Chapter 527

Li Kang returned to the hotel where he was staying in Sochi.

The small screen at the elevator entrance was broadcasting the Group G second-round match: England vs Panama.

The match had just reached the 35th minute.

The sound carried the commentator's hysterical shout:

「Lin Jiade！！！

The youngster in white on the screen shone brightly across the field.

After a pass on the wing, he made a forward run to support.

He received the ball again.

He completed a one-on-one breakthrough.

After falling into a heavy siege, he completed a neat wall-pass with a teammate in the rib area.

Finally, he carried the ball laterally to the edge of the penalty area.

Facing triple-team pressure.

Lin Jiade's right foot blasted a super arc heavy cannon!

The ball howled as it smashed into the net.

The entire Nizhny Novgorod Stadium applauded and cheered for him!

Li Kang couldn't help but clap.

He also thought Lin Jiade's celebration dance looked great.

Just watching the entire process of this goal: Lin Jiade initiated the attack on the wing, after receiving the ball he completed a breakthrough, immediately chose the perfect wall-pass point, top-notch awareness, top-notch positioning, and even against 1v3 he still found the perfect shooting lane.

Great British star.

This guy, once he transforms into a Super Saiyan, his passing, trapping, and shooting attributes are simply maxed out.

Mo La Ta couldn't help but exclaim: "Lin Jiade is truly England's Yinisi ta!"

The atmosphere was subtle.

Everyone's gaze turned to the casually dressed Yinisi ta, and they burst out laughing.

Returned to the room.

Li Kang took out his phone from his backpack.

The notification bar was filled with a string of messages.

Wo Le Er, Tuop, Dino, and others said they would definitely fly to Russia soon.

European Champions League head coach Tu He Er said he would fly to Russia during the knockout stage to commentate on the German team's match.

Ha Fu Ci and Bu Lan Te also sent messages; both were selected for the German World Cup squad but have not yet gotten playing time.

Pulling down the notification bar further, it was all messages from girls.

Li Kang didn't look.

The upcoming World Cup journey is still tough; how can he constantly be in touch with girls?

Be self-disciplined.

Accompanied by the system notification sound.

Li Kang opened the golden treasure chest reward, still a bottle of Green Tangerine Fizzy Candy with no substantive benefit, adding up to enough for him to eat for two seasons.

Immediately followed.

He took out a book titled Soviet Joke Collection from his schoolbag and began reading it on the sofa.

"One day, an old man fell into the river; he couldn't swim, so he could only shout for help."

"By the bank, two KGB agents happened to pass by, and they turned a blind eye to the old man."

"The old man, thinking on his feet, shouted: 'Down with Brezhnev!'"

"Upon hearing this, the two KGB agents trembled, hurriedly jumped into the river, rescued the old man, and put handcuffs on him!"

The background of this joke is really too complex.

Li Kang couldn't understand it for a moment.

Two days later.

All of the second round group stage matches of the 2018 World Cup have ended.

Seven teams qualified early: Russia, Uruguay, France, Croatia, Belgium, England, Spain.

《Croatia 3:0 Argentina, Modrić repeatedly changed direction in place, a world-class goal! 》

《Sevilla 1:2 Switzerland, Zakaria performed the ultimate violent aesthetics, a world-class goal! 》

《England 6:1 Panama, Lingard entered the realm of the ball king, a world-class goal! 》

《Germany 2:1 Sweden, Kroos turned the tide, an ultimate arc goal! 》

《Denmark 1:1 Australia, Eriksen scored first, a world-class goal! 》

《Korean Heavenly King! Son Heung-min cut inside with his left foot, a world-class goal! 》

《The Demon King rampaged the World Cup, Li Kang had three shots and one assist, shining in Russia! 》

The numbers of comments, likes, and shares surged wildly.

【Why are there so many world-class goals in the second round?】

【Is it the same as the South Africa World Cup? The characteristics of the match ball?】

【It's not that exaggerated; these players themselves also have some long-range shooting foundation.】

【No way? Argentina drew one and lost one; could they be eliminated in the group stage?】

【Argentina cannot be eliminated; finishing second in the group, the knockout stage will stage the script of Li Kang vs. Messi.】

【Midfielder Li vs. Midfielder Mei.】

【German team also a bit dangerous, defending champion's curse!】

【Also the Confederations Cup curse, I'm optimistic Li Kang will break the curse and eventually meet France in the final at the world's summit! Demon King VS Plantation!】

June 23

Spanish King Felipe VI, leading two little princesses, arrived in Krasnodar.

Nothing fancy.

The players, cooperating with the media, went through a simple welcome process.

The attitude was perfunctory.

A large group of Basques, Brazilians, Catalans, and Galicians would not give the royal family a pleasant look.

"Marquis Vincent, I have come to support you with the hopes of the entire nation."

Bosque smiled and gave a salute.

Having a hereditary title, their descendants still live off taxpayers' money, so they must be especially attentive to the royal family.

The grand princess hid behind the king, secretly glancing at Li Kang.

The helmsman of the Invincible Fleet has long been the most popular superstar of the entire Iberian Peninsula.

Of course, the grand princess had no other thoughts.

She simply, like many ordinary girls, admired the heroes on the green field.

On January 30, 2018, she was awarded the Golden Fleece Knight's Medal and was confirmed as the future queen of Spain.

Isco furrowed his brows, vigilantly blocking in front of Li Kang.

Li Kang smiled, noticing that the grand princess had grown significantly taller than two years ago, losing some of her childishness.

Time really flies.

Immediately after.

He realized that the veteran coach Bosque, Cazorla, Iniesta, David Silva, etc., had also become much more weathered compared to two years ago.

