Lin Hai Ting Tao
Chapter 95 Who is the Key Figure
Too bad it didn't go in.
The two sides were still on the same starting line.
Qiu Suhui simply tilted his head to express his regret. In his plan, he had never expected the Chinese team to take the lead within the first ten minutes. It didn't matter that it didn't go in; it would have been a pleasant surprise if it had. This match would be a tough battle, of course, on the premise that he deliberately conserved strength.
Someone on the bench cursed softly. It was clear that everyone desperately wanted to win this match, to win a match against the Korean team on their home turf.
※※※
The match continued. After weathering the Chinese team's fierce attack in the first ten minutes, the Korean team gradually found their rhythm. Park Ji-sung posed a considerable threat to China's defense in the frontcourt. Faced with him, who had experience in the Dutch professional league, Wang Yu seemed somewhat inexperienced. Several times, he rashly lunged in, allowing Park Ji-sung to break through.
The two forwards, Choi Sung-guk (No. 10) and Cho Jae-jin (No. 18), also became active. After all, it was their home ground. With the cheers and support of tens of thousands of spectators, the Korean team had no reason to let the Chinese team turn the tables.
Kim Ho-kon designed a 3412 formation for the Korean team. Four defensive midfielders were arranged in front of the three center backs to form a defensive line. In front of them, Park Ji-sung, Choi Sung-guk, and Cho Jae-jin could unleash their attacking power to the fullest. In this lineup, the four midfielders were particularly important. When defending, the two central midfielders became defensive midfielders, while the two wing midfielders could retreat to become full-backs. When attacking, they would become attacking wing midfielders. Able to attack and defend, the performance of these four would determine the team's condition.
Cao Bing-guk (No. 2), with his height advantage, was naturally responsible for marking Li Jie specifically. The other two center backs closely cooperated with the wing midfielders in defense, trying to minimize the space on the flanks.
During this period, the Korean team did gain the upper hand with the cheers of the home fans. As a result, Xiang Tao of the Chinese team didn't venture forward to assist much, focusing wholeheartedly on defense. It seemed that, targeting his tendency to assist in attacks, the Korean team had focused their attack on his side, and even Zhao Pengyu had become a left defensive midfielder, essentially a left-back.
Faced with this situation, Qiu Suhui remained seated on the bench, unmoved. He didn't make any substitutions, nor did he stand up and shout a few words.
"Liu Peng clears the Korean team's cross once again. The Chinese team is having some difficulties now! The Korean team has reverted to their strong character, pressing the Chinese team back into their own half!"
"Indeed, Qiu Suhui could consider making substitutions. Because facing the current situation, defensive counter-attacks are most effective for China. But currently, apart from Zhao Pengyu, no one in the Chinese team's frontcourt possesses the speed necessary for counter-attacks. And Zhang Jun on the bench is an expert in counter-attacks."
"But isn't it a bit too early to make substitutions now? It's only the twenty-eighth minute of the first half," Wang Jianxiang objected.
"No, if the opportunity arises, you should seize it, whether it's in the first minute or the ninetieth minute," Li Bing said.
But no matter how lively the two were in the studio, Qiu Suhui's backside seemed nailed to the chair. It wasn't until after the thirty-fifth minute of the match that he turned to Zhang Jun and Li Yongle next to him and said, "Go warm up, until the end of the first half."
※※※
When Zhang Jun stood up, a camera on the sidelines immediately zoomed in on him. It wanted to tell the television audience: Zhang Jun is about to come on!
Even the Korean TV commentator exclaimed somewhat exaggeratedly, "Now the most expensive player on the field has finally stood up! Qiu Suhui can no longer sit still in the face of our Korean team's strong pressure!"
"The most expensive player on the field"—what a long name.
Zhang Jun was now the focus of attention. Footage of him warming up was continuously broadcast during breaks in the match. In contrast, Li Yongle beside him seemed to receive little attention. Although Li Yongle was 1.87 meters tall, reporters and spectators alike treated him as if he didn't exist, focusing their attention on Zhang Jun.
