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Albert Einstein Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil.
As one of the top private hospitals in São Paulo and across Brazil, its specialists are highly authoritative in their respective fields.
Lance stood at the door of the ward, listening to the description from team leader Philippe De Wilde, his mood becoming incredibly heavy.
"It's regrettable, they both can't continue playing. Although it's not particularly serious, but…"
"Scheiße!!!"
Wilmots was furious, instinctively blurting out a German expletive.
He was about to kick the trash can by the elevator entrance but was warned by a stern look from a young nurse.
"This is a hospital, please keep quiet and do not damage public property."
"Damn it!"
Wilmots could only clench his fists and swallow his anger.
Belgium's attacking trio of Lance, Hazard, and De Bruyne saw two of them fall in one match.
It was truly frustrating!
Hazard suffered a thigh muscle strain, out for 4 weeks. De Bruyne sustained an ankle ligament injury, out for at least 6 weeks, and needed to return to Germany as soon as possible for a follow-up examination at the best hospital.
If an ankle joint problem was diagnosed, the time out would be extended further.
This was just the injury situation.
Adding to that, key defenders Kompany and Fellaini accumulated yellow cards.
In the next World Cup semi-final, Belgium would be missing several key players.
Even though they had just defeated Argentina and advanced to the World Cup semi-finals for only the second time in history, they clearly had a chance to reach the final!
There was absolutely no joy to be had!
Other Belgian players also came to visit their teammates.
Two teammates were still receiving treatment and could not be visited yet.
A group of men could only sit in the waiting area, with regret and lament in everyone's eyes.
In the silent atmosphere, Dembélé felt very awkward, so he simply asked the nurse to turn on the TV in the waiting area.
"Next up is World Cup related news."
"The World Cup quarter-final focus match saw an astonishing comeback, with a 17-year-old youngster scoring a last-second winner. Belgium defeated Argentina 2-1 to advance to the semi-finals!"
On a São Paulo TV news program, the fiery Latina anchor seemed very excited.
Because Brazil had advanced to the semi-finals, and their arch-rivals Argentina had lost.
"In the World Cup quarter-final held at the Mineirão Arena early this morning, the European Red Devils, Belgium, staged an epic comeback! Thanks to the divine performance of 17-year-old star Lance, who contributed one assist and one goal in the final moments, Belgium came from behind to defeat favorite Argentina 2-1, reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history."
"In the first half, both sides played cautiously, creating several good opportunities, but unfortunately, neither could score, ending 0-0 temporarily."
"The second half saw the match become more intense."
"Just 3 minutes into the half, Argentina's star player Messi broke the deadlock! After receiving a header back from Higuaín, Messi continuously dribbled at the edge of the box, faking out Vermaelen, and a tricky low shot went straight into the corner, 1-0!"
"After taking the lead, Argentina retreated to defend, and their disciplined defense did not give Belgium many opportunities."
"If they maintained the score until the end, Argentina would extend their knockout stage record of 0 goals conceded."
"The situation took a turn in the final stages of the match!"
"As the match approached injury time, Lance, known as the 'Oriental Savior', shone on the field."
"In a triple-team, he first used an outside-of-the-foot nutmeg to get past Mascherano, then a rabona turn to fake out Otamendi, and finally a fake shot into a true pass across the middle of the penalty area."
"Lukaku easily headed the ball into an open net! Belgium achieved an extreme equalizer! 1-1!"
During the news broadcast, live commentary audio was included.
The Brazilian commentator passionately roared in a samba accent:
"Laaaaaance — let's remember this name!!"
"The most samba-spirited goal of this World Cup did not come from Brazil, but was completed by this player with the most spectacular performance…"
"The drama unfolded in the very last moment of injury time."
"At that time, both coaching staffs were strategizing for extra time, when the unexpected happened in the dying seconds."
"Belgium launched one last attack, and De Bruyne was tackled by Di María as he released the ball."
"Under the advantage rule, Hazard received the ball and continued to drive into the penalty area, but he also fell to the ground after a challenge."
