?"

Ki Sung-yueng quickly rushed to the net, picked up the ball, and continued running back!

Son Heung-min, still in his formative years, looked dejected; he hadn't yet learned how to be a team leader.

VIP private room.

The atmosphere is heavy.

The South Korean village officials remained silent.

Pele couldn't help but exclaim, "Lee, I would call him the strongest in Asia."

"Faced with a stronger opponent, he displayed an indomitable and heroic spirit."

"One man's Asian Cup!"

"An important chapter in the annals of legend, etched with the journey of dreams."

"Why are some of you crying? You need to learn to accept failure; that's part of the charm of football."

South Korean team's command area.

Stielike was in a complete mess and didn't know how to make any adjustments.

Among the top Asian teams, his ability to adjust his game after the opponent's move is the weakest.

Gritting his teeth, he issued the order: Attack fiercely, attack at any cost!
There is no time.

Time is running out for the South Korean team.

The game continues.

The scene is getting more and more intense!
The South Korean players were furious: 'How could the Chinese team, which has been so thoroughly dominated by our predecessors for decades, possibly defeat us at the top of Asia?'

The Chinese players' thinking was simple: 'We can't let Li Luo's goal down; we must fight to the last moment. The hope of winning the championship is within reach; who wants to be a liability?'

The football flew back and forth in the sky.

It seems that it can no longer be firmly controlled by either party.

"Both sides have lost a lot of their physical strength!"

"The movements were clearly distorted."

"The mistakes are increasing!"

"Perrin has ordered all the Chinese players to retreat and defend, an 8-2-0 formation!"

"hold onto."

"The South Korean team has stopped caring about formation and structure lately. When the midfielders get the ball, they just smash it into the Chinese penalty area! The tall defenders have also moved up front and are playing the role of center forward! They only play a ground pass when the ball is at Son Heung-min's feet."

Time passed by minute by minute.

Perrin's 8-2-0 formation incorporates Hecking's football philosophy and has been practiced many times in training, taking into account the actual situation of the Chinese national team. It has been well-coordinated and features a low-block, dense defense.

There is no need to worry about overlapping defenses or missing gaps.

In positional defense, the space inherently needs to be contracted.

Afraid of chaos?

Even eleven pigs wouldn't cause trouble.

In low-block defense, the most crucial dynamic positioning rule has been provided by Sacchi, Mourinho, and others through countless successful match examples: whoever is closer to the ball is responsible for defending, and whoever is farther from the ball covers the gaps; the main defender focuses on the ball, not the player, while the supporting defender focuses on the gaps, not the ball.

Li Luo did not relax for a moment.

They made their contributions on the defensive end in a serious and diligent manner.

Like a legendary midfielder, anticipate positioning, run tirelessly, cover and assist in defense.

The 82th minute of the game.

The accident happened anyway.

"Penalty!"

"South Korea has been awarded a penalty!"

"The referee pointed to the penalty spot!"

"oops"

“It’s a bit dangerous.”

"Look at the slow-motion replay, the ruling was correct. As our players' stamina dropped, their defensive actions became somewhat distorted, and they brought down Son Heung-min, who was dribbling past them, in the penalty area."

"Hey, our players need to calm down, because Li Luo has already come over to cover, Son Heung-min doesn't have much of a chance."

Everything happened very quickly.

Before the Chinese stands could even lament, Ki Sung-yueng had already stepped back a few paces from the penalty area.

Beep!
After hearing the whistle, they began their running start.

It was accomplished in one fell swoop.

The football lifted the net.

The LED scoreboard in mid-air changed from "China 3:1 South Korea" to "3:2"!
The figures in the South Korean stands erupted in wild cheers and celebrations.

We've pulled one back!
The team is gaining momentum; there's still time!
"We couldn't hold it."

"A feast of attacking play at the top of Asia."

"That's the charm of football. Until the final whistle blows, you never know what will happen next. That thrill is what makes it so captivating."

His tone betrayed his regret.

He Wei and Coach Zhang looked serious and couldn't help but feel nervous.

Studio.
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Damn, this is a bit dangerous.
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It seems like South Korean football really does have a knack for beating us?
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I don't think it's fair to say the Chinese national football team is weak; it's just that the South Koreans are truly insane when they go on a rampage. They've blown up the defenses of West Asian powerhouses. A few months ago, I watched the World Cup, and even the defenses of those strong teams were starting to tremble in the South Korean onslaught.
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Don't panic, we're still leading by one goal, the game will be over soon.
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Yes, what we fear most is what happens. What kind of law is that? Don't think about it, we can win! We will hold on to the end!
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[Li Luo, keep going!]
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[The ultimate battle at the top of Asia! The advantage is mine, don't be afraid! Hold on tight to Li Luo!]

