Chapter 514: Victory

"Match start!"

Following the referee's whistle, the first match of the World Cup Group A group stage officially began.

China versus South Korea; for fans in Europe or South America, there wasn't much to see—wasn't it just two scrubs pecking at each other?

The only point of interest was that South Korea had a very strong forward who had been performing well at the top-tier club "Tottenham" for the past few years. He had become one of South Korea's calling cards on the world stage and was hailed as the pride of the Republic of Korea.

China's side, however, lacked such star power; they only had one player competing in the top five leagues, and their performance was neither good nor bad.

But because this was a grudge match between China and South Korea, the viewership in Asia was quite high. On major domestic live-streaming platforms, popularity was basically over ten million, and Penguin Live even reached over fifty million.

Weibo's trending topics were also updated continuously; even a somewhat threatening ball-control run by the Chinese team could make the trending list, showing just how much attention the Chinese people were paying to this match.

Luo Quan was watching the live stream on Bilibili. To be honest, the conditions for young people to get into football weren't as good as they were for those born in the 80s or 70s, and the last decade had been a period of decline for the national football team; they played quite poorly.

Therefore, Bilibili content creators often posted videos mocking the national players, and in those videos, the national players contributed quite a few hilarious, iconic scenes.

Besides that, there was the ever-fresh football "Bible," as well as the world-famous painting "xxx, refund the money."

These were basically the two most famous memes about the national football team, and almost every netizen in the country knew them.

Although everyone on Bilibili had an attitude of watching the national football team as a joke, when they actually encountered a match, they still supported their own team 100%.

After entering the live stream, the popularity quickly reached over ten million, and the barrage was filled with people using memes, cheering, and expressing worry.

Luo Quan was here live-streaming the football match, while her fans were in her live stream watching her watch the football match.

"This national football team actually looks like they're playing okay; the ball possession rate is quite high." Luo Quan didn't understand football, but seeing that the ball was mostly at the feet of her own team's players, she could tell they were currently in the advantageous position.

"Don't jinx it. It's just the start of the match, the players' stamina is still relatively abundant; the second half is when the real test begins."

Fans in the barrage said, their analysis of the situation quite rational.

Luo Quan was about to say something when the situation on the field suddenly reversed. The football, which had been controlled at the feet of the Chinese players, was mishandled during a pass, intercepted by a South Korean player, and immediately turned into a counterattack.

Fortunately, the Chinese team was in a defensive formation, and the defenders were positioned quite far back, so they immediately formed a retreat and double-team.

The South Korean forward with the ball, seeing that the chance for a one-on-one was slim, took a long shot, hoping for a world-class goal.

This forward, who started for a powerhouse club, was indeed exceptionally strong. This long shot was not only fast but also at a very straight angle, heading straight for the goal.

Fortunately, the goalkeeper reacted in time, leaping high to save the ball.

"My god, that gave me a cold sweat."

"This Yin Xingning is too outrageous; taking a world-class shot from that far away, and the quality is so high."

"It's a bit difficult; only seven minutes in and the South Korean team already has a shot on target."

"I beg the national players to win this match. As long as they take down South Korea, I won't bash you guys even if you play poorly in the future."

……………………

Just a single ball made the hearts of all the fans tighten.

Yin Xingning's strength was indeed quite strong; he was fast, had good awareness, and his shooting technique crushed all the other players on the field. He shot three times in the first half, and not once did he miss the target, putting immense pressure on China's backline and goalkeeper single-handedly.

However, setting Yin Xingning aside, the gap in strength between the two sides didn't seem as large as imagined; China even had some advantages.

Especially today's goalkeeper, whose performance could be called perfect; several threatening shots from the South Korean team were saved by him.

The first half ended. Facing the South Korean team's fierce attack, China had been defending almost the entire time and hadn't organized many decent attacks.

But even under such high pressure, China's goal remained unbreached, and the score remained at 0-0.

This script reminded Luo Quan of a match she had watched in her previous life.

It was the 2016 European Cup final, Portugal versus France. The gap in strength was even greater than China versus South Korea, and Portugal's star player was injured and left the field not long after the start.

At the time, everyone thought Portugal was doomed, but Portugal held firm against France's crazy attacks. In the end, an unknown Portuguese player performed a divine kick, broke through France's goal, and helped Portugal win the championship.

