"No, that’s not a penalty, it can’t be a penalty!" White rushed to the Main Referee, exploding with emotion.
"No handball, no!"
"He was offside! Perrotta was offside just now! F*ck!"
"That wasn’t intentional, he was retracting his hand!"
"No, no, you can’t make this call!"
England Team players surrounded the Main Referee, but Tessli himself stood in place, looking dejected.
He knew he indeed committed a handball.
And his arm was far from his torso, no question that it was a penalty.
Sure enough, the Main Referee pushed away the England players and approached Tessli, showing him a yellow card.
It was indeed unintentional; otherwise, it would have been a red card.
Penalty, no suspense there.
The suspense lies in... who Italy Team will send to take the penalty!
"As everyone knows, Italy Team’s penalty situation is a problem," commenced the commentary, "Previously, the first penalty taker was Ancelotti, the second was Perrotta."
"But Ancelotti has missed two penalties in this European Cup."
"And Lu Yang, due to his recent outstanding performance, is reportedly given Italy Team’s penalty-kicking rights. But that’s just the team regulation; how it plays out on the field is another matter."
"Lu Yang’s experience means he can’t exert dominance; many things must be negotiated. The free kick incident in the playoffs had a good outcome, but the effect it had on Italy’s locker room hasn’t been fully resolved."
"Moreover, the second penalty taker, Perrotta, has already scored twice now! This penalty was even created by him personally! Even if Ancelotti takes the penalty, Perrotta can contend for it."
The commentator spoke with great detail and fairness.
Italy Team’s seemingly harmonious locker room could very well collapse because of this penalty.
Perrotta immediately looked at Ancelotti and Lu Yang.
The meaning was, who between you two will take it?
Ancelotti shook his head.
"Oh! Ancelotti refused to take this penalty! He looked at Lu Yang, indicating for Lu Yang to take it?"
"Lu Yang walked towards Perrotta, Lu Yang... what’s Lu Yang saying to Perrotta?"
"You’re just one goal away from a hat trick," Lu Yang looked at Perrotta, not rushing to extend his hand.
Perrotta showed his teeth: "But we’re also one goal away from tying the score... don’t think a penalty is a good thing, under such pressure, my legs are already a bit weak."
"I don’t want to become the eternal sinner in Italy Team’s revival journey."
"Originally, I thought this European Cup was hopeless. But... but you let me see a glimmer of hope, or should I say yearning!"
"We can keep going, right?"
"Promise me, you must score this damn penalty. We can’t fall here! I might not have another major tournament left, I don’t have much time to help Italy Team!"
Perrotta’s hand trembled slightly.
The more crucial something is, the more nervous you become when you realize you might get it.
The ideal target set by Italian fans and the Football Association for this national team was to advance from the group.
But as players, as top stars like Perrotta, their target in any competition is only one – to win the championship!
These two words used to be wishful thinking for Italy Team, so Perrotta, Ancelotti, Praxedes, Bernulin, Audi, etc., stopped discussing it long ago.
But not discussing doesn’t mean not thinking about it.
If they tie the score, there’s hope of defeating England.
And once defeating England, they make it to the European Cup semifinals.
At that time, who isn’t aiming for the championship?
Italy has no way out!
Such pressure is unbearable for Perrotta who has never won an Champions League or national tournament championship.
Because he cannot afford to lose!
In the next major competition, he might not even have the form to play as a key player.
But Lu Yang is different.
If not this time, then next, or the time after.
Three years, five years, ten years, or even fifteen years, Lu Yang still has plenty of time.
Moreover, Lu Yang is inherently a big-heart player.
His clutch play ability has always been highly praised by several Roman team legends.
Perrotta believes Lu Yang is a more suitable penalty taker than himself.
Even if he is just one penalty short of a hat trick.
But in the last game, didn’t Lu Yang already set a correct example for him?
An eye for an eye, everything is predestined.
If in the last game Lu Yang had fully contended with Ancelotti for a penalty, then this game, Perrotta might have also vied for a hat trick belonging to personal honor and contended with Lu Yang for the penalty.
Though Lu Yang is the first penalty taker, at this moment, he can’t win against Perrotta.
"Alright, I’ll take it!" Lu Yang took the football.
His gaze was firm.
This ball must not be missed.
So... there’s only that method!
At this moment, countless Italian fans clenched their fists.
Some even dared not to watch any further.
This ball determines Italy Team’s fate.
Can Lu Yang hold up?
"Perrotta gave up the chance for a hat trick, handing the football to Lu Yang. Italy Team’s trusted first penalty taker stands behind the penalty spot."
"Lu Yang begins to retreat."
"The Main Referee whistles indicating the penalty can be taken."
"Lu Yang starts to jog."
"Marduk is extremely focused; although he has never saved a shot from Lu Yang, his own penalty-saving stats this season have set a historical high, making him the Premier League’s top keeper for penalty-saving success rates this year!"