Kolber simultaneously makes a diagonal forward pass to Lu Yang’s feet.
Neville can only opt for a foul.
And the place where he fouls... is still within his own penalty area!
Whistle!
The main referee blows the whistle again.
Penalty spot!
Boom!
Fans from both sides erupt instantly!
"Why a yellow card? Shouldn’t this be a red card?" Italian fans absolutely cannot accept this.
"Why another penalty? The foul was outside the box!" English fans are equally intolerant.
But as professional fans, especially neutral ones, they can understand this decision.
Because England is really... too unfortunate!
There’s always been controversy regarding the role of referees.
Some believe they should maintain absolute fairness on the field.
But others believe the main referee’s greatest role is to ensure the game is exciting.
These are two completely different views that, even decades later, have not definitively proven one superior.
This head coach made what he believed to be the most correct decision in a flash.
It doesn’t harm Italy Team’s interests, nor does it leave England Team without any chance.
At least... two consecutive penalties are already enough to drive one to despair.
On Italy Team’s side, Lu Yang doesn’t mind at all.
The longer the commotion, the better; wasting game time benefits Italy.
England players know this too.
Moreover, they know this decision favored them, so after a couple of symbolic complaints, the game resumes its normal pace.
After the referee restores order, he signals Italy Team to take the penalty kick.
"Oh! Another penalty! But this time there’s no controversy. Lu Yang was indeed fouled by Neville inside the penalty area."
"Italy Team’s counterattack is becoming increasingly potent now!"
"Kolber displayed outstanding performance in this offensive, truly commendable for a substitute, go go go!"
"By the way, perhaps everyone has overlooked that Lu Yang has already completed a brace in this match. If he scores this penalty, he will achieve an unparalleled European Cup hat-trick in consecutive matches!"
"This is an unprecedented achievement in European Cup history! Not to mention attaching various adjectives in front, such as Italy’s unprecedented consecutive match hat-tricks in the European Cup, the youngest consecutive European Cup hat-tricks, etc.!"
The commentator seems carried away, perhaps believing Lu Yang will surely score this penalty.
However...
Lu Yang suddenly holds the ball and turns away from the penalty area, simultaneously... tossing the ball to Perrotta.
Everyone at the scene is dumbfounded.
Including Perrotta.
"Here you go, this time your legs shouldn’t be shaky, right?" Lu Yang even joked.
But no one can laugh.
Because this is a penalty kick!
A penalty kick that can create a historical record!
This is a European Cup-consecutive match hat-trick!
"Giving it away? Lu Yang actually gave it away?"
"He hands the penalty to Perrotta, this..."
"Given this, why did he take the first penalty?"
"A leader! That’s what a true leader is!"
"If you can do it, you take it. If you can’t, I will! This is what truly responsible means!"
"In this European Cup, I’ve praised Lu Yang repeatedly, but I must continue doing so because he’s truly worthy of all fans’ pursuit and anticipation!"
"Perrotta doesn’t disappoint Lu Yang’s goodwill, he also completes a brace! He had given his hat-trick opportunity to Lu Yang, and now, Lu Yang returns his hat-trick opportunity to Perrotta!"
"Chinese traditional virtues have touched the Apennine Peninsula! This scene is worth remembering for everyone!"
"Perrotta positions the ball, stepping back."
"Starts running, Perrotta hesitates not, striking with force towards the right side of the goal!"
"Marduk dives to the correct direction, but the ball speed is too fast!"
"It’s in! It’s in!"
"Five to three! Italy kills the game! England’s chance to turn the tables only exists theoretically, and definitely no more than 0.1 percent!"
"This marks Perrotta’s first National Team and European Cup hat-trick!"
"With this match, he equals Ancelotti’s goal tally for Italy Team, both tied for tenth!"
"For some fans, this is a regrettable match. Because Lu Yang gave up a great achievement. But Italy still welcomes their record-breaking night!"
"This is Italy National Team’s first consecutive match hat-trick in the European Cup!"
"Italy Team has one foot in the European Cup semifinals! They have achieved a historic breakthrough! They are almost catching up with Italy at its peak twelve years ago!"
Twelve years ago, the Italy Team led by Maniero and Sotu successively participated three major tournaments, winning European Cup semifinals, World Cup champions, and European Cup runners-up honors.
And now, after over a decade of confusion, Italy Team seems to finally have found the road to success.
The World Cup two years later.
The Italy home European Cup four years from now.
They... finally have the qualification to ponder over it!