Chapter 550: A Heavy Blow to the Demon King? (Daily Transition)
The ball went in!
Li Kang used the most elegant, lightest, and most violent way to break through the French team's defense.
A great goal!
Turning decay into magic!
The ultimate interpretation of pass, trap, and shoot!
Planning the attack, finishing the attack!
Fifty-eight years later, in the long history of football, he is the second player under twenty years old to score in a World Cup final.
Only Pele stands ahead of Li Kang!
Strictly speaking, Diego Costa's pass wasn't bad either; it caused the French defense to make a wrong prediction.
The slow-motion replay played back the goal process.
The commentator still couldn't calm the excitement in his heart.
On the World Cup final stage, such a brilliant goal was born, destined to be hailed as a classic and widely spread.
Ten goals.
Li Kang scored ten goals in a single World Cup!
The live broadcast.
Bullet comments flew everywhere.
【Handsome! So handsome!】
【One person blew up the French team's defense!】
【Li Kang's right foot is that good too?】
【If this goal were placed in Captain Tsubasa, it would need ten episodes!】
【Opening line France -0.5? Where does Happy Bean Company get its confidence?】
【The steal before the counterattack looked simple but was actually very difficult; Pogba made no mistake, he used his body to create a visual blind spot in the opponent's interception line, then instead of receiving the ball, he turned with the ball, a very sophisticated and efficient way of playing, but it was still anticipated.】
【Koke's forward insertion support was spot on.】
【Can Spain park the bus to hold the score?】
Luzhniki Stadium, the sound waves surged.
The little assistant and the wives' group excitedly hugged.
Wo Le Er and Tuopu Laotou waved their fists.
Tens of thousands of spectators shouted Li Kang's name in unison.
Lee!!!
Lee!!!
Lee!!!
Li Kang, Diego Costa, and Koke ran to the corner area to celebrate.
His gaze passed through the glaring stadium lights, he looked up at the night sky, and saw no stars or moon.
Joy contrasted with loneliness.
Lloris remained kneeling, feeling lost: the national team has no Asian person to scold him.
Pogba angrily spread his hands at his teammates, blaming them for being too slow in defensive positioning after losing possession.
Varane scooped the ball from the net and threw it to Mbappe, who came jogging back.
On the sidelines.
The Spanish coaching staff, while delighted, quickly gave adjustment opinions: low defensive positioning.
Bosque nodded his head, feeling somewhat uneasy inside.
The bullfighters' dynasty's path to victory doesn't need to build a low defensive line; they lack that gene.
You might as well let the 2006 Italy defend this French team.
On the other side.
Deschamps quickly calmed down.
He made a downward pressing gesture to the players on the field.
Must not be chaotic.
Must not be dazed by being hit.
The game restarted from the center circle.
Giroud was so anxious he wanted to take off his pants, and kicked off, passing the ball back to Matuidi.
The French team's formation quickly pressed forward.
After several smooth passes, the ball came to Pogba's feet.
Pogba has become much more mature than before.
Why isn't he passing yet?
In Deschamps' tactical concept, the ball-holding core can slow the tempo, but the movement demands for the second and third receivers are higher; look at Griezmann and Mbappe.
Pogba, in a slow and leisurely manner, completed a wall-pass with Kanté.
The moment of receiving the ball with his back to the goal.
Fabregas quickly closed in.
Pogba deliberately let the ball go, his body making a feint to turn left.
Immediately afterwards.
The ankle exerts force.
He violently pulls back the body that was turning left, and the burst stride stance erupts!
Fabregas is shaken and loses his balance.
Thiago comes in time to help defend, cutting off Pogba's forward path.
There is no intense melee.
Pogba again displays tremendous bodily flexibility and ankle strength.
The burst stride stance instantly ends.
He stops abruptly.
He nudges the ball with the outside of his left foot.
He turns again.
He steps with his right foot and launches again.
This scene stunned the global audience.
