Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 174: 174. We are - the top 8 in the World Cup!

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Who am I?

Where am I?

For a moment, Lance couldn’t perceive the existence of time.

All the surrounding noise seemed to be covered by a transparent shield, and he could only hear a muffled hum.

The scene also seemed to blur, making it impossible to distinguish directions.

’What’s that sound? A football match? So lively.’

’I remember only the World Cup gets this lively, with everyone watching and discussing football everywhere.’

’I must have stayed up late watching the game, right? Still I have to work tomorrow, those capitalist bastards, all they care about is attendance, all they care about is exploiting employees.’

’Don’t talk about 996, now it’s 007!’

’What game was I watching? I’m so tired!’

’So tired... I just want to lie down and sleep.’

’Wait! It’s not over yet! I can’t lie down yet!’

Just as Lance was about to close his eyes, a vigilant voice suddenly came from the bottom of his heart, and Lance regained his spirit!

That’s right!

I’m not a fan! I’m not some overworked laborer!

I’m a professional player!

And right now, I’m at the 2014 Brazil World Cup!

I’m a player for Belgium, and the opponent is Portugal, it’s Cristiano Ronaldo!!

I— am Lance!

In an instant, his mind cleared!

The surrounding noisy and blurry sounds and scenes became clear!

In Lance’s eyes, the football, which had been moving in slow motion in the air, turned into a streak of lightning and shot into the dead corner of the goal!

The Portuguese goalkeeper could only jump helplessly, but it was too late!

The entire stadium erupted like a volcano, with deafening cheers!

”Did that goal... go in?”

”It went in!!!”

”Could it be that...”

He subconsciously looked at the scoreboard,

[Belgium 2-2 Portugal]

At this moment, the number just changed from 2 to 3!

The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the center circle,

Goal valid!!

”Lance—a last-minute winner!! A last-minute winner!!!”

”The last minute of the match, in injury time!”

”De Bruyne assisted Lance, who scored the winning goal with a volley!!”

”Belgium won!! Lance with a hat-trick!!!”

The emotions that had been suppressed for 20 minutes suddenly burst forth.

He Wei no longer cared about neutrality or objective commentary!

He just wanted to cheer for Lance!

Even if it meant suffering the same fate as Huang Jianxiang, He Wei wanted to sincerely congratulate Lance on this goal!

”This is football! This is the purest charm brought by this competitive sport!”

”Lance showed the whole world what it means to never give up! He personally demonstrated what it means to be resilient!”

”The 17-year-old youth represents the excellent qualities of a football player!”

”At this moment, he is not fighting alone!”

”In a World Cup knockout match, a player completes a hat-trick, turns the tide and scores a last-minute winner against Portugal!”

”Leading Belgium to successfully advance to the World Cup quarterfinals!”

”Lance is currently at the top of the World Cup top scorer list! 7 goals, far ahead!”

In a single World Cup, an individual scored 7 goals in only 3 matches, and even rested for one match in the group stage.

This terrifying attacking power will explode across the world after this match!

You know, Thomas Müller, the Golden Boot winner of the 2010 South Africa World Cup, only had 5 goals throughout the tournament.

In the 2006 Germany World Cup, Klose, the Golden Boot winner, also only had 5 goals!

The last time someone scored more than 7 goals was Ronaldo, the champion striker of the 2002 World Cup, in his prime!

8 goals, unparalleled, and he also won the Ballon d’Or that year.

Lance with 7 goals in 3 matches, the more you think about it, the more terrifying it becomes!

While He Wei was shouting himself hoarse in front of the TV, it was already 6 AM in the East, where dawn had broken!

Countless fans woke up at 4 AM to watch the match, without any hint of sleepiness.

Whether it was Lance’s lightning-fast goal at the start or Cristiano Ronaldo’s tenacious comeback, everyone’s emotions fluctuated with the game.

Just when it seemed Lance and Belgium were about to be eliminated by Cristiano Ronaldo, at the crucial moment, Lance made a solo run to equalize, and then in injury time, he received a brilliant pass from De Bruyne to score a last-second winner!

Who could still sleep after that?

At 6 AM, it should have been the time when sanitation workers worked tirelessly and anonymously on the streets, everyone else was deep in sleep, and some commuters who needed to leave early would grudgingly get up to wash and get ready.

But countless bars and late-night food stalls were still bustling, countless residential areas were lit up with thousands of lights, and cheers from all over China pierced the sky, converging into one!

The Brazil World Cup venue was even more boiling, the red-clad players on the bench burst out like a zombie horde, rushing onto the field with ferocious expressions.

It was only the round of 16 knockout stage, but everyone acted as if they had won the championship, surging forward to celebrate.

Even though the match hadn’t officially ended, even though there were still a few tens of seconds left in injury time, Portugal died the moment Lance scored the winning goal.

The white-clad players collapsed to the ground, covering their faces and crying bitterly, forming a stark contrast with the celebrating red-clad players around them.

Especially Lance, the absolute hero of the day, the miracle man with a hat-trick, the absolute superstar who dominated the world with 7 goals on the top scorer list, Lance was truly surrounded by stars.

He couldn’t even celebrate the way he wanted; before he could run out, he was excitedly lifted up by his Belgian teammates and tossed into the air!

”Hey! Put me down!”

His teammates had lost their minds and couldn’t hear what he was saying at all.

”Lance!! Lance!! Lance!!”

”Lance!! Lance!! Lance!!”

”Campione, Campione! Ole, Ole, Ole...”

”Campione, Campione! Ole, Ole, Ole...”

Damn it!

Just advancing to the quarterfinals, are they this excited?

It’s not like we won the championship!

Lance initially tried to struggle down, but then he simply gave up, letting his teammates mess around and toss him into the air.

Above the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, now far, now near, now far, now near...

...

Lance: ”...”

Cristiano Ronaldo: ”...”

”Well...”

”Don’t get cocky, kid, this is just the beginning!”

”Alright, next season in the Champions League, let’s have another match!”

”That’s right!! I definitely won’t lose to you next time!”

After the celebration, the referee, out of sympathy, gave Portugal an extra minute of injury time.

Unfortunately, they had lost their spirit and couldn’t create another miracle.

Unnoticed by anyone, a few seconds after they kicked off, the referee blew the final whistle.

Portugal was completely eliminated, and Belgium successfully advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals!

After the goal celebration earlier, the Belgian players’ frenzy had subsided.

Now they were just shaking hands and celebrating on the field.

Lance shook hands and hugged each of his teammates, and then looked up to see Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps having just cried, had slightly red eyes and was looking at Lance as if he were an enemy.

But soon, Cristiano Ronaldo spoke first, issuing a challenge, then turned and left with an unwilling expression.

Neither of them suggested exchanging jerseys.

It was as if two elementary school students were competing, and whoever suggested exchanging jerseys first would lose.

”Hey!”

Lance had walked a couple of steps when Cristiano Ronaldo’s call suddenly came from behind him.

”What is it?”

He thought Cristiano Ronaldo was admitting defeat, but Cristiano Ronaldo just pouted, glanced away, and said faintly:

”Don’t lose to Messi.”

Lance: ???

Do I need you to remind me?

Who wants to lose to him!

Lance didn’t reply, just glanced at Cristiano Ronaldo, then turned and went to celebrate the victory with his teammates!

We are—quarterfinalists!

Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, stood still, staring blankly at the youth’s back, before turning to comfort his dejected teammates.

”This guy...”

He had thought Messi was his lifelong rival!

Now, it seemed, Messi was no longer as important.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s true nemesis now included Lance!