Chapter 325: Historical Showdown (Daily Transition)

Below is the introduction of both teams' starting lineups.

The European legends lineup is 4-4-2!

Goalkeeper: Buffon.

Defenders: Maldini, Nesta, Cannavaro, Lahm.

Midfielders: Xavi, Li Kang, Pirlo, Zidane.

Forwards: Inzaghi, Cristiano Ronaldo.

On the bench sit Figo, Owen, Beckham, Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard, Klose... and thirteen other European legends.

It's worth noting that Inzaghi will face his strongest opponent tonight: the video assistant referee, VAR technology!

FIFA is gradually rolling out this advanced technology! It might prevent injustices in football from happening again. Related news: the Premier League will also trial assistant referee technology next season!

The camera suddenly pans to the stands: Beckenbauer! The banned Platini also makes an appearance? Next to him sits Gino Rea, hailed by European fans as the most handsome footballer in history.

ESPN broadcast room.

-【This back line, this midfield setup... is too foul, right?】

-【You'd better look at the South American team's attacking corps before speaking.】

-【The question is, how will these four midfielders allocate the ball? Is one ball enough for four of them to play with?】

-【I'm optimistic about Inzaghi; when he was young, he didn't rely on body and speed... purely relying on top-notch awareness, a man living off the offside line.】

-【The broadcast revenue share for this match is exaggerated, huh—prime‑year stars plus old legends!】

The South American legends lineup is 4-3-3!

Goalkeeper: Bravo.

Defenders: Cafu, Thiago Silva, Lucio, Carlos.

Single defensive midfielder: Redondo.

Attacking midfielders: Kaka, Rivaldo.

Forwards: Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Messi.

Dense barrage of comments instantly covered the big screen.

-【Even the goalkeeper is maxed out on attacking attributes—this is the ultimate lineup...】

-【Whoever defends is the loser!】

-【Thiago Silva:...】

-【Don't talk nonsense; this group's defensive attributes aren't that bad, it's just their attacking ability is too strong.】

-【Will that two‑hundred‑plus‑pound fat guy be able to play? (dog head for safety)】

-【Trivia: Ronaldo gained weight because he had hypothyroidism, had to take long‑term medication containing hormones, and eating too much made him gain weight.】

-【Two months ago, Owen mocked Ronaldo for being fat, saying he lacked discipline... and ended up being bombarded by a group of South American legends.】

-【Win or lose aside, this match will definitely not lack goals.】

Van Gaal loosened his red tie at the chest.

His face flushed.

He finally realized his wish: to coach Li Kang... although only as an assistant.

"Li, watch out—don't use your body... those old bones opposite can't withstand even a touch from you."

"Use your awareness and talent to conquer everything!"

Old Fan still didn't forget to raise his white, chubby fist in front of his chest to show encouragement.

Li Kang nodded seriously.

Krulin sat upright on the coach's bench, smiling.

On the other side.

Messi didn't greet the Argentina national team's 'older brothers'; instead, he seriously discussed attacking details with the Samba legends.

Why does an Argentine player have a better relationship with Brazilian players?

Because the former Argentina national team's 'older brothers' were Heinze, Riquelme, Tevez...

Now it's just superficial laughter.

The grudges from back then run deep.

One openly said he wanted to break Messi's legs.

One who didn't pass to Messi and blasted him is a coward, a hypocrite... actually the one who blasted him is the hypocrite: back then he wanted to sleep with teammate Pablo's wife, sent flirtatious messages, got exposed by her, and still wanted to attack Pablo.

As for the last one, Tevez, no need to say more.

Accompanied by deafening cheers.

Both teams' players took their positions on the field.

Beep! Beep-beep~

Head referee Collina blew the whistle.

The match officially began!

European team possession.

Inzaghi kicked off, laying the ball off to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo didn't hesitate, passing back to Li Kang.

Both teams' formations immediately intertwined and overlapped.

"Cafu and Carlos, the two legendary full‑backs, also pushed up!"

"Crazy pressing!"

"The football darted like a lively sprite on the green pitch, again and again evading the South Americans."

The European team's midfield control is terrifying.

There was no expected ball possession distribution problem.

Li Kang also did not take on the role of a sapper.

During the European team's advance, the full-back Lahm gradually tucked in, switching to a defensive midfield role: this is what he often did at Bayern.

And Maldini, Nesta, and Cannavaro instantly switched to a three-center-back formation.

Before Conte and Tuchel, who was best at using a three-center-back?

Van Gaal.

The chemistry between Li Kang and Harvey is astonishing.

Facing the strangling pressure from the South American star cluster.

Their movement and passing seemed to require no thought or observation.

