Chapter 487: Top 4
In the final moments of the match, Argentina, unwilling to accept defeat, launched a frenzied attack. Their tactics became very simple: loft the ball into the penalty area for aerial duels, and if unsuccessful, press for the second ball immediately after losing possession.
For a moment, the Chinese team's defense was under immense pressure, but everyone gritted their teeth and persevered through muscle soreness, knowing that victory was within reach and they couldn't afford to let it slip away easily!
Sun Xiang, Li Weifeng, and others suffered cramps and fell in the penalty area several times. If it weren't for the referee's whistle signaling the end, Argentina would have continued to attack recklessly.
In the 90th minute, Messi received the ball on the wing and was about to cross, but Feng Xiaoting quickly slid to block. However, this time Messi changed tactics, feinting to dribble past the defender and cutting inside the penalty area.
Li Chunyu and Sun Ji Hai rushed to defend, but the Argentine star suddenly took a shot at a tight angle. The ball curved in the air, heading straight for the far corner of the goal.
"Dangerous!" Zhang Jun almost exclaimed. The shot was extremely tricky, and goalkeeper Qiu Shengjiong made a miraculous dive, barely touching the ball to alter its trajectory. It hit the post and bounced back into play, where Li Weifeng quickly cleared it to midfield.
"Ah!" Countless Argentine fans in the stands sighed, and Messi, kneeling on the ground in agony with his hands covering his head, wondered why breaking his national team's goal drought was so difficult!
In this World Cup, he had played 5 games for the national team, attempted 29 shots, with 12 on target, yet failed to score a single goal. Now, in such a critical moment of life and death, they needed him to step up!
"Let's take another look at the slow-motion replay of this shot. It was a deceptive feint followed by a precise shot after cutting inside."
"If Qiu Shengjiong hadn't made that touch, it would have been a goal. He's been incredible tonight! Our goalkeeper's performance has been outstanding!"
"Hey! What's going on? How did Wang Feng suddenly dribble into Argentina's half during the replay? Anyway, let's focus on this attack. Only Heinze and goalkeeper Romero are blocking his path!"
"Dribble and accelerate! Heinze can't catch up at all, and Romero comes out, chip shot! It's in!! It's in!!"
"4-2!! China completely secures the victory!! Wang Feng scores another hat-trick!!"
"While other players are struggling to score in the World Cup knockout stage, the Chinese superstar has completed a hat-trick! I'm talking about you, Lionel Messi!"
"This is so thrilling! One second, we were worried that Argentina would equalize, and the next second, we scored again to secure victory. What just happened?"
"Let's watch the replay of that goal. Li Weifeng's clearance was fine, and Mascherano picked up the loose ball in the attacking half, passing it to Di María."
"Oh! Mascherano's pass was too light! He and Di María weren't on the same page, and the latter was making a fast run. By the time he turned back, Wang Feng had already intercepted the ball."
"The Chinese superstar then sprinted forward, and Argentina's defense was wide open. Most of their players were pushing up, leaving only Heinze behind."
"The 32-year-old defender had trouble running even during his time at Real Madrid, let alone now. As we just saw, Wang Feng dribbled past Heinze and chipped it in!"
Due to several cramping incidents in the Chinese team's defense, the referee added an extra-long stoppage time of 7 minutes. However, it was almost impossible for Argentina to score two goals during this time.
When the Belgian referee De Bleeckere blew the final whistle, the score remained 4-2, with no changes. China eliminated Argentina, advancing to the World Cup semi-finals for the second consecutive time!
Players and staff on the Chinese team's bench couldn't contain their excitement as they rushed onto the field to celebrate. Meanwhile, Argentine players collapsed on the ground, some crying while others buried their heads in the grass.
Seeing this, Wang Feng walked up to Higuaín and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "You've done well enough. You can leave with your head held high. This Argentina team has infinite potential!"
Higuaín wiped away his tears and smiled bitterly, "Boss, it's incredibly painful to compete against you. I finally understand how Ribery feels. Let's go back to Real Madrid and let you lead us to victory."
"You little rascal," the Chinese superstar chuckled. Then he went to comfort Heinze and other acquaintances. On the field, they were enemies, but off the field, they could be friends.
Messi approached Wang Feng, "Wang, I want to exchange jerseys with you." The Chinese superstar nodded, and they exchanged their jerseys. "No matter how many times you defeat me, I will always stand up and continue to challenge," Messi said earnestly.
Looking at this young face, Wang Feng smiled and agreed to his words. In his heart, he couldn't help but feel that time was passing, and perhaps he was truly getting old.
Argentine head coach Maradona, in the post-match press conference, congratulated Wang Feng, "You are walking on the path of legends, leaving others far behind."
"Go and win the World Cup. That's your proof of becoming a deity, and it's also your official surpassing of me. For me, this is not something hard to accept, especially if it's you."
"Participating firsthand in the birth of a legendary superstar is a great experience."
Later, at the press conference, Maradona revealed his intention to resign from the position of head coach of the Argentine national team, shocking the public.
This was a painful news for the players. Although Maradona was usually very strict, his aura and personal charm always inspired the team. His departure left everyone feeling empty inside.
The Argentine Football Association expressed its intention to retain Maradona, but how sincere they were remained unknown. While openly supporting Maradona's work, some higher-ups were secretly trying to undermine him.
This was normal; no one wanted to be constantly overshadowed by someone with high prestige. So, Wang Feng had many plans for retirement, but following Maradona's path was definitely not one of them.
As for the Argentine team, the Football Association knew that Maradona's assistant, Mancuso, disliked Ruggeri, yet they still firmly arranged for him to join the national team coaching staff in South Africa. The implication was clear: they didn't want the national team to become Maradona's dictatorship.
Apart from the impending departure, Maradona also expressed his dissatisfaction with the match result, saying, "We lacked a bit of luck. In fact, until the end, Argentina had a chance to equalize."
"So I'm proud of the players' performance. I want to thank the team, the coaching staff, and everyone who worked hard for the World Cup!"
Comparing Wang Feng, who was the best player on the field, with his protégé Messi, Maradona said, "It's not fair. They are several years apart in age, but I believe Leo will reach Wang's heights one day."
Chinese head coach Ali Han, in the post-match press conference, said he couldn't be more satisfied with the team's performance. "After inexplicably conceding the first goal, everyone didn't falter but faced the game with a more positive attitude. That's the way to win!"
"Wang Feng, as always, played the role of the key man, not only performing on the field but also comforting and encouraging his teammates off the field. He's an excellent captain."
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