"This is CCTV, bringing you live coverage of the first Round of 16 match at the 2014 Brazil World Cup—the host nation Brazil against our Chinese national team!"
"The last time these two sides met was twelve years ago, at the Korea–Japan World Cup. That tournament marked China's first-ever appearance on the World Cup stage, and their opponent back then was this same Brazilian side—a painful defeat by Brazil, which many Chinese fans want to forget. Today, history seems to circle back once more. As China steps into the knockout rounds for the first time, Brazil once again stands in their way."
Duan Xuan delivered the opening lines with a noticeably tight voice. Despite years behind the microphone, even he couldn't fully suppress the nerves.
Once the World Cup entered the knockout phase, Chinese fans became especially sensitive to every detail.
This was China's first-ever Round of 16 match. No one realistically expected them to go deep, but at the very least, fans hoped they would play with courage and personality.
The environment itself offered little comfort. Brazil was the host, and inside the stadium, it felt as though opposition was coming from every direction.
Soon, the starting lineups appeared on the big screen.
China (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Tong Lei
Defenders: Zhuo Yue, Gao Leiliang, Liu Kairui, Guan Zhe
Midfielders: Yu Hao, Kai, Guo Liang
Forwards: Chen Man, Wang Yi, Jia Zhenhua
Brazil (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Cesar
Defenders: Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo
Midfielders: Fernandinho, Oscar, Gustavo
Forwards: Hulk, Fred, Neymar
This Brazilian side emphasized one word above all else: toughness.
Tough defenders. Tough midfielders. Tough attackers.
They didn't resemble the classic, free-flowing Samba Brazil of the past. Instead, this was a team with a strong European influence.
From top to bottom, the defense stood out. While much of the spotlight fell on Neymar—and rightly so—Brazil's attacking threat was far more balanced than it appeared.
Both full-backs had pace and technique, capable of pushing forward at any moment. Marcelo, despite scoring an own goal in the opening match, had been excellent since.
In midfield, Brazilian players combined refined technique with growing physical intensity, especially with the evolved roles of Oscar and Fernandinho.
Up front, Hulk and Neymar provided explosive threat on the wings, while Fred gave Brazil something they rarely had—a true target man.
This was a modern Brazil, reshaped and efficient.
By comparison, China seemed outmatched across almost every department. On paper, a detailed breakdown offered little hope.
But football isn't played on spreadsheets.
Under the blazing sun, players from both teams walked onto the pitch, triggering an eruption of cheers from the stands.
After two days of rest, the World Cup knockout stage was finally underway.
The national anthems echoed through the stadium, both sides singing with intensity, the atmosphere steadily building toward its peak.
The Chinese players stepped forward proactively to shake hands.
Moments later, both teams returned to their halves, waiting for kickoff.
The captains completed the coin toss.
The exchange was brief. Polite. No words.
Kai shifted his weight slightly. The ground felt soft beneath his boots.
He preferred firmer pitches—surfaces where power transferred cleanly through every movement.
Every Chinese player wore a serious expression, eyes fixed on the center circle.
Brazil's players, by contrast, looked calmer. Not casual, but clearly more at ease.
Brazil would kick off, with Fred standing over the ball.
China lined up in a 4-3-3.
They could have chosen to sit deep.
But head coach Liu Hongbo ultimately rejected that approach.
The gap in strength was obvious. Even after endless analysis, there was no perfect answer to Brazil.
Yet after advancing from the group stage, this team had already earned recognition.
Losing to Brazil was not disgraceful.
Rather than parking the bus and surviving passively on the biggest stage, Liu Hongbo chose something else.
Let them play.
Let this be a match they could look back on without regret.
Throughout the group stage—aside from the opening match—China had played cautiously, often to the point of suffocation.
Defending deep had brought results, but not beauty.
This time, the coach loosened the reins.
More freedom. More initiative. More attacking intent.
The players supported the decision wholeheartedly.
If they were going to lose, they didn't want to be beaten without a fight.
On the pitch, every Chinese player locked eyes with the ball in the center circle, waiting for Fred's first touch.
Referee Howard Webb stepped away.
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
"This is CCTV."
"Sky Sports."
"ARD."
"CBS."
Commentary booths across the world came alive—but their introductions were cut short almost immediately.
As soon as the match began, China surged forward.
Wang Yi, Chen Man, and Jia Zhenhua sprinted into Brazil's half, pressing aggressively.
Guo Liang and Yu Hao stepped up in support, tightening the midfield.
Kai held slightly deeper, ready to receive at any moment.
China had chosen to press high.