In the dark, Luo Quan always felt that this match would replicate the same script; this could be seen from the determined expressions of the Chinese players.

Although they were being suppressed the whole time, not a single player showed a look of discouragement, and every challenge was fought with great effort, completely unlike the "white-cut chicken" mocked by the public.

During halftime, Luo Quan took a sip of soda and said to the camera: "Fans, I think the national football team can win this match, really."

"I don't care what you think, I care what I think."

"One look and I can tell you don't understand football; in this situation, the Chinese team is the one being suppressed and beaten."

"The pressure on the defensive side is much greater than on the attacking side."

"The odds on foreign websites are out; the odds of the national football team winning are 3.5 times higher than the South Korean team winning…………"

"Indeed, capital doesn't lie, but I still bought the national football team to win!"

"Good brother, if this wins, are you going straight to the club for models?"

"More likely to go to the club to be a model. (Funny)"

"Haha, don't say such sarcastic things. Although the chance of winning is small, the score is still zero to zero; it's not like there's no chance."

"If they play like this in the second half, can the goalkeeper guarantee not to lose a single ball? It's very blue."

"I'm directly starting to refund the money."

………………

It could be seen that the fans' mentality was still relatively pessimistic; after all, the situation on the field was almost one-sided, so they couldn't be optimistic even if they wanted to.

However, Luo Quan was still as confident as she was when she spoke just now: "I think after this football match is over, everyone will need to re-evaluate the strength of the national football team. The young players are really playing great. Besides Yin Xingning, is there anyone else on the South Korean side who is playing brilliantly?

Participating in such a big tournament for the first time, the players were already under a lot of pressure, and being suppressed is normal. And to have such high morale while being suppressed shows that the players' desire to win and their strength are truly far superior to the past.

So, I still hold the same view as before: we can really win this match."

"I always feel like you're implying something about those old players, but these young people are indeed playing well."

"One thing is one thing, indeed. Regardless of the final result, at least I see hope for the national football team, okay."

"The only pity is that most of the young people are naturalized players, all of mixed Chinese and Western descent."

"Saying that in Luo Quan's live stream is outrageous; won't this just lead to a permanent ban?"

"What's wrong with being mixed-race? As long as they recognize themselves as Chinese, not to mention they are now fighting for the country on the field."

"I think they are much better than those pure Chinese who sell out their country for glory."

………………

Chatting and chatting, they ended up talking about bloodlines. Luo Quan helplessly shook her head with a smile: "Actually, there's nothing to argue about this kind of thing. As long as they are fighting for the country, they are a dignified Chinese person.

As for permanent bans or whatever, it's unnecessary. Everyone has the right to express their own views, as long as they don't curse at people."

"As expected of Luo Bao, her values are indeed correct."

"Although Luo Quan's ability to withstand pressure is very strong, it's better to talk less about this kind of topic in the future."

"That's not necessarily so sensitive."

………………

Under the advice of the fans, the matter was turned over, and the second half of the match between the Chinese team and the South Korean team officially kicked off.

I don't know if the South Korean team suddenly slumped, or if Luo Quan really hit the nail on the head.

The young players of the Chinese team seemed to have awakened, changing their defensive stance from the first half. Their ball possession rate rose significantly, and they quickly launched multiple waves of attacks.

Now, the momentum of offense and defense suddenly changed, and the South Korean team became the passive side.

And just as the match reached the 78th minute, the Chinese team, which had been attacking continuously for more than twenty minutes, finally brought the ball into the penalty area.

The South Korean defender had no choice but to foul and tackle them down.

This tackle had too much of the "Korean-style sports" flair; it was aimed completely at the person, and it was quite fierce. It didn't look like defense; it looked like crippling someone.

Fortunately, the Chinese player had anticipated it long ago and had already slowed down before being tackled. When tackled, they fell along with the momentum, which was why they didn't hurt their muscles or bones.

And because of this foul, not only did the South Korean team receive a red card, but the Chinese team also gained a penalty kick opportunity.

This was the best chance to break the deadlock. No matter where it is, the probability of scoring a penalty kick is the highest. And the one taking the penalty kick was not one of those young players, but the only veteran on the team over thirty years old.

