Chapter 54: Bruno's Response
In the eyes of the tens of thousands of fans at the Türk Telekom Stadium, a different scene unfolds: Bruno swiftly catches up with Digne, and despite a brief pull from Digne, he still reaches the ball and decisively flicks it over Kondogbia, then once more over Foulquier. The unlucky Kondogbia, just turning around, is knocked down in the box by a stumbling Foulquier.
Bruno, seizing the moment, chases down the ball and meets it with a stunning volley as it falls to the ground. Areola did rush out, but he didn't anticipate Bruno flicking the ball over Foulquier again. Caught off guard by the volley, Areola makes a desperate dive, but Bruno's shot, fast and angled sharply to the right of the goal, is out of reach!
"GOLOOOOO!!!!" "Bruno! Bruno!! Bruno!!!" "Incredible!" "My God, against three French players, Bruno manages to dribble and volley under pressure, scoring a spectacular goal to level the score for Portugal!" "Truly a magnificent goal from Bruno Fernandes, the prodigious midfielder from Serie B's Novara!"
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After scoring, Bruno collapses to his knees on the pitch, fists clenched, roaring skywards in disbelief at his own achievement. Everything he had done was a spontaneous reaction in the flow of the game; he hadn't planned in detail what to do because he couldn't predict the opponents' moves.
"An unforgettable performance!" "Faced with Pogba's exquisite header, Bruno responds with a volley that navigates through three players! Whether intentional or not, his goal has left an indelible impression on us all." "A stunning strike that not only dazzles but crucially, levels the scores for Portugal." "At the 41st minute, the score is reset to 1-1, putting both teams back on equal footing." "Let's relive that goal once more, a true showcase of Bruno's individual skill."
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The whole stadium erupts, even the French fans can't help but appreciate such a goal's sheer beauty. Bruno's spectacular solo effort not only evens the score but also crushes the morale of the French team, particularly their defensive line.
Three defenders couldn't stop one man who then scored such a remarkable goal, a frustrating outcome for them. Paul Pogba covers his face with his hands in anguish.
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As Portugal's emerging star, Bruno's every move significantly impacts his team. His brilliant solo goal quickly counters the earlier French goal, boosting Portugal's morale and passion. After a wild celebration, the Portuguese play more aggressively, even managing to dominate the formidable French team on the field.
Bruno, seeing an opportunity during a breakaway in midfield, unleashes a fierce long-range shot. The sudden, powerful strike sends shivers through the French fans, but Areola reacts swiftly to parry the ball, averting a crisis. However, in the ensuing corner, Portugal's center-forward Aladje heads just over the bar from ten meters.
Portugal maintains its offensive, and Bruno becomes increasingly active, his presence felt across the entire pitch, embodying the quintessential box-to-box midfielder's role. Under his leadership, the Portuguese players perform even better, each exuding confidence; at that moment, they seem invincible.
Aladje creates space for Bruno, and João Mário quickly sends a lofted pass from the right side of the midfield. Bruno, darting from midfield, reaches the spot before the French defenders and fires a right-footed shot. Areola leaps to save once more, thwarting Bruno's determined attempt to score.
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Portugal wins a corner! Bruno picks himself up from the turf, panting and brushing off the grass. As the first half draws to a close, the exertion begins to tell on him, but his willpower suppresses any fatigue, appearing still full of energy.
Portugal's tall players come forward for the corner: Tiago Ferreira, Tiago Ilori, André Gomes, Aladje... Seeing his teammates advancing, Bruno realizes that Portugal actually has quite a few tall players. João Mário positions himself just outside the box, ready to make a decisive move, while Mica Pinto prepares to take the corner. He steadies the ball and the turf behind it before stepping back.
Bruno and João Mário stand near the top of the box, but the French defenders treat them differently, considering João Mário a greater aerial threat than Bruno. Despite Bruno's technical skills, his heading ability remains one of his few weaknesses; he seldom competes in aerial duels or uses his head to score.
Still, aware of Bruno's potent long-range shooting, France's midfielder Veretout stays close, guarding him, while Pogba helps defend due to his height.
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As the referee, Çakır, blows his whistle, all players spring into action. João Mário swiftly shakes off his marker and dashes toward the near post. Aladje, Ilori, and other tall players press toward the center and near post, causing disruption, while Cancelo, Bruma, and Escalona also move to confuse the French defense, turning the French box into chaos.
Pinto quickly delivers the corner, but instead of targeting the near or center as expected, the ball travels to the far post. "Danger!" Veretout is the first to react, shouting a warning. But as the French midfielder turns, he realizes with a sinking feeling that Bruno, previously behind him, has vanished. A foreboding sense grips him in the melee of this corner battle, losing track of Bruno could easily lead to conceding a goal.
Only Bruno knows his plan; he deliberately drops back to the left side of the box before suddenly surging forward. Digne is positioned at the far post, ready to clear the incoming ball. As it approaches, he prepares to head it away, but just then, a Portuguese player flashes before him, leaping higher to meet the ball.
Digne, standing at 1.78 meters, isn't much shorter than Bruno, but in that moment, as Bruno surges forward with momentum, his leap powered by a running start exceeds Digne's height, leaving him staring up, awestruck, only able to think, "He's so high! He jumped so high!" (End of Chapter)
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Chapter 55: The U-20 World Cup Championship
Bruno is more aware of his own capabilities than anyone else. Although his jumping isn't on par with the aerial prowess of someone like Cristiano Ronaldo, it's generally considered above average. The reason his heading appears to be a weak point is partly because he rarely uses it, and when he does head the ball during matches, he hasn't fully demonstrated his real ability. In fact, after nearly a year of training with a sophisticated soccer training system, Bruno's heading skills have significantly improved.