All were one-touch passes.

Perfect lines.

Exquisite force.

Terrifying vision.

Extreme utilization of space.

Subtle changes in rhythm.

It was as if two people with God's perspective dominated the match.

Wembley Stadium.

Applause thundered.

Van Gaal looked bewildered; Harvey had been promoted by him back then, but he never expected such a wonderful chemical reaction with Li Kang.

"Three... triangle? No, it's constantly changing two points, drawing out a series of precise diagonal lines!"

Kruyutin trembled lightly all over, eyes shining: "Still a triangle! The triangle drawn by the two La Masia graduates!"

On the other side.

Bielsa shouted hoarsely.

He kept raising his hands, signaling the players to press forward.

It wasn't that he ignored the defensive line.

But he thought: the aging Harvey could not maintain such extreme possession play for long.

This charity match.

It amplified the players' awareness and reading ability.

Messi, Xiao Luo, and Rivaldo's three players have very high football IQ.

Another identity is also a Barcelona legend.

They could not immediately break the connection between Li Kang and Harvey.

But by pressing without tackling, they maximally blocked Harvey's passing space.

Waiting for an opportunity.

Didn't wait too long.

When the European team advanced into the American team's half, at the thirty-five-meter zone.

Harvey made a mistake.

At the moment of receiving the ball, Redondo came charging in.

The legendary Bayern midfielder Bernau perfectly anticipated this passing point.

Harvey's movement speed was a step slower.

After all, he's older.

'Love's Magic Power Spin Circle' hasn't started spinning yet.

The ball was then poked away by Redondo without a trace.

"Antelope's horns!"

"A gentle tackle!"

"An elegant and noble demeanor!"

"Prince of the Pampas!"

"Perfect positional sense, the natural advantage of a left-footed player intercepting a right-footed player, fully displayed at this moment."

"His orchestration ability is terrifying; the South American team's magical quartet... quintet, is about to..."

Redondo's type of midfield is very terrifying.

Not relying on body and speed.

But rather historically elite defensive positioning.

Allowing him alone to neutralize the opponent's central advance.

Completing the tackle isn't even the scariest part.

Why has this guy been rated by multiple European media as a historically elite midfielder?

The key lies in: what to do after the tackle?

Long pass or short pass?

Decision on attacking direction?

Central or flank? Or both half-spaces?

Pace of fast or slow?

Players of different styles must make choices based on the team's actual situation.

Throughout history, the La Ma Xi Ya number four position, regarding ball handling in this situation, can be said to have reached the pinnacle.

However, the appearance of Lei Dong Duo opened another simple road for future defensive midfielders: dribbling the ball himself to complete a central breakthrough, and within three seconds seeking the perfect moment to split the ball to both sides.

This handling method fits extremely well with the competitive rhythm of the 1990s.

Asymmetrical wing attack.

It lets the opponent fall into a passive state during the transition from attack to defense.

"Charging up!"

"Mei Xi, Xiao Luo, Da Luo... three people attracted most of the defending European players!"

"Ka Ka..."

"They created an open vertical space for the Ka Ka on the other side!"

"If we let Ka Ka charge up..."

"We can split the ball!"

"Lei Dong Duo!"

The night breeze gently brushed over Wembley Stadium.

The blond, flowing-haired Prince of the Pampas, having completed the adjustment, the moment of passing the ball.

A bald figure loomed ahead.

Qi Da Nei.

Pa!

The football, not yet airborne, clung silently to the Frenchman's instep.

Lei Dong Duo immediately adjusted, stepping forward.

But was blocked by Qi Da Nei's outstretched arm.

"Wow!"

"This scene reenacts the 1998 UEFA Champions League final!"

"Master showdown!"

"Did Yin Si Ke in front of the TV see that? Can you understand his lack of understanding of you?"

Qi Da Nei, aside from absolute speed, has almost no weaknesses.

He's not slow, actually.

But if we apply the earth's strictest harsh standards, we can only fault his absolute speed deficiency.

How to handle after completing a tackle?

With the La Ma Xi Ya number four position present, why bother doing it ourselves?

Pa.

The football lightly left the grass.

Precisely leapt to in front of Li Kang.

Exquisite force down to the finest detail.

Allowing the boy wearing the legendary European number 10 jersey to at any time deliver a lethal pass.

But still cannot send.

In God's perspective.

Yin Zha Ji didn't have time to initiate at this moment.

C Luo was also tightly marked by Ka Fu and Di Ya Ge Xi Er Wa.

The timeline still needs to wait three seconds.

Pa.

Li Kang lightly tapped with his heel.

A languid figure slowly approached the ball.

Pi Er Luo.

