Reporter: You could even break this record if Italy loses in the play-offs as well.
Reporter: Who do you hope to face in the play-offs? Or rather, who do you think Italy can beat?
Reporter: Will you still start Ancelotti in the play-offs? By then his injury should be more or less recovered?
Reporter: Did you really have an argument with Maniero? After Italy lost, was it you who Maniero called an "idiot"?
Vincent’s statements didn’t improve Italy Team’s situation, and once again gave the major media a chance to humiliate him.
The criticisms against Vincent were not without reason.
But those behind Vincent still hoped that he could struggle a bit more.
After all, what if they make a miraculous comeback?
So these people guided public opinion, playing the emotion card.
"We shouldn’t be blaming anyone on the Italy Team at this moment!"
"We hope everyone stays rational, we still have two play-off games! We shouldn’t subject them to unjust treatment now!"
"Vincent and some players have indeed been poor, but can we discuss these after the play-offs?"
"Let’s give our warriors some space to rest and relax, okay?"
"Italy hasn’t lost yet, what’s the mindset of those calling it a loss now?"
A wave of "rational observers" comments did indeed slightly "calm" the fans’ anger.
This calming doesn’t mean it disappeared, but rather that fans suppressed it internally and digested it themselves.
It was painful for the fans.
This approach is like drinking poison to quench thirst.
If they also lose the play-offs, then... a mere Vincent would not be enough to appease the fans’ anger.
By then, more players would be caught in the crossfire.
This approach is simply despicable!
A few days later, Hans from Live Football Report published another column.
This was an in-depth technical report.
Hans: "Italy’s defense is not really a problem, even if their defensive midfielder is aging, Italy’s forte has never been lost. Their defensive stats surpass almost all teams participating in the play-offs."
"The real problem for Italy lies in their offense! This can also be seen from the distribution of their goalscoring players."
"Although Italy has top forwards like Perrotta and Ancelotti, Vincent simply doesn’t know how to use them. Ancelotti has been frequently injured and has tactical fit issues with the team."
"To truly make Italy rise, they must address scoring. Italy needs a player who can consistently score goals for them."
"And such a person is not actually absent in Italy."
"Lu Yang, a well-known Serie B player, scored sixty goals in various competitions last season and secured thirty-three assists, winning the golden boot and top assist titles in the Italian Third Division and Italian Cup."
"This season, Lu Yang continued his crazy performance from last season, scoring eleven goals in six league matches! He scored twice in two UEFA Europa League matches! Isn’t such a player exactly what the Italy National Team needs?"
"The strongest player is already in the squad! Vincent, why haven’t you extended the invitation?"
"In fact, as early as when Italy had four remaining qualification matches, there were suggestions to call up the young Lu Yang. But Vincent firmly rejected this!"
"Later, when Maniero joined the national team coaching staff, although he didn’t make any demands, Vincent unusually stated that he would take Lu Yang to next year’s European Cup."
"This was undoubtedly Maniero’s only request, but even then, Vincent compromised on it. We have reason to believe, and can confirm through channels, that Maniero indeed suggested calling up Lu Yang during the qualifiers."
"But Vincent refused, citing Lu Yang being too young and lacking experience in major adult competitions."
"Furthermore, after winning the European Youth Championship, Lu Yang’s act of raising a biflag also caused some Italian fans to have reservations. They believe such behavior disrespects Italy, and they don’t want Lu Yang to continue playing for Italy."
"Especially certain politicians, who even privately expressed doubts about Lu Yang’s future in the Italy National Team at certain private meetings."
"Football is not just football, this statement is not wrong. But first and foremost, the most basic thing football carries is winning or losing. If even winning isn’t achievable, how can there be so many demands on football?"
"Now, I am voicing my opinion from a personal standpoint, hoping Vincent will bring Lu Yang for the upcoming two play-off matches, as he will surely provide Italy with a surprise. He will do what he does best for Italy—score goals!"
Hans’ article was undoubtedly stirring.
And most importantly, Lu Yang, who maintained a high level of exposure and fame for about two years throughout Italy, is no longer just a fleeting star.
From Italian D Division to Serie B, from the Italian Cup to the European Youth Championship and Italian Super Cup, from Sofia to the Brit Awards and Cannes Film Festival... Lu Yang is already a household name in Italy.
If he hadn’t raised the Five-Star Red Flag at the European Youth Championship, then for the upcoming Italy Team’s European Cup qualifiers, even if he hadn’t had the chance to play, he would still have been included.
That championship is exactly what Italy has lacked in recent years.
But Lu Yang did that, creating some minor troubles for himself in his national team career.