I AM the Football Star-Chapter 545 - 148: Italy Eliminated, There Was Never a Lu in This World!
Lu Yang controlled the ball with his right foot and unleashed a powerful shot with his left.
From a tight angle, the ball soared rapidly towards the goal, and the goalkeeper couldn’t block it!
Bang!
Hits the goalpost again!
But this time it struck the far post and cleanly bounced into the net.
Lu Yang finally scored!
He broke his one-game streak of "goal drought"!
He disappointed countless people who hoped for him to remain silent over multiple matches.
Especially the Torino Sports Paper and the business heads of the two major sports giants in Italy.
The stronger Lu Yang becomes, the less radiant their faces appear.
By the end of the match, even with no hope of winning, Vicenza did not give up.
They fiercely defended against San Remo.
But they couldn’t stop Lu Yang from suddenly switching from a no-ball position to cutting inward.
Bang!
After receiving a pass from Morici, Lu Yang cut inside with the ball and unleashed a powerful Batigoal from the right side of the penalty area!
Dang!
Hit the post again.
This ball struck the near post, as Lu Yang aimed for a tight angle near corner shot.
The ball bounced back, but the goalkeeper, who dove in desperation too late, blocked it into the goal with his back.
Late by a step, late all the way.
If this goalkeeper had dived earlier, he would’ve saved this ball.
If he hadn’t dived at all, the ball would’ve bounced off the post and out.
Yet he dove and missed, further redirecting the ball that would have rebounded out, into the goal.
The Vicenza goalkeeper immediately lay on the ground, hiding his face in embarrassment before his fans back home.
And on the field, all the other players showed helpless expressions.
It’s not that the goalkeeper was negligent in his diving.
Rather... Lu Yang has hit the post five times in this match!
That’s just insane!
Amazing display of skill!
Following the Little Blacksmiths of Los Angeles and Paris, a new Little Blacksmith has emerged!
"He’s outstanding! Two passes, two assists, Lu Yang participated in all of San Remo’s goals today!"
"He is undoubtedly a phenomenal player in Serie B!"
"Lu Yang has scored eleven goals and made three assists in six matches in Serie B! What are you waiting for... Oh, sorry, his registered position is an attacking midfielder."
"Unprecedented! Although only six matches have been played, almost half of the betting platforms have closed bets on whether Lu Yang will become this season’s Serie B top scorer!"
"Even a Serie A level team like Vicenza suffered a 4-1 loss to San Remo, who in Serie B can stop San Remo?"
"Even with Latu Yidi and Bernulin absent, San Remo still triumphed; what terror would they unleash at full strength?"
"Monza was just an accident, Vicenza reflects true capability! San Remo is undoubtedly a top team in Serie B!"
At the same time, Morici, with his two assists in this match, ascended to the top of the Serie B assists chart.
Considering all his assists went to Lu Yang, there’s a slight suspicion of stat-padding.
Especially for that last ball; whoever passed to Lu Yang, his inward cut and shot would score, irrespective of the passer.
This match, from a strategic perspective, holds profound significance.
It signifies that San Remo has endured the challenging trials of Serie B, where the so-called rookie wall crumbles, lasting only a game or two against them.
San Remo won’t halt their victorious strides.
Defeat is simply not feasible!
Yet... this news didn’t stir up much reaction in Italian football.
Not because the San Remo miracle lacks brilliance, but because another legendary downfall proved much harder to accept.
...
"Defeated! Italy finally succumbs to Macedonia!"
"One to zero! Italy’s impotent offense finally bears bitter fruit!"
"Backlash from the pressure of the Great Emperor! Macedonia kicks Italy out of next year’s European Cup!"
"No chance at the European Cup finals! Italy loses direct qualification!"
"Ancelotti injured out! Italy’s 24 shots throughout the game yield no goals!"
"The iron-willed midfielder loses! Drake becomes mere spectator during Macedonian scoring, watching the opposition net the goal!"
Italy misses next year’s European Cup!
These reports made front-page news in football media worldwide.
As a former European powerhouse, Italy held a pivotal role in the football of the previous era.
Back then, superstars had to spend time in Italy to earn various world-first titles.
Over the past decade, Italy’s football journey has been challenging.
Yet no one anticipated the journey would be this tough.
Unable even to advance?
Suddenly, diverse articles paint somber narratives.
Some start criticizing the aging Italian players, the inertia of the Italian Football Association, Vincent’s ineffective coaching, and Maniero’s failed contributions postjoining.
In this crisis moment, Italy’s head coach Vincent faced the camera displeased: "I don’t know why everyone acts like it’s the world’s end; we still have two playoff matches; has everyone forgotten this?"
The top four of each preliminary group of third places have direct access to the finals, while the remaining eight group’s third places face off in a two-round home and away playoff.
The winner advances.
So... theoretically, Italy hasn’t been eliminated yet; it’s not quite the world’s end.
But...
If you can’t even beat Macedonia, who was already eliminated, what gives you the right to say such things, Vincent?
Do you think Italy is strong now?
Journalist: Vincent, someone said that as long as you’re here, the Italy National Team is forever in apocalyptic state. What do you make of this statement?
Journalist: Italy has never fallen into the playoffs before; you’ve created a new record.