Too flashy.
What the hell is this historically legendary talent?
"Compared to before, Pogba has matured a lot."
"No longer relying on physical collisions to solve problems."
"Continuous, covert, and simple evasive moves let him single-handedly defeat Spain's double pivot from midfield."
"Spain's defensive positioning speed is very fast."
"Griezmann and Mbappe run even faster!"
"Beautiful!"
"Pogba's through-ball is scalpel‑sharp!"
"Mbappe!"
That black teenager who looks like a Ninja Turtle bursts with unbelievable terrifying speed!
The moment he receives the ball, he instantly draws the world's gaze.
The new‑generation French supercar, swift as wind and lightning.
Luzhniki Stadium seems to be swept by a gust of dark wind.
Nacho is a masterpiece of Real Madrid's youth academy.
He has a mouth that only a screwdriver can pry open.
His talent is outstanding.
Unfortunately, hereditary disease and old injuries have reduced him to a T2‑level defender.
He simply cannot keep up with that Ninja Turtle.
It's empty.
The right side of the penalty area is empty.
Mbappe dribbles in and fires a shot!
Bang!
De Gea, who had already assumed the K‑posture, blocks the ball with his foot!
"Wow!"
"De Gea's block!"
"Successfully defused the danger!"
"Near the left goalpost, his left knee lifts, right knee kneels to close the gap below the crotch, upper body vertical; at the right moment he makes the right blocking move."
"In the slow‑motion replay, when Pogba played the through‑ball, De Gea did two things."
"The replay cut off; the crisis is not over!"
"Pavard quickly throws the ball in from the touchline."
"Kante traps the ball and again gives it to Pavard."
"Pavard crosses the ball."
"Giroud makes a sudden forward run."
"Griezmann strolls leisurely in the Spanish penalty area; his combat tendency is 'waiting'."
"Some players excel at spotting defensive gaps; once they see one they immediately exploit it, making their running tendencies easy for the opposition to read."
"Griezmann is different."
"Although this guy's character is poor, his ability is strong."
"Simeone is believed by mainstream media to stifle players' creativity."
"In fact, he demands a very high understanding of space and timing for forwards in attack."
"Griezmann is full of patience when it comes to breaking down the opponent's defense."
"Like an experienced hunter."
"Giroud and Pique interfere with each other; neither wins the point."
"Griezmann has sped up!"
"Adjusting his steps."
"Wow! A standing volley side‑hook!"
"Griezmann appears at the ball's landing spot, lifting his left leg high."
"Thud!"
Football howled as it boomed toward Spain's goal!
De Gea's body stretched in midair, his platinum gloves barely managed to punch the ball out!
The stadium immediately filled with sighs.
Griezmann wearily rubbed his hair.
Pogba again spread his hands, indicating the ball should be given to him to set up a cannon.
The live broadcast room.
【How does it feel like the French team could equalize any minute?】
【The French team's firepower is truly fierce, with many attacking points, literally pushing De Gea back into the shape of Manchester United's big dad.】
【Turns out the Gauls' positional attack is also that strong!】
【The French team plays quite nicely in localized areas.】
【The youth training coach told my son not to step on the ball during the match! But looking at this year's Champions League final and World Cup final, which of these top players doesn't step on the ball? Which doesn't trap it?】
【The era has changed, even small techniques are improving.】
【Spain has set up a low defensive block, how long can they hold?】
The French team took a corner kick.
Li Kang dropped back into the penalty area, outmuscled Giroud, leapt high, and cleared the ball.
The danger remained unresolved.
Griezmann's judgment of the landing point is too accurate.
The thirty-meter area.
He tapped the falling ball with his left foot.
Facing the incoming Koke.
The French white guy again pulled the ball.
In the blink of an eye.
The person and ball just went around the Atlético Madrid midfield.
"One pull, one push."
"Successfully shook off."
"Large-scale transfer, Mismatch Bombardment!"