Perhaps stimulated by Zhang Jun's imminent appearance, the Korean team suddenly increased their attacking intensity. This time, it was Korea's turn to launch a wave-like offensive.
"Daehanminguk! Daehanminguk!" The Korean fans' shouts propelled the Korean team's attacking tide like wind. (Daehanminguk = Republic of Korea)
After disrupting a Korean attack with an unconventional move, Xiang Tao once again displayed his "big mouth" specialty. He shouted loudly to his teammates, "Hold on! Don't give them opportunities easily!" Goalkeeper Si Ma Hongxin was a man of few words, and captain Liu Peng didn't like to shout frequently either, so Xiang Tao naturally became the team's morale-boosting "loudspeaker."
The Chinese team ultimately held on despite the very unfavorable circumstances. This may have had something to do with the match against Syria; they learned how to play in adversity.
When the first half ended, the score was still 0-0. Although both sides had exchanged attacks and defenses in the first half, playing very intensely, neither had scored.
For the visiting Chinese team, it was indeed a difficult match.
※※※
Qiu Suhui looked at the players in front of him in the locker room. They were panting heavily and drinking water non-stop.
"We'll change formation in the second half." After everyone had rested for a while, he finally spoke. "The starting lineup in the first half gave the opponent a certain blow, but the Korean team adjusted quickly. In the second half, Hu Bin comes off, Zhang Jun comes on. Wang Liang comes off, Li Yongle comes on. We'll change from 442 to 352, playing with two defensive midfielders. I'll say it again, attack. Attack as soon as you come on, don't be afraid of losing the ball. Wang Yu, in the second half, you'll be behind Li Yongle, paying attention to defense and protection. Li Yongle, in the second half, you are the core of China's attack and defense." Qiu Suhui drew a five-pointed star in the middle of the field on the tactical board. His words surprised Li Yongle, but the others didn't express any dissatisfaction or disagreement. Months of contact, living together day and night, had long created a tacit understanding between them. They were no longer the people who were squeezing each other out when they first joined the team. "Use long-range shots more often when attacking. Shoot as soon as you have a chance, don't hesitate. Park Ji-sung is their attack initiator, and his performance in the first half was also the most eye-catching. Therefore, Li Yongle, your defensive task is to freeze Park Ji-sung. When playing defensive counter-attacks, use long passes more often, sending the ball to the feet of the two forwards."
Li Yongle nodded. He was finally about to make his debut for the national Olympic team in a formal and important match. At the same time, it was also the first time he would be playing together with Zhang Jun as a teammate, and the feeling was really different.
Zhang Jun grinned and patted Li Yongle on the shoulder, "Happy cooperation!"
※※※
At the start of the second half, people indeed saw Zhang Jun, wearing the No. 11 jersey, standing in the center circle. Opposite him was Li Jie, and the two were waiting for the kick-off.
"We see that Zhang Jun was substituted on at the start of the second half. He replaced Hu Bin, who had a mediocre performance in the first half."
"Yes, China has also made another substitution. Qiu Suhui has replaced Wang Liang, the No. 2 right-back, with Li Yongle, No. 15... Li Yongle is a defensive midfielder!"
"Yes, the Chinese team has changed formation, from 442 to 352. Because Xiang Tao, No. 3, is originally a versatile player who can play any position in the defense, now the three defenders are Liu Peng on the right, Li Suisheng in the center, and Xiang Tao on the left."
"That's right! Well, all right, the referee blows his whistle, the second half begins!"
※※※
Zhang Jun's first touch of the ball was to kick it out, and then Li Jie passed the ball back to Wang Yu. Wang Yu didn't hesitate, and directly flicked the ball to Li Yongle next to him. Li Yongle stopped the ball, looked up to find someone, and then swung his leg, a long pass!