Perhaps, this is their last World Cup.

Nothing happened.

Li Kang, in an orderly manner, received a few jerseys and signed his name.

Leonor's cheeks turned red, she hesitated for a long time, carefully tiptoeing.

Spaniards have the custom of cheek-kissing; men also often cheek-kiss each other to express sincere friendship.

The grand princess's status is special; besides her parents and sister, she has never kissed anyone else's cheek.

The accompanying reporters were nervous, not knowing whether to press the shutter or not.

The result.

Leonor didn't kiss anything.

Because Isco pulled Li Kang apart.

Bosque let out a long sigh.

June 26

Li Kang and his teammates arrived in Kaliningrad.

Russia World Cup group stage final round: Spain VS Morocco.

Kaliningrad's predecessor was established in 1255 by the Teutonic Knights' Northern Crusade, formerly known as Königsberg.

The story of this city is long.

After the Königsberg battle ended in 1945, Kaliningrad officially became Soviet territory.

"CTV5! CTV5! Good evening, viewers!"

"Welcome to watch the final round of the 2018 Russia World Cup Group B."

"This is the Kaliningrad·Baltic Sea Stadium."

"The Bullfighters' Legion encounters the Atlas Lion!"

"Spain has already advanced."

"Morocco has no hope of advancing."

"Hope both teams play more openly, bringing us a goal feast!"

"Next, we will introduce the starting lineups of both sides."

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

"Goalkeeper:"

Live broadcast room.

【Except Li Mingdeng not playing, all other Spanish positions are starters; I expect a massacre.】

【Steady.】

【7】

【I went all-in on Spain winning others! With eyes closed, I'll win back the bride price money.】

"Morocco's formation is 4-2-3-1."

"Goalkeeper: Kayovi Munir."

"Defenders: Ashraf, Manuel, Benatia, Dirar."

"Double defensive midfielders: Bousfa, Ahmadi."

"Central midfielders: Ziyeh, Belhand, Nurdin."

"Forward: Buttaib."

Live broadcast room.

Li Mingdeng didn't show up, this round I went all-in and it's a tie!

Morocco, Monaco, I can't tell them apart.

Morocco is a small African country, only founded in 1956; its football is very pure, this tiny nation boasts a complete five-tier professional league with 230 professional clubs.

Not counting as a mysterious team, they reached the World Cup finals in 1970, 1986, 1994, and 1998, with their best result being the round of 16.

The Moroccan League, a conscientious league.

Why is big brother so talented? He knows everything.

After losing many happy beans, my knowledge has broadened.

This group of immigrant players actually has decent fighting strength; they just need more cohesion.

Achraf is an excellent product of Real Madrid's youth academy, appearing 17 times for the first team last season.

Benatia needs no introduction; he's currently a top-tier centre-back.

I'm more optimistic about Ajax's Ziyeh, the ball king!

The match is about to start, and players from both sides have taken their positions.

The sidelines.

A large group of media didn't point their cameras at the green pitch, but instead focused on Li Kang on Spain's bench.

Bosike quickly raised his hand, signaling the reporters to focus on the game.

Mininyinuo and the coaching staff members were intensely studying the qualification scenarios of other groups; their current focus is the knockout stage.

The match situation did not develop into a one-sided affair.

14th minute.

Iniesta's back-pass resulted in a mistake.

Ramos couldn't safely stop the ball.

Boutaib surged forward with a burst of speed, and after completing the tackle he sped away!

"Oh no!"

"Spain's high defensive line committed a fatal mistake."

"The distant Pique can't stop Morocco's breakaway in time!"

"Boutaib faces Deheya and shoots!"

"The ball went in!"

"Nutmeg!"

"After twenty years, Morocco returns to the World Cup finals!"

Boutaib excitedly rushed toward the sidelines.

Moroccan fans were overjoyed: the national team finally scored its first goal in this World Cup!

Strictly speaking, it might not even count as the first goal.

In the previous group match, a Moroccan player scored an own goal, breaking his own net.

Morocco did not park the bus.

Instead, they launched a mercurial, fluid attack, resolutely engaging in end-to-end action!

The spectators suddenly realized: Morocco is genuinely not weak, and Spain is genuinely not strong.

54th minute of the match.

Morocco launched a major offensive.

"Ahamaidi shoots!"

"Wow!"

"This ball hit the goalpost!"

79th minute of the match.

Morocco continued its major offensive.

Ziyeh volleyed a shot inside the penalty area!

One kick struck Pique's hand!

The referee did not award a penalty kick.

"Moroccan players complained to the referee."

"Let's look at the slow-motion replay."

"Ah! It definitely hit Pique's hand and bounced out over the baseline!"

"The referee didn't give a penalty, he thought Pique's arm was tucked to his body! He didn't spread it to enlarge the defensive area!"

"Corner kick."

"Take it."

"Wow! The ball went in!"

"The 19th-number substitute, Neixili! Header goal!"

"Atlas Lions, you can leave the World Cup stage with heads held high! Even if eliminated early, their fans will surely be proud of the team's performance tonight!"

"Let's start over; perhaps at the next World Cup, the Atlas Lions can roar triumphant in Qatar!"

"For Spain, although this match doesn't affect qualification, they must heed the warning."

Finally.

The referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the match.

Spain 2:2 Morocco.

Iniesta and several veterans lay on the grass, panting heavily.

De He Ya wanted to say something, but couldn't say anything; in this match he actually had made several wonderful saves.

Mi Ni Ya Nuo and the coaching staff members stood stunned in place.

Li Kang stood up from the bench, twisted open a bottle of mineral water, and the media reporters on the sidelines once again aimed their cameras at him.