super storm

Chapter 767 Team Soul
On the afternoon of June 29th, Beijing time, Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In the third and fourth finals of the Confederations Cup, China played against the United States.

When the Swedish referee Hansen blew the whistle at the end of the first half, the scoreboard showed a score of zero to two.

The Chinese team trailed the United States by two goals in the first half.

This is a very bad result. When the American players walked off the court, everyone looked so happy, as if they had already firmly grasped the victory.

In fact, the Chinese team's luck today is indeed not good.

When guessing the side before the game, the Chinese team lost to the opponent, allowing the US team to get the more advantageous side in the first half.

After the opening, the Chinese team also played very calmly, but in the 10th minute, the US team made a cross from the right, and Dempsey shot a volley. It was originally missed, but it turned out to be hit on a pothole in the grass and reflected into the far corner of the goal.

Zeng Cheng couldn't predict the ball at all, and unfortunately fell behind.

After that, the Chinese team still maintained enough patience, but the US team seemed to be playing crazy throughout the first half, running very aggressively, with a very wide range, and strong speed and physical confrontation ability. Looking at that posture, it seemed as if they were about to end the battle in the first half.

Under the impact of the US team's frequent counterattacks, the Chinese team's defense once again exposed its flaws. After Donovan cooperated with his teammates in one-two, he dunked Zheng Zhi who was returning to the defense, and volleyed with his left foot to expand the score to [-]-[-].

It can be said that the second goal hit the Chinese team very hard.

After the referee blew the whistle to end the first half, the Chinese players looked very frustrated.

Obviously, everyone underestimated the strength of the United States.

……

According to the current FIFA rankings, the U.S. team ranks No.15, which is a very high ranking, but as we all know, in Central and North America and the Caribbean, except for Mexico, there is no one who can play.

Therefore, almost everyone concluded that the US team's world ranking is very watery, because when it comes to world-class competitions, the US team has never really won any good rankings.

The best result in recent years is the Korea-Japan World Cup, where they entered the quarter-finals.

In this Confederations Cup, the U.S. team was in the same group as Brazil, Italy, and Egypt. They first lost to Italy [-]-[-], then lost [-]-[-] to Brazil, and finally defeated Egypt [-]-[-] in the final game. With a thrilling advantage in the number of goals, they overwhelmed Italy and Egypt to advance.

In the semi-finals, the US team lost to Spain [-]-[-], and their performance was not satisfactory.

On the contrary, the Chinese team lost to Brazil [-]-[-], but the overall performance is still affirmed by the outside world, especially Yang Yang has repeatedly created threatening attacks on the front line, which made Brazil's defense line feel quite threatened.

Judging from the performance of the two teams from the group stage to the semi-finals, the outside world basically believes that China and the United States should at least be on the same level. After all, the level of the Chinese team has improved rapidly in recent years.

But no one expected that the United States would fight so fiercely in the first half.

This somewhat exposed the lack of preparation for the Chinese national team, because the United States played Spain one day earlier than the Chinese team. They had one more day of preparation than the Chinese team, and their physical fitness would be relatively more abundant.

The U.S. team took advantage of this skillfully. After the opening, they adopted this kind of running and impact tactics that almost spared no physical strength. In the end, it felt like punching the master to death, and directly pressed the Chinese team on the grass and beat them fatly.

In the first half, they took a 1-[-] lead. If they can really beat the Chinese team with the No.[-] Yang Yang in the world football, it will undoubtedly be something to boast about.

…………

…………

After falling behind by two goals, the morale of the Chinese team plummeted.

In the locker room, everyone sat upright, cautiously, and did not dare to show their air. They were obviously worried about the trend of the game, and at the same time, they were afraid that they would lose even worse in the second half?
You know, it has been better in recent years, but if you go back further, the Chinese team is not without such a disastrous experience.

Alihan was desperately encouraging the players. He kept telling the players that the team's ability to reach the semi-finals was already quite satisfactory. At least before this, no Asian team had achieved such a result.

Therefore, he called on the players not to have psychological pressure, let go of their hands and feet in the second half, and try their best.

"The U.S. team is not as strong as we imagined. The game strategy they adopted in the first half will definitely cause them to lose their physical fitness in the second half. This is our chance!"

"They fought too hard in the first half, they had no control at all, and even the sun and the grass helped them in the first half, but it was different in the second half, the sun would be on our side."

Alihan talked a lot, from the team's tactical adjustments, to how the two wingers should go forward to participate in the offense, to how the double midfielders should help defend and protect the defense line, etc...

Afterwards, captain Zheng Zhi also stood up and appealed to his teammates, but the locker room was still a bit dull, and the players still seemed to be unable to get motivated, obviously starting to seriously lack confidence.