Courtside.

Perrin remained calm and composed, his gaze unwavering.

The teaching assistants and staff around him remained calm, without any panicked shouting or clenching their fists in frustration.

"Including injury time, there are still more than ten minutes of game time left."

"Translator Zhao, listen up!"

“Tell them.”

"Pass the ball to Li Luo!"

The other side.

Stielike raised his fist, signaling his disciples to continue their all-out attack!
In the Asian Cup final, losing by one goal is still losing, and losing by two goals is still losing.

The passage of time has been agonizing for countless fans.

86 minutes.

Ki Sung-yueng unleashed a powerful long-range shot from outside the penalty area.

This Swansea midfielder from the Premier League is full of fighting spirit.

Snapped!
The football whistled through the dense formation of Chinese players in the penalty area and bounced out of bounds!
South Korea is awarded a corner kick.
The stadium in Australia is getting increasingly noisy.

Dead ball phase.

The Chinese national football team teammates encouraged each other loudly.

Li Luo remained silent.

Close your eyes.

From God's perspective, countless red lines extend wildly.

Snapped!
Ki Sung-yueng took a tactical corner kick.

no change.

The ball was still passed to Park Joo-ho, who was providing support, and then transferred to Son Heung-min on the weak side.

“Cut inside!”

"Son Heung-min truly lives up to his reputation as a winger for Bayer Leverkusen."

"Ugh."

The commentator sounded anxious.

We can't afford to concede another goal!
Hold on!
The Chinese fans in the stands looked solemn.

South Korean fans cheered continuously.

Son Heung-min's eyes were resolute as he took the initiative to meet the ball, creating space between himself and Hao Junmin.

He used changes in rhythm to get rid of Zhang Chengdong.

He quickly moved sideways, stopped abruptly, and then shook off Wu Xi, luring Ren Hang out to cover.

This time.

The South Korean striker's move to create space for himself wasn't intended to give himself a shooting angle, but rather to deliver a diagonal pass to Cho Young-cheol!
in a blink.

The football skimmed along the grass and passed between Ren Hang's feet.

"Danger!"

Perrin frowned, anticipating the South Koreans' attacking intentions a few seconds in advance.

Oops.

That's too late.

Teaching Assistant Li also realized what was happening. His expression turned angry, and he anxiously blew on his bangs, clenching his fists as if he wished he were ten years younger.

Stielike wore a serious expression, but inwardly he was kneeling and praying to God. The Chinese team's penalty area.

Cao Yongzhe had made all the preparations.

Become a hero now!
Heading towards the football.

Snapped!
The football was kicked out first!
It was that red figure that brought despair to South Koreans once again.

Li Luo!

With a godlike perspective, Li Luo narrowly cut off the South Korean team's offensive chain.

The South Korean players had no time to be frustrated and quickly moved back into position to defend.

"A crucial solution"

"Li Luo, he has saved the Chinese team once again!"

"That landing point!"

"Wu Lei!"

"Can it get going?"

Wu Lei controlled the ball on the wing and then moved forward.

In the blink of an eye, he had already crossed the 40-meter zone in the Chinese team's half of the field.

We're almost at the middle circle!

Just get through it.
Cha Du-ri suddenly turned and chased after them.

Snapped!
Wu Lei didn't try to compete.

Pass the ball sideways to Hao Junmin who is making a support play!

Hao Junmin, using the last bit of his energy, delivered a superb pass of Asian top-level quality!

It's not being transmitted forward.

Perrin's 8-2-0 formation hasn't fully dissipated yet.

The South Korean team is quickly getting back into position to defend.

Pass it to Li Luo, who has already plugged it in!
"Li Luo!"

"One kick!"

"A beautiful parabola, flat and fast, found Gao Lin in a safe zone! Great pass, it allows Gao Lin to buy some time and gives the Chinese team's defense a breather!"

"Gao Lin didn't need to sprint or make many back-and-forth runs throughout the game; his stamina is relatively abundant compared to others!"

"For this kind of center forward, you can take Giroud of the French team as an example. Giroud doesn't touch the ball many times in a game, but he can still contribute and help the team win!"

On the center circle line.