The decision caught everyone off guard—and thrilled them.
Sky Sports commentator Andy Gray couldn't hide his excitement.
"Wow! China hasn't gone with the defensive setup we've seen before. They're taking the initiative! This should make for a much more entertaining match."
Compared to a one-sided defensive siege, this approach promised something different.
The crowd sensed it too.
Eyes lit up.
This wasn't going to be dull.
China's front three swarmed relentlessly, forcing Brazil to move the ball quickly.
Brazil's technique allowed them to cope—at least initially.
But when the ball reached Oscar, China sprang their trap.
Wang Yi and Chen Man dropped back sharply, while Guo Liang surged forward.
In an instant, Oscar was surrounded.
Caught off guard, Oscar tried to shield the ball, instinctively waiting for support—just as he often did at club level.
But there was no time.
Chen Man crashed into Oscar. Despite the physical mismatch, he committed fully, knocking Oscar off balance.
Guo Liang seized the moment, poking the ball free.
"Guo Liang—he's won it!" Duan Xuan shouted.
Brazil attempted an immediate counter-press.
With no short option available, Guo Liang turned and sent a high diagonal ball across the pitch.
The pass arced toward Yu Hao.
Hulk charged in at full speed.
Yu Hao spotted him but didn't retreat. Instead, he attacked the ball.
Technically gifted but not physically imposing, Yu Hao relied on timing rather than strength.
As the ball dropped, he cushioned it with his instep, killing the pace and letting it roll back toward his own half.
That single touch created just enough space.
Hulk couldn't close him down.
After securing possession, Yu Hao played the ball calmly to Kai.
Kai received it cleanly and lifted his head.
Across the stadium—among players, fans, and commentators alike—a quiet sense of relief spread.
For reasons no one could fully explain, when the ball was at Kai's feet, everything felt steadier.
He didn't force a forward pass. Instead, he recycled possession to Fernando and dropped deeper.
Fred tried to press.
Kairui returned the ball immediately.
Fred closed again.
One touch—Kai shifted it to Zhuo Yue.
Zhuo Yue found Guo Liang.
Guo Liang switched it back to Kai.
With a handful of simple, controlled passes, China settled itself into the match.
..
"Back! Back!"
Kai kept moving, constantly adjusting his position while directing the tempo through short passes and quick receptions.
Compared to his early days in midfield, Kai's ability to control and organize play had improved significantly. He wasn't on the level of the world's elite yet, but he already showed a clear sense of how to manipulate space and pull the opponent's defensive line out of shape.
More importantly, Kai's value wasn't limited to the organization alone. His passing accuracy and defensive tackling were just as crucial.
China's ball circulation became increasingly fluent, and their possession rate was noticeably higher than in the previous two matches.
This also meant that China was no longer relying purely on direct attacking football.
Of course, all of this depended on one condition—Brazil not pressing aggressively.
And for now, Brazil showed no intention of launching a high press. That gave China enough time and space to pass the ball calmly. Under this level of intensity, China's passing and first touch looked solid.
That said, this comfort only existed in their own half. Once the ball entered Brazil's territory, the pressure rose instantly.
For example, when Kai played the ball to Chen Man, Chen hesitated for just a moment too long before stepping forward. Marcelo almost pounced.
If not for Chen Man's explosive burst—jabbing the ball back to Kai before Marcelo could intervene—China would have lost possession.
After the exchange, Kai shouted sharply.
"Focus!"
Chen Man gave a sheepish grin. He knew he'd been too eager to turn and attack.
Marcelo quickly dropped back into position.
Chen Man noticed that Marcelo was unusually active today, constantly stepping up to press.
Maybe… that could be used.
Chen Man scanned his surroundings, then raised his hand toward Kai.
Kai lifted an eyebrow, took the pass, turned, and moved closer before nudging the ball back with the inside of his foot.
This time, Chen Man was still slow.
But deliberately so.
As expected, Marcelo immediately stepped forward to press the issue.
At that instant, Chen Man jabbed the ball back to Kai again, then spun and sprinted forward at full speed, slipping past Marcelo.
Kai, without hesitation, redirected the ball diagonally with a one-touch pass.
"Marcelo's out of position!"
Chen Man chased the ball at full speed. His pace was frightening—clearly faster than David Luiz, who was sliding across to cover.
After reaching the ball, Chen Man slowed down slightly, rolling the ball under his feet and feinting with both legs as if preparing to cut inside.
Kai almost cursed.
This guy was killing the rhythm again.
Football was full of players like this—
Forwards who loved unnecessary step-overs, and midfielders who refused a simple short pass, insisting instead on a flashy long switch just to show off their technique.