Just when the half-time break was almost here, and everyone was worried about what the second half would be like, Yang Yang suddenly stood up.

"You don't have to think too much in the second half. After the opening, concentrate on defending the goal and pass the ball to me when you have a chance!"

After hearing this, everyone couldn't help raising their heads to look at Yang Yang, with surprise and admiration in their eyes.

Yang Yang has just experienced a long Premier League season. Liverpool fought on four fronts. In terms of game pressure and consumption, Yang Yang was greater than all of them. After returning to the national team, Yang Yang also trained very hard. In the Confederations Cup, he was the team's core combat power and the player who played the most minutes in the team.

Three group matches, Brazil in the semi-finals, and now the third and fourth finals against the United States, Yang Yang basically played every three days.

Without Yang Yang, the Chinese team would not be able to get out of the line at all.

In fact, by this afternoon, he had been inactive in the first half.

According to the body cycle of a professional player, his current body is not in shape, but he still bravely stepped forward when the team needed him.

He is the soul of this Chinese team!
"You don't have to worry about how to attack, you just need to focus on the defense first, and after grabbing the ball, give it to me, understand?"

Yang Yang repeated his words again.

So clear and straightforward to deploy, who doesn't understand?
…………

…………

"Friends of the audience in front of the TV, welcome back to the national TV sports channel."

"What we are broadcasting live for you is the third and fourth finals of the South African Federation Cup in [-]. The Chinese team played against the American team. The score on the field is now zero to two. The Chinese team is temporarily behind."

"In the first half, the U.S. team broke the Chinese team's goal twice. Both times were counterattacks. One of them was caused by the ball hitting a pothole on the grass. The field conditions in South Africa are indeed not ideal. This is also a problem that many teams in this Confederations Cup have been responding to."

"Now it depends on whether our Chinese team can reverse the situation in the second half. Regardless of the final result, I think we should all be satisfied with the team's performance, because this is the first time for the Chinese team to compete in the Confederations Cup. Entering the semi-finals, even if it is only No.4, is a historic breakthrough."

"Of course, we still sincerely hope that the international players in South Africa can play their spirits and strive to reverse the situation in the second half."

"Especially our number one star Yang Yang, after consecutive battles, his physical consumption is also very large, and more players need to stand up and give him more help and support."

"The game will start immediately, and the US team will take the lead in the second half."

……

With the referee Hansen's whistle, the US team kicked off quickly and passed the ball back to the backcourt immediately.

The frontcourt trident of the Chinese team, Yang Yang, Gao Lin and Chen Tao all rushed towards the US defense line immediately.

"The Chinese team was quite active after the opening."

"It was directly forced to the defense line of the US team and was forced to make a long pass."

"Feng Xiaoting headed the ball to the right and handed it to Zhang Linpeng."

After Zhang Linpeng stopped the ball, he rushed forward quickly along the right, directly across the midfield.

Chen Tao pulled to the right and raised his hand for the ball.

But when the ball came to Chen Tao's feet, two defensive players from the US team had already come over.

Just like the defensive strategy in the first half, the U.S. team used this wide-ranging, running and covering at all costs to form a local numerical advantage, and then contain the Chinese team's attack.

Chen Tao took the ball with his back, had no chance, and chose to pass the ball back.

After Zhang Linpeng passed the ball, he did not retreat immediately, but continued to respond forward. After receiving Chen Tao's return pass, he glanced at the middle of the front of the penalty area.

At some point, Yang Yang and Gao Lin suddenly switched positions. Gao Lin pulled to the left, while Yang Yang quickly ran to the middle, and raised his hand for the ball at the top of the penalty area.

Have the opportunity!
Zhang Linpeng kicked the ball low and flat without thinking, and sent the ball to the top of the arc.

In the middle of the frontcourt, Yang Yang blocked the American defender with his body, and stopped Zhang Linpeng's pass with his right foot behind his back.

Yang Yang has an excellent direct free kick skill. In the area at the front of the penalty area, the US team dare not foul easily, for fear of giving him a chance to display it, so this time they just blocked Yang Yang with their bodies.

After Yang Yang stopped the ball with his right foot, he quickly turned around and moved the ball forward with his left foot. After a little space, he swung his left foot quickly and shot a volley.

The ball quickly ejected from Yang Yang's left foot, clinging to the grass, and flew to the left side of the goal at a very fast speed.

Howard, the American goalkeeper who played for Everton, knew the threat of Yang Yang very well. When he turned around, he realized the danger. When he kicked, Howard immediately flew to save it.

It has to be said that Howard reacted quickly and knew Yang Yang very well, but this time, Yang Yang's shot was very fast and powerful, almost hitting the left post and hitting the net.

Howard was a slow step in the end.

(End of this chapter)