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"CCTV! CCTV!"
"Hello, viewers! Welcome to our live coverage of a crucial Group E clash at UEFA Euro 2016!"
"Currently, group leaders Italy face Belgium, the side led by Lance!"
"The match is underway! First, let's take a look at the starting lineups for both teams."
"Wearing their traditional blue home kits, Italy line up as follows:
Goalkeeper: Captain Buffon!
Defenders: Chiellini, Barzagli, Bonucci!
Midfielders: Candreva, De Rossi, Marchisio, Giaccherini, Darmian!
Forwards: Immobile and Éder!"
The commentator's voice was steady, though a trace of excitement slipped through.
He hadn't been assigned one of Lance's matches for quite some time, and now it was finally his turn.
Within CCTV Sports, everyone was competing for the opportunity to commentate on Lance's games.
Shao Shengyi, Liu Jiayuan, Zeng Kan, Sun Sicheng, and others were all waiting in line.
Relying on his seniority, commentary skills, and popularity with viewers, he held a slight advantage and had finally managed to secure this assignment.
Had Duan Xuan not left CCTV in 2015 to join Wang Sicong's Banana Project, it would have been even harder for him to get the opportunity.
His trusted partner, analyst Xu Yang, sat beside him, providing tactical insights throughout the broadcast.
"Italy are using a 3-5-2 formation today. This is Antonio Conte's trademark system—a three-man defense."
"That's right," the commentator agreed.
"Conte previously led Juventus to three consecutive Serie A titles and a record-breaking 102-point season using this exact setup."
Xu Yang then elaborated on the characteristics of the three-at-the-back system.
With three center-backs, two defensive midfielders, and two wing-backs, it could easily form a seven-man defensive unit, creating an iron wall in front of the penalty area.
Juventus had conceded only 24 goals during their historic 102-point season, a testament to the system's defensive strength.
Driven by coaches such as Conte and other Italian tacticians, the three-man defense had gradually become popular throughout Europe after 2014.
In later years, managers like Guardiola and Amorim would also become enthusiastic adopters of the system.
Whether attacking or defending, it could quickly create numerical superiority, offered tremendous flexibility, and allowed teams to overload specific areas of the pitch according to tactical needs.
Looking at Italy's well-drilled lineup, Xu Yang couldn't help feeling concerned for the recently troubled Belgian side.
Even if Lance were a footballing god, no player could repeatedly fight the entire world alone.
"Belgium are sticking with their familiar 4-2-3-1 formation.
Goalkeeper: Courtois.
Defenders: Ciman, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen.
Midfielders: Fellaini, Nainggolan, De Bruyne, Lance, Hazard.
Forward: Lukaku."
The commentator glanced at Belgium's lineup and shook his head helplessly.
"In the previous match against Sweden, captain Vincent Kompany suffered a muscle strain. Following evaluation by the team doctors, he's expected to be sidelined for about a week."
Belgium's long-standing problem was obvious.
They were stacked with attacking talent but lacked the same quality at the back.
Without Kompany, their defense looked even more fragile, placing even greater pressure on the attackers.
Meanwhile, the ball-distribution issue between Lance, Hazard, and De Bruyne remained unresolved.
And Lukaku's finishing...
That was always a mystery.
What if he spent the entire match impersonating the "King of Hitting the Post"?
What then?
"It all depends on Lance."
"King Hazard, please don't hold Lance back."
"Chelsea fans say trust in Hazard!"
"De Bruyne, work with Lance already!"
After kickoff, Belgium's attacks were painful to watch.
Their passing and movement didn't resemble a cohesive team.
It looked more like eleven strangers thrown together for a pickup match.
Fans back in China could only cover their faces and sigh.
Belgium had been touted by every media outlet as a tournament favorite before the Euros began.
If they crashed out in the group stage, it would be an absolute humiliation.
"Wonderful chance! De Rossi combines with Candreva! Immobile—"
"Courtois with a world-class save! He keeps Belgium alive!"
In the 28th minute, Italy's increasingly settled defense launched a devastating counterattack.
Three passes sliced straight through Belgium's defensive structure.
Candreva burst down the flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the box.
Had Courtois not produced a miraculous save, the outcome would have been inevitable.
"What are you doing?! Are you kidding me?! FUCK!"
Courtois roared at his defenders.
No one dared respond.