Zhao Pengyu on the left was very fast, and Li Yongle's ball was also passed directly towards the sideline, where the Korean three-defender formation had a blind spot. Zhao Pengyu rushed forward, stopped the ball with his skillful footwork, and then passed the ball directly into the Korean penalty area!
"Watch out for their No. 9!" shouted goalkeeper Kim Young-gwang. Cao Bing-guk (No. 2), the tallest player in the Korean team, jumped up to compete with Li Jie for the header, but neither of them touched the ball in the physical contact.
Zhang Jun, behind the two, just happened to insert from behind. He leaped up and, under the close interference of the defender, delivered a powerful diving header!
"Zhang Jun shoots! Ah! Too straight, it was saved by the goalkeeper, what a pity!"
Kim Young-gwang climbed up from the ground with lingering fear. Just now, he had instinctively raised his arms after jumping up, barely blocking Zhang Jun's close-range header.
"Zhang Jun had a very threatening shot as soon as he came on! He is indeed the top scorer in the UEFA Cup!" Even the Korean commentator exclaimed.
"Why is no one watching Zhang Jun? Are you trying to commit suicide?" Kim Young-gwang complained to his teammates in front of the goal.
The teammates looked at each other, as if questioning each other: "Why didn't you watch him?" Seeing no one speak, Kim Young-gwang had no choice but to wave his hand helplessly: "Defend this corner kick well!"
Everyone was impressed by Zhang Jun's performance, but few people saw Li Yongle as the initiator of the attack, and how accurate and timely his long pass was.
Although the Chinese team had many tall players, this corner kick was not directly sent into the penalty area, but was a tactical corner kick. Zheng Chuan hurriedly flicked the ball to Wang Yu, who received the ball on the right wing. He looked at the penalty area and made a gesture to cross, but the intention to cross was just a feint. He saw Li Yongle reaching out for the ball.
"Be careful he crosses! Mark Zhang Jun closely!" Cao Bing-guk shouted, directing the defense. Before the match, the Korean team believed that as the Chinese team's number one star, Zhang Jun would naturally become the core of the Chinese team, and all the balls would be passed to his feet for him to finish the shot. Therefore, Kim Ho-kon arranged for the defense to encircle Zhang Jun locally, not allowing him to get the ball easily. Cao Bing-guk was now directing the players to complete the coach's tactical deployment.
Wang Yu swept his right foot and distributed the ball to the edge of the penalty area. Li Yongle received the ball.
"Watch out for his through pass!" Cao Bing-guk immediately changed his instructions according to the situation. No matter how the content of the instructions changed, there was always one thing that would not change, and that was the core idea of these instructions: "Mark Zhang Jun closely!"
It was a pity that Kim Ho-kon didn't have any match footage of Li Yongle, not even in the national Olympic team, nor in the Universiade.
After Li Yongle got the ball, he remembered Qiu Suhui's request: "Use long-range shots more often when attacking. Shoot as soon as you have a chance, don't hesitate."
Now everyone on the opposing side thought that Zhang Jun would be the finisher of this attack, and they were all defending him, paying attention to him. A rare opening appeared in front of him.
Shoot when you have the chance!
Li Yongle swung his leg and shot!
The football flew very low, penetrating into the penalty area filled with players!
No one blocked the ball, and it flew directly towards the far corner of the goal!
Kim Young-gwang reacted quickly and dived towards the ball!
"He can get the ball!"
However, the football suddenly dropped sharply in front of his hand, rebounded! The rebounding football went into the goal from Kim Young-gwang's side!
Li Yongle's best curved shot!
Zhang Jun was closest to the goalkeeper, and he raised his hands and cheered. Then Li Jie also rushed towards Li Yongle outside the penalty area. Li Yongle turned around and ran towards the bench. He wanted to thank Qiu Suhui for having the courage and trust to recruit him into the national Olympic team and bring him to Korea.
"Goal! China takes the lead! The goal was scored by Li Yongle, who was selected for the national Olympic team as a university student! A beautiful long-range shot!"
