Chapter 8: Silver Saddle Shines on White Horse, Swift as a Meteor

“CCTV, CCTV!”

“Dear viewers, you are now watching the live broadcast of the 2005 Netherlands World Youth Championship Quarter-Finals, China Team vs. Brazil Team!”

“This match will be commentated by Huang Jianxiang!”

“First, let’s take a look at the starting lineups for both China Teams…”

Before the match began, Huang Jianxiang quickly introduced the starting lineups for both China Teams to the audience.

“Compared to the previous match’s starting lineup, the National Youth Team has made some adjustments in certain positions.”

“Lin Feng, who performed amazingly in the last match, is, as expected, in the starting lineup.”

“In the midfield and defense, Zhao Xuri has replaced Hao Junmin in the starting lineup. This powerful midfielder from Dalian Shide possesses excellent defensive awareness and outstanding physical strength. He can increase the National Youth Team’s midfield toughness.”

“In addition, Zhao Xuri also has a decent long-range shot, which might bring some changes to the National Youth Team’s offense.”

After the match began, the Brazil Team immediately launched an attack on the National Youth Team.

Compared to the China Team players, the Brazil Team players’ footwork was clearly better.

Just 2 minutes into the match, the Brazil Team created a shot.

Leonardo attempted a header from a teammate’s cross, but it went over the crossbar.

But before the National Youth Team could even breathe a sigh of relief, the opponent’s attack quickly returned.

Several Brazil Team attacking players executed a series of quick passes and exchanges in a small area at the top of the penalty arc, throwing the National Youth Team’s defense into disarray before sending a through ball into the box. The opposing forward then swept the ball towards the goal with a shot.

Fortunately, Yang Cheng was very focused and made a timely diving save, batting the ball away.

The match had just begun, and the National Youth Team was already at a huge disadvantage!

Compared to their last opponent, Germany, the Brazil Team’s style was completely different.

This was a China Team with more outstanding individual player abilities and more refined footwork.

Their playing style was passionate and unrestrained, and their creativity was boundless.

When facing them, the National Youth Team players’ weakness in one-on-one defense was fully exposed.

Especially on both flanks, the opponent had an extremely high success rate in one-on-one situations on the wings, making it impossible for the National Youth Team’s two flanks to cope.

In the 8th minute, Brazil Team crossed from the wing, and Tardelli’s shot in front of the goal was blocked by Yang Cheng.

In the 13th minute, Brazil Team’s Bobo cut in from the wing and sent a through ball to the left side of the penalty area, but Sobis’s sliding shot went slightly wide.

In the 19th minute, Rafael’s long-range shot hit the crossbar, causing a gasp from the crowd.

During this period, National Youth Team Goal Keeper Yang Cheng became the busiest person on the field.

If he hadn’t relied on his excellent performance to keep the National Youth Team’s goal safe, the National Youth Team would probably have already fallen behind.

But at this rate, it was only a matter of time before the National Youth Team conceded a goal.

The Chinese fans watching the match were sweating nervously, and their hearts were pounding!

As expected of the Brazil Team, their pressure is truly immense!

Many people recalled the fear of being dominated by the Brazil Team in the World Cup group stage three years ago, when the National Football Team faced them.

The different situations of the two China Teams on the field were also reflected in their respective coaches.

On the sidelines, the Brazil Team’s head coach sat leisurely on the bench, chatting and laughing with his assistant coach, appearing very relaxed.

In contrast, Klaus Toppmöller on the National Youth Team’s side couldn’t sit still at all.

He stood on the sidelines, staring sternly at his players on the field, his brows furrowed tightly.

This won’t do, it’s too passive.

Changes must be made!

With that thought, Klaus Toppmöller waved his hand, giving the order to change formation.

Upon receiving the order, the National Youth Team players began to actively withdraw, giving up the fight for the midfield and attacking third, and switched to a defensive counter-attacking style.

Klaus Toppmöller actually didn’t particularly like this defensive counter-attacking style, as he felt it was too pragmatic and would stifle the creativity of young players.

Comparatively, he still preferred the high-pressing tactics of German Football.

But this match was very important for the China Team and for him personally. If they lost, the consequences would be unimaginable.

If he were to be fired, all the effort and hard work he had put into this National Youth Team would go to waste!

From his understanding of the Football Association, once he left, this National Youth Team would definitely be ruined by that bunch of scoundrels in the Football Association.

These young people should have a brighter future, and the old Klaus Toppmöller didn’t want to see their talents wasted.

Moreover, there was another very important reason for him to choose the defensive counter-attacking tactic, and that was Lin Feng’s speed!

Previously, the National Youth Team lacked a player as fast as Lin Feng, so even if they wanted to play a fast counter-attack, they couldn’t be fast enough.

But with Lin Feng’s addition, everything had changed!

When the Brazil Team saw the National Youth Team retreat to play defensive counter-attack, they were even more disdainful.

In their view, defensive counter-attack was a tactic only adopted by the weak; the strong disdained to do so.

The opponent doing this was clearly cowardly and scared!

Furthermore, this move was useless against them. As the strong, the Brazil Team believed they had enough diverse means to break open the opponent’s goal!

