I AM the Football Star-Chapter 596 - 158: If Anyone Can Save Italy, It’s Lu! (Part 3)
"But unfortunately, Perrotta’s hesitation wasted some time, which led to Lu Yang being offside when he kicked the ball. So this goal was invalidated, nullified by the main referee."
"Italian fans got excited for nothing! The Italian players are also complaining, they believe it was a good goal."
"But through the slow-motion replay, we can see that Lu Yang was indeed offside, not by much, but it was an offside goal."
"Although it’s unfortunate, from this goal, we can also see how Lu Yang differs from traditional Italian midfielders. He is full of aggression, he is very bold, he is Italy’s X factor!"
"Hopefully, he can bring a goal for Italy next!"
Of course, where there’s admiration, there’s also criticism.
Some commentators also said: "Lu Yang missed the best scoring opportunity of his match. He just came on, so it’s not easy to get noticed, and he snuck in an opportunity."
"But next, Sweden’s defenders won’t give him such opportunities again!"
"The presence of Ancelotti and Perrotta distracted most of Sweden Team’s defenders. However, from now on, Lu Yang will also enter their defensive sight."
Both viewpoints have their reasoning, purely a difference in optimistic idealism and pessimistic realism.
In the following few minutes, Lu Yang continued to shine.
He got the ball in midfield, facing pressure from two opponents.
Normally, one would pass back, and Lu Yang did so indeed.
Even Candreva was ready to receive the ball.
However, Lu Yang used a V-shaped Pull to quickly change direction, then executed Fried Meatballs, passing between the two defenders.
Dribbling forward through the middle!
Unfortunately, this attack ended with Perrotta being surrounded and Ancelotti not advancing in time, losing its threat, and eventually turning into a goal kick with Ancelotti’s long shot.
After this attack, Lu Yang found Perrotta and exchanged a few words with him.
Lu Yang: "Perrotta, you don’t need to pay extra attention to my positioning. If you sometimes see a chance and hope someone can wall pass with you, I’ll cooperate."
"My forward runs are decisive, and my stamina allows me to run all over the field, so if you’re going to pass to me, you can give more early passes or one-touch passes."
Lu Yang was referring to that previous pass.
If Perrotta doesn’t pass to Lu Yang at the first moment, Lu Yang could easily be offside.
The caution of a central forward is necessary, but if he knows someone is always going to run forward when he pulls back, he will know better how to handle the ball at his feet.
Perrotta nodded.
Anyway, Lu Yang’s words made him feel very comfortable.
Lu Yang didn’t demand Perrotta to do anything, but instead, he tried his best to see things from Perrotta’s perspective.
This is far more pleasing than directly saying "Pass directly after receiving, don’t miss the opportunity" a hundred times over.
Similarly, Lu Yang went to find Ancelotti.
Lu Yang: "Ancelotti, whether or not there’s a chance, I will insist on running forward with each attack, at least pulling one defender for you."
"I will also observe your positioning. As long as you have a chance, the ball will find its way to your feet!"
See, what a nice way of saying it.
Ancelotti nodded with a smile.
This is the perfect little helper he needed.
Does Ancelotti have drive?
Yes!
But not much!
In his thirties, even if Ancelotti can still run, he can’t sprint multiple times; he is, after all, getting older.
At this moment, he not only needs a central forward to help him pull defense, but he also needs a player who’s good at running forward to help him push out.
Under such dual pulling, Ancelotti can maximize his shadow striker abilities.
Although Lu Yang and Ancelotti lack chemistry, if Lu Yang always runs forward whenever there’s an opportunity, Ancelotti can find excellent chances from it.
The only one working hard might be Lu Yang, because sometimes when he runs forward, the team might not follow it up with an attack, wasting his energy and offensive enthusiasm.
But stamina is something other players lack; Lu Yang has plenty!
And offensive enthusiasm... Lu Yang is currently bursting with it.
Because this is his debut match for the Italy National Team.
Scoring in glory is the plot line that always best motivates young players.
In this match, Lu Yang absolutely refuses to back down!
...
In the seventy-seventh minute of the match.
Sweden Team gained a corner kick opportunity.
Lu Yang was naturally prepared to enter the penalty area to compete for the header.
But he noticed that there were two opposing players in the corner flag area.
And at the front of the Italy penalty area and on the outskirts, there was also one Swedish player each.
Because of their distance from the core threat position, they were not man-marked.
If Sweden Team intended to execute a tactical corner with this ball, then...
At this thought, Lu Yang dashed out, heading straight to the corner flag area.
"What are you doing?"
"Get back!"
"Get the hell back!"
"Defend the player you’re supposed to, dammit!"
Vincent was cursing vehemently in the coach’s area; this wasn’t his set-piece defense tactic.
Lu Yang was entirely disregarding his tactical arrangements.
This included Lu Yang’s countless forward runs previously, which Vincent was not happy to see.
Indeed, to some extent, this made Italy’s forwards more threatening.
But it also created defensive gaps in Italy’s midfield.
Vincent never focused on how Lu Yang always managed to quickly return to his defensive position; he only saw what he wanted to see.
