Chapter 864: If You Say You Held Back a Lot in the Last Match, Then

Halftime Report: Tang Ye scores with a godlike scissor kick, Olmo slots into the far corner; the Chinese national team fiercely draws 1-1 with Spain in the first half!

In the Chinese team's locker room, Escrivá explained the substitution plan for the second half to the players.

While speaking, Escrivá glanced occasionally in Tang Ye's direction; the captain of the Chinese national team just sat on the bench without saying a single word.

After only half a match, the group stage MVP had been rendered completely speechless...

Receiving a nod from Escrivá, Martí took the initiative to approach Tang Ye: "Are you... okay right now?"

"Wasn't that f***ing clearly a penalty?"

Tang Ye finally spoke: "I was already in the air when I got hit; his hand shoved right into my lungs!"

"..."

"Sigh, I know, it's the referee's fault, but that's in the past now."

Martí sighed, and Zhang Zhang Yuning came over as well to offer comfort.

Such a perfect chance to go up 2-1, yet the referee simply refused to award the penalty; even Tang Ye couldn't swallow this grievance: "Give us that pen, and we'd absolutely be leading 2-1 right now."

Tang Ye was still venting!

"It's fine, it's fine, let's not think about that for now; I know you're right, you are the one who's right."

Actually, Martí also felt that Alaba's push wasn't severe, but he still firmly stood on the Chinese team's side.

There was no helping it; although Martí was Spanish, he worked for a Chinese club.

"They will pay the price for that stolen penalty, I guarantee you, Tom!"

Martí said: "This penalty only affects the process, not the result."

"..."

After this exchange, Tang Ye's mood finally improved somewhat.

Shaking his head and eating a banana to refresh his status, Tang Ye asked Martí for his running data from the first half.

To be honest, it was a bit high, but as long as they didn't play extra time, his stamina would be perfectly sufficient.

Emotions shifted quickly; once his focus returned to the match, Tang Ye stood up and adjusted his jersey: "Let's go, brothers."

"Let's go!"

"By the way, I have a feeling that Rodri might be substituted to the defensive midfield position in the second half."

Tang Ye suddenly looked at Escrivá, and his words made the latter's eyes light up.

Rodri switching back to the defensive midfield role... this was an issue he hadn't considered.

"How confident are you?"

"I can't say for sure... but I feel the probability is quite high."

Tang Ye pointed his thumb toward the locker room door: "Busquets and Gavi have played terribly today; I feel Rodri should ask the coach to change positions."

"..."

Escrivá narrowed his eyes, his brain rapidly spinning into motion.

"China Central Television, welcome back, dear viewers! This is..."

"A substitution adjustment for Spain: Morata comes on to replace Asensio!"

After Morata entered the field, Rodri actively moved over to hand him the captain's armband, but Morata refused it.

Rodri was in excellent form today; for him to continue serving as the on-field captain should be a good thing for Spain.

"For the Chinese team, Fernandinho comes on to replace Zhang Zhang Xizhe!"

"Keeping Wei Wei Shihao on while bringing on Fernandinho; this substitution by the Chinese team is quite aggressive!"

"Yes, I feel the Chinese team is likely looking to create some opportunities; if I were the Chinese team's coach, hehe, I would instruct the players on the field to exploit the opponent's mistakes. But it's hard to say for sure; we still need to see the condition of Spain's defenders in the second half."

"España!"

"España!"

Morata's entrance greatly boosted the confidence of the Spanish fans; after all, this guy was Spain's true starting striker in every sense of the word!

"..."

"!"

"Over here!"

Raising his right hand to call for the ball while accelerating forward, Tang Ye prepared to receive the through-pass from Zhang Zhang Yuning.

Bang!

"Beep!"

Yellow card: Busquets (ESP).

The scene showed Tang Ye pounding the grass with his clenched right fist, as the referee issued a yellow card to Busquets for pulling.

This scene was truly classic.

"So far in this World Cup, the Chinese team has played four matches. In these four matches, all six defensive midfielders who were matched up against Tang Ye received yellow cards, without a single exception."

The referee and the fans synchronized on an interesting statistic.

As long as Tang Ye was on the opposite side, the opposing defensive midfielder had to start the match with a yellow card.

"You idiot, stop pulling people, okay?"

"F*** off!"

"Play proper football!"

"Boo!!!"

Unsurprisingly, Busquets got cursed at.

