Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
"There isn't much time left for Belgium."
Liu Jianhong's voice came from the television.
Looking at the CCTV-5 logo in the top left corner, and then at the close-up of the players on the field, domestic fans were truly familiar with this feeling of powerlessness.
This phrase was originally uttered by Liu Jianhong, gradually became popular online, and turned into a meme for the National Football Team.
Later, it simply became a nightmare for domestic fans.
So much so that even the current Belgium seemed like the Chinese team, struggling until the very end and losing regrettably.
"Could it be… that even Lance can't do it?"
"This phrase, my PTSD is acting up!"
"Why is it Liu Jianhong again? And this phrase again, I've heard enough!"
"There's still a chance! Didn't Lance score a last-minute winner in the previous game?"
"Believe in Lance!"
Argentina vs. Belgium, this crucial World Cup quarter-final match had already reached the 87th minute.
The score was still 1-0.
After Argentina scored at the start of the second half, their tenacious defense held on until the very end.
It was simply despair-inducing.
Lance felt his stamina was almost depleted on the field.
Even his rage value had increased from 0% to 95%!
"They're really fucking tough to deal with!"
They were indeed the World Cup runner-up, a team that battled Germany into extra time.
In the original timeline, Argentina won 1-0 against Belgium.
Changing history was even more difficult than Lance had imagined!
In the 68th minute of the second half, Lance used 100% rage to find a good opportunity.
Belgium had been attacking for a long time without success, and De Bruyne patiently tried on the outside, not rushing to pass.
The moment he saw Lance raise his hand, De Bruyne didn't hesitate, sending a beautiful arcing long pass from the right flank to the left.
Lance, battling Mascherano's close marking, jumped into the air and, with an unconventional move, back-heeled the ball to Hazard!
The unexpected pass instantly tore through Argentina's defense!
Hazard went one-on-one, charging into the penalty area, seemingly about to equalize!
Goalkeeper Romero rushed out of his goal, and Hazard's clever chip shot sailed over his head!
Watching the ball arc gracefully and fall towards the goal, Lance even felt it was a sure goal, and Hazard was already spreading his arms to celebrate.
Just as the Belgian fans were about to stand up and cheer, a blue and white figure appeared on the goal line, making an extreme slide tackle! He hooked the ball out of the goal with his foot!
Zabaleta's goal-line clearance!!
The Manchester City veteran captain, Kompany's teammate, the diligent Argentine full-back, was still giving his all!
Belgium's attack was almost perfect, yet it was defended by Argentina!
It was also this failed attack that struck a blow to Belgium's confidence, leading to almost no significant play in the subsequent 20 minutes.
With 88 minutes already passed, and injury time about to begin, Argentina was on the verge of eliminating Belgium and advancing to the final, just as the original script dictated…
Lance wavered for the first time. Could he not change history even with the system?
No!
As long as the game was still going, there would always be a chance!
Lance endured the pain of his lungs feeling like they were exploding, the difficulty of his legs feeling like they were filled with lead, and forced his fatigued body to grit his teeth, accelerate, and sprint!
It was still a Belgian attacking opportunity.
Argentina had completely adopted a defensive stance, intending to end the game with a 1-0 lead.
Except for Messi, all 10 other players were 'parking the bus' within the 30-meter zone.
"De Bruyne, to Lance, back to De Bruyne, then a back pass to Dembele…"
"Dembele's dribbling is very delicate; he didn't let Fernández win the ball!"
Argentina's striker Higuaín had been substituted, replaced by Augusto Fernández to strengthen the defense.
A solid wall was formed in front of the goal.
De Bruyne looked at this group of people and lost his appetite; he had no idea who to pass to.
Dembele picked up the ball, De Bruyne received it and intended to shift it to the left, letting Hazard try to break through.
If he crossed directly into the box, the effect wouldn't be very good; Lukaku, despite his large stature, couldn't win headers against Demichelis and Otamendi.
They could only rely on Hazard and Lance.
Just before he was about to switch, Lance suddenly raised his hand!
The moment De Bruyne touched the ball with his right foot, he made an extreme adjustment to his footwork, changing his mind at the last minute!
Fortunately, he was a skilled passer; for anyone else, this ball would definitely not have been saved.
"De Bruyne, to Lance in front of the penalty area!!"
"Mascherano is pressing him!"
Liu Jianhong was so nervous his tongue was numb, more nervous than watching the National Football Team.
At the crucial moment, Lance, facing Mascherano's defense, moved with ease.
He extended his arm to fend off Mascherano's initial challenge, and just as his body was almost losing its balance and leaning forward, he suddenly pivoted on his left foot and turned!
"What?"
Mascherano was taken by surprise.
Before he could even see Lance's move, the kid had already slipped past him!
"Where's the ball?"
A Champions League-level midfielder, a key defensive player for Barcelona, Mascherano didn't even see the ball clearly!
But the spectators saw it perfectly clearly!
"Oh my goodness!! Lance!! A first touch with the outside of the foot, controlling and dribbling past!! A turn and breakthrough, beautiful!!"
This single touch of the ball sent Liu Jianhong into a frenzy right there!
A graceful and effortless turn, stopping the ball with the outside of his right foot, smoothly dribbling forward, and breaking into the penalty area!
"Stop him!!"
Demichelis and Otamendi simultaneously closed in from both sides, and goalkeeper Romero also watched Lance warily.
He could shoot himself, and he could also make a through pass to Hazard, who was surging in on the left!
The situation was critical!
Rage Value 100%
Lance was brimming with confidence!
Before the ball landed, he miraculously stuck it to his ankle with his right foot, stopping it with a rabona move, and continued to turn!
Past Otamendi again!
A series of fancy turns, getting past two players!
Argentina's penalty area had become Lance's stage for freestyle football!
"He is Unstoppable!! Lance — Sensational Move!!"
Sky Sports' renowned commentator Martin Tyler gave high praise!
Whether this goal went in or not, it would be the most spectacular performance of this World Cup!
As Lance turned and gently chipped the ball into the air, about to take a volley shot, goalkeeper Romero urgently dove towards the near post, while Demichelis flew in to block the shot.
"Lance — takes a shot himself!!"
Liu Jianhong's roaring voice echoed through thousands of households' televisions.
At the moment when the whole world's hearts were in their throats, Lance's left foot, which was about to volley the ball, actually stuck to the ball and pulled it back at the moment of the shot!
At the same time, he fooled Demichelis and Romero!
There's another twist?!!!
"Puta!!"
The world-shocking performance made Messi, not far away, lose his composure and blurt out a Spanish expletive!
He watched the kid toy with his teammates with a series of impossible moves, then hooked the ball back with his left foot and swept it across the face of the goal!
On the edge of the six-yard box, the big black man Lukaku stood there, stunned, watching the ball fly right in front of him!
The goalkeeper had already committed to the save; he was facing a purely open goal!
Before, Lukaku might have lacked confidence.
But Lance had said he would be worth 100 million euros in the future!
"I am a world-class striker!!!"
With unwavering belief, Lukaku firmly headed the ball into the empty net!
Belgium, trailing until the very last moment, Lance assisted Lukaku, equalizing in a desperate situation!
"Goal!!! It's in, it's in, it's in, it's in!!"
"Belgium has incredibly equalized!!!"
"Lance! He toyed with Argentina's defense and assisted Lukaku for an open-goal score!!"
"They still have a chance! The game might go into extra time!"