The God of Football Starts With Passive Skills-Chapter 105 - 45: The Bundesliga’s Beckham! Wang Shuo: I’m Being Targeted by the Entire Bundesliga
With all three of these, plus the [Ball God System], he was certain he could break out from the pack of countless talented rookies in the European Football Scene and truly stand out!
And Mainz had all three of those things.
Wang Shuo’s analysis might not have seemed like much to anyone with professional experience.
But for the eighteen- and nineteen-year-old Subotic and Schürrle, it was like a bolt from the blue.
Much of it wasn’t new information, but the clear and methodical way Wang Shuo broke it down undoubtedly made everything much more tangible for them.
When they looked at Wang Shuo again, the expressions in their eyes had changed.
’We’re both 18, Wang. How can you be so exceptional?’
...
Wang Shuo didn’t play in the midweek DFB-Pokal match.
But Bruch Road Stadium was still packed to the rafters.
After the departure of Dom, Helmes, and others, Cologne’s strength had taken a significant hit.
Meanwhile, Mainz had strengthened its squad with several new players, and spurred on by their excellent performance in the Bundesliga, the team’s prowess was advancing by leaps and bounds.
The veteran Van der Heyden returned from injury, reclaiming his spot as the starting left-back.
Wang Shuo’s little brother, Schürrle, appeared at the left winger position.
He was currently the top scorer for Mainz U19, having scored four goals in the first five rounds of matches, an outstanding performance.
This was thanks to the special training he underwent with Wang Shuo all summer, which had greatly improved his skills.
Bancé and Balik partnered up as the two strikers.
Switching from their familiar 4-4-1-1 formation to a 4-4-2, and with a heavily rotated squad, Mainz performed terribly in the first half.
They even came close to conceding to Cologne on several occasions.
But the center-backs Bungert and Neustadter played well, and along with the veteran goalkeeper Wach, they managed to hold the line.
In the second half, Mainz began to turn up the heat.
In the 61st minute, Schürrle switched to the right wing and delivered a cross from the byline, assisting Bancé who scored with a header.
1-0!
Just seven minutes later, it was Schürrle again who made a breakthrough on the right wing, setting up Kalhan for another goal.
2-0!
Although Cologne managed to pull one back, the substitute Pekovic scored again in the final moments of the match.
In the end, Mainz defeated Cologne 3-1 at home.
The best performer of the match was undoubtedly the young Andre Schürrle.
Strictly speaking, Schürrle was only 17 and wouldn’t turn 18 until November.
But under the current rules, he was eligible to play for the Mainz first team.
His two assists, especially the speed and dribbling ability he displayed on the right wing, combined with his excellent performance in the youth team, had the Mainz fans buzzing with excitement.
First Wang Shuo emerged, and now there was Schürrle.
Add to that the young players on the defensive line like Bungert and Neustadter.
It seemed like Mainz was experiencing a gush of new talent.
...
「The evening of September 26th. Bruch Road Stadium in Mainz, Germany.」
Bundesliga, Round 6. Mainz was at home against Schalke 04.
This was an incredibly intense showdown!
Mainz, currently topping the Bundesliga table, versus Schalke 04, who were in second place.
One could only imagine how fierce the competition would be.
As the match entered the 44th minute of the first half, just as the official on the sideline held up the board for two minutes of stoppage time, Wang Shuo received a pass from Kalhan on the right side of the attacking half.
Wang Shuo first ran into open space. As he received the ball with his back to the goal, Schalke 04’s center-back, Marcelo Bodden, immediately closed in on him.
Unable to turn, Wang Shuo instantly changed his mind and pulled the ball back.
Just one step.
After evading Bodden’s tight marking, he used the outside of his right foot to flick the ball diagonally toward the penalty area. He then spun around and burst forward, planting his right foot next to the ball to shield it from Bodden.
The Brazilian center-back had already turned to react, but he had no angle for a tackle.
After planting his right foot firmly, he smoothly nudged the ball forward with his left.
Just as it looked like Wang Shuo was about to dribble past his man, the holding midfielder, Heiko Westman, came charging in from the side to intercept.
With no chance of getting the ball, he simply shoved Wang Shuo to the ground.
Wang Shuo sprawled forward, sliding a full body length across the grass.
The ball, meanwhile, rolled into the Schalke 04 penalty area.
The referee blew his whistle.
A foul on Westman.
Yellow card!
A free kick on the right side, just outside the penalty area!
"You okay?" Westman walked over and offered Wang Shuo a hand.
Wang Shuo, still panting on the grass, looked up at the tough Schalke 04 player, a German international, and immediately shook his head to show he was fine.
Grasping Westman’s hand, Wang Shuo quickly got up from the grass.
"Push a little lighter next time," Wang Shuo complained with a smile.
A smile and a complaint—two things that should have been contradictory—appeared on Wang Shuo’s face at the same time.
This made Westman feel extremely awkward.
’He even suspected that Wang Shuo had planned all along to draw a free kick.’
’Why?’
’Because Schalke 04’s defense was rock-solid.’
’Head coach Luten employed a 4-3-3 formation, but the midfield was staffed with three enforcers with outstanding defensive abilities.’
’Schalke 04 had always been one of the best defensive teams in Germany.’
"Our head coach gave us specific instructions. We have to mark you tightly and not give you an inch of space."
After speaking, Westman gave a slight chuckle and slowly backed toward the penalty area to form the wall.
"What were you saying to that kid?" Bodden asked, walking beside Westman.
"Just making small talk," Westman said dismissively.