Tang Ye was pulled up and gave his teammates a thumbs-up: "It's fine, it's fine."

The 55th minute.

The score is still 1-1, but Escrivá's expression isn't very good.

It's clear that Tang Ye seems somewhat anxious now; his speed in advancing with the ball is getting faster and faster, to the point where teammates sometimes can't keep up with the rhythm.

However, this style of play has its benefits: the Spanish defenders are about to lose their minds.

Boom!

Tang Ye cuts the ball with his right foot, moves toward the center, and leaves Pedri behind.

Knowing that Busquets already has a yellow card, Tang Ye chooses to accelerate directly, using his physical advantage to forcibly bypass the second defender, then passes the ball to Fernando.

"Look ahead!"

Fernando passes to Wei Wei Shihao.

"Wow!!!"

At this moment, Escrivá's substitutions pay off; Wei Wei Shihao, Fernando, and Wang Wang Shenchao all possess strong attacking attributes, and their simultaneous runs down the flanks indeed create some opportunities for deep attacks for the Chinese national team.

Llorente is flustered; Fernando traps the ball as Wei Wei Shihao moves up.

Slap!

A cross finds Wu Lei at the far post!

"Wow!!!"

He jumps!

Boom!

Wu Lei collides with Laporte.

Wu Lei loses this duel, but Spain doesn't immediately gain possession.

Seeing the ball roll toward the corner flag, Wu Xi rushes over quickly.

"Beautiful, Wu Xi!"

"The Chinese team managed to keep the ball in play just before it went out of bounds, passing it back and laying it off."

"Oh, Tang Ye!"

Suddenly accelerating and bursting through between Morata and Gavi, Tang Ye easily takes control of the ball.

He stops abruptly, preparing to find a passing option, but the next second a strange force comes from the side, knocking him to the ground.

"Beep!"

This is a foul by Gavi, but the referee this time does not show a yellow card, only giving the player some verbal warnings.

【Damn, that's truly disgusting; is this how everyone plays now? Aren't they afraid their defensive midfielders will end up covered in yellow cards?】

【Spain has tons of midfielders, so what's there to fear? Still, this is indeed uncomfortable to watch.】

【Where's Brother Hao? Brother Hao! Go down with Gavi; don't let him get away with fouling!】

【6666, suggestion here: Wei Wei Shihao should just stay right next to Tang Ye and not move.】

【Saint Escrivá, go for it, Saint Escrivá! If we win this damn match, I'll spend the rest of my life cursing Ten Hag on your behalf!】

The fans really understand what Escrivá needs.

Helping counter Ten Hag—yes, that's exactly what the Spaniards need most.

It's just a pity he can't see the bullet comments on Check Dongqiu Di right now; otherwise, he would surely be moved to tears.

The 67th minute of the second half.

After making the second substitution, Spain's situation on the field improves; Unai Simón delivers a precise long pass to Olmo.

Olmo easily controls the high ball and squares it to Morata.

"Left side!"

Wang Wang Dalei shouts a warning, and Jiang Guangtai immediately moves to mark Torres.

Slap!

Morata passes to Torres, then loops around from behind while his teammate engages the defender, arriving at a position further to the right.

Torres plays the ball out and then starts cutting inside.

!!

Jiang Guangtai is in a tough spot now; he must choose which of the two attackers to mark.

Jiang Guangtai chooses Torres.

Torres's choice is to pass the ball to Morata, who has just cut inside.

Slap!

A left-footed push shot; the ball brushes the left post and enters the net.

"Gooo——aaaa——llll!!!!"

"Goal scored... tsk, hiss..."

"Was there an offside on this goal? Seems like there wasn't any offside..."

The commentator seems to have ignored the strict requirement for "neutrality," but it doesn't matter anymore.

What matters is Spain's goal!

From the replay, there is absolutely no hint of an offside on this goal.

Goal!

2-1!

"Roar——!!!"

Morata and Rodri roar at each other, while Spanish players on the bench wearing bibs rush out one after another.

"Vamos!"

"Vamos!!!!"

Live match report: Torres plays a through ball, Morata scores with a push shot, the score is now 1-2, and the Chinese team is trailing.

Escrivá's face remained expressionless, but in reality his teeth were clenched together, cold sweat poured down his entire body, and his heartbeat accelerated.

Spain's comeback...

It has finally arrived!

"Hold steady; as long as we hold steady, we will win!"