No adjustment needed.

Relevant statistics: from receiving the ball to initiating the long pass... only takes 0.9 seconds.

Peng!

The sound of touching the ball tugged at the heartstrings of countless fans.

Under the night sky, Wembley Stadium seemed to light up with a wondrous rainbow.

"Wow!"

"Like a dazzling jewel!"

"The meaning of his long pass is not only to shift the opponent's defensive focus, but also to widen the attack!"

"This curve!"

"This force!"

"This lead!"

"What we're looking for is Yin Zha Ji!"

"A tacit understanding that even with closed eyes!"

"The connection of the two souls of Milan!"

Lu Xi Ao had a headache.

It seemed to return to the Milan derby of those years...

He felt that Yin Zaji beside him was clearly slow in speed and low in step frequency.

Yet he mysteriously got ahead of himself by one position.

How can he, at his age, still have such abnormal positioning?

Now it's good.

Turn around and chase again... that guy got two positions ahead of me.

That not-so-strong number 9's back...

Like the passing of time.

No matter how I chase, I can't catch up.

"Unfathomable!"

"Traceless in coming and going."

"The man active on the offside line!"

"He doesn't need to create chances; he just needs one chance."

"Yin Zaji!"

"He caught the gift offered by his former teammate!"

"One-on-one!"

"The perfect opportunist."

Yin Zaji is acclaimed as the "three-no forward".

No physique.

No technique.

No speed.

But he can still score!

Bravo came out.

The Chilean goalkeeper at his peak didn't even spare a glance for the aging Italian assassin.

A plain, unremarkable stepping rhythm.

A slow stepping pace.

An awkward feint.

How to score?

Just as the two approached each other.

Inzaghi, by a stroke of luck, tapped the ball with his right foot and then lofted it.

Bravo lunged downward with the momentum, but failed to hold on... a chill instantly spread through his body.

Isn't this just an upgraded version of Dybala?

In a static state, the first touch is unstoppable, the second touch is England, the third touch is the Strait of Gibraltar.

The ball lightly sprang toward the empty goal.

It struck the ground at the goal line and bounced into the net.

1:0!

!

Wembley Stadium erupted instantly.

"Beautiful!"

"The ball went in!"

"Super Pippo!"

"After Inzaghi, there will be no more Inzaghi!"

"Thank him for his splendid performance dedicated to us!"

"A perfect goal!"

"His signature dribble!"

"Can't help but thank Pirlo's marvelously precise long pass!"

"Li Kang's allocation decision."

"Zidane's attacking distribution."

"Xavi's advance!"

"Hey? At this moment, the linesman raised his flag?"

"Offside?"

"Was it offside?"

"We have to see how the VAR decides!"

"VAR technology might be Inzaghi's biggest enemy!"

"Head referee Collina glanced at the young linesman."

"He couldn't help but smile: still too young; back when the Serie A linesman met Inzaghi..."

"He adjusted his earpiece."

"The camera immediately switched to the VAR's workroom."

"Two youngsters were busy in front of several large screens."

"Slow-motion replay..."

"A red line cut across the field."

The focus gathered on Lu Xiao Ao and Yin Zha Ji.

No offside!

So amazing!

The head referee signaled that the goal was valid!

Yin Zha Ji can continue celebrating.

Yin Zha Ji's expression was a bit dazed.

He unconsciously smoothed his hair...

The celebration motion had just gotten halfway when it was whistled invalid?

Now it's valid again?

This feeling is like when you're about to fire a bullet and suddenly jam...

It wasn't jammed for too long.

The European Legend Team quickly adjusted their emotions and resumed celebrating.

Qi Da Nei patted Li Kang on the shoulder and laughed: 'Li, if you had been born twenty years earlier...'

Pi Er Luo interrupted: 'You two will fight over possession!'

Everyone burst out laughing.

On the other side.

Xiao Luo quickly ran to the net, picked up the ball, and touched Bu La Wo's head.

His smile remained brilliant.

ESPN livestream.

-【Super Pi Bo, my youth!】

-【Yes, there will be more penalties and free kicks... he was fouled badly back then.】

-【If it weren't for Qi Da Nei's steal, the goal would have belonged to the South American Team, and Ka Ka could have surged forward at any time!】

-【I really didn't expect Ha Wei, Li Kang, Pi Er Luo, and Qi Da Nei to be able to coexist, and yet there was no trouble sharing possession.】

-【The three uncles all voluntarily gave possession to Xiao Li Zi...】

-【What the heck, the European Team is going to crush the South American Team?】

-【Don't rush, the good show has just begun, Mei Xi plus Sang Ba attacking force, the momentum is unstoppable!】