Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 87: 87. National team debut

Check out advanced Chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari

----------

Regarding Lance’s exceptional inclusion in the Belgium National Team, there was still some controversy in Belgium.

When news broke that he was about to join Belgium U19, there was, of course, no controversy, only praise.

Everyone hoped that this highly talented Chinese-Belgian youngster would gain experience in the U19 youth team.

After four years, when Lance turns 20 and is fully developed, he might become one of the core players of the ”Belgium Golden Generation,” and achieve good results in the 2018 World Cup alongside players like Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, and Romelu Lukaku.

However, the 16-year-old was called up to the National Team ahead of schedule and was about to participate in the upcoming warm-up matches.

Could it be that...

”Marc Wilmots wouldn’t actually want him to play in the World Cup, would he? Playing in the World Cup at 16 is too crazy!”

”It shouldn’t come to that. If Kevin Mirallas hadn’t been injured, Lance wouldn’t have had to fill in for a while.”

”But the problem is, there are so many alternative players. Dries Mertens and Divock Origi could both play, so why insist on putting a kid in?”

”I feel Marc Wilmots might really be considering the World Cup squad.”

”It’s a good thing we qualified early; otherwise, we’d have a kid affecting our qualification chances.”

On Twitter, the comment section of the Belgium National Team’s official account was somewhat in an uproar.

Many people couldn’t understand why a 16-year-old kid was in the National Team.

But even more people came out to speak up for Lance.

”Wait? It’s 2014, and people are still questioning Lance’s skill level?”

”I’m also puzzled. If you just watch more Champions League and Bundesliga matches, you’d know how overpowered Lance is.”

”Such a forward, Portugal, Spain, and Germany are all scrambling for him, but Belgium, on the other hand, is still questioning Lance.”

”The Belgium Football Association has acted quickly enough; otherwise, if they waited any longer, Lance would have become teammates with Cristiano Ronaldo. At that point, you’d better pray we don’t face Portugal.”

”Facts will prove why Lance is the most suitable player for Belgium!”

”What a bunch of jokes. Go watch Lance’s two matches against Manchester United, and you’ll know who the true core of the front line is”

”Leading Bayer Leverkusen to first place in the group at such a young age, is age really a problem?”

Those who had watched Lance play could hardly resist being drawn to his style of play.

Additionally, Lance never gave up easily and was a big-hearted player who could repeatedly step up and score decisive goals in crucial moments.

Even with issues like weak physical confrontation, low stamina, limited defensive coverage, and average passing and organizing abilities, this position is a forward, after all!

Being able to pose a threat in the box is enough!

Even if he’s not used as a starting striker or the core of the attacking front, wouldn’t it be great to use him as a super-sub?

”If I were Marc Wilmots, I would definitely bring such a super-sub to the World Cup.”

”I agree with the above!”

...

While Lance was at the center of public debate in Belgium, he was already training with the Belgium National Team.

Originally, Lance had envisioned that the National Team would be a group of strangers, and communicating with everyone might be a bit challenging.

Unexpectedly, most of them were quite enthusiastic.

With Kevin De Bruyne’s introduction, Lance quickly became familiar with most of the Belgium National Team players within just three days.

Including the seemingly fierce, tower-like Romelu Lukaku, who was actually a pretty funny guy, with a rather simple and even soft personality, completely at odds with his physique.

Even when he wasted chances in the box and was yelled at by teammates, Romelu Lukaku would just smile awkwardly and give a thumbs-up to the teammate who passed him the ball.

Among the entire team, only the Belgium National Team’s attacking core, Eden Hazard, Lance hadn’t gotten too familiar with him yet.

When Kevin De Bruyne introduced him to his teammates, everyone else was curiously asking Lance questions.

Eden Hazard just quietly observed from the side, at most nodding in greeting to Lance, which counted as a hello.

”Don’t mind him, Eden is a good guy, he likes to joke around, and he’s very optimistic. But he doesn’t talk much, and he’s usually very low-key...”

There was another evaluation Kevin De Bruyne didn’t voice.

He felt Eden Hazard had immense talent, even talent comparable to Lionel Messi.

However, Eden Hazard was usually lazy in training, appearing very laid-back, without much ambition.

Whenever he encountered him, it felt like Eden Hazard was lost in thought, detached from worldly concerns.