"Lucas!"
The ball flew to the other side of the pitch, the Atlético Madrid full-back who had surged forward swung his leg in midair!
Unfortunately.
Lucas does not know the Peach Blossom Shadow Falling Flying Divine Sword.
The ball flew towards the stands.
The sidelines.
Bosque, heart still pounding, patted his big belly and said seriously:
"In this final, the midfield linker is not Pogba, but Griezmann!"
"Fortunately, that kid's weakness is weak ball‑holding ability!"
"Suppress him."
"And Mbappé, he is the one who truly decides the French team's attacking speed!"
"No, we cannot let Li participate too much in deep defense; keeping him up front is the biggest threat to the French team."
During the dead‑ball period, Minaño quickly conveyed the head coach's intentions to the players on the field.
He suddenly realized: the old coach is no longer that drowsy‑looking version!
The other side.
Deschamps did not regret the players' missed attacking opportunities.
He continued to think nonstop.
Time flowed by second by second.
Bosque's adjustment was very effective.
Koke combined with Tiago, sealing off Griezmann's link‑up play.
But the French team's resource focus shifted again to the backline.
Ball distribution stable.
Solid.
Safe.
Perfect ability to win second‑ball duels.
The historic‑level Gallic rooster backline propped up the luxurious midfield and front.
The continuous relentless bombardment finally produced an effect.
Minute 43 of the match.
Griezmann fell outside the top of the arc in the penalty area.
The referee decisively blew the whistle, awarding a free kick!
"Oh dear?"
"Saúl shouldn't have made a mistake in that position!"
"The French team obtained a dangerously good positioned free kick!"
"Huh? Slow‑motion replay shows Saúl didn't touch Griezmann; it was Griezmann himself whose feet left the ground, and only when falling did he make contact with Saúl!"
"Typical dive."
"Scheming and rivalry between the two Atlético Madrid teammates."
"Thiago gestured the VAR signal to the referee, but the referee ignored him!"
The spectators gazed at the LED screen hanging in midair, their expressions complex.
Luzhniki Stadium immediately rang with wave after wave of boos like a tide.
The referee pulled out a foam spray and drew a 'U' at the foul spot.
The Spanish players stopped arguing and, prompted by the assistant referee, formed a wall.
De Gea stood ready.
Griezmann remained calm, placing the ball down.
Beep!
Three-step run-up!
Thud!
The ball rose off the ground, spinning violently, flying toward the top right corner of the goal.
De Gea lunged for a save.
His platinum gloves were just a fingertip away from touching the ball.
1:1!!!
France leveled the score.
Griezmann sprinted to the corner flag, raising both hands to make a 'six' sign and shaking them wildly.
"The ball went in."
"The French star's celebration comes from Canadian singer Drake's song V 'HotlineBling'."
"Although the free-kick call was controversial, Griezmann still seized the chance and scored."
"France relied on its superior overall strength to take control of the match."
De Gea shook his head helplessly.
Saúl still wanted to argue with the referee, but his teammates pulled him away.
Li Kang silently picked up the ball and ran back to the center circle.
The stadium audience did not stop booing.
French fans, however, were delighted.
For some, a mistaken call is also part of football.
The livestream.
【Although it was a dive, Griezmann's free-kick was of high quality.】
【Why not check VAR?】
【The current VAR rules are still imperfect; aside from penalties and red cards, other situations are not reviewed.】
【Spain is in trouble, being attacked like this by France; they might not hold up later.】
【Having watched football for twenty years, I've never seen Spain win by parking the bus; get a grip, you're not Italy.】
【The French warriors have thrown down the first gauntlet at the Demon King.】
The sidelines.
Minamino desperately complained to the fourth official.
Bosque paced back and forth anxiously.
The other side.
After Deschamps and the coaching staff celebrated excitedly, they gestured to the players to keep attacking.
Two minutes of stoppage time were added to the first half.
