CHAPTER 1852: CHAPTER 969: THE FOUR GUARDIANS OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM (PART 2)

It’s like the whole team is a single chess game, every move affecting the entire team. None of the national soccer players are idle. They are all trying to find the best position through their mobility.

After Zhu Tan got the ball, he carried it forward a short distance before players from the America team came up to block him. This was expected by Zhu Tan since he had intercepted this ball; it couldn’t be passed easily.

Facing the blockade from the America team players, Zhu Tan looked at Liu Zhan in front and found the distance quite far. Indeed, Liu Zhan was rushing quite fiercely, and Zhu Tan wasn’t confident enough to ensure a successful pass to Liu Zhan to create an opportunity.

So, after careful consideration, Zhu Tan decided not to pass to Liu Zhan immediately. Both Li Shuangying and Zhao Xuanming were also closely marked, so Zhu Tan quickly decided to dribble the ball himself, trying to get past the defending opponents first and then look for an opportunity to pass to one of the three key attacking players: Liu Zhan, Li Shuangying, or Zhao Xuanming.

"Alright, we can see Zhu Tan is dribbling and preparing for a breakthrough. Two opposing players, one close and one far, are defending Zhu Tan. The ball is through! Beautiful! With a feint, he bypassed a defender!"

In the sports live broadcast room on the Feiyue Home streaming media platform, a professional football commentator is passionately commentating on the match.

The number of online viewers on the Feiyue Home streaming media platform also quickly surpassed two million.

Indeed, the match has just begun, and already two million viewers are watching live on the Feiyue Home streaming media platform, with the number still rising.

Many domestic online viewers don’t have the time to watch the match live on schedule, as many fans are busy with work or daily chores. Therefore, they couldn’t enter the live broadcast room immediately at first. Once they saw the news, they realized that the world match between the national team and the America team had already started, so they quickly went to the live broadcast room to watch.

There’s no denying that Zhu Tan’s ball movement just now was exquisite, fully showcasing the solid foundation of these national team players. If it were the former national team players, not to mention this ball movement, they couldn’t even intercept the America’s opening ball during midfield tugging, and even the defense was so weak that it could give America shooting opportunities.

"Nice ball!"

Ding Yue was so excited that his fists were clenched. Watching his own team’s match really felt immersive, didn’t it?

After bypassing an America team player, Zhu Tan seized the moment to quickly pass the ball to Liu Zhan.

Liu Zhan’s characteristic is being slightly short but agile. He safely obtained the ball and then began looking for an opportunity because he knew that his teammates, Li Shuangying and Zhao Xuanming, on the left and right, were being tightly marked by the America team. Liu Zhan noticed this at the beginning of the match, indicating that the America team’s coaching staff knew the considerable attacking pressure from Li Shuangying and Zhao Xuanming on the sides and therefore targeted them.

Liu Zhan wasn’t confident about shooting from his current position, but he knew that the further he charged forward, the fewer chances he’d have because the America team’s defense would quickly tighten up like a net.

Faced with such a situation, Liu Zhan had no choice but to seize every second. Shooting now would waste the opportunity given by his teammate, Zhu Tan.

Thus.

Liu Zhan began sprinting forward with the ball. Since Liu Zhan is relatively small, he had no significant advantage during the attack. The America team defenders soon closed in from both sides, putting considerable pressure on Liu Zhan.

"Now’s the time!"

Liu Zhan knew that if he didn’t shoot now, he’d lose the chance, with a high possibility of being tackled or intercepted by the America team.

Therefore, under adverse conditions, Liu Zhan found the best opportunity and took a shot.

Unfortunately.

Though the shot wasn’t off-target, an America team defender had already caught up, blocking the ball with his body. As a result, the America team’s goalkeeper had no major pressure, quickly holding on to the deflected ball.

"Oh, what a pity!"

Huang Youjie sighed as he saw the ball couldn’t form a highly threatening shot.

"Liu Zhan did his best under the circumstances. The America team reacted very quickly, preventing a perfect shot. This blocked shot only shows that the America team’s defense is still skillful," analyzed Ding Yue, believing Liu Zhan did his best.

"If it were the old national team facing such a shot, it would likely be unstoppable, and a goal would have been conceded. The America team indeed has some level," Xu Bin agreed with Principal Ding’s view and humorously poked fun at the old national team.

Indeed, if America were facing the former national team, the goal would probably have been penetrated.

Liu Zhan’s shot is considered the most entertaining since the match began, unfortunately not scoring. However, it’s the first significant offensive attempt by the national team.

Shortly after America took the ball and tried a swift attack, it was repeatedly dissolved by Zhu Tan in midfield and the national team’s defensive players.

There was an especially fierce tug-of-war at midfield, with players on both teams seemingly pumped up, fiercely scrambling for the ball. Zhu Tan also felt the momentum from America team players, and if it weren’t for his composure, several chances would have been given to the America team.

Zhu Tan got the ball again, passed it to Liu Zhan, and Liu Zhan then passed it to Li Shuangying. Under the America team’s pursuit and interception, Li Shuangying didn’t have a good shooting opportunity. As soon as he lifted his foot, the ball was intercepted.

The America team’s counterattack was fairly swift, but it always seemed lacking in force. After penetrating the national team’s defense line, it was challenging to break through. Eventually, the America team’s number 9 player, probably frustrated, took a long-distance shot.

The shot’s height was sufficient, making it difficult for the defending players to block it. However, such a high shot posed no challenge to Zhu Cheng, the goalkeeper. Crucially, the ball was off-target, flying about five meters away from the right-side goalpost.

"Hahaha, they’re flustered, the America team is flustered."

"Fuck, that shot startled me."

"The cameraman’s impressive, making it look like the ball was on target, but it was actually quite off."

"Wow, I was startled too!"

"Is this it? Is this the America team’s level? Can’t even break through our defense?"

"The national team’s defense right now is truly like an iron wall, I’m so thrilled watching it!"

"Indeed, the national team’s defense isn’t easily breached anymore."

"The national team’s four strongholds: one is Zhu Tan in midfield, Zhu Cheng in goal, the defensive line, and the attacking front. With such a configuration, the national team is really powerful!"

In the live broadcast room, a fan’s description of the national team’s "four strongholds" was spot on.

The "four strongholds" of the national team don’t refer to four specific players but players in four positions.

Because of the strength in these four positions, the overall power of the national team has significantly increased.

The first is the offensive stronghold, represented by Liu Zhan, Li Shuangying, and Zhao Xuanming. They are highly aggressive, creating substantial defensive pressure for the opponents when given a chance, and they shoot decisively, adept at finding the best shooting opportunities.

With such an offensive stronghold, how could they not score?

Next is the midfield stronghold.

The midfield players, centered around Zhu Tan, give their all in midfield. They are the most frequently moving players, supporting attacking players sometimes, while at other times cooperating with defenders for defense. When passing in midfield, they often engage in intense, repeated tug-of-war with the opponents, much like this time with the America team, which has a strong midfield pulling ability.