Chapter 413

Li Kang put on his pants, then affectionately rubbed Rüdiger's little braised egg.

The system notification sounded softly.

【Ding, detected that this Chelsea teammate's friendliness toward you has increased, bond established!】

【Blue Bond: Negotiation Expert Lv1!】

【Your basic speed and stamina received a slight boost.】

【Rüdiger seems to have become a bit smarter, a bit calmer.】

【The effect only takes effect when both are on the field together.】

【When the bond is first established, it will restore some of your abilities to peak condition.】

Li Kang's shadow energy in his brain instantly filled.

All the electricity drained during the Champions League final... was instantly replenished.

Rüdiger scratched his head, then silently walked away.

While the Spanish players were celebrating to their heart's content, they couldn't help but recall the Confederations Cup jinx.

Especially the several players produced by La Masia youth academy—Busquets, Fabregas, etc. —are relatively superstitious.

After all, the founder of the youth academy, Cruyff himself, is also superstitious.

Cruyff, when young, liked to spit his chewing gum toward the opponent's half before kickoff, believing it would transfer bad luck to them.

In the 1969 Champions League final, Ajax lost to AC Milan, and Cruyff said the reason for the loss was that he forgot to spit his chewing gum.

Fabregas's goal seems to have caused a subtle shift in the psychology of both sides' players.

Kroos wasn't discouraged; he cheered up the youngsters, urging them to stay spirited.

Although he insists on wearing 'little white shoes' in every match, he isn't superstitious—it's just an obsessive-compulsive tendency.

Noir was reflecting: if not for Li's overhead shot casting a shadow, he himself should have resolved the danger outside the thirty-meter zone.

On the sidelines.

Mignanó was excited for only a few seconds, then quickly calmed down.

Bosch patted his big belly and laughed: "Celebrate to your heart's content—if we win the match, Spain will lift the Confederations Cup for the first time."

It's worth noting: Spain's former head coach, Aragones, was also very superstitious.

He insisted that yellow would bring misfortune to the national team; back then, when Raul arrived at the national team training base wearing a yellow T-shirt, he was immediately asked to change his clothing...

On the other side.

Löf picked his nose, his expression calm.

He is also superstitious.

He once believed that wearing white, black, or blue clothing could bring good luck to the German team.

After eliminating England in the 2010 World Cup, he publicly said: before the semifinal, he would not wash or change his clothes.

The match restarted from the center circle.

The German team launched another fierce offensive.

Still limited by insufficient explosiveness on the right flank and lack of a forward focal point, they had no good answer to Spain's defensive targeting.

Li Kang, Ramos, Saul, Koke, and others repeatedly succeeded in cooperating to clear the siege.

Unfortunately, they had no chance to execute a perfect transition attack.

Diego Costa suddenly felt that the Rüdiger harassing him... seemed to have become a bit smarter, and even his trash talk gradually turned logically clear.

Time passed second by second.

The head referee finally blew the whistle signaling the end of the first half.

"After 45 minutes of intense battle, the temporary score is 1:0!"

"The Spanish team maintains its lead."

"Now let's first go into an ad break; the official sponsor of the Confederations Cup reminds you..."

The Russian hosts turned the originally shabby locker room into an atmosphere like that of the Emirates Stadium.

Red cushions.

Warm cabinet lights.

The Spanish coaching staff actively reviewed the first half's content.

"The characteristics of this German team are very obvious."

"Their ability to grind out results is extremely strong, while their positional attack ability is extremely weak—they were originally the best at positional play!"

"Li's decisions in the first half were very correct."

"We need to keep grasping the opponent's weaknesses..."

Fabregas enthusiastically handed Li Kang a banana.

Diego Costa gently patted Li Kang's back of the head.

In Li Kang's mind, no mechanical, cold electronic alert sounded.

The friendliness of those two guys should have exceeded Rüdiger's, yet no bond has been triggered?

German team locker room.

The atmosphere had no heaviness at all.

Löf didn't criticize the players; instead, he patiently explained the match details to several youngsters.

The 2010 World Cup journey feels as if it happened just yesterday.

The German youth team in South Africa stirred up a 'white storm,' astonishing the world.

"Time really flies."

"We have many shortcomings, but it's not too late."

Looking at the young players ahead, Le Fu's eyes were full of anticipation: the German team could maintain its strong form in next year's World Cup.

The fifteen-minute break ended quickly.

The officiating crew led both teams' players back onto the pitch.

Shengbidebao reignited passion.

"Good evening, friends, welcome back!"

"The second half is about to begin!"

"Spain made the first substitution adjustment."

"Yin Si Ke substituted off Fabregas."

"On the German side, they substituted Goretzka for Havertz!"

Beep!

Accompanied by a whistle from the head referee.

The second half began.

German team possession.

Werner kicked off, passing back to Kroos.

Not too many frills... after Goretzka came on, the German war machine's advance became much simpler.

Li Kang's ears suddenly heard a young beast's hiss.

In his vision, the phantom of a young colt condensed in the wind.

The German team isn't Bayern!

How come Borussia Mönchengladbach's enthusiasm is so high?

"The German team's forward passes are very simple."

"Different from Havertz's style of controlling rhythm, linking front and back, shifting left and right, Goretzka in the central position basically won't have too many rotations and position swaps, thereby making the German team's frontal impact stronger."

"Unfortunately, Schalke's talent still has a rather frail physique..."

"As expected!"

"Li Kang directly stole the ball from under his feet in a front tackle."

"The explosive power of that front challenge was too fierce!"

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

The Spanish fans cheered and leapt with joy.

Goretzka looked bewildered: How could Li's explosive force in that instant be so monstrous? According to past experience, he definitely had enough time to pass the ball.

Li Kang dribbled forward, cutting through midfield.

The German midfield quickly closed in.

Rudiger decisively gave up on Diego Costa, pressing toward Yin Si Ke, who was in a better position to receive the ball.

Kimmich's cheeks flushed red: It's time for my fateful showdown with Li again.

Calm.

A little unable to stay calm.

The Spanish number 6 coming straight at us has terrifying impact.

"Li Kang's injury might not have healed yet."

"He ran little in the first half, but as soon as the second half started he displayed his former midfield dominance!"

"Maybe he can't get past!"

Facing the German midfield's frontal interception.

The shadow in Li Kang's mind spread wildly.

Energy filled.

All-around improvement.

True Eye burst forth.

His body tilted to the left.

Yet his left foot pushed the ball to the right.

He perfectly avoided Kimmich's outstretched leg!

In the flash of lightning and sparks.

His right foot shoved the ball forward!

"It's past."

"A perfect fried dough ball."

"Golden move!"