As the halftime whistle blew, Lippi walked into the locker room with heavy steps and a furrowed brow. His expression was quite solemn; although the China Team was leading, Afif's entry into the game undoubtedly created new problems for the Italian veteran coach.
Lippi sat in his seat in the locker room, his gaze deep as he watched the players. He knew that Afif's speed and breakthrough ability put immense pressure on the China Team's defense, and while Feng Xiaoting and Lin Feng performed well, it wouldn't be easy to completely contain Afif.
He pondered countermeasures, considering whether to adjust tactics or make substitutions. But at the same time, he worried that new adjustments might disrupt the team's rhythm, leaving an opening for the opponent. Lippi knew that as a coach, he needed to make the most correct decisions during the game to lead his team to victory.
Lippi's eyes were like torches in the locker room, scrutinizing every detail on the tactical board. He knew that even though the China Team was leading at halftime, the game was far from over, and adjustments had to be made to counter the Qatar Team's comeback.
After careful consideration, Lippi decided to make a substitution. He replaced Zhang Xizhe, who had been pushed up to the frontline in the first half, with midfielder Cai Huikang. Zhang Xizhe's attempt on the frontline in this match was not ideal, as he couldn't utilize his strengths and also caused some trouble for the team's offense.
Cai Huikang was at the peak of his career at this moment, and his entry undoubtedly injected new vitality into the China Team. As a defensive midfielder known for his strong defense, Cai Huikang not only possessed excellent interception and tackling abilities but also had superb passing vision and organizational skills. His presence could not only increase the China Team's midfield toughness and solidify the defense but also help the team better control the game's rhythm.
More importantly, Cai Huikang's defensive capabilities would effectively limit Hassan Al-Haydos's performance. As the core player of the Qatar Team, Hassan Al-Haydos's organizational and passing abilities were crucial to the team's offense. Cai Huikang's close marking and timely tackles would make it difficult for Hassan Al-Haydos to showcase his strengths, thereby weakening the Qatar Team's offensive threat.
Lippi made a slight tactical adjustment, changing the original 343 formation to a 352, withdrawing a forward to strengthen midfield control. This adjustment effectively solved the problem of Hassan Al-Haydos, allowing Cai Huikang to form a solid barrier in the midfield. However, Afif's speed and breakthrough ability still posed a major threat to the China Team.
Lippi knew that to contain Afif, there had to be an excellent defender to directly mark him. He looked around, his gaze finally settling on Lin Feng. Lin Feng was young and promising, with solid defense, and was similar in age to Afif; a duel between them on the field was bound to be electrifying.
Thus, Lippi made a bold decision, swapping the positions of Lin Feng and Feng Xiaoting. This way, Afif would directly face Lin Feng's defense in the second half. Lippi wanted to use this opportunity to test whether Qatar's sharpest spear could pierce the China Team's most solid shield.
As the whistle for the second half blew, Afif walked out of the player's tunnel with light steps. A confident smile was on his face, and a keen glint sparkled in his eyes. In the first half, he had created many threats for the China Team with his excellent speed and breakthrough ability, which made him very satisfied with his performance.
Afif secretly mused, believing that his strength was enough to break through the China Team's defense and score the equalizer. He felt like a sharp spear on the field, and no matter how solid the opponent's shield was, it couldn't withstand his impact.
However, he didn't realize that the China Team was not without a countermeasure. Coach Lippi's adjustment placed Lin Feng opposite him, and this Chinese player, similar in age to him, would be his biggest challenge in the second half.
Afif confidently stepped onto the field, his heart full of fighting spirit, as if he had already seen himself breaking through the defense and scoring the equalizer for the China Team. He secretly vowed to make the China Team's defense pay the price.
From the start of the game, Afif actively sought opportunities to break through. He used his speed advantage, frequently attempting to cut in from the right wing, hoping to find a gap in the China Team's defense. However, whenever he was about to initiate a breakthrough, Lin Feng was always there, like an unyielding barrier, standing firmly in front of him.
Afif attempted breakthrough after breakthrough, but each one was skillfully nullified by Lin Feng. Lin Feng's defensive movements were both steady and decisive; he could accurately anticipate Afif's intentions and react promptly. No matter how Afif changed his rhythm and direction, Lin Feng would stick close to him, leaving him no space to break through.
As time passed, Afif began to feel a bit overwhelmed. He found that his breakthrough skills seemed ineffective against Lin Feng; no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake off Lin Feng's marking. A wave of anxiety and helplessness began to surge in his heart, and he started to doubt his abilities and judgment.
At the same time, the China Team's counterattacks became increasingly incisive. They capitalized on Afif's offensive commitment, launching rapid counterattacks frequently. Each counterattack made Afif feel increased pressure, forcing him to dedicate more energy to defense, which further hampered his offensive performance.
In the final moments of the game, the tense atmosphere was almost suffocating. Qatar Team captain Hassan Al-Haydos, near the corner flag, used the last bit of his strength in this match to skillfully nutmeg his marker, Cai Huikang. His eyes were firm as he aimed towards the penalty area and passed the ball.
Afif, who had been almost suffocated by Lin Feng's pressure, finally found a good opportunity to challenge for the ball. He stared intently at the ball about to fly into the penalty area, his heart pounding, as if he had already felt the moment of scoring—the cheers, the applause, all echoing in his mind.
However, at this crucial moment, a figure suddenly flashed within the penalty area, getting ahead of Afif. It was Wu Xi, the future captain of the China National Team, who leaped without hesitation, using all his strength to head the ball out. The ball arced through the air, flying towards the stands outside the field.
Due to the force of inertia, Wu Xi's face slammed hard into the goalpost, and blood immediately flowed from his nose. But he paid no attention to his injury, only staring intently at the cleared ball, a sigh of relief in his heart—he had secured the victory for the China Team.
The referee immediately blew the final whistle. The entire stadium erupted; cheers and applause rose and fell. The China Team players, having won, did not immediately celebrate but instead rushed to Wu Xi's side, anxiously checking his injury.
Wu Xi smiled and shook his head, indicating he was fine. He wiped the blood from his nose with his hand, his eyes gleaming with firm resolve.
Finally, a victory was secured.
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