With this arrogant mindset, the Brazil Team launched an even more ferocious attack on the National Youth Team’s goal.

Due to the National Youth Team’s active retreat, the Brazil Team’s possession time became longer, and their number of shots also increased.

But unexpectedly for the Brazil Team, their offensive threat actually began to decrease.

The Brazil Team players were strong in one-on-one duels, but after the National Youth Team actively withdrew, they found it difficult to find one-on-one opportunities; almost every time, it was a numerical disadvantage.

In this situation, the previously vulnerable National Youth Team defense began to become impregnable.

The Brazil Team exerted all their strength, at most they could only push their offense into the thirty-meter zone, and then they couldn’t advance any further.

In desperation, the Brazil Team had no choice but to try long-range shots from outside the box.

But every time they took a long-range shot, a National Youth Team player would timely step forward to interfere, making their long-range shots of very poor quality.

Although on the surface, the Brazil Team still had the upper hand, the situation was completely different from the beginning of the match.

Seeing the changes on the field, Klaus Toppmöller’s face showed a relieved smile.

Although the Brazil Team players’ individual skills were strong, they were not strong enough to take on two or even three opponents at once.

In open spaces, in one-on-one situations, they naturally had a clear advantage.

But once their operating space was compressed, and defensive players were used to double-team them.

Then they could no longer create threats, and in fact, due to weaknesses like holding onto the ball too long or indecisive passing, the National Youth Team would find opportunities to intercept the ball and launch counter-attacks.

In the 27th minute, National Youth Team midfielder Cui Peng, in cooperation with left-back Zheng Tao, successfully won the ball on the wing.

Cui Peng immediately passed the ball to Chen Tao, who had dropped back to receive it.

Before Chen Tao dropped back to receive the ball, he had already observed the positions of his teammates in the attacking third.

At this moment, Lin Feng and Gao Lin were both accelerating towards the opponent’s penalty area. Chen Tao took a quick glance and then directly sent a long pass, lofting the ball into the attacking third.

This ball was not intended for the forward Gao Lin, but rather for Lin Feng on the wing.

Chen Tao’s idea was good, and the pass was accurate.

But he underestimated Lin Feng’s speed. The ball wasn’t given enough lead, forcing Lin Feng to brake and slow down to receive it.

By the time he received Chen Tao’s pass, the opposing defensive players had already taken their positions.

Seeing no good opportunity, Lin Feng could only force his way down the wing and send in a cross, letting his teammates in the penalty area try their luck.

Gao Lin jumped very hard, but in front of the two tall opposing center-backs, he simply couldn’t win the aerial duel.

“Oh, what a pity!”

“Chen Tao’s pass was too short!”

“If the pass had been a bit stronger, Lin Feng might have gotten a clear one-on-one chance!”

The fans sighed repeatedly, all feeling that the National Youth Team had missed a golden opportunity.

Chen Tao himself was a bit embarrassed. He knew Lin Feng was fast, but he hadn’t expected him to be this fast.

Could it be that this guy held back in the last match and didn’t give his all?

Not only was Chen Tao startled, but Klaus Toppmöller and the Chinese coaching staff were also startled.

“When did this kid’s speed become so fast?”

“That sprint just now was so fast, like lightning!”

“Lin Feng, Lin Feng, what a 'Wind Chasing Youth'!”

Although this attack by the National Youth Team did not result in a goal, it startled the Brazil Team.

That number 23 for the opponent was truly too dangerous!

But…

Why was there a strange sense of familiarity about this number 23?

Watching him play was like watching one of their familiar predecessors…

“My bad, next time I’ll give you a good pass!”

When Lin Feng retreated to his own half, Chen Tao specifically shouted to him.

Now that he had witnessed Lin Feng’s speed, next time he could confidently pass the ball forward with more power.

Lin Feng couldn’t help but smile when he heard Chen Tao’s shout:

This guy is quite thoughtful!

No wonder Chen Tao became the captain of Shenyang Ginde at such a young age. This guy not only has good football skills but also a very meticulous mind. He can fully perceive and take care of others’ feelings, and he is very responsible, a natural leader.

…

Startled by the National Youth Team’s counter-attack, the Brazil Team was much more cautious in the next few minutes.

But seeing that the National Youth Team hadn’t launched such a threatening attack again, they soon reverted to their old ways, forgetting the threat of the National Youth Team’s counter-attack.

The first half was almost over, and facing a weaker China Team like this, they had yet to score a goal, which made the Brazil Team feel a bit embarrassed.

So, they attacked the National Youth Team’s goal even more frantically.

But sometimes, the more anxious you are, the less likely you are to score.

The Brazil Team besieged for a long time, not only failing to score, but also making their defense more vulnerable because a large number of players were involved in the attack.

A vulnerable defense comes at a price.

In the 37th minute, the National Youth Team again won the ball in their own half.

The thrilling scene from ten minutes ago was replayed!

The difference was that this time, Chen Tao gave enough lead when passing the ball.

Silver saddle shines on white horse, swift as a meteor!

Lin Feng strode forward, shaking off all pursuers, and carried the ball into the penalty area.

A one-on-one!