Play restarted from the center circle.
Morata kicked off, passing the ball back to Piqué.
The Bullfighters' squad advanced in an orderly manner.
The ball moved smoothly between the red shirts.
Suddenly.
A short, small black egg broke the neat order.
"Kante"
"A clean, decisive tackle!"
"A historic-level defensive midfielder!"
"He is like a hammer, smashing the smooth passing and possession network."
France's transition attack lacked overly complex passing and running rotations.
Kante's club duty is to pass the ball to Li Kang, while his national team duty is to pass the ball to Pogba.
Smack!
The ball rolled to Pogba's feet.
Koke and Fabregas swiftly intercepted from the front.
Pogba pulled the ball back with his left foot.
He avoided Fabregas's outstretched foot.
The moment his left foot touched down after leaving the ball.
His foot shifted.
He lightly tapped the ball inward again.
He surged forward!
He blew past Thiago!
How strong is the national team's Pogba?
He created space in the front again.
Deschamps in the technical area is desperately waving his arms!
Teammates are also pointing toward the far end!
The whole French team is calling for him to pass the ball.
Pa!
Pogba still passed the ball!
He precisely passed it to Mbappé!
The Ninja Turtle kicked the turf hard, exerting force again!
Spain's defense, as if encountering a ferocious beast's bite!
Accompanied by gasps from the stands on all sides.
After receiving the ball, Mbappé accelerated again.
He charged into the right side of Spain's penalty area!
Nacho's defensive positioning was good, but in a one-on-one duel he couldn't keep up with Mbappé's change of pace!
He instinctively made a pulling motion with his hand.
His outstretched right foot failed to touch the ball, instead tripping the Ninja Turtle.
Mbappé fell completely inside the penalty area.
Beep!
The head referee decisively blew the whistle, raising his hand toward the penalty spot!
Penalty kick!
The French team had just equalized, and now they've earned another penalty kick!
Everything happened too fast, leaving the spectators unprepared.
We must check VAR this time.
From the slow-motion replay, Nacho definitely committed a foul—not only tripping Mbappé with his feet, but also pulling and tugging with his hands; the penalty call is unquestionable.
Will it be a red card?
Argentinian head referee Pitana, under immense pressure at this moment, is showing a red card in the World Cup final.
Wow!
Red card!
It really is a red card!
The Bullfighters' army has fallen from heaven into the depths of hell!
We cannot fathom Nacho's feelings right now. He didn't explain much, but silently walked toward the sideline.
He didn't want to become a sinner for the Bullfighters' army; he simply stood in that position, striving to fulfill his duty.
Mbappé got up, extending his hand to point.
He yielded the penalty kick opportunity.
Pogba quickly grabbed the ball and ran toward the penalty spot inside the box.
The night wind at Luzhniki Stadium blew on the spectators, as if a chill penetrated to the bone.
Bosque stared blankly toward his own goal.
Minamino turned away, covering his eyes.
Deschamps' fists hidden in his pockets trembled uncontrollably.
Beep!
Pogba, standing 1.9 meters tall, began his run-up.
His dark, long legs took strange steps.
Boom!
The ball shot straight toward the center of the goal.
De Gea dove in the wrong direction.
1:2!!!
From heaven to hell.
From hell to heaven.
The joys and sorrows of the two teams are reversed at this moment.
Pogba excitedly waved his fists, rushed to the corner flag area, and displayed his innate talent: he started dancing.
In the wild celebration, he secretly glanced at Li Kang.
Li Kang still silently walked toward the net, picked up the ball, and ran back to midfield.
Pogba scoffed: "Kid, after the restart the first half is over—what's the point of running so fast?"
The ball went in again!
Pogba!
He perfectly realized his talent on the World Cup stage!
In just three minutes! France scored two goals in a row! Completed the turnaround!
This final is full of various elements from the football world.
The goddess of victory smiles at the brilliant stars of France!