Gao Lin calmly controlled the ball with his chest.

This Chinese center forward is very smart. He only needs to exchange a glance with Li Luo to know how to play next.

He couldn't dribble past several players or launch a long-distance attack to break through the defense.

Therefore, we should not try to compete with South Korea's high defensive line.

then.

He steadily dribbled the ball, making a steady run towards the South Korean team's half, heading towards the outside!

bide your time.

Wait for your teammates to rush up and widen the attack width.

He then passed the ball to Li Luo.

This whole process will greatly relieve the pressure on the Chinese team!
Studio.
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Why isn't Gao Lin charging forward?
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Gao Lin is experienced!
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It doesn't matter if he doesn't score anymore, the South Korean team has been so aggressive lately! Hold back, play it safe!
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Don't lose the ball!

Gao Lin spread his arms to widen the radius of his ball protection, trying to block Kim Jin-soo who was rushing over.

Followed by.

The advantages of the large model ball handler were brought into play.

"He got kicked down!"

"The defensive moves of the South Korean players also became distorted as their physical strength declined."

"The referee blows the whistle!"

"We were awarded a free kick in the South Korean half."

"It is estimated that Perrin will not commit too many players to this set-piece attack. There is not much time left in the game. The Chinese team still needs to focus on defense to avoid losing possession and being counter-attacked if the attack fails."

Coach Zhang recalled a Serie A match he commentated on last month: Roma vs. Sassuolo. Roma scored a goal in the 81st minute and then scored again in the 91st minute of stoppage time, managing to equalize the score.

more than.

In a recent Ligue 1 match, Marseille scored two goals in the 84th and 93rd minutes of stoppage time to force a draw against Saint-Étienne.

and also
Throughout his long commentary career, it seems that Coach Zhang has encountered every amazing moment on the pitch.

I dare not think any further; Murphy's Law.

On the green football field.

Only four Chinese players participated in this set-piece attack.

The audience expressed their understanding.

We were leading, and we got a free kick in the final moments. 98% of head coaches around the world would prioritize defense and reduce the number of players they commit to attacking.

The remaining 2% of crazy coaches belong to the Bielsa school.

"Why didn't Perrin have his players stall for time? For example, quickly send them to the corner flag area."

"No, that distance is too risky! Look at the distance from the penalty spot to the corner flag. Their attacking third is full of players like Son Heung-min who can accelerate instantly. Once they intercept the ball, a long pass behind the defense will be a perfect counter-attack opportunity. Losing the ball now is much more dangerous than wasting a few more seconds!"

"If we switch positions and let Li Luo protect the ball, what if the person taking the free throw doesn't control the power and angle of the pass well?"

"The most crucial point is that we haven't entered stoppage time yet, so the risks outweigh the benefits."

VIP private room.

"Li's overall vision is amazing. His planned counter-attacks suppressed the South Korean team's struggling momentum."

Pele looked around, his expression changed, and then he said softly, "The Chinese team has committed very few players to this set-piece attack. The South Korean team will gain possession immediately. Don't be discouraged. There will be several more attacking opportunities!"

The South Korean village officials looked utterly dejected.

Studio.
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[Li Luo, you have to score! If you miss, the Chinese national team could really be tied by South Korea. I've seen countless games, and this is the first time I've ever seen odds of over 5.5 that are so bizarre.]
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[Considering the odds, the bookmaker's actuary actually believes the Koreans can even the score?]
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Ignore it, it's just a lure!
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If this ball doesn't go in, can the Chinese national team's defense withstand the South Korean onslaught at the end?
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[Holy crap, I'm a little scared, what if they really tie it out?]
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Stay calm and take it easy. Every generation of football fans has to experience dark moments. Since the last century, being reversed has been a hallmark of Chinese football's painful history.

At the Australian stadium, tens of thousands of fans couldn't help but feel tense.

Different emotions were intertwined in the stands.

Rye grass rippled in the night breeze.

The soccer ball was placed in the designated spot.

At this moment, Li Luo became the focus of the entire audience.

"Thirty-four meters from the goal."

"He began to retreat, one step, two steps, three steps, four and a half steps, each step was taken steadily, as if he were measuring the distance."

He stopped and looked up toward the South Korean goal, his gaze piercing through the crowd.

"His eyes were calm."

"At this moment, he stood there alone, with Chinese fans behind him holding their breath in anticipation, and the South Korean team forming an impenetrable wall of players in front of him."