Kevin De Bruyne was also an introverted and low-key person, but he wasn’t as laid-back as Eden Hazard.

After three days of training camp, Kevin De Bruyne, influenced by Lance, also became a ”training fanatic” in the Belgium National Team.

The two of them competed in extra training sessions, putting in serious effort during training.

This forced other players to increase their training intensity; otherwise, being outdone by a 16-year-old who had just joined the National Team would be too embarrassing.

Soon, Lance’s first match after joining the Belgium National Team arrived.

He sat on the bench with his teammates, ready to face the challenge from C?te d’Ivoire.

...

In the small town of Genk, Belgium, at the VRT public television station in the Flemish region.

Because both Kevin De Bruyne and Lance were stars who emerged from KRC Genk, one at VfL Wolfsburg and the other at Bayer Leverkusen, their simultaneous rise in the Bundesliga ignited the football passion of Genk fans.

This friendly match of the Belgium National Team was broadcast live on television.

Who would have thought that an ordinary friendly match would have viewership ratings comparable to the Champions League!

Dirk Nuyts, a renowned Flemish commentator, and Philippe Albert, a former Belgium international and Newcastle United legend, co-commentated the match.

...”The second half is 55 minutes in, and the score is temporarily tied at 1-1.”

”The situation is very tense. Belgium’s passing and control dominate the game, but it’s difficult to break through C?te d’Ivoire’s defense.”

”And C?te d’Ivoire’s core, Didier Drogba, is still giving his all! After leaving Chelsea, this veteran joined the Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua, and then played one season, currently playing for Galatasaray in the Turkish Super League.”

”This Champions League winner, a 35-year-old veteran, could threaten Belgium’s defense at any moment.”

”Just now, he forcefully took on two defenders in the box, heading in the equalizer while being double-teamed by Thomas Vermaelen and Vincent Kompany; it was truly astonishing.”

”That’s right, that’s Didier Drogba’s ability. His body might not be what it used to be, but his experience and predatory instinct in front of goal are still very threatening. We can actually make substitutions to break the current balance on the field.”

”They still have Lance. Perhaps his creativity in the attacking third could create some chances.”

”Yes, especially since Romelu Lukaku’s consecutive shots haven’t been effective...”

The two commentators exchanged wry smiles.

Is Romelu Lukaku strong?

Very strong. He is well-rounded, possesses outstanding physical talent, and was once the most dazzling super-talent in the Belgian Pro League.

He wasn’t very happy at Chelsea, but seemed to find some rhythm after joining Everton.

This season, he has gradually become Everton’s leading striker, currently having scored over 10 goals in the Premier League.

However, in the National Team, Romelu Lukaku still seemed to be struggling to find his scoring touch.

Just then, Belgium National Team coach Marc Wilmots looked at the eager Lance on the sidelines.

”Lance, it’s your turn. Go out there and get a feel for it.”

It was just a friendly match anyway, so winning or losing didn’t matter.

Marc Wilmots’ decision to put Lance on was also in response to the Belgium Football Association’s request.

They needed to get Lance involved in National Team A-level matches as soon as possible, so that Portugal, Spain, Germany, and China would not be able to compete with the Belgium Football Association for him.

Otherwise, if he only played for youth teams, Lance could still play for other national teams.

Incidentally, Marc Wilmots was also just putting Lance in to observe him, to see if he had a chance to participate in the 2014 World Cup.

Lance simply nodded, wearing the red jersey for the first time as he stood on the sidelines.

He had expected to be very excited at this moment, but Lance’s mood was much calmer than his first Bundesliga appearance.

He wished the red home jersey of Belgium could transform into another red jersey embroidered with the five-star red flag.

But there was no way; if he wore that jersey, he would never have a chance to touch the World Cup trophy in his lifetime.

And this Belgium team had the opportunity to lift the coveted World Cup trophy that all players dream of!

In predictions, for the 2018 World Cup, Belgium regrettably fell in the semifinals.

If he joined, would it change the timeline?

”Belgium requests a substitution! Number 14 Dries Mertens is coming off...”

”Number 24, Lance! Coming on as a substitute!”

”Following Northern Ireland’s young player Norman Whiteside’s record of 17 years and 41 days, Lance, at 16 years and 215 days old, has set a new record for the youngest appearance in a FIFA International A-level match!”

”He is also the youngest player to ever appear for the Belgium National Team!”