The bullfighter legion fighting with one less has fallen into predicament!
Live broadcast room.
Who said there are few goals in the final? Look, three were scored in the first half.
Doomed, Li Mingdeng is finally going to get a black mark? I've saved up half a year's private money.
Don't panic, you've watched too few matches; this situation is: Ruby War God Card; Li Kang will transform into the Ruby War God!
Next, no ball left, the whole match ends 1:2.
The French warriors dealt a heavy blow to the Demon King!
Li Kang picked up the ball and scored twice.
The French team is strong; the backline heavenly squad supports the premise of the whole formation, Griezmann's linking, Pogba's personal advance, Mbappé's 'third-man speed', Li Kang is more ominous than auspicious.
Life isn't always perfect; one must experience regrets, it's okay, Li Kang is still young.
The match restarts from the center circle.
Morata kicked off, and the referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the first half.
Both teams' players walked off the pitch.
The bullfighter legion fell silent.
The Gallic roosters cheered.
Two emotions converged at the passage, the little black eggs actively restrained their excitement.
Spanish locker room.
Bosque didn't take much time to deliver his adversity remarks.
Instead, he helplessly moved the magnetic flag on the tactic board, making an adjustment: let Li Kang participate in deep defense at the time point of the second half kickoff.
Fighting with one less.
Continuous forward pressure attack will only suffer a more terrible blow.
The French team's offensive is not as strong as imagined.
They turned the game around through a diving free kick and a penalty!
There are still 45 minutes left in the match.
We still have a chance to equalize!
Seize the time to rest!
Li Kang didn't think about anything.
He sat quietly on the chair, closed his eyes to rest, preparing to face the challenge of the second half.
French team locker room.
Deschamps arranged the troops and formation.
His coaching level is high, and he is very pragmatic.
We must do a good job defending!
Even if the opponent is sent off, even if we are leading.
If we lose possession, we must mark Li, even if it means fouling!
The little black eggs nodded seriously.
The French head coach's control over the locker room is strong, strangling their internal discord's ethnic talent.
The fifteen-minute break ended quickly.
Both sides' players returned to the pitch.
Luzhniki Stadium gradually resumed its clamor, with many fans loudly calling Li Kang's name, even knowing that the bullfighter legion fighting with one less will be passive thereafter.
Good evening, friends, welcome back.
Now broadcasting to you is the final of the 2018 Russia World Cup.
The second half of the match between Spain and the French team.
The current score is 1:2!
To which side will the World Cup trophy ultimately belong? Let's wait and see!
Accompanied by the referee's whistle.
The second half officially began.
French team possession.
Under the influence of Deschamps' 'pragmatic' concept, the little black eggs had no idea of rushing the start.
Instead, they passed calmly.
Steady advance.
Whenever encountering a situation with stronger defensive depth, they immediately passed back to the rear, started a back-pass, and continued to reorganize the attack.
Time passed unnoticed.
The scene was calm.
There was no outbreak of overly fierce competition.
The bullfighter legion feared the weakness of its rear defense.
France led by one goal, attempting to kill slowly.
The spectators suddenly realized: this French team is somewhat like Spain, and this Spanish team is somewhat like the French team.
Agony.
The supporters of the Bullfighter Regiment felt utterly tormented.
With time running out, there was basically no hope of seeing the ten-man Spain equalize.
In the stands.
Tuopu Laotou had a bad temper, berating the nearby Japanese until they were drenched in abuse.
The young assistant and the wives' group looked anxious, occasionally stomping their feet and pounding the rail.
Professor Belenta adjusted his glasses and said bitterly: "It's getting difficult. Although the national team level match doesn't have many complex tactical changes, the French team plays very pragmatically and won't give chances."
Baslin nodded: "Ten against eleven, in the face of absolute strength disparity."
Wo Le Er laughed and interrupted: "Exactly, the French can't stop Li!"
The 64th minute of the match.
France picked up the pace.