"When he was recruited into the national Olympic team, almost no one was optimistic about him. But the first goal in the China-Korea war was scored by him, the ugly duckling turned into a swan! Qiu Suhui's vision is indeed amazing!"
All the doubts and distrust were shattered by this long-range shot.
Coming out of the bench, Li Yongle waved his fist demonstratively towards the stands. Zhang Jun came over and patted him on the butt: "You scored before me!"
Li Yongle turned his head and grinned at him, saying nothing. It was clear that he was still immersed in the goal just now. That was his first goal for China, and he would remember it for the rest of his life.
※※※
"Just two minutes into the second half, the Chinese team surprisingly took the lead! They scored the first goal with a long-range shot from midfielder Li Yongle, No. 15! How will the Korean team respond?"
Kim Ho-kon was not as nervous as the commentators. He just stood up and asked the players to press forward. He didn't know much about the Chinese team's No. 15 who scored, and thought it was just a lucky goal.
But Park Ji-sung didn't think so, because he found that his opponent was this No. 15 who came on as a substitute in the second half and scored a goal.
As soon as Park Ji-sung received the ball, Li Yongle stuck to him. This close contact made Park Ji-sung uncomfortable. He tried his best to get rid of the opponent, but it didn't work. He turned around and just pushed the ball away a little when a long leg stretched out and poked the ball away!
The Korean team's number one star was defended by an unknown player!
After intercepting the ball, the Chinese team launched a quick counter-attack, and Li Yongle once again moved forward. Liu Peng passed the ball to him, and he dribbled the ball forward!
Kim Ho-kon's underestimation of Li Yongle would definitely make him suffer.
Korean midfielder Kim Doo-hwan (No. 8) stepped forward to press, but as soon as he came up, Li Yongle poked the ball out. Lin Feng flicked the ball with his heel, Li Yongle quickly inserted and poked the ball again! This time, he poked it past Kim Dong-jin (No. 13)!
Two-on-two!
"Li Yongle is performing very actively! Is he going to shoot again?"
It was indeed within Li Yongle's shooting range, and Kim Young-gwang became nervous. He couldn't guarantee that the suddenly sinking ball just now was a fluke. Looking at the movement of No. 15's leg when he shot, it should be possible to guess that he did it on purpose.
"Press him, don't let him shoot!"
However, after swinging his leg, Li Yongle didn't shoot, but poked the ball again with his toes, and the football rolled into the penalty area from the side of the intercepting player!
"It's Zhang Jun!" the Korean commentator exclaimed.
That's right, it's Zhang Jun! He turned around and rushed forward, then stopped the ball, raised his left foot and prepared to shoot!
"Bee!"
A sharp whistle sounded, and the referee raised his arm, offside!
"Ah! It's offside! Zhang Jun was half a body offside at the moment No. 15 passed the ball! Although it's very slight, the linesman is very observant!" The Korean commentator had a feeling of escaping death. Indeed, if the Chinese team scored another goal, with China leading 2-0 and having the powerful Zhang Jun, the Korean team would not be able to counter-attack with all their might.
Kim Young-gwang patted captain Cao Bing-guk, who commanded the offside trap, with some gratitude. It was he who had timely pushed the defensive line forward, putting Zhang Jun into the offside trap at the critical moment.
Kim Ho-kon finally understood that Zhang Jun's brilliance had deceived everyone. Even he thought that Zhang Jun would be the core of the Chinese team's attack, but he had ignored this tall defensive midfielder. His excellent physical fitness and awareness made him the real core of China's attack and defense. If he was not contained, the Korean team would suffer sooner or later.
"Coach Kim has finally made adjustments! He has replaced Kim Doo-hwan (No. 8) with Choi Tae-wook (No. 16). Choi Tae-wook is a forward, and replacing a midfielder with a forward, it seems the intention is clear, to strengthen the attack!"
It was not just as simple as strengthening the attack. As soon as Choi Tae-wook came on, he shouted loudly the names of Choi Won-kwon and Kim Jung-yong. He made a gesture of palms facing each other: "The coach wants you to double-team the Chinese team's No. 15 who is inserting from the back!"
The Korean team changed their formation from 3412 to a more attacking 343, launching another offensive against the Chinese team, but their offensive could no longer be described as a "tide."
Qiu Suhui knew that in Korea's home stadium, the Korean team would never be willing to accept defeat, and would counter-attack when they were behind. So when defending, he also asked Zhang Jun to stand at the very front, not needing to come back to participate in the defense. Even if the opponent took a corner kick or a free kick in the frontcourt, he would arrange for three players to wait near the final third, ready to counter-attack at any time.
This was actually something he had learned from the Netherlands. The Netherlands' total football and sweeping the world? Why could their ten players be fully committed to the attack in just five or six seconds after getting the ball? This was because the Dutch counter-attack did not start when they got the ball, but actually started from the moment they lost the ball. Every player was constantly preparing to attack. Once they got the ball, the consensus in their minds would immediately be transformed into unified action, and the counter-attack would be like a wave hitting the shore, unstoppable. This tactic was later summarized and named "reverse movement theory" by a football commentator and reporter.
This was a very crucial theory, because it was an important tactic connecting the team's overall defense and attack.
What Qiu Suhui was now trying to do was to change the Chinese players' concepts in all aspects, and instill the Dutch total football into them, and the transition between attack and defense was just one of them.
In this tactical guiding ideology, Zhang Jun was like a nail, firmly nailing the Korean team's three defenders in their own backfield, not daring to cross the line.
※※※
Regarding Li Yongle's core role, the Chinese commentators also saw it. "Eh? Li Yongle, No. 15, is actually the core of China's attack and defense! Zhang Jun in front is just a feint... Well, letting a university student be the core, Qiu Suhui's way of using people is indeed different from ordinary people." It was hard to say whether Wang Jianxiang was praising or satirizing.
"But Li Yongle is indeed skilled, which can be seen from his several touches of the ball. His long passes have also been said by reporters to be surprisingly accurate. I think it's not just accurate, his timing is also very good, when to make a long pass, when to make a horizontal pass, when to make a back pass... He does everything in an orderly manner. A university student can have such a performance, it seems Qiu Suhui has put in a lot of effort. It seems that he had been optimistic about him for a long time, and just let him come in as the core."
"Well, I also remember that he once represented China in the Universiade held in Busan, South Korea last year. In the match against the Japanese team, he shot a super long-range lob in the midfield. But I am more interested in the story between him and Zhang Jun. Hehe, Yang Pan, Zhang Jun, Li Yongle, and the current on-field captain of the national Olympic team, Liu Peng, have all competed together on the same field. Luoyang, as a key football city in Henan, has also declined with the economic decline after entering the 1990s. Unexpectedly, there was an explosion at the end of the century. The growth and rise of this batch of players may break the situation where Dalian players dominate. I think this will be a great thing for the future of Chinese football."
"That's right, it's also a matter worth pondering. Why have so many excellent players emerged in Dalian and Luoyang? Dalian has a tradition, but what about Luoyang? Is it also closely related to their vigorous development of youth football, especially student football, in the past decade?"
"Well, while speaking, the Chinese team has once again attacked the frontcourt! Now the ball has indeed been handed over to Li Yongle! Two players from the opposing side are pressing up immediately!"
Choi Won-kwon and Kim Jung-yong pressed up one in front and one on the right. Li Yongle intended to break through forcefully, but the two closed the door and intercepted the ball. The Korean team was preparing to launch a counter-attack again, but Wang Yu appeared in time, delaying the Korean team's offensive. Li Yongle quickly turned back, and the two defensive midfielders jointly forced Kim Jung-yong to pass the ball back.
"Thanks." Li Yongle then had time to thank Wang Yu, who had helped him.
"Don't thank me." Wang Yu closely watched the front, "When you go up, I'll fill in. This is the coach's arrangement."
Li Yongle looked at this partner who was initially worried that he would take his place, "If there is a chance, you should rush up too."
"Idiot, who will defend if I rush up?" Wang Yu turned his head, but didn't see Li Yongle.
"When you are on top, I'll fill in." Li Yongle said behind him. No wonder Wang Yu couldn't find Li Yongle just now, it turned out he was behind him.
"But... this doesn't meet the tactical requirements..."
"Tactics are dead, people are alive." Li Yongle laughed.
"Korea suddenly made a through pass! The Chinese team's two defensive midfielders didn't react! Park Ji-sung seized this good opportunity to receive the ball and rush forward!" the Korean commentator shouted loudly.
Park Ji-sung finally had no one marking him, and he was thinking of showing off and letting the Chinese team's defenders see the level of Dutch football. But after he took two steps to the left, he saw a person standing in front of him.
Park Ji-sung tried to break through forcefully, but as soon as their bodies made contact, he retreated. This guy's body is European-level! He defined the opponent in his heart.
Since relying on the body was not feasible, then rely on technique. Park Ji-sung had always been confident in his dribbling.
Park Ji-sung tried to deceive Xiang Tao, who was defending him, by shaking his upper body quickly, but Xiang Tao remained unmoved. There was no way but to use the simplest pull-back feint. Park Ji-sung pulled the ball inward, and then gently flicked it with his left foot, making a gesture of cutting inside. The inexperienced Xiang Tao was indeed fooled, and he moved inward!
This was the moment! Park Ji-sung quickly pulled the ball towards the baseline with his left foot, and then he accelerated!
"Breakthrough! Park Ji-sung successfully broke through!" the Korean commentator shouted excitedly. Since being marked by Li Yongle, Park Ji-sung had had very few such smooth breakthroughs. Not only was he depressed, but even the commentator was depressed.
But Xiang Tao also turned around quickly, circled from the inside, and chased after Park Ji-sung!
Park Ji-sung wanted to pass the ball to the front of the goal before Xiang Tao forced himself back, but the football was blocked out of the baseline by the swiftly stretched leg!
"It's Xiang Tao! He shockingly blocked Park Ji-sung's cross, what a terrifying explosiveness!" Wang Jianxiang praised Xiang Tao's performance, "Beautiful attack and defense."
"Hey! Girls, Dadian (Xiang Tao's nickname for Li Yongle, derived from the name of the Yongle Encyclopedia)! What are you two chatting about?" Xiang Tao shouted loudly to the two defensive midfielders in the distance after jumping up from the ground, "Don't tell me you're glass!"
"Fuck!" The two defensive midfielders retorted in unison, and then the two looked at each other and smiled.
Liu Peng went over and said to Xiang Tao, "If they are glass, they are bulletproof glass... You did a great job just now!" He slapped Xiang Tao hard on the back.
"Mark your men closely! Push them outwards!"
"Corner kicks are our chance, we must seize it!" Li Yongle raised his arm, and everyone knew what he meant: China's attack starts from this moment.
Zhang Jun and Li Jie roamed near the center circle one in front and one behind, while Lin Feng was a little further back than them, but did not participate in the defense. Similarly, Zhao Pengyu, who was fast, was not defending in front of the goal either, he was arranged a little outside the penalty area. These four were ready to counter-attack at any time.
The Korean team's captain, Cao Bing-guk, originally intended to go to the Chinese team's goal to compete for the header, but when he saw the Chinese team's strange personnel arrangement, he wondered if the other side was going to launch a quick counter-attack, so he hesitated and stayed behind, but he called another center back up, and at the same time he asked at least two of the three defensive midfielders to stay behind, to prevent the Chinese team's quick counter-attack.
Park Ji-sung placed the football inside the corner arc, and he would take this corner kick.
Tens of thousands of Korean fans at the scene shouted again, hoping that the team could equalize the score with this corner kick, because the time left for Korea was not much. But I don't know if they have checked the almanac, today is not Korea's auspicious day.