Chapter 535: Nine and a Half Achievements (Daily Transition)

The moment the final whistle blew.

The cheers of the Spanish fans surged like a flood across the Kazan Arena.

The Argentine fans' eyes were red-rimmed, finding it hard to accept their team's elimination.

"The match is over."

"Li Kang and Messi delivered dominant performances in this game, letting us fully feel the charm of football."

"Their peak showdown has come to an end tonight."

"Li Kang is only 20 years old this year; he can accompany us for a long, long time to come."

"But Messi is no longer young—what exactly is his endpoint."

"May the breeze by the Volga River blow away your sorrow, Argentina! Rise again in four years!"

"."

"Congratulations to the Matadors!"

"I hope Li Kang's journey in the World Cup avoids too many hardships and regrets."

Live stream room.

【Four years later, Argentina will have lost Higuaín, Agüero, and Mascherano as key players, and their youth academy temporarily hasn't produced super talents like Li Kang, Mbappé, or Pogba, so Messi's career likely won't yield the World Cup trophy.】

【Li Kang's situation is similar—four years from now, he may only have De Gea, Morata, and Saúl left around him.】

【Busquets and others like him may have increasingly cunning anticipation, but their declining physical abilities are visibly apparent and can offer little help anymore.】

【I hope Li Kang can win this World Cup!】

【At 20 years old (in East Asian age reckoning), his first World Cup appearance, scoring five goals as a midfield core—already extraordinarily abnormal.】

【The French 'little black eggs' next door are also fierce—Mbappé scored two goals.】

Sampaoli regained his composure, walked slowly onto the pitch, and comforted his players.

Agüero's eyes reddened.

Higuaín lay flat on the grass, covering his eyes with his arm.

Mascherano was helped off the field by the team doctor.

Di María remained expressionless, thanking the fans in the stands.

Messi was covered in mud, his jersey stained with grass clippings, staring blankly at the corner flag fluttering in the night wind.

No one knows what he is thinking at this moment.

Argentine fans' hearts are filled with regret: at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, 35-year-old Messi and 34-year-old Di María may not be able to produce such a phenomenal performance as tonight's.

One side's sorrow contrasts with the other's joy.

Spanish fans are very happy.

But after the brief celebration, the coaching staff and veteran players once again fell into deep thought.

In the group stage, they conceded two goals to Morocco.

Tonight's knockout match—if not for Messi hitting the crossbar and post, the outcome would have been uncertain.

The actual lineup suffers from numerous problems, though they are sometimes masked.

The young players, however, haven't overthought things.

Li Kang was surrounded by Saúl, Koke, De Gea, and others as he walked toward the fans to thank them.

"Why think so much?"

"Is there really that much defensive pressure in positional play in the upcoming matches?"

"You'll also say it's positional defense."

Morata, who was substituted early, had already neatened his hairstyle and appeared as a player representative in the media zone.

The spotlight illuminated his handsome, striking face.

Behind him, advertising boards were plastered with World Cup sponsors' logos.

A Spanish reporter asked: "Álvaro, congratulations on scoring the crucial goal in this match. Do you regret not being born a few years earlier, so you could have lifted the World Cup with the golden generation of the Matadors in South Africa and achieved a career grand slam?"

Born a few years earlier?

Could I have competed with Torres and Villa?

Morata straightened his waist, expression serious: "Compared to that, I'm more grateful to be able to fight alongside Li Kang—we will join hands to create a more glorious chapter in football history!"

Clap-clap-clap!

This answer prompted the reporters present to applaud sincerely.

Thunderous applause, lasting and unceasing.

Post-match press conference.

Bosque's expression did not show too much delight.

"Argentina is a worthy opponent; they were just one point away from equalizing the score."

"Li changed the situation."

"Spain's possession-play problem was already exposed without doubt in the 2013 Confederations Cup—it was no longer the best defensive bulwark."

"We will still uphold Li's central role; he will lead the team to victory."

The 2013 Confederations Cup was a rout.

The 2014 World Cup group stage was a massacre.

In the 2016 European Championship, Li Kang revived the aging dynasty.

Now, the 2018 World Cup

Moments later.

Argentina's head coach—Sampaoli appeared in the auditorium.

Facing the barrage from South American reporters.

He proudly puffed out his chest: "I believe we lost to the World Cup champions! You just wait and see—this World Cup, no defense can withstand the Matadors Legion!"

"It's a pity, if we had topped the group stage standings, we wouldn't have met Spain so early."