Spain's midfield held a steady position, promptly cutting off Pogba's link with his teammates ahead.
Pogba jerked as if struck by electricity.
He feinted to the max!
He found space again!
Using strong ankle power, he delivered a precise through pass.
In an instant.
Griezmann, Giroud, and Mbappe formed a triangle forward run.
No hesitation in the pass.
Griezmann's advantage is that he doesn't hold onto the ball.
He laid off the ball.
He struck the ball with the outside of his foot!
The ball precisely found Giroud's head!
Thud!
He headed the ball on!
He headed the ball into the space ahead of Mbappe.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back!
Like a gust of wind, they dazzled Russia!
In the shot, with Mbappe as the focus, the sidelines' billboards began to blur.
The Bullfighter coaching staff felt as if they had plunged into an abyss.
The new-generation French supercar was nothing short of a nightmare in this final.
Suddenly.
A black-haired figure stepped in front of Mbappe.
Like a car mechanic, he tore off the French supercar's tire.
Mbappe lost control of the ball.
His body kept moving from inertia, and he staggered to the ground.
"No foul!"
"Deep-defending Li Kang is the nightmare of every attacker!"
"He can hold his own against Messi head-on, yet can't stop a rising star?"
The slow-motion replay couldn't keep up.
At Luzhniki Stadium, another gust blew—an even faster wind!
Li Kang carried the ball from the back and surged forward.
A young beast's roar sounded in his ears.
The faint silhouette of a young colt appeared.
Long time no see.
The Ruhr area, Prussian Park, World War I, World War II.
Monchengladbach's totem seemed to have raced through history, descending once more before France!
Torrent!
One person is a torrent!
Bosque and Miniano saw hope, frantically gesturing for the forwards to widen the attacking width.
Deschamps urgently urged his players to take position quickly.
On the center circle line.
Pogba and Kanté moved to close in.
Li Kang did not ease his speed.
At high speed, he flicked the ball to change direction.
Two little black fellows hurriedly gave chase!
Matuidi, as the second midfield barrier, surged forward.
"Can he break through?"
"Wow! He broke through!"
The cheers and applause of tens of thousands made the Moscow River night no longer tranquil.
The fans felt as if they'd downed a bottle of Volga, their blood boiling!
Li Kang's two consecutive passes that changed direction blew up France's strongest three midfielders!
A breathtaking high-speed charge!
An astonishing ball-touch precision!
No fancy dribbling moves!
A perfect combination of power, skill, and speed!
It exploded!
Lùrìníjī stadium is about to explode!
No matter how dazzling the French stars are, the protagonist is never them!
"The French team's front and back are disconnected!"
"The Spanish front line has opened up the attacking width!"
"Here it comes!"
The evening breeze of the Moskva River brushed the red jerseys.
The helmsman of the invincible fleet on the green field unleashed the most fierce firepower!
The body leaned.
Swinging the arm.
Lifting the foot.
Possessing the strength to lift a thousand catties.
This moment.
As if the whole world were trembling gently.
Peng!
A blast that echoed through the night sky!
It seemed to make the clouds in the sky begin to dissipate!
Deschamps' high nose bridge suddenly felt a drop of moisture!
The football was like a shell leaving the barrel.
Howling.
Spinning.
Forceful and overbearing.
Momentum like a rainbow.
In mid-air, it traced an arc, bypassing France's tall and hard defense!
Lloris stood stunned in place, eyes wide and speechless.
He only saw a black shadow flash by.
Turned back again.
The net behind him had already been lifted high!
Pogba forgot when he had stopped chasing; he only felt his legs go weak, as if he could never catch up to that black-haired figure.
2:2!!!
The commentator was dumbfounded for two seconds.
How the hell should I hype it? Pfui pfui pfui! How should I describe the facts?
The big finale will be tomorrow or the day after; many redundant tactical variations have been cut, so this chapter is only 7000 words.
End of Chapter
