Chapter 907: Showdown at the Bird's Nest Stadium: The Peak of Asia

Japanese star Takizawa Rola: "I love watching football matches and am a Tottenham fan; although the Chinese team is very strong, I still hope Japan can win this important final!"

Following South Korea's attempt to sanction Tang Ye using Faker, Japan has also begun its own maneuvers.

However, unlike the T1 club, Takizawa Rola and Tao Tao Naimu Kana came to watch the match of their own volition; they are indeed genuine fans.

Some Japanese netizens shouted on Instagram, hoping the two female stars present would go to the Chinese team's locker room to create some disturbance for Tang Ye.

There was no help for it; China's hard strength was truly exaggerated, and if no one was found to restrict Tang Ye, the Japanese team would have little hope!

"Actually, I myself am also a fan of Tang Sang; because of Tang Sang, I have watched many Manchester United matches."

Tao Tao Naimu Kana said as much.

"Then will you cheer for TY today?"

"Of course not."

Tao Tao Naimu Kana leaned her upper body back, covered her mouth, and laughed: "I still hope Japan can win more. Samurai Legion, ganbatte! (Go for it!)"

Baidu Hot Search No. 1: Asian Cup Final China vs. Japan.

No. 2: China versus Japan.

No. 3: Japanese team announces starting lineup.

No. 4: Japanese female stars cheer for Tang Ye.

No. 5: Can China achieve a second consecutive Asian Cup title?

"Ma Ti!"

"What is it?"

After concluding the pre-match press conference, Escrivá hurriedly called over Ma Ti: "Have you checked Instagram? Some fans are saying Japan seems to have some secret weapon aimed at TY."

"Hm? I don't know about that; it probably doesn't matter. Ferran, why have you started checking Instagram again? You promised me you wouldn't touch anything involving the internet before the match started."

"This time is different; that group of Japanese people are very confident. They believe they can definitely take down Tom."

Escrivá looked somewhat anxious: "There's no time to research exactly what it is; I need to return to the locker room now. You quickly get online and investigate. If there really is something, tell me as soon as possible!"

"Oh, oh, okay."

Watching Escrivá's departing figure, Ma Ti was also affected by this tense emotion and quickly pulled out his phone to investigate.

Japan's secret weapon?

Something that can definitely affect Tom?

Who gave that group of Japanese people such confidence?

Let's see exactly what it is!

"Time Stops: Genius Player Tang Ye at My Mercy?"

"The Player I Like Is from My Country's Rival; I Have a Chance to Help the Japanese Team: Forced to Devastate My Beloved for the Sake of Japan's National Interests?"

"Tomorrow Is the Final Match; The Star Player of the Opposing Team Lies in My Bed, His Breath Intoxicating."

"A Business Trip During a Business Travel: Spending a Sleepless Night with Asia's King, Whom I Only See Once a Year; After Becoming Addicted, I No Longer Wish to Part."

"..."

Ma Ti took a sharp breath.

Alright, it was his own fault; Ferran had no issues.

To avoid any possible accidents, this matter indeed needed to be handled properly.

After making his decision, Ma Ti quickly found the Chinese national team's manager: "Today there are two Japanese female stars, um, you know the type, the kind of female stars; you need to pay attention to them." (Japanese)

"Hm? Pay attention to what?"

"Pay attention to ensuring those two do not come to our locker room; preferably, do not let them approach the player tunnel. You need to strengthen security at the player tunnel."

"This is just something online fans are saying, right?"

The Chinese national team manager couldn't help but laugh: "They wouldn't actually be able to time-stop Tang Ye, would they?"

"This has nothing to do with time stoppage; just don't let Ferran get nervous."

Ma Ti pointed in the direction of the locker room: "You know, if he gets nervous, he won't perform certain things well."

"Wow, so that's how it is. No problem; they won't have any chance to get close to Escrivá; I will arrange everything."

"Cheer up, brothers, let's go!"