"I must emphasize again, Li is unstoppable at the national team level—he's a Beckenbauer-like presence; losing to his team is completely normal."

San Paulo likes to praise opponents after losing.

Because praising opponents can cover up many problems.

Catalan Television.

Enrique lowered his head to glance at his phone—why are all the comments under his social media full of things like 'compensate money', 'refund money', 'damn squid', and similar phrases?

"Cough, cough, a narrow victory."

"Although Li scored two goals in this match and created multiple threats, his World Cup experience is still somewhat lacking. Let's look at this replay—why did he get tripped and still get up to keep attacking? He should complain to the referee for a free kick!"

"This is true wisdom on the green field!"

"Oh, the through ball he sent after getting up was truly perfect!"

"."

"Ramos's tackle was too reckless."

"Coke's two long shots were a bit random."

"If Spain wants to go further in the World Cup, they can't rely too much on Li."

The host suddenly asked: "Mr. Enrique, if you become Spain's head coach in the future, will you build your tactics around Li?"

Enrique staggered, then declared firmly: "Yes!"

After this World Cup ends, Bosque will retire; Enrique, who was just released by Arsenal, is now one of the top candidates for head coach.

One hour later.

Li Kang and his teammates returned to their hotel.

Outside the hotel, barriers had been set up in advance; many tourists wore Spain's number 6 jerseys, holding posters and high-quality replicas of the World Cup trophy.

Security personnel stood ready, facing off against the crowd.

Minyano sent team representatives to persuade tourists to go back and rest early.

The tourists refused to sleep.

The players need to sleep.

A swarm of people gathered around the hotel, setting off fireworks to celebrate—how can they rest?

For professional athletes, training and sleep are equally important.

"Turns out the opposing side is the white-walled Kremlin, the ancient Tatar kingdom's city—how did I not notice this before the match?"

De Gea pushed open the room's window, admiring the majestic ancient palace under the night sky.

The tense emotions had long vanished without a trace.

Iniesta, Busquets, Ramos, Coke, Carvajal, and other players set aside their La Liga grudges, rented a small meeting room at the hotel, and began watching the "Belgium vs Japan" match.

The quarterfinal opponent will emerge from these two teams!

"Japan played well—their ground coordination is too smooth."

"Belgium's defensive strategy lacks unity!"

The Spanish players chattered seven ways at once.

Morata stared at Lukaku failing to score into the empty goal on screen and couldn't help but complain: "This guy's shooting is terrible."

Li Kang returned to his room.

The system notification sound softly rang.

【Ding, mission completed: one dog-person, one patient.】

【Mission receipt: a peak showdown. Well, your World Cup journey will become increasingly thrilling from now on!】

【Congratulations on obtaining: World Cup · Legendary Chest.】

The golden chest floated mid-air.

Its surface had no patterns.

The greatest simplicity is like a gold chain—universal across all eras.

Li Kang glanced at the prize pool:

【Maradona "King" Module (Legendary)!】

【Pelé "Firstborn" Module (Legendary)!】

【Ronaldo "Super Alien" Module (Legendary)!】

【Zidane "Absolute Superstar" Module (Legendary)!】

【Götze "Fateful Strike" Module.】

【.】

【World Cup: defeating Argentina head-on, probability shifted.】

【Legendary Chest opening in progress—congratulations on obtaining: Maradona "King" Module!】

【"Great Number Nine and a Half" achievement unlocked!】

In Li Kang's memory, a series of legendary phantoms emerged.

Italian jersey.

French jersey.

Various negative emotions frenziedly intertwined, finally condensing into the blue-white Argentina number 10—then swept away, replaced by an aura of disdain for all beings!

A moment later.

Li Kang regained his composure; nowadays, legendary emotions hardly affect his state of mind.

He pulled out his phone from his backpack.

The notification bar was filled with a dense stream of messages.

He first opened his email and began scrolling down to search.

A long time ago, Simone had once sent him "On the Survival Structure of the Number Nine and a Half in This Era."

In today's football world, the man who best utilizes the number nine and a half is this Atlético Madrid head coach.

Rostov-on-Don.

The national teams ranked in the top three by FIFA—Belgium—actually found themselves in dire straits tonight!

In the 24th minute of the match, Lukaku faced an open goal, kicked wide, the ball struck the back of his supporting leg's calf, and was immediately cleared by a Japanese defender's long kick; Lukaku wore a foolish grin, giving away this match's first assist.

