From Arsenal to the Ball God

”Bang!”

But at the near post, Ma’el, who had run back, wasn’t going to give him this chance. He leaped up with all his might and flicked the ball with his head, deflecting it out of bounds, disrupting this excellent opportunity.

”Clap-clap-clap...!” In the midst of Lescott’s frustrated expression, the entire stadium erupted in intense applause.

When the corner was taken again, its quality wasn’t as high, and Koscielny cleared it with a header out of Malouda’s control zone.

After pausing the ball and turning, Malouda immediately felt the pressing pressure. Although he was an experienced veteran, he seemed somewhat flustered at this moment.

”Bang!”

After a moment of hesitation, he could only play a bouncing through ball forward to test and see if it could reach Nasri.

”Swish...!” The ball was indeed there, as England’s left-back, former Arsenal player Ashley Cole, older in age, feared he couldn’t catch up to Nasri and recklessly slide tackled but missed the ball.

The opportunity arose again!

”This is the European Cup, where sometimes the opponent’s defense appears unbreakable due to their strong will, yet sometimes, due to tension, they grant unexpected opportunities!

”Anyone who can keep their mind highly focused at such times, adjusting swiftly to ever-changing circumstances, reacting in the shortest time possible...

”Has the chance to seize this opportunity and convert it into a goal!

”Of course, doing this in a battle among top players is very challenging... Generally speaking, such a person would have a title, that is, the best!”

”...”

On the right flank, while dribbling, Nasri observed the situation inside the penalty area. After spotting three players surrounding Ma’el, he focused his gaze on Benzema.

”Bang!”

He wrapped his right foot around the ball, spinning a beautiful arc towards Benzema.

Benzema lunged forward with a slide shot after surpassing the opponent’s defender, contesting the spot with goalkeeper Joe Hart.

”Smack!” Joe Hart was still a step faster, punching the ball away from the penalty area first.

Nasri held his head once again, and Benzema lay on the ground inside the penalty area for two seconds, shouting in frustration before rising.

Although the ball was taken by Yohan Cabaye in the second point position, their chances of organizing a second attack were very slim, as the opponent’s eight-man defensive group had repositioned themselves.

”Bang.”

Yohan Cabaye glanced left and right, then pushed the ball to Ma’el at the wing position.

Before Ma’el could even receive the ball, he noticed Glen Johnson’s foot approaching, so he sidestepped and charged forward to meet the pass, directing it towards the center area.

”Screech!” Gerrard, who was giving chase, decisively slid in, aiming to take him down here.

Not even halfway through, their physical ability should still be abundant, not wanting to give him the chance to easily reach the central area.

”Clap-clap... Bang...!”

Ma’el was determined this time. He pulled the ball inwards with his right foot, swiftly drew it back with his left foot, and then flicked it up with the outside of his right foot, jumping to dodge Gerrard’s tackle.

Fancy move!

”Oh...!” The sounds of amazement echoed from the stands. Since both sides played with a similar style, neither willing to press high aggressively, the first half had been quite dull, and many spectators were almost falling asleep.

Seeing Ma’el’s maneuver now naturally brightened their eyes, giving them a sense of the unexpected.

Hearing their cheers, Ma’el’s determination grew even more steadfast. After stopping the airborne ball, he directly charged towards the center, slowing down at about 33 meters from the goal.

After adapting for the first 20 minutes, the opponents increased their marking on him in the next 10 minutes, making it difficult for him to receive the ball or take action and shoot.

But this time, the opponent lunged too aggressively, and his chance had arrived!

Before the match, he knew that his foot held the truth, but this truth had yet to be tested against Joe Hart’s goal.

Let’s take the shot!

”Bang...” He knocked the ball slightly to the side, no longer bringing it into the crowded area but ready to shoot from his current position.

In the front field, both Nasri and Yohan Cabaye thought Ma’el was feinting a shot before continuing to advance, raising their hands as they charged toward England’s penalty area.

Only Benzema, directly facing England’s players, saw the desire for the goal in Ma’el’s eyes.

He’s going for it!

”Block!!”

”Get him!!”

Exclamations arose at the edge of the penalty area, as several England players charged towards Ma’el, even disregarding those behind them.

At the England coaching bench on the flank, head coach Pierce was preparing to return to his position to drink water. Hearing the commotion, he turned back to take a glance, initially unconcerned given the distance.

But, after turning again and seeing the evident panic in Gilbert’s eyes, he fully faced the goal. At the same time, he noticed Deschamps beside him standing on tiptoe with his peripheral vision.

”Bang...!!!”

Ma’el’s body stretched out as usual, and as usual, his foot struck the ball beneath him. It seemed as though everything was the same as before, yet nothing was the same.

Whether it was a spectator’s illusion or not, people felt that Ma’el’s shot this time was much smoother, almost as if hitting the target was as effortless as lifting a finger.

But given his body’s intense shake just before the shot, and the sound of the ball being struck, how could he possibly have used little force?

Along with a patch of grass about 20 centimeters wide flying up, the ball instantaneously lifted off the ground, pierced through the air, and hurtled towards the top left corner of the goal, just like a genuine tomahawk missile!