Chapter 122 Are Records Meant to Be Broken? Nonexistent!

Before the game restarted, the Chinese team made the first substitution adjustment of the game. Liu Ruofan, who was only 19 years old, replaced vice-captain Hao Junmin, whose physical fitness had declined significantly, to strengthen the running ability of the midfielders and frontcourt players.

But is this really Lippi’s intention?

No!

Liu Ruofan's ability is more reflected in offense!

Hao Junmin jogged to the sidelines. The broadcaster gave a set of data. In the past 59 minutes of the game, Hao Junmin ran nearly 8,000 meters. This... is really too much physical exertion for a veteran who is over 30 years old.

In order to ensure the stability of the offensive and defensive transitions between the midfield and the midfield, replacing Hao Junmin is a very correct choice.

It was just that Liu Ruofan was replaced when he was lagging behind, which caused some controversy.

Of course, this is just an argument.

Liu Ruofan's ability has been recognized in Marseille for one season. His substitute appearance may be Lippi's move to change the situation.

With Hao Junmin gone, there are only three players born in the 1980s on the Chinese team. However, Tang Zheng, Zhang Linpeng and Jiang Zhipeng were all born in the 1980s and can only be barely considered to be born in the 1980s. Moreover, the three of them are at a personal stage. The peak of his career, especially his physical condition and game experience.

With the passion of players born in the 1990s and the experience of players born in the 1980s, the Chinese team that is lagging behind does not seem to lose the game so easily!

The Chinese team, which had a kick-off advantage, did not rush forward to organize the attack. Instead, it slowly penetrated forward through Tang Zheng's connection and organization, trying to find the French team's defensive loopholes through the tacit cooperation of some players.

Facts have proved that the French team, which was leading the score, did a very good job on the defensive end, but the Chinese team's offense failed to open up the situation as expected.

Lippi frowned. It wasn't that he didn't know the reason, but he was a little worried.

Tang Zheng's position is not prerequisite, and the Chinese team's offense will not directly threaten the French defense.

However, the problems caused by Tang Zheng's positional conditions are very serious, which will expose a slight gap in the stable defense line.

Two minutes into the game, Lippi looked at the young and experienced defensive midfielder Li Kui. This natural blue-collar man whom he caught at a glance might... be able to perform better in this stressful game.

Lippi, who has been in China for six years, knows that there is an old saying in China that a jade cannot be polished until it becomes a weapon. Whether Li Kui can grow into the top midfielder in world football depends on whether he can withstand the huge pressure in the French team's offense.

At the 72nd minute, Lippi made the decision to give Tang Zheng a better position and hand over the defensive responsibility in the middle to the 22-year-old Li Kui.

Tang Zheng was a little worried after realizing Lippi's intention to change tactics, but he ultimately chose to trust his teammate Li Kui.

Although Li Kui is only 22 years old, he is nicknamed "Agui" by Chinese fans. He has a maturity that belies his age. When the score is behind, he can only attack.

Defense is left to his partner Li Kui who can take on the big responsibility.

Of course, this does not mean that Tang Zheng does not defend, but that most of Tang Zheng's attention will be on the Chinese team's offense, and defense can only be taken into account instead of being the first priority.

With the addition of Tang Zheng, the power of the Chinese team's offense was greatly increased.

Deschamps' team was unable to expand the score to two goals, and he had some concerns, so... he also made substitution adjustments.

But this adjustment was unexpected. Giroud replaced the goal scorer Griezmann...

According to Deschamps' idea, he hopes that Mbappe and Dembele will open gaps on the two wings, and then send exquisite crosses to traditional center Giroud.

It is undeniable that Deschamps' adjustment is very good. The Chinese team's two full-backs Jiang Zhipeng and Deng Hanwen are not in the best condition. Mbappe and Dembele can complete wonderful breakthroughs after getting the ball.

Send a cross again.

However, Micro Motion and Zhang Linpeng are in very good condition. Their division of labor makes it difficult for Giroud to complete a threatening header in a small space.

Coupled with Yan Junling's stable state, the French team, which was leading the score, failed to create opportunities to expand the score.

As time passed, the Chinese team began to pay attention to the defense of the two wingers on the defensive end, including Liu Ruofan, Wu Sanshi and Lu Liang who came off the bench. The recovery range was very large, leaving room for Mbappe or Dembélé to break through. Fewer and fewer.

Even though Giroud has an outstanding height advantage and aerial advantage, there is no way to pose a direct threat to Yan Junling's goal without the ball.

Mbappe and Dembele were unable to create opportunities on the wing, and Deschamps once again made adjustments to the lineup.

He knows that 1:0 is the most unsafe score on the planet. The team must seize the opportunity to expand the score, otherwise the nervous Chinese team will have a chance to equalize the score.