Those were exactly the kinds of players Kai disliked most.
But this time, Chen Man's feint served a purpose.
He drew in enough defenders.
Then, unexpectedly, he slipped a diagonal pass instead.
Not to Wang Yi.
The ball zipped toward the edge of the penalty area, where Guo Liang arrived on the run and struck it first time.
The shot flew toward the goal. Cesar reacted desperately, tipping it wide for a corner.
China's first real attack forced Brazil into action.
For a brief moment, the Brazilian fans fell silent.
The Chinese supporters erupted.
Kai glanced at Chen Man, clearly surprised.
This was progress.
China earned a corner kick, with Guo Liang stepping up to take it.
Kai stayed back, opting out of the aerial duel.
The delivery wasn't ideal, and Cesar punched the ball clear toward Neymar in the attacking half.
Neymar brought it under control with ease.
When he looked up, Kai was already standing in front of him.
"The main event is here."
Duan Xuan couldn't hide his nerves.
The duel between Neymar and Kai was the focal point of the match.
If Neymar couldn't be contained, China would have virtually no chance.
And in this moment, Kai's role was decisive.
Neymar studied Kai carefully, then suddenly pushed the ball left, attempting to break through by force.
Kai reacted instantly, matching his movement and sealing off the angle.
Neymar stopped.
Kai stopped as well.
Neymar began rolling his foot over the ball repeatedly, testing for an opening.
Kai narrowed his eyes. He didn't lunge, didn't shift his weight—completely denying Neymar the chance to accelerate.
Finally, Neymar planted his right foot, shaping as if to pass backward.
Kai stayed alert.
Sure enough, Neymar flicked the ball up with both feet.
A rainbow flick.
Against most defenders, it would have worked—this was classic Brazilian flair.
But Kai was ready.
The moment the ball left the ground, Kai turned and stepped across Neymar's path, blocking his forward run.
Neymar's rhythm was broken. He couldn't burst through.
Kai surged forward and calmly passed the ball back to Zhuo Yue.
"Neymar—rainbow flick!"
"Kai reacts instantly! He turns, blocks the route, accelerates, and plays it back cleanly!"
"Outstanding defending!"
Duan Xuan praised enthusiastically.
Kai exhaled quietly.
This exchange proved something important—he could limit Neymar.
No panic. No hesitation. Just clean judgment and decisive movement.
Neymar rubbed his nose, glancing at Kai with a hint of embarrassment.
He couldn't quite understand how Kai had reacted so quickly.
Still, he wasn't discouraged.
This was only the beginning.
"Hold the ball! No pressure—don't rush!"
After stabilizing play with Zhuo Yue, Kai dropped back to receive again.
As soon as he turned, he noticed no one closing him down.
Brazil's front-line pressing was weak—or rather, they didn't think it was necessary.
Kai was more than happy to slow things down.
He carried the ball forward at a relaxed pace, deliberately lowering the tempo.
The rhythm of the match became noticeably slower—and this was entirely by design.
China and Brazil were not equals in raw strength. Once the tempo increased, Brazil could unleash rapid passing combinations that China struggled to match.
Several Chinese players simply couldn't adapt to that European-level pace.
So Kai slowed the game.
He needed to fight this match on terms that favored China.
Oscar, however, was watching closely.
When he realized Kai was deliberately dragging the pace, he finally decided to step in.
"Push up! Press them! Speed it up—they can't handle a fast tempo!"
Oscar shouted, and Brazil immediately moved higher.
Kai felt the pressure surge at once.
He cursed inwardly.
Ten minutes of control—that was all he could buy.
Brazil had reacted.
And now, the real battle was beginning.
As the tempo increased, Brazil's passing became smoother and more aggressive.
China didn't retreat.
If they couldn't slow the game, they would run harder.
This had always been China's way of coping with fast-paced opponents—covering ground relentlessly to raise the overall intensity.
It wasn't elegant.
But it worked.
China began pressing across the entire pitch.
Even when Brazil passed back, Chen Man sprinted toward Cesar as if running a hundred-meter dash.
His speed—and explosive acceleration—forced Cesar to panic, clearing the ball long.
In midfield, both sides clashed repeatedly in aerial duels.
This was where the fight was fiercest.
Brazil, driven by Oscar, wanted complete control of the midfield.
Kai had no intention of surrendering it.
As a result, the midfield battles became brutal and relentless.
Brazil had the edge in physicality.
China couldn't overpower them.
And most critically—
Brazil's full-backs had started to push forward.
...
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