This player named Yu Dabao was a famous lucky general for the Chinese team. In the few previous matches where China defeated foreign teams, he was on the field, and he played a role to a greater or lesser extent.

This time was no exception. Just after he came on as a substitute, he used a long pass to help the team get a penalty kick opportunity. And whether considering it from a metaphysical perspective or an experiential perspective, he was the only choice for taking the penalty kick.

"Yu Dabao is just steady; I felt it the moment I saw that long pass."

"Truly worthy of being a lucky general; this skill is on par with Luo Quan's."

"If this ball goes in, I'll be financially free directly; I'm quitting my job, damn it!"

"My god, brother, how much did you buy?"

"Don't argue, don't argue, don't argue, they're about to kick!"

The barrage was noisy and discussing, but Luo Quan didn't dare to be distracted at all to look.

Yu Dabao had already stood near the penalty spot, the football was placed, all the players pulled away, and only the goalkeeper remained in front of him.

Further away was a sea of red. Today, the football stadium was occupied by tens of thousands of Chinese fans. Everyone was wearing red jerseys, with red paint on their faces, waving red flags. This unified, gorgeous color rendered the sky as if it had also turned bright red.

At this moment, Chinese fans, both at the scene and in front of the screens, held their breath and began to wait.

The whistle blew, Yu Dabao rushed toward the football, his right leg swung, and the South Korean goalkeeper keenly predicted that this would be a ball kicked to the right, so he immediately dived toward the right goal.

Who knew this was just a feint by Yu Dabao? After a feint, he easily deceived the goalkeeper, then pushed it to the left, and the football rolled toward the goal at a speed that wasn't fast.

At this ball speed, Luo Quan estimated she could even save it.

But the South Korean goalkeeper, who had already fallen to the right, could only watch helplessly as the ball rolled into the goal.

The moment the football entered the net, the entire stadium boiled over. The sea of red began to surge, and the fans used roars to vent the frustration they had accumulated for most of the match.

And the players on the field also began to celebrate wildly. After scoring, everyone rushed to the camera on the sidelines for the first time to celebrate this exciting moment with all the fans.

"Wuhu!" In the hotel room, Luo Quan jumped up directly and shouted, "What did I say? I said the national football team would definitely win this match, okay."

The barrage was also celebrating excitedly:

"National football team is awesome!"

"There's still ten minutes or so, must hold steady."

"Now that morale is boosted, the South Korean team is probably going to G."

"I seem to see the possibility of the national football team rushing out of the group stage."

"Haha, is the national football team really going to rise?"

………………

Whether the national football team rose or not, I don't know, but the South Korean team's morale was completely broken this time.

From suppressing to being suppressed, and losing a ball at the end of the match, there was nothing more frustrating for the players than this.

With the ebb and flow, the possibility of the South Korean team making a comeback was already minimal.

At this very moment, I don't know how many fans had already started celebrating in advance.

Although doing so had a suspicion of setting a flag, the national football players didn't give the South Korean team a chance to create a miracle.

For the next ten-plus minutes, they played steadily, and the commentator finally said with a few minutes left: "Now, there isn't much time left for the South Korean team."

The fans had heard this many times, but the previous subject was China, and this time it had changed to South Korea. The contrast was incredibly refreshing; it was simply a breath of relief!

"Dudu————"

The final whistle blew, the match ended, and the Chinese team defeated the South Korean team 1-0, winning this grudge match.

On Twitter, a crowd of South Korean fans were as if mourning their parents, and some had even started cursing the goalkeeper.

And on the Chinese side, it was naturally a national celebration.

The national football team's opening victory in the World Cup could be said to have brought great glory to the country.

Weibo's trending topics quickly topped the list, and the discussion volume directly exceeded one hundred million.

However, just when Luo Quan wanted to go over and see everyone's comments, she found that Weibo had suddenly exploded, and the page became quite laggy.

"Are the fans so enthusiastic that they blew up Weibo?" Luo Quan laughed, not thinking much of it, just assuming there were too many people commenting and the server couldn't handle it.

However, the real reason Weibo exploded wasn't because of the national football team, but because of a traffic star. ===== CHAPTER 515 =====