Chapitre 406: Chapter 406: Half-Time 4-0, The Japanese Were Stunned
Chapter 406: Half-Time 4-0, The Japanese Were Stunned
After De Gea saved Keisuke Honda's penalty, he let out an excited roar. Saving a penalty is a huge challenge for any goalkeeper, no matter how solid their fundamentals are. Successfully saving one requires not only skill but also a bit of luck, and it deserves applause.
On the field, the Spanish players were thrilled that De Gea saved the penalty. They ran over to pat him on the back, ruffle his hair, and offer words of encouragement and praise.
"Great job, David!"
Lin Quan also came over to give De Gea a hug. De Gea's technique in the six-yard box was impeccable, though his control range and ability to come off the line were a bit lacking. If he could improve in those areas, De Gea would become even stronger.
"Thank you!"
Receiving Lin Quan's praise made De Gea very happy. It was recognition from the team's top player. Despite Lin Quan's young age, he was undoubtedly the star of the Spanish team, around whom the future of the team would be built. To secure his place in the future Spanish squad, De Gea knew he needed to maintain a good relationship with Lin Quan.
De Gea played for Manchester United, a fierce rival of Lin Quan's club. This meant they had little interaction off the field, and De Gea sometimes worried that Lin Quan might not like him because of their club rivalry. Similar issues had happened before in the Spanish team, where players from Barcelona and Real Madrid brought their club conflicts into the national team, creating factions and affecting team harmony.
These internal conflicts likely contributed to Spain's decline in the past. Fortunately, Lin Quan wasn't the type to let such issues affect his judgment. De Gea's club affiliation didn't matter to him unless it directly affected their national team performance.
In the remaining time, De Gea's performance only improved, showing great composure and skill. On the bench, Casillas watched De Gea's excellent performance with mixed feelings. Casillas' contract with Real Madrid was ending that summer, and the club hadn't offered him a renewal, indicating they didn't plan to keep him.
This was hard to believe. As a two-time World Cup champion and Golden Glove winner, Casillas was still among the top three goalkeepers in the world. Despite being older and slightly past his prime, goalkeepers typically improve with age. Buffon, older than Casillas, was still Juventus' main goalkeeper.
Thus, Real Madrid's decision to let Casillas go wasn't purely about age. The real reasons were more complex, involving past tensions with Mourinho and club president Florentino Perez's preference for other goalkeepers. Casillas knew it was time to leave after 25 years at the club, sensing that De Gea might replace him at Real Madrid, just as he had in the national team.
On the field, the entry of Spain's main players drastically changed the match dynamics. Compared to the substitutes, the main players were not only more skilled but also more experienced. They didn't rush into attacking but gradually took control of the game through their ball possession.
Without possession, Japan found themselves increasingly passive, forced to retreat into their own half. Spain's relentless pressing in Japan's half soon had the Japanese team confined to their penalty area.
The Japanese fans were both anxious and excited as they watched Spain's renowned passing game unfold.
"Let the world champion's best tactic test our team's strength!"
Spain's passing and control tactics were famous worldwide, unbeaten by any team. Facing such formidable opponents, the Japanese were understandably nervous but also hopeful, imagining themselves as the underdog heroes from their anime, who would rise up against the villains—Spain in this case.
On the sideline, Japan's coach Halilhodžić frowned. Spain's passing game was as formidable as its reputation suggested, with no visible weaknesses. This style was vastly different from their usual play in the first half, putting immense pressure on Japan. The players were sweating profusely, struggling to keep up with Spain's precise movements and passing.
Despite their best efforts, Japan couldn't contain Spain's attack. In the 30th minute, Spain's relentless pressure paid off when Iniesta found Morata, who finally scored after several missed attempts. The Japanese defense began to falter under continuous pressure.
In the 37th minute, Lin Quan weaved through Japan's defense and scored, making it 2-0. The Japanese fans were silenced, unable to believe their eyes.
Spain didn't let up. Just before half-time, they scored two more goals through Koke and Ramos, making it 4-0. The Japanese team was stunned, their fans in shock, their dreams shattered. The scoreline reflected the sheer gulf in class between the two teams.
As the half-time whistle blew, Japan's players walked off the pitch dejectedly, while the Spanish team was jubilant. The Japanese fans, who had hoped for a heroic underdog story, were left in disbelief, witnessing firsthand the might of the world champions.
The Japanese players couldn't maintain their intense focus forever. Just when they relaxed a bit, Spain saw an opportunity. In the 35th minute, after ten minutes of relentless pressure, Spain's attacking seemed to pause.
The Japanese players sighed with relief, thinking the worst was over. But suddenly, Spain picked up the pace. David Silva cut inside, played quick one-twos with Lin Quan and Iniesta, and passed to Lin Quan at the edge of the box.
Seeing Lin Quan with the ball, the Japanese defenders tensed up. Their coach had warned them repeatedly about Lin Quan. But when Lin Quan didn't start the game, they relaxed. Now, seeing him with the ball, their fear returned. Makoto Hasebe and Gotoku Sakai rushed to stop him, forgetting their defensive strategy in their panic.
The Japanese fans also held their breath, thinking their defenders would surely stop him. They believed their players, many of whom played in top European leagues, were far superior to China's.
But in the next moment, they were stunned. Lin Quan weaved through the three defenders effortlessly, leaving them behind. The Japanese goalkeeper, Eiji Kawashima, was caught off guard and could only watch as Lin Quan calmly shot the ball into the net.
Spain led 1-0, and Lin Quan's teammates celebrated with him. For them, his goal was just routine. They were used to his brilliance and weren't overly excited.
Busquets and Iniesta felt Lin Quan had surpassed Messi at his peak. As Messi's teammates, they knew how incredible he was. But Lin Quan seemed even better, and they sensed he hadn't reached his limit yet.
While the Spanish players were used to Lin Quan's talent, the Japanese players were in shock. They couldn't believe three defenders had failed to stop him. The fans, too, were stunned. They realized Lin Quan was on another level.
Japan's fans, who revered strength, quickly began to cheer for Lin Quan, even though it was their home game. Seeing the Japanese fans switch sides, the Spanish players got even more energized, eager to impress.
Japan's misfortune continued. In the next ten minutes, Spain scored three more goals. Iniesta scored with Lin Quan's assist, David Silva scored with a long-range shot, and Lin Quan scored again with a beautifully curved free kick.
By halftime, Spain led 4-0. Japan's hopes of winning had been crushed, replaced by fear. They realized Spain hadn't been serious initially. When Spain got serious, Japan was powerless. With 45 minutes left, the Japanese feared a historic defeat was inevitable. (End of Chapter)
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone