Chapter 1 The Grand Tournament

This year's international club competition winners aren't just Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

There's also Arsenal!

Sanchez, champion of the Copa América Centenario.

Cazorla, Giroud, Koscielny, Ramsey and others have led their respective national teams into the Euro Cup semi-finals.

Indirect proof: Wenger's vision... and how terrifying Arsenal players can be when they're not injured.

However, the European sports media doesn't seem to have noticed this.

Instead, they are frantically hyping the pre-match atmosphere.

The prevailing view is that after fierce battles with Italy and Germany, Spain is likely to fall at the feet of the host team, France.

...

The Stade Vélodrome, seen from a high-altitude camera, looks like a giant white marshmallow.

Wenger and Zidane appear together.

Reporters packed the tunnel.

Security personnel fought like they were at war, struggling to escort the two out of the encirclement.

"Mr. Wenger, which team do you think is more likely to advance to the final?"

French fans and the media like Wenger very much, and have hoped that he would take charge of the national team for many years.

Wenger thought for a moment, not answering immediately.

He's made a lot of jokes at this year's European Cup, such as cleverly using Desailly as a "shield" to avoid the water column, and mistaking Croatia's team doctor for Paris Saint-Germain's new coach, Emery.

"It will be a very interesting game. Deschamps must take measures to limit Li, but Spain's other offensive players are also very good. If he's not careful, Cazorla, David Silva, and Iniesta will pose a fatal threat to the French team."

"Our French lads are young and energetic. I think they are strong candidates to win the 2018 World Cup."

The reporters didn't get the answer they wanted.

They turned their microphones to the Real Madrid coach.

"Who do you think is better, Pogba or Li?"

Zidane didn't think, interrupting: "Li!"

....

Marseille is the third largest city in France and its largest trading port.

This ancient city with 2,500 years of history is surrounded by hills on three sides, with beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate.

Two red buses slowly drove into the Stade Vélodrome.

Spanish fans on both sides of the road ran while shouting the names of the stars.

Morata and Isco opened the curtains and waved enthusiastically to the supporters.

Iniesta said worriedly: "Li, this French team is different from the past. Their defensive moves are relatively aggressive and they are very good at irritating their opponents. No matter what happens, you must remain calm."

"Especially Payet, he's from West Ham United. He was a sensation in the Premier League last season, but his methods are a bit..."

Cazorla added: "We are not just facing a contest at the level of tactics and techniques. They have the advantage of being the host. Don't worry, we will help you reduce the pressure."

Li Kang nodded.

So far in this European Cup, judging purely from the number of fouls and yellow and red cards, Italy is the "dirtiest," followed by Hungary, but these data don't represent everything, like Diego Costa, who is very good at avoiding the referee's line of sight in La Liga and the Premier League, and can always get the opposing defender booked.

.....

Half an hour later.

Pre-match press conference.

Bosque and Deschamps looked more like close old friends.

Two years ago, in the qualifiers.

Deschamps led the French team to break the eight-year curse of not winning against Spain.

"We are not only witnessing the revival of Spain, but also the revival of France."

"The French team has been without a championship trophy for too many years."

There was thunderous applause.

Looking back at the past few major tournaments, the French team's lineup on paper has been extremely luxurious, but it has always been destroyed by infighting.

Players and coaching staff insulted each other, teammates fought for bus seats, collective strikes, dressing room racial discrimination, videotape incidents...

After Deschamps took over, the dressing room was "slightly" less chaotic.

The most annoying thing now is still the players' families: Rabiot's mother, Pogba's brother, Mbappe's father.

The French coaching staff wishes these talented players were all orphans.

......

Players' tunnel.

After Giroud and Cazorla shook hands and hugged, they greeted Li Kang enthusiastically.

In the round of sixteen of the Champions League, this Arsenal center forward was embarrassed by Li Kang's spin move.

Umtiti looked at this scene with disdain.

He originally had a chance to be loaned to Leverkusen in the winter window last season, but he didn't feel any regret, because he was about to join Barca.

A giant with such a rich heritage like Barca is the dream I'm pursuing.

Suddenly.

He saw Busquets and Iniesta, and immediately put on a polite smile and greeted them warmly.

At the very end of the line.

Koscielny patted Mbappe on the shoulder: "Don't be nervous, cherish the opportunity to start, your most important task is to feel the atmosphere of the competition, don't hold onto the ball too much."

Mbappe didn't speak, looking at the back of Spain's number 6 with a slightly excited expression.

Pogba's mohawk today was dyed pink, and he was wearing a pair of pink shoes.

"Keep an eye on that kid."

"Kanté, you just need to pass the ball to me."

Kanté nodded shyly.

.....

"Ctv5! Ctv5! Good evening, viewers!"

"We are now broadcasting the semi-final of the 2016 European Cup in France!"

"Spain vs. host France!"

"The final battle in the group of death!"

"Can the French continue their great tradition of winning championships when hosting events in their own country?"

"Will Spain's invincible fleet triumph in the Battle of Marseille?"

"I am the commentator for this game, Duan Xuan!"

"I am He Wei!"

The referee team led the players from both sides out of the tunnel.

The Stade Vélodrome instantly erupted in a landslide-like cheer.

The mascot "Super Victor" excitedly shook hands with Li Kang.

System prompts sounded like crazy.

[This year's European Cup performance index has been reached, a tournament mascot can be bound!]

[Attempting to bind...]

[Ding, this totem is too powerful to be bound.]

[Ding, this totem is too powerful to be bound.]

[Ding, this totem is too powerful to be bound.]

Li Kang: "..."

Victor's setting is: a flying Superman...

[Task Triggered: Fear of France!]

[Task Description: It's been a long time since you've played football "without using your brain". Enjoy this game!]

[Task Reward: European Tour Dark Gold Treasure Chest!]

Diego Costa patted the mascot doll's butt and laughed: "You look just like Maguire from Hull City."

....

"Next, we will introduce the starting lineups of both sides."

"Spain's lineup is 4-3-3!"

"Goalkeeper: De Gea!"

"Defenders: Carvajal, Ramos, San José, Juanfran!"

"Midfielders: Li Kang, Saúl, Iniesta!"

"Forwards: David Silva, Diego Costa, Cazorla!"

Live broadcast room.

The number of viewers is increasing.

-[In the actual game, the formation will become 4-5-1.]

-[What's going on? Why isn't Spain using "ball-blind filter" Busquets?]

-[Saúl is very strong, his defense and sweep are awesome, and he's also explosive on the offensive end.]

-[I don't understand Bosque's idea, why use Diego Costa? He doesn't fit the tiki-taka system.]

....

"The French team's lineup is 4-2-3-1!"

"Goalkeeper: Lloris."

"Defenders: Sagna, Umtiti, Koscielny, Evra."

"Double defensive midfielders: Matuidi, Kanté!"

"Attacking midfielders: Payet, Pogba, Mbappe!"

"Forward: Giroud!"

-[France? Are you kidding me? Is this a national team from some African country?]

-[Three farmers with eight black...]

-[The French team's whole lineup is awesome, young and energetic!]

-[Evra is still playing? He's 35 years old, a Manchester United legend!]

-[Haha, that kid looks like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!]

-[Don't look at them looking strange, the French team is very strong this year, and there's a group of monsters on the bench. I predict that Li Mingdeng will have a very difficult game.]

-[Kanté and Matuidi's interceptions and sweeps are very perverted. Spain will seek stability and play the Barca way... slowly passing the ball to find opportunities.]

-[Listening to you guys, I'm so scared, I bought Spain 3:0 France.]

-[You're screwed, just think of it as one less foot wash, key battles won't be very aggressive, stability is the key.]

.....

The coin toss is over.

The players from both sides stood in their positions on the field.

Payet looked at Li Kang's figure, took a deep breath, and seemed to have made an important decision.

With the referee's whistle!

The game officially begins!

Spain has possession.

Diego Costa passed the ball back to Li Kang.

Cazorla and David Silva quickly sprinted forward.

Including Carvajal and Juanfran.

The French team's pressing in the frontcourt hasn't even started yet...

With Li Kang's first touch.

Spain instantly launched an extremely terrifying passing attack!

"Li Kang with a first touch, a cruise missile-like long pass! Finding Juanfran who rushed to the French half!"

"There are four attacking points in the Spanish frontcourt at this time, no, five... no, six! Seven! Eight!"

"Too crazy!"

"Wow! Quicksilver-like passing cooperation!"

....

Juanfran dribbled the ball while combining with the stop, easily crushing the little black egg who tried to stop him, what was his name... Mbappe, right? His interception ability is too green!

The same as in training, when the Atletico Madrid wingback dribbled the ball to the forty-meter area.

Juanfran ignored the menacing Sagna and calmly passed the ball horizontally to Cazorla who was supporting.

In an instant.

The Arsenal midfielder magician stirred up a beautiful passing storm!

All the Spanish midfielders and forwards ran out of dazzling trajectories.

The football danced lightly between the red jerseys.

It seems that the most skilled magicians of passing and controlling in Europe have gathered in the Spanish lineup, and they can find the most perfect passing route with their eyes closed.

"Football seems to have been given magic!"

"Too agile and ethereal!"

"Butchering a cow!"

"The French team doesn't have time to shorten the defensive distance, for them, the scene is too chaotic!"

....

Carvajal cut diagonally to the center.

David Silva dragged behind the attacking formation, although his speed was slow, his ability to get the ball and touch the ball made the French midfielder helpless.

Saúl was promoted from the defensive midfielder position to the front line!

Diego Costa is chatting warmly with his "old friend" Koscielny.

The football is like a naughty Super Maguire, provoking the French defense!

Sometimes short passes penetrate, sometimes soaring into the sky!

Without any obstruction!

One touch!

Wall pass!

The densely packed passing routes are intertwined, as if countless sharp blades are cutting!

The swordsman, again, is Li Kang!

Under the interference of several French players, he can still stand firm, and with his incredibly elegant ball control, he has repeatedly sent out extremely crucial transition passes!

In his vision, Bergkamp's phantom lingered for a long time.

The French team's defense is crumbling!

"Oh no!"

"Giroud and Payet, Mbappe... the three of them can't affect Li Kang!"

"Pogba, go back and participate in the defense!"

.....

The audience was stunned!

In the stands.

The nearby fans turned their heads to look at Wenger, not daring to linger for too long, and then looked back at the green field.

Wenger raised his hand blankly: "Li is very suitable for Arsenal... I don't know what's going on."

Zidane shook his head with a smile.

...

Matuidi is very calm.

He didn't dare to lose his position and rush to intercept, and he didn't dare to try to cut off Spain's passing connection in open play.

No matter how fast he runs, he's not as fast as the passes of this group of magicians.

Withdrawing to protect the defense is the most correct approach, stop thinking about keeping up with Li Kang!

Kanté is different.

He hasn't figured it out in this historical period, he roughly predicted Spain's passing route and quickly rushed towards Li Kang!

"Oh no, the defensive ideas of the French team's double defensive midfielders didn't collide together!"

"The gap is out!"

"Hey? Spain's attack has slowed down!"

....

Li Kang had just received a pass back from Saúl.

A short black shadow popped out.

It really is a black shadow.

Kanté's timing for his tackle was extremely precise.

Shy off the field, confident on the field, this is the Premier League interception king who created the Leicester City myth!

At the same time.

Payet rushed towards Spain's number six from behind!

The focus of his eyes wasn't on the football, but on Li Kang's calf!

Do you know how much effort I put in to stand on the stage of the European Cup?

Kicked out of youth training at 15.

Late bloomer at 29.

From clothing sales assistant to French hero.

You, a monster from La Masia, wouldn't know the hardships I've experienced along the way!

No one can stop my dream!

...

What happened next.

Left Kanté a little confused.

His right foot actually missed!

He watched helplessly as Li Kang flicked the ball with his left foot... and Payet's knee slammed hard on the Spanish genius's supporting leg.

He couldn't help but vaguely recall what Payet had said to him at the tactical meeting a few days ago...

Pa la.

A scream rang in his ears.

But how could Li Kang, in front of him, send out a wonderful long pass as if nothing had happened!

Hey?

It turned out that Payet was screaming!

There was no time to be dazed, Kanté quickly beckoned to Mbappe, who was returning to defense, to continue to limit Li Kang together!

....

"Oh! Payet fell to the ground."

"Li Kang didn't do anything!"

"It's impossible to blow the whistle and stop the game at this time!"

"Beautiful!"

"The passing suddenly turned into a long pass!"

Inside the French penalty area!

Diego Costa adjusted a few steps and pushed away Koscielny.

As the "dirty forward" most hated by Arsenal fans, he didn't use any dirty tricks this time!

The football plummeted down.

The Chelsea striker headed the ball!

Pa!

Ping!

Two touches!

The director's close-up lens almost couldn't keep up with the rhythm!

The football had rolled into the left side of the French team's small penalty area!

Cazorla bent over, like a little loach, and drilled into an unspeakably dangerous area.

He raised his left foot slightly, pretending to shoot.

Lloris was very calm, as the main goalkeeper of Tottenham, he must have gained experience from being beaten by Arsenal's passing.

He's not so easy to be...

Pa!

The football didn't fly straight to the French goal, but was swept to the right!

Saúl slid in for a shot!

Ping!

The goal frame shook violently!

"Oh no! The post!"

"The Atletico Madrid youngster is too unlucky!"

"It's harder not to score this goal than to score it!"

"Second point!"

"Li Kang!"

The director's camera almost couldn't keep up with the rhythm of the Spanish fast break!

Quickly switch the lens.

The audience couldn't help but hold their breath... and saw an extraordinarily wonderful scene.

Li Kang rushed forward, with two small black eggs hanging around his waist!

The football landed outside the penalty area, exactly where the three of them were!

In his vision, Ronaldinho's phantom appeared!

Ping!

The football lifted off the ground, spinning violently.

Drawing an extremely strange arc in the sky above the penalty area!

Like the claws of a devil!

1:0!!!

Lloris was stunned.

Monster...

Devil...

An unspeakable cannibalistic demon king.