I AM the Football Star-Chapter 434 - 122: Brit Awards and the England-Italy Showdown (Part 2)
This Manchester United youth product is currently playing for Manchester City’s arch-rivals in the same city. He is a substitute player in Manchester City’s first team, but he didn’t perform well last season. It’s uncertain whether he will have the chance to prove himself next season.
At the very least, he has earned himself some opportunities in the European Youth Championship.
So far, there are changes in the dynamics of Group A.
England leads with four points, becoming the first in the group.
Both Spain and Italy have three points, but Spain is second in the group due to head-to-head results.
Italy is third in the group.
Poland, with one point, is fourth in the group and has virtually no chance of advancing.
No matter what the result of the last group match is, Poland Team cannot become the first in the group.
Even if they win and reach four points, taking the second spot in the group, a group second with a total of four points will definitely not be the best of the group second teams across the three groups.
So the Poland Team is already out in advance.
However, the other three teams in Group A still have a chance to compete for the first in the group. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Especially England, they already have the initiative in hand.
If they win against Italy in the next match, they will secure advancement.
As for Spain, they must ensure victory in the next match and also hope that England doesn’t win.
As for Italy, they must win while Spain draws, or draw while Spain loses, to become the first in the group.
However, the chances of these two scenarios in the current odds from major bookmakers together do not exceed ten percent.
This makes it difficult for Italian fans to accept.
...
Since the Italy National Youth Team has become the opponent of the England Youth Team, and the next match is of particular importance, the English media has broken from its usual support for Lu Yang and the Italy Team, beginning a barrage of criticism against the Italy National Youth Team.
They aim to boost the England Team through media influence.
This is also the greatest advantage of the England Team in every international competition.
They have the world’s most outstanding football voice channels and media support.
"Preview of the England-Italy clash, this will be an all-out attack showdown!"
"Europe’s most potent firepower! England’s forward trident is worth a staggering seventy-five million! The total value of the front-midfield exceeds one hundred million euros!"
"The strongest offensive lineup! Even England’s substitute attacking midfielder Jesse Raisim is a first-team player in a Premier League club!"
"Of the four best-performing players of the Italy Team, two are from lower-league teams!"
"The total value of the front-midfield players does not exceed thirty-five million, on what basis does Italy challenge England in an all-out attack?"
One by one, the news stories hit where it hurts.
If Italian players glance through these kinds of reports, they might even lose their confidence while playing.
Particularly noteworthy is that the English football media went so far as to openly ridicule their domestic music media.
This is because in the latest announced shortlist for this year’s Brit Awards, the name Lu Yang prominently appeared more than once!
"All-rounded talent! Italy National Youth Team powerhouse Lu Yang nominated for two major awards in the Brit Awards!"
"Playing some football! The eighteen-year-old rising star may have the most dazzling coming-of-age celebration! On his birthday, he might appear on the Brit Awards stage to receive his award!"
"A nominee for the Brit Awards’ Best Male Singer is actually a Serie B football player!"
"Is he a multi-talented genius or squandering heaven’s gift? Should this eighteen-year-old choose between football and music?"
"One step to paradise, one step to hell! Should the creator of the Brit Awards’ Best Single nominee continue to play football?"
As one of Europe’s most authoritative music awards and events, the Brit Awards are very prestigious and influential in Europe.
This year, a song called swept through Europe, dominating the music charts of many countries on the European Continent for two to three months.
With its elegant melody and profound lyrical meaning, such a song would lose the Brit Awards’ credibility and fairness if it weren’t included.
So, even amidst the "national battle," Lu Yang got all the nominations he deserved.
This should have been a good opportunity for Italian media to gain an upper hand in public opinion. After all, their player is so outstanding, excelling in multiple fields.
But who makes the English media so capable?
They soon came up with the headline "Warm congratulations to Lu Yang for securing two major Brit Awards titles on his birthday."
Lu Yang’s birthday is July 25th.
July 24th is the last round of group matches in the European Youth Championship, the day of Italy vs England.
July 26th is the day for the first round of the European Youth Championship semifinals.
So the question arises under what circumstances can Lu Yang attend the Brit Awards on the 25th?
Naturally, it would be if the Italy Team fails to advance in the group stage.
Undoubtedly, this is a curse from the English media.
And it’s a curse cloaked in the guise of a blessing, making it hard for the Italian media to react for a while.
It’s impossible for them to negate their own player’s achievements in other fields, is it?
Lu Yang’s song is well-known for its beauty, something people all over Europe know, but unexpectedly, at this critical juncture, it has become the most vital element affecting the morale of the Italy National Youth Team.
No wonder people often say your strongest moment is also your weakest.
This nomination truly came at a bad time.
