CNM!
Laveran exploded.
Heartbroken!
Because Lu Yang hit his sore spot.
His time at Real Madrid... was not going well!
Real Madrid is full of stars, its name as the Galaxy Battleship resounds worldwide, but they haven’t achieved matching results.
Someone has to take the blame for that.
Two head coaches have already been sacked.
Several poorly performing players have also been blasted into oblivion by the fans.
Especially the defense line, because without winning games, the defense always takes the biggest blame. Real Madrid doesn’t lack goal scorers, those superstars are enthusiastic in attack, but nobody bothers to track back in defense.
In this situation, how is it possible not to concede goals?
Laveran managed to establish himself at Real Madrid, largely because they had already changed several center-backs before him.
But like his predecessors, he constantly bears enormous pressure, and the team can replace him at any moment.
Real Madrid’s inquiry through Zidane about center-backs in the France national team is likely true.
This time, Laveran was truly provoked.
It was hitting a man in the face, exposing his weakness, and it hurts.
Bang!
Laveran charged at Lu Yang and knocked him over.
Lu Yang could have stayed up, but to end the conflict, he had to make a big enough "move."
Lu Yang fell down.
The main referee immediately took notice.
But then Lu Yang got back up and charged at Laveran again, knocking him to the ground.
In an instant, players from both sides erupted.
A large-scale conflict thus ensued.
The main referee quickly issued six yellow cards, three for Portugal, and three for Italy.
Morici, Drake, and Lu Yang each received a yellow card.
Laveran also got a yellow card.
But the main referee clearly indicated that if Lu Yang and Laveran committed any more malicious fouls, he wouldn’t hesitate to issue red cards!
The situation calmed down.
Both the Italy team and Portugal made substitutions.
Portugal made a routine position-for-position change, without substituting Laveran, as they had no defender superior to Laveran.
On the Italy side, Lam replaced Drake, and Finger replaced Pellegrini, but Lu Yang was not taken off, for similar reasons.
Not even Morici was substituted, because Maniero knew that with Lu Yang on the field, Morici was far more effective than any current Italian midfielder!
In the eighty-second minute, the match resumed.
Italy had a free kick in the backfield.
Praxedes received the ball.
Madeira rushed forward, still brooding over having been neutralized by Praxedes in the past ten minutes.
Moreover, the initial clash involved these two veterans.
Bam!
Praxedes performed a Zhang Fei needlework move, doing a fried meatball to get past Madeira.
Praxedes dribbled forward.
Madeira chased back, trying to stop him.
But Praxedes was too sturdy, holding off Madeira without slowing his advance.
Fearing a foul, Madeira eventually backed off.
As a forward defending back to midfield, his attitude was already commendable.
Furthermore, Madeira saw his own midfielder moving in to tackle Praxedes head-on.
However, just as Madeira’s pressure eased, Praxedes suddenly cut inside.
Portugal’s midfielder underestimated him, guarding against a run to the baseline, not expecting Praxedes to cut inside from midfield.
Aren’t you a full-back?
The Portugal midfielder had to turn quickly.
But at that moment, Praxedes pushed the ball to his left with the outside of his right foot while cutting inside to the right.
The ball rolled along the left side.
Praxedes then forced his way past the Portugal midfielder from the right.
A split pass!
Unbelievable!
Charge!
After bypassing two players, Praxedes found open ground and dashed with the ball at high speed, unstoppable.
When Praxedes entered the attacking third, Canisell had no choice but to close in on him.
But Praxedes hardly slowed down, cycling aggressively!
The entire stadium fell silent at this moment.
Everyone was captivated by Praxedes’ performance.
In that moment, everyone seemed to see a shadow of the young Praxedes.
The world’s number one left-back!
He’s back!
Bam!
After a series of bicycles, Praxedes darted toward the baseline.
Canisell immediately followed toward the baseline.
But he realized at that moment, the ball... was still in its original place.
A feint!
Bam!
After closing in toward the baseline, Praxedes’ right foot was fully unlocked.
Despite being the world’s top left-back at one time, Praxedes’ dominant foot was his right.
This is something many defenders overlook in a split second.
Praxedes crossed the ball.
In the penalty box, Perrotta, Ancelotti, and Lu Yang all charged in.
Laveran decisively chose to mark Lu Yang in the middle!
He had a hunch Lu Yang was dangerous!
Indeed!
The curvature of the ball appeared.
Ancelotti, at the near post, couldn’t reach it.
Perrotta, in the mid-rear area, was screened by several players. Anyone could intercept the ball before him.
On the other hand, Lu Yang, positioned between Perrotta and Ancelotti, had the best chance.
Laveran made the right decision.
However, colliding with Lu Yang, Laveran felt a clear sense of failing to suppress Lu Yang.
Lu Yang was sprinting fast; in a couple more steps, Laveran might be left behind.
Laveran’s eyes darted, ready to trip Lu Yang up.
Then...
No, he remembered, he has a yellow card!
Laveran was taken aback.
A split second later, it was too late to foul.
Because right then, Lu Yang leaped!
Moreover, due to their close proximity, Lu Yang’s leap pressed down on Laveran, rendering the latter immobile.
As Lu Yang soared, Laveran beneath him found his head at the level of Lu Yang’s abdomen.
This was a genuine takeoff!
Bam!
A perfect cross!
A perfect leap!
Lu Yang swung his head, striking the ball perfectly!
The ball smashed into the net!
Instantly, thunderous cheers roared across the stadium!
Unstoppable!
Praxedes + Lu Yang = Unstoppable!