Belgium's defensive problems were obvious for everyone to see.
Before they could reorganize, Italy struck again.
"Another attack down the right! Candreva is constantly pushing forward!"
"Excellent through ball from De Rossi!"
"Cross comes in!"
"Immobile—!"
Even a goalkeeper of Courtois' caliber was helpless against a point-blank finish.
Immobile stabbed the ball into the net.
"It's in! Immobile scores!"
"Belgium have conceded again, their second straight group-stage match with a goal against!"
0-1! Italy take the lead!
"Damn it!"
Lance slammed his boot into the turf.
He hadn't even had the chance to influence the game yet, and Belgium were already behind.
Kompany's absence was proving massive.
Without their captain, the defense lacked an experienced organizer.
The double-pivot wasn't helping either.
Neither Fellaini nor Nainggolan were elite defensive midfielders.
Both preferred contributing offensively.
Fellaini stood nearly two meters tall, but his defending often relied more on physicality and fouls than clean tackling.
Combined with Belgium's attack-heavy front line, the imbalance between offense and defense was becoming increasingly severe.
"What do we do now?"
De Bruyne and Hazard instinctively drifted toward Lance, hands on hips.
Both looked frustrated.
At moments like this, they naturally turned to him for answers.
Without effective instructions coming from the sidelines, they could only rely on themselves.
Lance thought for a moment.
Then his eyes sharpened.
"Watch my movement."
"No matter where I am, if I suddenly make a sprint, pass the ball immediately."
"Half a second early if possible."
"Got it."
"No problem."
Hazard and De Bruyne nodded simultaneously.
They were all world-class players.
They understood exactly what Lance was doing.
By making that request, he was effectively taking responsibility for whatever happened next.
If things went wrong, he would be the first person blamed.
Both felt a surge of admiration.
Though he had only recently turned nineteen, the sense of responsibility he displayed felt more like that of a seasoned veteran.
Leadership wasn't about age.
Apart from Kompany, everyone knew who Belgium's next captain would be.
Lance.
Beeeeep!
Play resumed.
Italy maintained their airtight defensive structure, inviting Belgium forward while patiently waiting for counterattacking opportunities.
Belgium, meanwhile, lacked the confidence to fully commit players forward.
The match drifted into a stalemate.
Every passing second pushed Belgium closer to elimination.
To make matters worse, news from the other Group E fixture wasn't encouraging.
Sweden had already taken a 2-0 lead over Ireland.
Belgium's situation was becoming increasingly desperate.
Then, unnoticed by almost everyone on the pitch—
Lance activated Spatial Perception.
The most terrifying ability of the Isagi Yoichi template.
A higher-dimensional awareness that allowed him to identify flaws hidden within Italy's defensive structure.
Where's the missing piece?
Focus.
Focus!
His brain operated at full capacity as he sprinted across the pitch.
His eyes scanned every movement in front of him.
Searching.
Analyzing.
Calculating.
Then—
Found it!
The instant he discovered the crucial puzzle piece, Lance exploded toward a specific area inside the penalty box.
The Italian defenders hadn't noticed.
Their attention remained fixed on De Bruyne.
Even the commentator missed it.
"De Bruyne is on the ball. There doesn't seem to be a passing lane available, and it's difficult to connect with Lance—"
Before he could finish speaking—
De Bruyne passed.
A gorgeous curved through ball sliced through Italy's defense.
It bypassed Chiellini completely and dropped into the penalty area.
"What?!"
For a brief moment, the Italian defenders froze.
A black-shirted figure had already appeared in the most dangerous zone on the field.
"LANCE!"
"AN INCREDIBLE OFF-THE-BALL RUN!"
Chiellini and Bonucci reacted instantly, rushing toward him.
Both expected Lance to control the ball first.
After all, he loved trapping the ball, creating space, and then shooting.
Neither defender attempted to block immediately.
But in the very next second—
"LANCE!"
"HE SHOOTS FIRST TIME!"
A thunderous left-footed volley stunned the entire Italian team.
Direct Strike Shot!
Like a trigger being pulled.
Like a bullet leaving the barrel.
The strike exploded off his boot and tore through the air.
The net rippled violently.
Buffon never even moved.
He didn't have time.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!"
"What a finish!"
"THE BALL IS IN!"
"Just before halftime, Lance equalizes for Belgium!"
Belgium 1-1 Italy!