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"The first half of this World Cup quarter-final showdown has concluded. Argentina and Belgium ended the first half with a 0-0 draw. Both teams are temporarily in halftime, looking forward to the more crucial 45-minute match in the second half..."
Hearing the director's message of signal cut-off in his earpiece, Zhan Jun finally took off his headphones and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Need a tissue?"
"Thank you, Director Zhang."
"Oh, don't be so polite with me. Your back is all soaked."
"Yeah, I thought it wouldn't be that hot in the Southern Hemisphere in winter, but it's actually comparable to Guangzhou in summer..."
"But this match is indeed intense enough."
"Hmm, Argentina is much tougher than we imagined."
Zhan Jun felt a lingering fear and couldn't help but worry for Belgium.
The first half's seemingly 0-0 score showed both sides were very cautious, and the game was rather dull.
Compared to the wide-open, fast counter-attacks against Portugal, the pace of offensive and defensive transitions was very quick for both sides.
In this clash with Argentina, the game's rhythm entered Argentina's preferred domain: slowing down as much as possible, with less rapid offensive and defensive transitions, gradually making progress.
If Belgium wanted to launch a quick attack, it would be restricted immediately.
The dirty little tricks of the South American players could always interrupt the ball-handler's play.
Coupled with Argentina's strict defensive discipline, everyone except the strolling Messi retreated quickly.
This resulted in Belgium being unable to launch truly threatening quick counter-attacks.
Every time they advanced into the attacking third, it turned into a positional battle.
Positional battles were not Belgium's specialty.
De Bruyne's through balls and Hazard's dribbling breakthroughs couldn't be fully utilized.
Fortunately, Lance had the foresight to switch his equipment template to Nagi Seishiro beforehand, allowing him to create one or two threatening shots even when the penalty area was crowded.
In the first half, Argentina and Belgium each had 4 shots.
Lance accounted for 3 of them; striker Lukaku's header didn't go in.
On Argentina's side, although their counter-attacks seemed slow to advance, when a real opportunity arose, they could still push forward very quickly.
Di María's two surges from the left wing almost scared the entire Belgian squad witless.
Messi's elusive runs and unstoppable dribbling into the box were even more heart-stopping.
Fortunately, Courtois's saves were excellent, otherwise Argentina might have snuck in a goal.
For Lance, defeating Portugal and preparing for Argentina felt like yesterday.
Suddenly, 45 minutes were already played.
The next 45 minutes would be even more perilous!
On the way to the locker room, Lionel Messi was not far away.
The expression of the King of Football seemed less than optimistic.
He was looking down, frowning, seemingly lost in thought.
Perhaps noticing Lance's gaze, Messi turned to look over.
Seeing it was Lance, Messi showed no expression and turned his head back.
"He's indeed Messi, just as strong as people say..."
Beside Lance, Arsenal's center-back Vermaelen's back was completely soaked.
His physical condition was clearly declining, indicating immense pressure from defending Messi.
It took Vertonghen, Witsel, and him, the three 'V's, working together to defend Messi.
"Didn't you play against Messi before?"
"Ah? No, I didn't play against Messi at Arsenal. I was injured in 2010 and missed almost the entire season. I haven't encountered Messi since... But after the World Cup, I expect to join Barcelona."
"I see."
Lance realized he had misremembered.
He always thought of Arsenal's 'three years Bayern, five years Barcelona' and their many Champions League encounters with Barcelona, so Vermaelen should have experience defending Messi.
In reality, after Vermaelen joined Arsenal in the summer of 2009, he only met Barcelona in the Champions League Round of 16 in the 2010-2011 season.
However, Vermaelen suffered a serious injury that season and was out for the rest of it.
Mertesacker and Koscielny were the ones who played in the Champions League.
Vermaelen would only have the chance to become teammates with Messi on the field after his transfer this year.
Unfortunately, he couldn't offer any experience in defending Messi.
Back in the locker room, Wilmots constantly encouraged his players.
"Good job, guys. But we still wasted a few clear-cut chances, like you, Romelu..."
"Sorry."
The 'black tower' Lukaku looked exactly like a primary school student who had made a mistake.
...
In the 26th minute of the first half, Lance created an excellent opportunity using the Nagi Seishiro template.
After multiple unsuccessful attacks, Lance perfectly controlled the ball outside the box, fooling Mascherano, and his low right-footed shot was saved by the goalkeeper for a corner kick.
