Chapter 406: Live Control Is Alive Again? (Daily Transition)

Mexico's situation in the World Cup is very similar to Arsenal's historical performance in the Champions League.

World Cup Round of 16 and Champions League Round of 16.

From 1994 to 2014, Mexico never missed a World Cup finals appearance, yet they always fell in the Round of 16 knockout stage.

This CONCACAF champion team has highly fluctuating combat power.

They can thrash South American powerhouses like Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.

They can also lose to Jamaica... a minnow of this CONCACAF tier.

The biggest star in the lineup is "Little Pea" Hernández.

But in terms of fame, Mexico's goalkeeper Ochoa became a god in the 2014 World Cup match, went viral online, and fans affectionately call him: Mexico's Wu Zhenyu.

June 21.

On the banks of the Kazanka River, Kazan Arena.

This stadium and Arsenal's Emirates Stadium were designed by the same company: Buro Happold.

Buro Happold excels at blending architectural appearance with local culture.

The highlands along the Volga River are filled with a strong Tatar atmosphere, giving the Kazan Arena's exterior a touch of green.

Fans from all over the world quickly filled over 40,000 seats.

Different languages converged into a passionate torrent.

Command area.

Miniaño worried: "Boss, Li's injury..."

Bosque remained calm, smiling: "The team doctor said there's no problem, Li himself said there's no problem... then there's no problem at all."

"CTV5! CTV5! Good evening, viewers."

"Now broadcasting live: the 2017 Confederations Cup Group Stage Second Round."

"Mexico versus Spain."

"The Aztec Eagles encounter the Bullfighter Legion!"

"What kind of sparks will they create when they collide?"

"Let's wait and see!"

"Now introducing the starting lineups for both sides."

"Mexico's formation is 4-3-3."

"Goalkeeper: Ochoa."

"Defenders: Luan, Moreno, Reyes, Sakaldo."

"Midfielders: Guardado, Hector, Jonathan."

"Forwards: Hernández, Jiménez, Bela."

Live stream.

-【Pea Shooter!】

-【This lineup is harder to deal with than Russia's, a tough nut to crack.】

-【Mexico's playing style is too alternative and too fan-attracting; they beat New Zealand in the first leg, and every player can run and tackle, darting around like seven or eight loaches.】

-【The Americas' Arsenal, not an empty reputation.】

-【The weakness is: short.】

-【Ochoa is so strong in the national team, why can't he play in Europe's top five leagues?】

-【He played one season in La Liga, got destroyed, his value plummeted, and next season he'll play in the Belgian Pro League.】

-【Some players perform averagely at club level but can go on a rampage when they join the national team.】

"Spain's formation is 4-5-1!"

"Goalkeeper: De Gea."

"Defenders: Carvajal, Piqué, Ramos, Alba."

"Midfielders: Busquets, Saul, Li Kang, Koke, Fabregas."

"Forward: Diego Costa."

-【Why does Spain's lineup suddenly feel more luxurious?】

-【A shiny thing has mixed in.】

-【Li Mingdeng has made a comeback.】

-【Once Li Mingdeng comes on, I feel this lineup, once gelled, could win the Champions League.】

Beep!

The match officially begins.

Diego Costa kicks off and passes back to Li Kang.

Mexico's frontline players quickly cross the midfield line and launch a pressing net.

Li Kang touches the ball once.

The ball sticks to the grass, darting swiftly to Busquets' feet.

He likewise touches the ball once.

The ball slowly slides diagonally to Fabregas.

"Mexico's high-pressure pressing is very active! Running all over the pitch!"

"Spain's midfield passing tempo isn't fast... it's slow, yet always barely manages to defuse the opponent's pressure."

"Eh?"

"This run... positioning is very essential."

Sideline.

Mexico head coach Osorio felt his team was like punching cotton.

He quickly reminded his disciples to pay attention to Saúl and Koke's positions.

The other side.

Miñano was unusually delighted, wanting to wave his hand and direct something... but he realized his mind seemed half a beat slower than the players on the field.

Bosque sat on the bench, a smile on his face.

"Use whatever tactics suit the team's style."

The match's style became strangely eerie.

Mexico's frontline players chased the ball's movement, sprinting desperately, yet couldn't win possession.

Spain's midfield and defense had a slow tempo, yet through constant passing, their formation steadily advanced.

"Little Pea guessed Piqué's pass line this time!"

"He's going to intercept the ball!"

"Eh? Look how Busquets handles it!"

"Beautiful!"

"Right foot touches the ball first, lightly pulls it back, makes a turning fake, fools Little Pea, then uses the heel of the back foot to flick the ball back!"

"Immediately passed the ball to Li Kang."

Unnoticed.

Spain's overall formation had already pushed into Mexico's half, reaching the thirty-meter zone.

At the moment Li Kang received the ball with his back to goal, Jiménez and Héctor closed in simultaneously.

Pulling the ball.

Turning.

Passing.

Pa!

In the blink of an eye, the ball rolled to Fabregas's feet.

"Triangle!"

"The ever-changing La Masia triangle passing and receiving points."

"The coordination among La Masia midfielders is too seamless."

"Hearts in sync."

"The stability of possession play is extremely strong; even if the opposition presses with more numbers, it's very hard to complete a tackle!"

"The problem arises!"

"Without Iniesta, David Silva, and Cazorla, how should this Spain solve the issue of accelerating progression and breaking through?"

"Li Kang surged forward!"

"Upon receiving the ball, he sent out a lofted pass!"

"Lofted to Saúl, who had drifted to the flank!"

Saúl easily devoured Porto star Laurent in a one-on-one duel.

Carvajal quickly overlapped down the flank.

As Mexico prepared to receive Spain's possession-based penetrating attack.

Pa!

The ball rose from the byline.

Plummeting into the penalty area.

"When did Ramos surge forward?"

"Oh no!"

"Far post!"

"Diego Costa!"

Diego Costa was like a bulldozer.

He used his body to push aside Salcudo and Hornatán, then swung his leg in mid-air!

Thud!

Upon contact between the ball and the instep, it shot out fiercely!

Turning into a black streak.

Heading toward the upper right corner of Mexico's goal.

Ochoa desperately saved, to no avail.

0:1!

!

The stadium erupted.

Thunderous applause instantly flooded the entire Kazan Arena.

"Too simple."

"Boiling a frog in warm water."

"Spain's overall progression tempo became gradual, the clear possession imprint... yet the lethal strike came from a cross launched from the byline."

"No problem!"

"Carvajal assisted, Diego Costa volleyed!"

Spain broke the deadlock first!

The livestream room.

Bullet comments flew thick and fast.

-【Three-dimensional attack!】

-【Will Li Mingdeng sweat if he keeps kicking like this?】

-【Saúl and Koke, Carvajal will sweat.】

-【What happened to the promised short-pass penetration? Why did Spain's style change after Li Mingdeng passed the ball to Saúl?】

-【Midfield core-Li Mingdeng.】

-【He played like the hybrid zone between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, the overall rhythm in a straight line, advancing to the forty-meter zone, then deciding the attacking method based on changes in the opponent's defensive line.】

-【Laun shouldn't have been so impulsive, losing position and rushing forward.】

-【Has possession play come back to life?】