Zhang Zhang Yuning clapped his hands in the locker room, while Tang Ye, with Wu Xi's help, put on the captain's armband.

"If we win this match, our national team duties for this year will be over; we must secure the second consecutive title, we must!"

"We cannot lose at the Bird's Nest!"

"Let's go, let's go!"

Clap clap clap clap!

"Tang Ye, how many times have you played matches here?"

Wu Lei suddenly thought of this question and asked Tang Ye beside him.

"I don't know."

Tang Ye shook his head, seemingly uninterested in the question: "It's the same regardless of how many times; it doesn't matter, it's not the key point."

"What is the key point?"

"The key point is that we will achieve a second consecutive title under the gaze of tens of millions of people."

"Haha!"

Wu Lei became spirited, and Tang Ye placed his hand on the shoulder of this Chinese team forward: "Once this Asian Cup ends, our reputation on Douyin should be completely reversed."

"Is reputation on Douyin that important?"

"Damn, of course it's important; I scroll through Douyin all the time, and Bilibili too."

Tang Ye bumped fists with Wu Lei: "No more talk; let's go, Brother Lei. For Douyin."

……

"China Media Group! China Media Group! Good evening, dear audience friends!"

"This is the live broadcast of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Final between the Chinese National Team and the Japanese National Team!"

"Hmm, the atmosphere here is excellent. We can see both teams' players are already ready."

"Last year, Japan and China faced each other once, but that match was in the group stage of the Asian qualifiers; its scale certainly wasn't as grand as today's Asian Cup Final."

"Yes, in today's match, both sides will definitely bring their full strength, because no one wants to be the runner-up."

"Beep!!!"

The match has begun!

Japan (4-1-4-1)

Goalkeeper: Suzuki Ayao

Defenders: Ito Hiroki, Tomiyasu Takehiro, Itakura Ko, Mieda Seiya

Midfielders: Maeda Daizen, Morita Hidemasa, Endo Wataru, Kubo Takefusa, Doan Ritsu

Forward: Ueda Ayase

Head Coach: Moriyasu Hajime

Although he talked plenty of trash before the match, when the final actually arrived, Moriyasu Hajime fielded a single-striker formation.

Over the past few years, the Japanese team had watched helplessly as the Chinese team rose; one could say they were extremely familiar with this opponent. In fact, Moriyasu Hajime had already noticed Tang Ye as early as 2017; viewed this way, Japan should be one of the Asian teams that understands the Chinese national team best.

The single-striker formation deployed today was clearly the result of Mr. Moriyasu's careful deliberation and the very foundation of his confidence.

"Chinese Team!"

"Let's go!"

"Chinese Team!"

"Let's go!"

Shaking his head left and right, he took a quick look at the situation on-site; Moriyasu Hajime took a deep breath.

He had long known that the Bird's Nest was a trap China had set for Japan, so Moriyasu Hajime had the Japanese players make preparations just a few days before the match began.

However, those preparations seemed insufficient; only by truly being there could one feel the Bird's Nest and the Chinese fans' domineering pressure.

Thinking of this, Moriyasu Hajime pulled out a small notebook and began writing in it with a ballpoint pen.

【Mr. Moriyasu, Japan, let's go!】

"As we can see, right at the start of the match, the Japanese head coach is already taking notes."

"Hmm, Moriyasu Hajime is probably looking for flaws in his team. Because judging from the formation Japan has set up in the first half, they seem to want to grind it out with the Chinese team for the first few minutes of the match, waiting until they've figured out China's intentions before making their moves."

"Hmm, the depth of Japan's bench is very good; players like Minamino Takumi and Mitoma Misao Kaoru from the Premier League haven't even come on yet!"

"Endo Wataru passes the ball forward to Kubo Takefusa."

"Zhang Zhang Xizhe tries to intercept, but to no effect."

"Kubo Takefusa!"

Before Tang Ye could close in, Kubo Takefusa played a through ball to Doan Ritsu, who had started his run down the flank.