From the corner, De Bruyne and Lance combined telepathically, sending the ball to the far post.
Lance chested the ball down, then used his toe to chip it over a defender.
Almost everyone from Argentina was blocking Lance's shooting angle.
He was the biggest threat!
So much so that the center was completely left open, and Lukaku stood unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box!
Even the goalkeeper wasn't wary of him!
If the ball had been passed to him, he could have scored with his eyes closed.
Even surrounded like this, Lance managed to keep the ball off the ground, executing two perfect keep-ups to open up an angle.
He miraculously passed the ball to Lukaku!
At that moment, commentators worldwide were about to jump up and celebrate the goal.
Who would have thought Lukaku wouldn't react in time!
He didn't expect Lance could actually pass it!
As a result, Lukaku was too nervous and completely missed the shot!
The ball hit his standing foot, deflected towards the post, and then bounced off the post.
Argentine defender Zabaleta made a last-ditch clearance.
This attack made all the Argentine players' legs go weak!
That kid was too damn scary!
Even Messi was terrified; after the successful clearance, he quickly made three crosses on his chest, fulfilling a vow to God.
Such a threatening shot not going in must mean God was supporting Argentina!
...
In the locker room, Lukaku wasn't scolded too much.
He wasted a chance, but he could still act as a pivot in positional play, so his tactical role was significant, and he was truly needed on the field.
Wilmots didn't have too many good tactical arrangements, so he could only encourage the players:
"Don't rush in the second half, Argentina is good at seizing opportunities, and once they get one, it's deadly; they won't give you a chance to come back."
"So we need patience, more patience!"
"Even if it goes to extra time, or a penalty shootout, that's fine, just don't let them steal it."
Wilmots would never have imagined that, back on the field, not long after the second half began, his words would come true.
...
"Alright, the second half of the match has begun. Previously, Belgium kicked off first, and now it's Argentina's turn to kick off."
"In the first half, both teams focused more on tactical maneuvering and defense, handling the ball very cautiously, and the score remained a 0-0 draw. Neither team made any personnel changes for the second half."
To prevent some fans from just tuning in, commentator Zhan Jun still announced the starting lineups for both teams.
"Argentina is still in a 4-3-3 formation. Goalkeeper: Romero; Defenders: Zabaleta, Demichelis, Otamendi, Basanta; Midfielders: Mascherano, Biglia, Di María; Forwards: Lavezzi, Higuaín, Messi!"
"Belgium also switched to a 4-3-3 formation today, which will revert to a 4-5-1 when defending... Goalkeeper: Courtois; Defenders: Alderweireld, Kompany, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Midfielders: Witsel, Fellaini, De Bruyne, Hazard, Lance; Forward: Lukaku... Oh! Look at this ball first!"
No sooner had Zhan Jun finished reading the starting lineup than Argentina launched a positional attack!
Mascherano suddenly changed pace, unexpectedly sending a diagonal pass!
On the right side of the box, Higuaín headed the ball down, and Messi, receiving the ball in the ribs, accelerated slightly to shake off Witsel, then feinted to the right at the edge of the box, actually cutting to the left!
"Damn it!"
Vermaelen was careless!
Everyone thought Messi would go right, but Messi's most unsolvable quality was 'if the enemy doesn't move, I don't move.' His feints made the defender move first!
If you don't make a move, I'll just break through; if you do make a move, I can change direction on the fly!
Seeing Vermaelen extend his leg to the right, Messi quickly adjusted with an extremely high touch frequency, subtly nudging the ball with his toe to change direction, faking out Vermaelen and creating an angle!
Courtois's vision was perfectly blocked, and Messi unleashed a sudden shot!
"F***!!"
When he saw the ball flying towards the goal, Courtois was already too late.
The 190cm tall goalkeeper's diving speed was slightly half a beat too slow.
Messi's low left-footed shot had a very tricky curve!
It brushed between the post and Courtois's glove, nestling into the net!!!
"The goal is in!! Messi! Scores first at the start of the second half!"
"Argentina leads Belgium 1-0!"
Zhan Jun and all Chinese fans' hearts sank!
Oh no!
It's over!
The game had entered Argentina's rhythm!
All the players' morale was low, their eyes blank.
Only Lance's eyes still gleamed with fire!