In the 47th minute, Haraguchi Motoki fired a shot into the far corner to score!

Japan 1:0 Belgium.

The first goal in Japan's World Cup knockout stage history!

Shocking the world!

Could a monumental upset in the World Cup knockout stage be about to happen?

The betting company's initial handicap was: Belgium -33.5, yet Japan scored first?

Belgian fans couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Immediately after.

In the 48th minute, Hazard hit the post.

In the 51st minute, Takashi Inui unleashed a long-range shot, Japan extended their lead, 2:0!!!

Audiences worldwide were dumbfounded.

Did the Japanese go berserk?

Courtois spread his hands toward his teammates in complaint; moments later, he stared at the scoreboard hanging in midair, feeling somewhat despairing, and couldn't help but ponder in advance: where to go on vacation after elimination.

64th minute.

Belgium used both substitution slots at once, bringing on Fellaini and Chadli, both over 1.9 meters tall!

No ground tactics to speak of!

Maddening aerial bombardment!

In the 68th minute, Vertonghen! Header goal, 2:1!

In the 73rd minute, Fellaini! Header goal, 2:2!

This is the tactic of head coach Martínez: using Belgians over 1.9 meters tall to play against Japanese defenders under 1.7 meters.

Brainless, yet effective!

Japan's head coach—Halilhodžić—was not demoralized: no parking the bus, continue counterattacking!

93rd minute of the match.

Keisuke Honda took a corner kick, easily caught by Courtois.

Belgium would not let the match go into extra time; Courtois instantly spotted De Bruyne, hesitated not at all, and simply threw the ball to him!

Green light connection!

De Bruyne spread the ball wide.

Meunier crossed in.

Lukaku missed it.

Chadli, arriving late at the far post, pushed the ball into the net!

2:3!!!

14-second counterattack, winner!

Belgium scored three consecutive goals, shattering Japan's dream of advancement!

Heaven and hell.

Japan's head coach—Halilhodžić—dropped to his knees, his clenched fists trembling uncontrollably.

Japanese fans in the stands, tears streaming down their faces; at the 94th minute, they had experienced hope and despair!

A young Japanese boy wailed: "Mr. Okada, have we been eliminated?"

A middle-aged man nodded, comforting him: "It's fine; we'll be back in four years."

"14 seconds. Belgians used 14 seconds to shatter our hope."

"But these 14 seconds are not darkness, but a beam of light illuminating the path ahead!"

"We will reflect, learn from this, and Japanese football will become stronger!"

Belgian players gathered together.

Lukaku confidently patted De Bruyne on the shoulder: "How was my miss? Against Spain in the quarterfinals, I won't go easy."

De Bruyne's mouth twitched: tonight, Lukaku wasted four chances.

Hazard quickly regained composure, slipping away into the locker room.

Upon realizing the quarterfinal opponent was Spain, Courtois seemed transformed; he wanted to prove to the world: Chelsea's decision to demote him to the reserves last season was a mistake.

July 4.

The World Cup round of 16 matches all concluded.

News after news occupied the homepages of major online media.

"Li Kang Shines in Kazan, Spain 3:1 Argentina."

"Cavani Descends Like a God, Uruguay 2:1 Portugal."

19-year-old Mbappé stuns the world as France beats Russia 4-1!

Intense battle, Croatia eliminates Denmark via penalty shootout.

The 14 seconds that silenced Japan — Europe's Red Devils launch a stunning counterattack!

At the same time.

The quarterfinal matchups have also been released.

France vs Uruguay.

Brazil vs Sweden.

Spain vs Belgium.

Croatia vs England.

Comment counts, likes, and shares are skyrocketing.

【You won't believe it? Courtois passed the ball to De Bruyne?】

【Li Mingdeng is insane! He's still the king of the board even after reaching the World Cup knockout stage — the internet just dropped another highlight reel of him and Messi!】

【Spain's "aging dynasty" meets Belgium's "golden generation" — Morata vs Lukaku, a clash of the strikers!】

【Striker showdown? Who misses more open goals?】

【Don't doubt Lukaku — he transformed and gained weight to serve Belgium's overall system, and he hasn't fully adapted to this 200-pound frame yet.】

【Croatia definitely won't get past England — it's a money-losing match.】

【France also can't beat Uruguay — the betting companies are definitely fixing the odds!】

【An upset is certain — I'm backing Brazil to lose to Sweden.】

(End of chapter)