In the 76th minute, the French team made another substitution adjustment. Fekir, the attacking midfielder who plays for Lyon, replaced Dembele, and the formation became 4312.

Soon, Pogba got the ball and passed it to Fekir, who casually sent a pass from behind in the 30-meter area in the middle of the attack, intending to pass the ball to Mbappe who was diagonally inserted into the left rib of the penalty area, but this Deng Hanwen did not lose his focus for the second time. He followed Mbappe into the penalty area, and then used the outside instep of his right foot to make a clearance while facing his own goal.

The football flew towards the 35th area in the middle of the Chinese team's defense. Both Tang Zheng and Pogba had the opportunity to get the football.

In addition to Pogba, the French team also has Tolisso. They work together without any communication. Pogba competes for position and Tolisso gets the ball.

But Tang Zheng moved faster with his feet. While blocking the position first, he raised his left arm to block Pogba and Tolisso behind him.

Pogba was stuck in Tang Zheng's position and had nothing to do. Tolisso had to try to stretch his left foot from behind Tang Zheng to reach the ball.

At this time, Tang Zheng's advantage of long legs was perfectly demonstrated. He moved his right foot forward to stop the falling football on the grass in front of him. He landed on the ground with his right foot and pushed hard, using the force of Pogba and Tolisso's push to move forward. Take a step, and then use the sole of your left foot to pull the football back. At the same time, using your left foot as the axis, your body twists about 160 degrees to the left, from facing your own goal to facing away from the goal.

When Pogba and Tolisso saw the football appearing in front of them, they couldn't care less. They stretched their left and right feet to kick the ball.

As a result, Tang Zheng landed with his left foot, and then used his right foot to step on the ball alternately to pull the football back again, which just opened the distance between the football and Pogba and Tolisso.

"Oh oh oh oh——"

Suddenly, the entire Kazan Stadium echoed with subconscious exclamations from Chinese fans and local Russian fans.

"Oh ~ Marseille slalom!!"

At the same time, Central 5 commentator He Wei suddenly lengthened his voice: "Tang Zheng used a highly entertaining Marseille spin in front of the French team! Pogba and Tolisso were played between his palms!"

Tang Zheng had no intention of continuing to show off his footwork. He seized the opportunity and immediately used the tip of his right foot to pick the football to Liu Ruofan, who turned around to observe the situation around him.

Kanter, who was dragged at the back of the midfield, didn't think much and pounced directly on Liu Ruofan.

However, Liu Ruofan seemed to have an eye in the back of his head. He directly used his right foot to pass the football to Lu Liang on the left.

Kanter missed, but instead of turning to attack Lu Liang, he followed Liu Ruofan and ran towards the center circle. He had a hunch that the football would be passed to the 19-year-old Liu Ruofan again.

Facts have proved that Kanter's premonition was wrong. Lu Liang, who got the ball, used his left foot to kick the ball, and the football rolled towards Tang Zheng, who was moving to the left.

The Chinese team's situation became very clear through two consecutive kicks. Pogba and Tolisso realized that it was too late to follow Tang Zheng.

The ball Lu Liang completed with his left foot rolled against the turf towards Tang Zheng, which meant that Tang Zheng lost one adjustment step.

In the midfield, Wu Sanshi and Sun Jingbo changed positions. Wu Sanshi accelerated and ran to the space in the ribs between Varane and Umtiti, while Sun Jingbo ran to attack the right rib.

During the cross-running process, Varane and Umtiti did not make any predictions because the football rolled towards Tang Zheng.

What if... Tang Zheng wants to break through with the ball himself, or... give it to Lu Liang and Liu Ruofan who are opening the space?

Lu Liang passed the ball just right. Tang Zheng adjusted his steps while running, stood still with his right foot, and kicked the inside of the instep of his left foot toward the middle left part of the football.

The football quickly rose into the air and flew towards the right flank of the Chinese team's attack.

Tang Zheng's non-stop long pass of more than 50 meters was just right, so Umtiti chose to stay in position instead of risking a clearance. After all... the Russian sun at around two o'clock in the afternoon was still very dazzling.

Sun Jingbo, who seemed to be slowing down, suddenly stopped the ball five meters in front of him with his chest and accelerated again.

Umtiti realized the situation soon, so she had to stretch out her foot to trip Sun Jingbo.

"Beep~"

The referee Cunha on duty decisively blew his whistle and then gave Umtiti a yellow card for the foul.

※※※

"What a pity!"

Central 5 commentator He Wei was still lamenting that the Chinese team had kicked the ball three times in their own half, but Umtiti kicked down Sun Jingbo, so he had to change his voice: "Umtiti fouled and destroyed the ball. A very threatening quick counterattack by the Chinese team!"