Anticipating the ball's trajectory and using his jumping ability, Bruno was confident he could reach the ball first. With a running start of about ten meters, he leapt with all his might, arching his back and legs backward in a C-shape to maximize his height. When the ball reached him, he snapped his core muscles forward, channeling all his power through his core to his head, striking the ball perfectly with his forehead.
The ball smashed forcefully into the French goal! Areola, caught off-guard by the close-range header, could only instinctively reach out with his right hand in a futile attempt to stop it, but the ball brushed past the left post and into the net!
"GOLOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" "My God! Is this the Bruno we know?" "Heading the ball into the goal! Bruno has just scored a header from a corner to give Portugal the lead!" "It's hard to believe that Bruno has scored with a header against France, turning the game around for Portugal!" "Is this Bruno's response to Pogba's earlier header?"
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After landing, Bruno clenched his fists, raised them high above his head, and roared skywards, releasing his exhilaration. Moments later, he was swamped by his Portuguese teammates.
"So cool!" "Bruno, that header was amazing!" "I can't believe how high you jumped!" "With that header, anyone who dares to say you can't head the ball should be proven wrong."
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The Portuguese U-20 players were buzzing with excitement. Facing the formidable French team and having conceded a goal within the first fifteen minutes had initially dampened their spirits. However, Bruno's performance in the final minutes of the first half, scoring two stunning goals, completely changed their outlook. One was a spectacular volley after dribbling past three players, and the other was a powerful header, which had been considered his weak point, demonstrating his dominance on the world stage.
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"By the 45th minute of the first half, Bruno scored an unexpected header that helped Portugal take the lead!" "This goal was quite a surprise." "Not only for the French players but probably for the Portuguese players as well." "Bruno isn't known for his headers, but none has been as spectacular as this one." "Digne was left stunned beside him, almost as if he saw a demigod." "Bruno's header seemed to be a response to Pogba's earlier goal, and the rivalry between these two young stars is likely to become a highlight in the Serie A."
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Commentators from around the world were in disbelief. Paul Pogba was particularly shocked, as he hadn't expected Bruno to respond in such a manner. He scored a brilliant header, but then Bruno scored one even more spectacular. How could he not feel challenged? In his heart, Pogba was convinced that the Portuguese youngster was out to compete directly with him, to get the better of him.
However, Bruno didn't dwell much on Pogba's reaction. Scoring that header was not about competing; it was about seizing the opportunity to turn the score around for Portugal. Whether it was a header or any other type of goal didn't matter to him; if there was a chance to score, he would take it, regardless of the method.
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At the 45th minute of the first half, the referee Çakır added one minute of stoppage time before blowing the whistle for halftime. Neither team made substitutions during the break. Both teams had performed commendably in the first half, with no player showing significant weaknesses.
As the second half began, the trailing French team immediately launched a vigorous assault, aiming to equalize and possibly turn the game around. Their goal was the championship, and they were not about to settle for the current score.
The two championship-aspiring teams battled fiercely on the field, but until Çakır blew the final whistle of the match, no more goals were scored. Portugal, with Bruno's double, achieved a 2:1 comeback victory over France at Türk Telekom Stadium, winning the U-20 World Cup for the third time in history, 22 years after their last triumph.
Portuguese fans, who had traveled all the way to Turkey, erupted in joyous celebration, chanting Bruno's name. The venue turned into a jubilant sea of Portuguese supporters.
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The French players were visibly disheartened, with some even in tears. Two years ago, they were stopped by Portugal outside the finals; today, the championship was snatched from their hands by the same opponent. The young French team felt the bitter sting of defeat, especially since most had not been part of the team two years ago.
Surprisingly, before the tournament, many on the French U-20 team had not considered Portugal a significant threat, focusing instead on Spain. After Spain's unexpected elimination, they assumed the championship was theirs for the taking. Learning their final opponent would be Portugal, they thought they could avenge their previous loss and win the championship—killing two birds with one stone.
However, when the final whistle blew, they realized the outcome was a repeat of past grievances, compounded by new disappointments.
French fans in the stands shared in the sorrow, having come to distant Turkey to witness their young team lift the U-20 World Cup trophy for the first time in history, only to face disappointment when victory seemed within reach.
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The award ceremony proceeded swiftly, starting with individual awards like the Golden Boot, Golden Ball, Silver Ball, Bronze Ball, and Golden Glove. Recipients of the Silver and Bronze Boots did not attend the ceremony.
As the French team captain, Pogba led his teammates waiting below the stage. Watching Bruno step up to receive his awards, Pogba's eyes filled with reluctance. Although already a senior international for France, he had initially no intention of participating in the U-20 World Cup; his ultimate motive for attending was the championship trophy.
Everything had gone smoothly until the final. Although they lost to Spain in the group stage, Pogba never doubted they would win the championship, and indeed, they advanced through the knockout stages—eliminating Nigeria, then Spain, and finally Iraq to reach the finals for the first time.
Just one more victory over Portugal in the finals would have secured their triumph. They were close to the championship, leading for nearly half an hour thanks to his goal, but that Portuguese youngster shattered his dream.
Having never faced such a setback since his debut, Pogba felt a profound sense of humiliation. Watching Bruno bask in glory, Pogba silently vowed: This defeat must be avenged! (End of Chapter)
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