I AM the Football Star

Chapter 442: Chapter 124: There Can Be Only One Shit-Stirrer! (Part 2)

Similarly, what Lu Yang imparted to Nikluci was also reflected in this match.

This sliding tackle from the side is a great example.

Nikluci is not the type of player who defends rough; his defending is very clean.

And here being in the penalty area, with Nikluci’s usual temperament, he would never slide tackle here.

But influenced by Lu Yang, Nikluci now has a new understanding of defense.

As long as it’s a successful, legal defense, even in the penalty area, the referee can’t possibly call it a penalty.

Damn it!

But in the next moment, Nikluci’s pupils suddenly contracted.

Because he...

Didn’t hit anything!

Just as Mancini completed the shift to the right, he caught up with the ball and performed a Marseille Turn, making another lateral move to the left!

Marseille Turns are usually forward breakthroughs, but there is a lateral movement of about twenty to thirty centimeters in between.

However, Mancini’s was a genuine lateral Marseille Turn, with a lateral shift of more than a meter, perfectly dodging Nikluci’s slide tackle.

Then, he took two steps to catch up with the ball, lifting his left foot high.

Bang!

Inside the right of the penalty area, he shot towards the near corner of the goal, aiming for the top right corner!

No matter how divine Areola is, from such a close distance, he could only manage to get down.

The save wasn’t even completed when the ball shot into the net, without question.

”Oh my god, oh my god, it’s a world-class goal!” The commentator was going mad, shouting, ”Who else for this year’s Golden Boy Award! Mancini, it’s Mancini again! He completed a solo goal this time himself.”

”This ball is too wonderful! He once again broke through Italy’s defense line.”

”Top-notch dribbling standard!”

”Agile high-speed lateral movement.”

”A crash for Italy’s defense line!”

”Especially that lateral Marseille Turn, it’s a flash of genius!”

”That final powerful shot had very high quality, hitting an absolute dead angle in the conventional sense!”

”What an outstanding player, what a confident player!”

”The Great British Imperial Star, truly lives up to the name!”

The commentator didn’t hold back, giving all the best adjectives to Mancini, simply because he truly deserved it.

With this goal, Mancini almost conquered all the neutral fans in the stadium.

Except for the die-hard Italy fans, most of the audience erupted into cheers, offering warm applause.

And Mancini, like a true king, thoroughly enjoyed it.

The atmosphere at the scene reached its peak.

The English players embraced each other passionately, worthy of the genius title.

Following this, Italy made some slight adjustments, moving to middle control, thereby losing the strong front-line pressing ability, making it harder to attack.

Pompey, with elusive positioning, was closely followed by England’s left-back, almost frozen.

Italy’s front-line offensive core Sevajos was also well restricted by England, repeatedly intercepted.

This deadlock continued until the end of the first half.

...

Halftime, inside Italy’s locker room.

Maniero looked deeply worried.

This was the first time Italy National Youth Team’s offensive was so heavily restricted after putting in the strongest lubricant, Lu Yang.

Indeed, Maniero was thinking about offense.

As for defense... he hadn’t hoped to freeze England’s attacking players in this game anyway.

To put it bluntly, in this European Youth Championship, no team could restrict this England’s offense.

Averaging two goals a game was this England’s confidence!

No matter who they played, they would score at least two goals, even if the opponent was Spain, a strong title contender.

Going on offense was Italy’s only way out.

After all, this 4123 formation was born to attack.

”Boss, go all in!” Lu Yang spoke.

Maniero looked at Lu Yang, signaling how to go all in?

Lu Yang pointed on Maniero’s pad, then pushed Canyes’ position from right-back to right midfield.

At the same time, he moved Nikluci’s position from left-back to center back.

Finally, he pushed himself and Morici forward, placing them between central forward and winger!

3-2-5!

”Mancini is too fast, and he can play on both sides, Nikluci can barely hold him, Canyes is often out of position and can’t stop him.” Lu Yang said, ”Instead of letting them eat our two full-backs alive, let’s just give up the space for the full-backs.”

”Defend against the cut inside, not the cross!”

Maniero’s eyes flashed, quickly considering the feasibility of this plan.

Amusingly, there really was one!

Traditionally, England’s long pass and high ball play have deep roots.

Even though later the Premier League underwent a technical overhaul, the playing style of the England National Team and the overall environment of the Premier League still primarily emphasize long pass and high ball.

At least, most teams employ long pass and high ball tactics in the last twenty to thirty minutes.

Yet, curiously enough... England’s national teams... lack a big central forward!

The tactic that most needs a big central forward lacked a big central forward!

The team that loves long pass and high ball tactics lacked a big central forward!

Nobody knows why.

At the very least, there was almost no big central forward seedling among the England Youth Team or England’s younger generation.

They have plenty of ”speed dogs” in the front, but not the rugged, hard-working nail that punctures into the enemy’s heart!

The main reasons might be that the big central forward playstyle is tough, demanding, lacks highlight moments, and doesn’t produce impressive statistics.