However, He Wei's passionate voice was not affected. He said passionately: "This free kick in the frontcourt can bring a great threat to the French goal. Tang Zheng, Zhang Linpeng, Micro Motion, and Li Kui all have great Strong ability to compete for the top spot, especially captain Tang Zheng!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Ruofan took a direct free kick about 27 meters from the bottom line to the right rib.

The football flew towards the center of the penalty area. Varane and Umtiti in the defensive area suddenly became extremely nervous, because... Tang Zheng stopped and accelerated to throw away Pogba's defense and ran towards the landing point of the football.

However, Varane and Umtiti were not in a panic, and they divided the work and cooperated with each other. Varane followed Tang Zheng behind him, while Umtiti was responsible for heading the ball in front of him to clear the ball.

If nothing else happens, Liu Ruofan's direct free kick will most likely be cleared by Varane and Umtiti.

"In the second half, the Chinese team used a free kick to threaten Lloris to guard the goal, so the French players in the French team's penalty area were very nervous..."

However, no one expected that the sun over Kazan was so dazzling that it shone right at the moment when Umtiti was taking off, causing Umtiti to make a mistake in her judgment and the jump was not enough. He thought about Tang Zheng behind him. There was a short circuit in his brain. He raised his right arm high and hit the falling football with his fist, changing its trajectory.

The Chinese players Tang Zheng, Zhang Linpeng and Micro Motion in the penalty area subconsciously raised their arms and turned excitedly to look at the referee Cunha outside the penalty area.

"Come here, later..." He Wei was a little confused as to why the Chinese players had such an extreme reaction, and said in confusion: "Is it a thug in the penalty area, or what?"

After about two seconds, referee Cunha blew his whistle and pointed his right index finger in the direction of the penalty spot.

Except for Umtiti who was trying to explain, the other French players who appeared on the broadcast screen were shaking their heads secretly, obviously not intending to defend themselves, including goalkeeper and captain Lloris.

"Penalty kick! Penalty kick!" Central 5 commentator He Wei shouted after seeing the referee Cunha's gesture: "It's so dramatic! Who would have thought? Umtiti committed a handball foul in the penalty area! The referee Referee Cunha imposed the death penalty!”

Through slow-motion replay, Umtiti's raised right fist hit the football firmly, so... this is an undisputed penalty!

The commentator of French National Sports TV was very helpless: "What was Samuel Umtiti thinking at that moment? Did he think this was a free kick attack in the penalty area of ​​the Chinese team? When he was Diego Mara Ladonna?”

Deschamps, the French coach, who was standing in the coaching area, was very angry and kicked the water bottle in front of him to vent his dissatisfaction with Umtiti.

Tang Zheng stood in front of the penalty spot holding the football. Central 5 commentator He Wei's voice rose an octave: "Captain Tang Zheng is going to take this penalty kick. Chinese fans sitting in front of the TV, get ready. How do you celebrate a goal?"

At the same time, Varane, who was a club teammate with Tang Zheng, shook his head and smiled bitterly, sighing while feeling depressed.

In his perception, or... Judging from Tang Zheng's career statistics, this goal has already been scored.

Because... Tang Zheng has never missed a penalty kick since the beginning of his career!

"Ouch, ouch, ouch -"

The Chinese fans in the stands naturally know this. Giving the Chinese team a penalty kick is giving the Chinese team a chance to equalize the score!

Standing in front of the goal line and still making his final efforts, Lloris was very focused. He believed that so-called records are meant to be broken!

Penalty kicks have never been missed, that's all in the past!

It does not represent the future!

"Beep~"

At this moment, the referee Cunha blew his whistle.

Loris stamped his feet in small steps and stared at Tang Zheng.

The corners of Tang Zheng's mouth raised slightly, and he raised a nice curve and started to run.

One step, two steps, and the third step spans a long distance. Stand still with your left foot on the ground. At the same time, raise your left arm to maintain body balance and lift your right foot.

"right!"

The moment Tang Zheng raised his right foot, Loris's eyes flashed and he screamed in his heart.

However, the next moment, Loris regretted it and was filled with unwillingness: "Oops!"

Tang Zheng's swung right foot did not kick the football to the right of Lloris's save. Instead, he retracted most of his strength the moment he touched the ball. He rubbed his toes towards the bottom of the football. The football slowly rose into the air at a speed visible to the naked eye and fell towards the goal. Middle road.

If Lloris didn't make a judgment in advance, he could hold the football without any effort.

But Lloris, who had made a change of focus in advance, was powerless and could only declare that it was beyond his reach.

In other words, the moment the Chinese team got the penalty kick, the result was already determined.

Records are meant to be broken?

nonexistent!