Lu Yang, for the same reason, allowed the penalty kick and did not refuse Ancelotti’s offer of the penalty kick rights.
The former was because Lu Yang felt that Ancelotti’s strength and reputation were indeed worthy of penalty kick rights.
The latter was because Lu Yang believed that Ancelotti’s state was indeed temporarily unsuitable for taking penalty kicks.
His starting point was always the team.
As for personal grudges... to be honest, even players like Talista and Laveran, if Lu Yang had the chance to become their teammate, he would be very happy.
What personal grudges resulting from playing soccer can’t be resolved?
Unless the opponent is like Borges, whom Lu Yang encountered in a lower league, living off match-fixing and injuring people, in which case Lu Yang would definitely not let the opponent get away with it.
Apart from that... everyone is for soccer, everyone is for winning, no matter how difficult they are, they are all respectable opponents.
Of course, whether Laveran, who is fiercely heading towards the players’ tunnel, thinks this way is uncertain.
To put it plainly, it’s not Lu Yang who suffered the loss, so of course he can let it go.
No matter how aggressive Talista is, hasn’t he lost face in front of Lu Yang every time?
So it’s easy for Lu Yang to accept people like Talista and Laveran, but it’s truly difficult for the others to accept him.
In this regard, Lu Yang’s ability to win over Talista indeed reflects his strength and personal charm.
...
Four to three!
Italy further expanded their advantage, bringing their points to the top position in their group.
Because their goal difference is more than the France Team’s.
The match against Russia was too crucial.
The benefits of an attacking football style are evident in these aspects.
In the past, what Italy feared most was having the same points, because if they had the same points, they would definitely be ranked lower. They scored very few goals, and their goal difference was quite pitiful.
On the other hand, Portugal was not willing to give up just like that.
They were unwilling to accept such an outcome.
They clearly were not lacking.
Their lineup and performance were good, yet they couldn’t advance, can you believe it?
Madeira voluntarily switched sides, continuing to charge at Italy’s defense.
Meanwhile, on the Italy side, they pretty much didn’t go out anymore.
Just guarding was enough.
Even if they conceded a goal, they could still qualify, so there was no need to continue playing.
The regular match time ended.
There were five minutes of stoppage time due to a major conflict in the second half.
Four minutes into extra time, Portugal got a corner kick opportunity.
Even the goalkeeper charged forward because they really had almost no chances left.
Canisell took the corner kick, and the Portuguese goalkeeper actually won the first point. Madeira successfully seized the second point with a point-blank strike, almost equalizing the score.
But Audi’s reaction was simply amazing, blocking the football directly with his foot, extinguishing Portugal’s last struggle.
The ball flew outside the penalty area, landing right next to Lu Yang.
Without a second thought, Lu Yang made a huge clearance kick.
But maybe out of a striker’s instinct, Lu Yang’s clearance was long rather than high, aimed at the direction of Portugal’s half.
Bang!
The ball flew over more than half the field.
Flew over time.
Flew over countless people’s youth.
Finally, it landed in front of the penalty area, then continued to bounce forward.
It bounced.
Bounced again.
Slowly rolling.
Slowly... rolled into the goal!
The ball went in!
Everyone thought they would be very excited because they witnessed the birth of the youngest hat-trick in European Cup history.
Yet when the ball slowly rolled on the ground, everyone had already gone from anxiously waiting to calm acceptance.
Because sometimes, some things happen just like this... naturally.
What is meant to come will come sooner or later.
What belongs to you, no one can take away, not even if you want to throw it away!
Three seconds later, a thunderous roar erupted!
In the stands, countless people screamed wildly.
"Lu Yang! Lu Yang!"
"Hat-trick, hat-trick!"
"Invincible!"
"Advance! Advance! They did it! Italy Team did it!"
After many years, Italy Team finally made it to the knockout stage of a world major competition again.
They achieved their pre-tournament goal for this European Cup!
They even achieved it as the group’s first place.
The players of Italy Team couldn’t contain themselves, everyone rushed towards Lu Yang’s direction, lifted him high, then threw him up into the sky.
"Lu! Lu! Lu!"
In the stadium, Lu Yang’s name became the only sound.
Even the Portugal fans, after experiencing despair, had to give Lu Yang a round of applause.
"Ladies and gentlemen! I announce! We have witnessed the birth of the youngest hat-trick in the history of the European Cup! We have witnessed the first European Cup hat-trick for Italy Team!"
"This is an unparalleled hat-trick! It not only includes a direct free-kick goal, point-blank header, and a long-distance lob! It also includes an elevator ball and this over seventy-meter super long goal! Plus, there was a penalty let-go!"
"No one can refuse a penalty when having a brace, but Lu Yang did! He even turned his brace into a hat-trick using personal ability after refusing the penalty!"
"This hat-trick, it shines with the brilliance of humanity, and it reflects the unity of Italy Team. It includes heritage, release, and Lu Yang’s absolute confidence in himself!"
"Remember this Italy Team, they are definitely not a third-rate European team!"
"Remember this player named Lu Yang, his name will surely resound in the world football in the future!"
"Now, at this moment, I really have to praise the wisdom of the Torino Sports Paper. Their decision to award the Golden Boy Award to Lu Yang last year is their most correct decision since the award’s establishment!"
"Because... this year, no one will care more about the relationship between Lu Yang and the damn Golden Boy Award. I just want to know now, when will Lu Yang enter the shortlist for the Golden Ball Award?"
"French people, the Golden Ball Award is your established award, this is the European Cup held on French soil. I hope you give me an answer, when can we see the name of such an excellent player like Lu Yang in the voting list for the Golden Ball Award!"
"At the end of the year, don’t tell me he doesn’t! Even just based on the matches so far, he is absolutely worthy of being on the list! After all, he led this Italy Team to draw with the French Team, that genius player!"
"Seven goals in three matches! I even dare announce now, even if he doesn’t score any more goals from now on, he still has a great chance to be crowned the top scorer of this European Cup!"
"Shout his name with me... Lu!"
"Lu!"