Chapter 821: Completeness and Incompleteness
During the injury stoppage time before the final whistle, the French team made a desperate attempt, with goalkeeper Lloris even dribbling out of the penalty area before lobbing the ball into the opponent's half.
However, the Chinese team, who had fought so hard up to this point, naturally wouldn't let victory slip away from their grasp. With the last attack defused by Wang Feng and Zheng Zhi, the referee Pitana blew the final whistle.
The entire Luzhniki Stadium erupted into thunderous cheers, with the sea of red roaring and rolling like a volcanic eruption, exuding vitality and enthusiasm.
Back home, the scene was even more exaggerated. Some took to the streets banging drums and gongs, while residents in apartment buildings opened their windows, exchanging and sharing their ecstatic joy with neighbors.
Even though it was late at night, not a single person could sleep at this moment.
The substitutes, coaching staff, and staff of the Chinese team rushed onto the field in a frenzy, joining the heroes in celebrating their victory.
Lippi didn't forget courtesy. He first walked to the French team's coaching bench and shook hands with Deschamps, whose face was filled with disappointment and frustration. His team came so close.
"A great final, a great Wang Feng." After making this assessment, the French coach left the field with a sense of reluctance, clearly unwilling to linger on the stage of failure.
Unlike the jubilant Chinese team, the French players hung their heads low, especially Mbappe, whose heart was being bitten by a snake of desolation and regret.
Seeing this, Griezmann walked up to him, patting the young man's shoulder and saying, "It's indeed a pity, but we don't have just this one final. The future definitely belongs to us."
"You're not even 20 yet, while Wang Feng is already 35. Perhaps this is his last World Cup. Even if he comes back in four years, they won't have the same strength."
"Defeat is nothing. Football is a never-ending pursuit, a process of never giving up."
Mbappe gradually recovered from his sadness, nodding and saying, "Yes, it's just that we were so close to defeating Wang directly, it's too regrettable!"
Griezmann couldn't help but smile wryly at his words. "For over a decade, countless people have tried to defeat the Chinese superstar. In the end, we all come to the same conclusion: apart from time, no one can defeat him."
"Indeed." The young Frenchman deeply understood this at the moment. He walked up to Wang Feng and asked if he qualified to exchange jerseys.
"Of course, you played great and caused us a lot of trouble." Wang Feng praised, taking off his jersey and handing it over. From Mbappe's hand, he received the jersey. These two jerseys were the best witness to this classic final battle.
Putting on the pre-prepared award ceremony attire, the World Cup award ceremony is about to begin.
First announced is the Fair Play Award, which goes to the Spanish team. They played four games in total, committing only 33 fouls, the fewest among all sixteen teams.
At the same time, the Spanish team received only two yellow cards, second only to Saudi Arabia's one, thus earning this honor.
The Best Young Player Award unsurprisingly goes to Mbappe, who contributed 5 goals and completed 32 dribbles, a 19-year-old French youth with boundless future.
The Golden Glove Award didn't come from the finalists, but was won by Courtois of the third-place Belgian team.
After all, the thrilling final showdown lowered the ratings for goalkeepers, leaving Wang Xianghe, who had consistently performed well, somewhat regretful.
The Golden Boot Award goes to Wang Feng, who contributed 9 goals. His four-goal performance in the final widened the gap between him and other players.
Just like eight years ago, the World Cup Golden Ball Award is overwhelmingly awarded to the Chinese superstar, a consolation France painfully missed.
The Silver Ball Award goes to Griezmann, and the Bronze Ball Award is given to Modric of Croatia.
After the runner-up France receives their medals, it's the turn of the champion Chinese team to take the stage, and the stands once again erupt in huge cheers and applause.
The players are all ecstatic. Except for a few veterans like Zheng Zhi, most of them have never experienced the glory of eight years ago, so this is their first time standing at the top of the world.
As the captain, Wang Feng is the last one to step onto the stage. Taking the long-awaited World Cup trophy from the hands of the FIFA president, the familiar touch and weight make him excited as well.
Winning the championship, especially the pivotal World Cup, is always an enchanting dream no matter how many times.
Infantino pats the back of the Chinese superstar affectionately. "Go and lift the trophy high, you are the greatest legend!"
Wang Feng smiles and slowly walks to the middle of the players. Everyone bends slightly at the waist, and when the captain lifts the World Cup trophy high above his head, they all jump up and shout together, "We are the champions!"
Luzhniki Stadium also sets off fireworks and cannons to celebrate at this moment, with golden confetti flying everywhere and the melody of "We Are the Champions" pushing the atmosphere to its climax.
"We once again witness great history. After eight years, the Chinese team once again lifts the World Cup trophy, and they can embroider two stars on their jersey emblem now."
"This trophy belongs to everyone in the Chinese team, but especially to Wang Feng!"
"At 35, the Chinese superstar can be said to have had a fulfilling career, with countless honors and records, worldwide recognition and deification. What else can't he achieve?"
"Perhaps the only incompleteness is that Wang Feng didn't achieve a World Cup three-peat like Pele did, but even if it were Pele's time, he would find it difficult to match the dominant and unique presence of the Chinese superstar on the field."
"The failure to achieve three consecutive championships is not due to Wang Feng himself, but to the poor external factors. This will be an eternal pain in Chinese football and leave endless fantasies for the world."
"If those dirty incidents hadn't happened back then, would Wang Feng have achieved such legendary achievements?"
After the match, not only commentators have such doubts, but countless media and fans around the world also have similar sentiments. While reporting and spreading the news of China's championship, they will also evaluate and predict this.
Most opinions believe that the Chinese superstar undoubtedly could have achieved this epic feat, considering his career experience and technical prowess. Four years ago, the German team would probably have been unable to stop him in his prime.
The ailing King of Football, Pele, learned the news and, under the care of doctors, gave a brief interview to the team newspaper, expressing his congratulations.
"Congratulations to the Chinese team, congratulations to Wang. They have created a glorious history that can completely rival or even surpass that of Brazil back then. I believe that no matter how many years pass, people will sigh with emotion when they look back."
"Wang had completely surpassed me many years ago, both at the club and national team levels. The triple crown record doesn't mean much to him."
The Brazilian legend added jokingly, "Of course, it means a lot to me, because I still retain an honor that can match that of the football god. How honored I am."
Pele's words also resonated widely. Looking around, most of the important records in world football are now associated with Wang Feng's name. Those who can be mentioned alongside him in these records feel immensely proud.
The official title for the Chinese superstar has completely shifted from GOAT to God of Football. Previously used only by the media and celebrities, now all authoritative organizations including FIFA and UEFA use this term to describe him.
The legendary career is coming to an end soon.
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