I AM the Football Star

Because a gambler stole his football the moment he turned around.

This is... team coordination!

Not from the Italy Team, but from San Remo’s defensive habits!

San Remo’s players instinctively cooperate with Lu Yang’s defending: Lu presses, the others cover and provide backup.

This is San Remo’s defensive system.

Who’d have thought it would appear now at the European Cup.

If Zidane were a bit worse, it’d be fine if he couldn’t see through San Remo’s covering pattern, but he just had to see through it.

Once he saw through it, of course he wouldn’t go to Morici’s and Canyes’ side.

The result... he just happened to run straight into the gambler Lu Yang.

”I bet you’re definitely going this way!” Lu threw down a line as he got up, then sprinted towards the front.

Zidane could only retreat and defend helplessly alongside him.

You could count that as a compliment.

Because if you don’t go to Lu’s side, it means that midfielder’s awareness and vision are no good.

Why are some players always trapped in cages, while others always have great space to pass or shoot after receiving the ball? It’s related to their scanning before receiving and choices after receiving.

Some have already mapped out all the routes before the ball reaches them, while others’ minds are total mush at the moment of reception, dribbling for the sake of dribbling, long since lost in direction.

After Lam got the ball under control, he didn’t hesitate and played it to Morici.

Morici took two touches of dribbling, then, facing the pressing Joseph, played it back to the supporting Perrotta.

Perrotta, with his back to Plazza, laid it off first-time without stopping the ball.

Then he spun, trying to make a forward run.

Plazza used his body to block, getting into a fierce physical tussle with Perrotta, so much so that Perrotta failed to break forward, but Plazza was completely tied up with him as well.

France Team’s waist is exposed... the gate in the middle is wide open!

Bang!

Morici’s passes never wait for anyone.

Facing Perrotta’s one-touch layoff, Morici also hit a first-time through ball, directly piercing France Team’s midfield, and even their back line!

A surgeon’s scalpel, driven straight through the middle into the heart of France Team!

Ancelotti, who had called for the ball on the left, was almost so mad he had a brain hemorrhage.

This damn thing is way too off, isn’t it?

He was between France Team’s right-back and right center-back, but Morici’s pass went between the two center-backs.

Ancelotti could not possibly get that ball!

Is Morici’s passing really this unreliable?

Quicker said than done, a blue figure shot past Plazza, sprinting desperately after the ball!

”Oh! It’s Lu Yang!”

”After stealing it off Zidane, Lu Yang charged straight towards France Team’s backfield.”

”France Team’s defensive line is positioned relatively high this time. Their holding mids are near the halfway line, while the center-backs are just behind the center circle.”

”Morici’s through ball completely split France Team open! The ball appears behind the two French center-backs, who are now chasing back.”

”Lu Yang is also chasing this ball, but he’s still some distance away from the French center-backs, and even farther from the ball.”

”This pass from Morici was too rushed; if he was targeting Lu Yang, he should’ve waited a bit longer! At least two more seconds!”

”Actually, playing it to Ancelotti would’ve been better; Ancelotti had space to receive.”

”But now Ancelotti is alone up front. After receiving, he’d either have to play it back or try to take people on by force.”

”Hmm, today Ancelotti simply can’t break free for a one‑on‑one under Lande’s defending; Lande’s speed and strength are the nemesis of poaching forwards!”

”So fast! Lu Yang is actually about to catch up with the two French center-backs!”

”And they’re all still a fair distance from the ball!”

”The ball is still some way from the top of the penalty arc, and France’s keeper Dominic was positioned deep to begin with. To rush out now would be too risky. He can only wait for his two center-backs to defuse the danger!”

”You can’t blame Dominic entirely; after all, there are two center-backs on this ball, it should’ve been very secure. It’s just that Lu Yang is too fast, he’s actually catching the French center-backs.”

”Kuba is slowing down; he wants to intercept Lu Yang, to use his body to block Lu and buy Lande time to deal with the ball. In this kind of center-back tandem, Italy’s Bernulin and Chiavich are the best at it.”

”Kuba reaches out and grabs Lu Yang, he’s trying to get in front of him...”

”He doesn’t hold him! Lu Yang is past him!”

”My God! Lu Yang’s shirt has been torn! Kuba couldn’t pull him back!”

”Kuba is staring at the blue scraps of shirt in his hand, as if he still hasn’t processed what just happened!”

”Too fast! I feel like I’m not watching Lu Yang at all, this is basically Robben in an Italy shirt!”

”Seriously! Lu Yang has caught up with Lande! And right now they’re still two meters from the ball!”

”He’s ahead! Lu Yang has edged half a body in front of Lande.”

”Lande crashes into Lu Yang! He wants to foul him!”

”No, it’s a physical duel; Lande wants to body up Lu Yang and use contact to suppress his speed. This is what many center-backs do when facing pacey forwards. But...”

Bang!

After a fierce collision, Lande staggered, his center of gravity wobbling wildly.

On top of that, they were at full speed, and Lande’s own feet tripped him up; he went crashing to the turf!

On the other side, Lu, also stumbling, managed to steady himself thanks to solid balance and impressive strength.

But Lu Yang’s pace did indeed drop sharply.

At this moment Dominic finally seized the chance and rushed off his line.