"Fortunately, he swept the ball to Lance before falling."
"Lance dribbled the ball, nutmegged Otamendi, and blasted it into the top corner from a tight angle!"
"92 minutes and 48 seconds! Listen to the cheers at the Mineirão Arena!"
"This youngster, who plays for Bundesliga Bayer Leverkusen, has consistently performed miracles in the final moments during the League season."
"On the World Cup stage, he has shone even brighter, becoming the hottest new star of the World Cup so far!"
"The miraculous teenager Lance has updated his goal tally to 8 goals!"
"When Messi was still making the sign of the cross in the 85th minute, relieved to have escaped, no one thought this Chinese-Belgian teenager would send Argentina into the abyss within 5 minutes!!"
"With Argentina's elimination, the only South American team left in this home World Cup is the host, Brazil."
"Semi-final matchups:"
"July 9th, 5 PM local time: Germany vs. Brazil"
"July 10th, 5 PM local time: Belgium vs. Netherlands…"
No matter what channel was tuned to, Brazilian football programs were hyping Belgium's performance, especially Lance's one assist and one goal in injury time to complete the astonishing comeback.
The miraculous teenager's popularity had not faded but had risen to another level.
He had already become the most popular football star in all of Brazil, besides Neymar.
He was hailed by local Brazilian media as: "The Last Samba Dancer."
"The Soul of Samba in the East"
Besides television media, social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, as well as newspapers and magazines, were all reporting frantically.
At the newsstands downstairs from the hospital, Lance's front-page photos were everywhere.
However, he himself was not happy at all and didn't even glance at those media news reports.
"You can visit now, be careful, don't stay too long, and don't disturb the patients' rest."
Upon hearing the news, representatives of the entire Belgian squad rose and rushed into the ward.
Since Hazard was still undergoing treatment, only De Bruyne was currently lying in the ward.
Belgium had money and directly upgraded him to a private recovery ward.
Kevin De Bruyne lay in bed, silently watching the television above his head.
The TV was also replaying yesterday's match.
"Hey, brother, how are you feeling?"
"Kevin…"
"Wow! Look at you, you look awful!"
Watching his teammates burst in, chattering, De Bruyne forced a smile.
"It's just a small injury, is it really that big of a deal?"
For professional players, a mere ankle injury is commonplace.
Being out for one or two months is nothing.
Belgian teammates could therefore crack some jokes to lighten the mood.
"We played great yesterday."
De Bruyne couldn't help but look at the TV again; the screen was replaying the final goal.
Everyone played their best, Courtois and the defense held off Argentina's attack in the back.
In the midfield and attack, Dembélé, De Bruyne, Hazard, and Lukaku all gave their all.
Ultimately, Lance stepped up to score the winning goal, ensuring everyone's efforts were not in vain.
Hearing De Bruyne say that, the players fell silent.
How could they play against Netherlands in the semi-finals with this depleted squad?
"Be optimistic, at least we are in the semi-finals, aren't we?"
"Yes, we are really strong!"
…
Outside the corridor, after talking with the team doctor and team leader, Wilmots happened to pass by De Bruyne's ward.
He originally wanted to comfort De Bruyne but saw a group of players in the ward, laughing about something.
"They're in pretty good spirits."
"Let's go, give them some space."
Wilmots smiled faintly.
"I estimate this year will be the end for us, but in 4 years, perhaps that's when we'll truly make our move!"
"Yes!"
Team leader Philippe De Wilde was equally confident.
"In 4 years, we will be terrifyingly strong!"
By then, Hazard, De Bruyne, Lukaku, and others would all be entering the prime of their professional careers.
Plus, the potential emergence of talented youngsters, Belgium would be a force to be reckoned with in Europe!
In the 2016 European Cup, Belgium could also try to compete for results and use the major tournament for practice.
Of course, the most crucial factor was Lance, around whom all the stars revolved.
Lance would be 19 in 2 years, and only 21 in 4 years!
And given his rate of improvement, who knows what kind of monster he would evolve into in the future!