"At the top of Asia, it seems that all the light is biased."

Beep!
The referee's whistle blew, like lighting a fuse.

Li Luo took a deep breath.

next second.

He moved.

Every step he took seemed to resonate in the hearts of all the spectators.

A diagonal approach run-up.

Windmill swing arm.

The wind whipped the red jersey and black hair.

Bah!
The sound of the ball being struck echoed through the night sky.

The football lifted off the ground.

rise.

It spun violently, drawing an elegant arc in the night sky that seemed to gleam with a cold light.

Turn.

The human wall was violently twisted by that arc.

The South Korean penalty area appeared to be sliced ​​open by a blade.

Falling.

The South Korean goalkeeper's pupils contracted slightly as he lunged forward, his arms outstretched to their maximum length, his pink gloves a great distance from the football.

His body hung in mid-air, in a diving posture, his eyes filled with undisguised despair.

The white net swirled once more.

"Crescent Moon Blade!"

4:2! ! !

The entire place fell into a brief silence, as if even the night breeze had stopped for a moment.

A graceful turn, a scimitar-like trajectory, a goalkeeper's desperate save, the defenders' astonished looks, the ripples created by the ball hitting the net—all these were replayed on the LED screen in mid-air.

Followed by.

Cheers erupted suddenly from the Chinese stands; some embraced and wept, while others waved red flags.

On the other side, the South Korean team's stands were completely silent.

That flag, emblazoned with the Tai Chi symbol, once carried the team's hopes for a comeback, but now it seemed to have lost all its strength, drooping listlessly. Perhaps tonight, this color of South Korea, which should have symbolized fighting spirit, could no longer muster any morale, and could only curl up in the cool evening breeze, silently watching the game, where the South Korean team's defeat was already destined.

"Pretty!"

"The ball is in!"

"Crescent Moon Blade!!!"

"The Crescent Moon Blade at the Top of Asia!"

"An arc drawn in the moonlight."

"Li Luo!"

"Asia Cup final, a four-goal haul!"

"His breath was almost touching the championship trophy."

"The Republic's sharpest sword!"

"hero!"

"We will not repeat the dark moments in the history of Chinese football."

"Our dreams will never be at rock bottom."

He Wei's tone was excited.

Coach Zhang's eyes were red.

Studio.

The slow-motion replay shows the scimitar strike from various angles.
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[Full of vigor and high spirits.]
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[National Team Limited Edition - Crescent Moon Blade.]
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Tell me, how much is this game-winning goal worth?
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[Li Luo has been practicing free kicks extra hard at Wolfsburg every day, waiting for this moment.]
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[To fight for one's country, to give one's all.]
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[Let's dedicate the Asian Cup title to the people of our motherland.]
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【hero!】
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[Attention, you have entered Chinese airspace. Our J-11B fighter squadron is on orders to escort you with the highest honors. Thank you for your heroic performance at the Asian Cup, which allowed the five-star red flag to fly high in Asia. Please accept the deepest love and protection of the motherland. Welcome home, hero of the Republic.]

The entire nation rejoiced across the land of the East.

The television screens in the shops on the street were surrounded by passersby. The shop owners paused their cash registers, and everyone clapped and cheered along with the commentary. Even the electric bikes passing by couldn't help but stop and lean out, their eyes drawn to everything happening on the screen.

Inside the office building, the lights in the cubicles were still on, but no one was looking at the PowerPoint presentation. Suddenly, someone cheered, and a group of people quickly responded.

The shouts echoed through the university dormitories, and some people ran to their balconies with their jerseys, waving them at the night sky.

On a bench in the residential area, elderly people gathered in front of a portable TV, slapping their legs and cheering, while children nearby waved small flags and shouted "Li Luo" along with the adults.

Even in rural markets, vendors temporarily put aside their business and gathered around the small screens in front of their stalls. Some took out their phones to record videos to send to their families who were working away from home.

Whether or not ordinary people usually watch football, they will be infected by the emotions of the Asian Cup final at this moment.

From east to west, from city to countryside, that night, the narration on television, the cheers in the streets, and the applause at home all coalesced into a nationwide jubilation.

A few minutes later.

Australian stadium.

The injury time has ended.

Beep! Beep beep~
The referee blew the final whistle.

"China, the 2015 AFC Asian Cup champions!"

The commentator's voice was trembling with emotion and his voice choked with sobs.

In an instant.

A churning sea of ​​red engulfed the green field.

(End of this chapter)