Chapter 740: Chapter 739: From the Golden Generation to the Diamond Generation, As If in a Dream
Additionally, this Portuguese team lacked understanding among players.
The team included core players from the golden generation, such as Figo, Rui Costa, Bolaita, and Baía.
There were also players from Lisbon Sporting Club, as well as Porto players.
This didn’t even take into account that it had been two years since the players from Lisbon Sporting had left each other.
It was virtually impossible for these three factions to become integrated into one unit.
Because their playing styles were inherently different.
At the very least, the technical skill on the ball and the defensive pushing forward required by the Lisbon Sporting players was not something Porto’s defenders could do.
So don’t be fooled by Manchester City’s invincible offense this year.
But playing fast breaks and counter-attacks against Portugal, there really was a chance to win.
No one believed that this Portuguese team was stronger than Manchester City, despite their seemingly more luxurious lineup.
...
Lisbon, Estádio Alvalade.
The Portuguese team’s red jerseys and green shorts took over the entire stadium.
But in the stadium’s north stand, a large group of fans were dressed in Lisbon Sporting’s green and white striped jerseys.
Number 23, number 24.
Number 7, number 10.
These were the numbers Cristiano Ronaldo and Deng Kai had worn.
This was their home ground.
Even during the warm-up phase, the fans in the stands were already struggling to contain their excitement.
And as the players from both sides officially entered the field, the cheering from the crowd grew louder and louder.
Until the camera focused on Deng Kai.
The cheers from the crowd suddenly surged to a whole new level.
The fans shouted Deng Kai’s name like mad.
"DK!"
"DK!"
"siu!"
"king!"
"Caesar!"
"Our Caesar has returned!"
Hearing this nickname, which was somewhat embarrassing and juvenile, Deng Kai felt as if his memory had returned to a few years ago.
He now knew why stars like Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo, and Rivaldo would laugh that way when he first appeared at the Golden Ball awards as "Caesar."
It really was...
So cringe-worthy.
It was like when Fahrenheit first appeared on stage, they would say together: "We are the universe’s super invincible handsome boy band, Fahrenheit!"
And Wang Ziyi’s self-introduction: "I am the Ziyi who never diligently memorizes lyrics, my life is all about being meticulous, everyone’s gaze is like my stimulant, blah blah blah..."
Watching these scenes of themselves later, they would feel as embarrassed and tingling as Deng Kai did.
At least Cristiano Ronaldo had carved out a three-bedroom and two-living room space for Deng Kai.
He was now afraid that everyone would shout things like "Give me a CD from the past," "Little bike boy Chris," "The little Ronaldo from Madeira Island," and such.
That would definitely be torture.
But that’s where Deng Kai differed from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, a "general," mistakenly thought he was a king, so he couldn’t deal with the real scenarios that required a king’s presence.
But Deng Kai, born to be "king," so...
"Clap!"
Deng Kai, emerging from the player’s tunnel, raised his hands above his head and clapped, then pointed at the stands of the die-hard Lisbon Sporting fans.
At the same time, he yelled out: "siu!"
"Clap!"
He clapped his hands again and shouted, "siu!"
"Clap!"
"siu!"
The third time, the fourth time, the fifth time... but this time the die-hard stands’ fans clapped their hands.
Their clapping got faster and faster.
And the siu noises got louder and louder.
Tens of thousands of fans, maintaining strict discipline.
Their voices became as one.
This was the Viking War Chant!
Lisbon Sporting had such a celebratory ritual during the Kai Era.
It was unexpected that they still remembered it now.
"siuuuuuu!"
Even the stadium DJ, ah no... the stadium commentator couldn’t help himself, and directly led the entire stands in joining the final cheer.
The Portuguese team, morale sky-high, swept away all signs of weakness!
Huang Jianxiang: "This is the meaning of a leader! This is the significance of Deng Kai! The Portugal team has never had such morale before!"
"Many people believe that the life-and-death battle will only be settled after ninety minutes."
"But I can bluntly tell everyone that the result of the match was actually determined the moment Deng Kai’s name appeared in the starting lineup!"
"Portugal is sure to win!"
Huang Jianxiang once again danced and sang in the broadcast booth.
Zhan Jun and He Wei stared at each other with big eyes and small eyes, waiting a long time without hearing the director remind Huang Jianxiang.
You should know that whenever their opinions are a bit subjective or their attitude too excited, the director would remind them to stay neutral and be mindful of their identities.
So why doesn’t Huang Jianxiang need to be mindful?
Crackle!
The director cut in.
Director: "Mr. Huang, get even more excited, even more spirited. Some fans have complained backstage that your voice isn’t as enthusiastic as before, you can’t slack off!"
Zhan Jun: ???
He Wei: Damn it!
...
Inside the stadium.
When members of Portugal’s golden generation like Figo felt the tsunami-like cheers, it was as if they were in a dream.
A few years ago, they too had moved people’s hearts.
That was their era.
But now, perhaps starting with this match... Portuguese football had entered the diamond era dominated by Deng Kai and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The era had changed.
The kings, replaced!
Beep!
The match officially began with the sound of the whistle.
The Spaniards were clearly provoked by the "pre-match celebration" of the Portuguese.
The Viking roar was a celebration of victory for the Vikings.
For the Portuguese to do this before the game had even started was simply too arrogant.
So what if they had the world’s number one football star?
Our Raul has also won the Golden Ball award!
The Spaniards launched a fierce attack.
In the sixth minute, Morientes retreated to receive the ball and then delivered a direct pass, playing a good pivot.
Raul rushed forward, seizing the opportunity to shoot.
Bang!
Before Raul could shoot, Pepe, coming in from the side to cover, slid to the ground and cleared the football ahead of time.
He completed a quick and tidy defense.
"Well done!"
Bayia, Kilop, Carvalho, and others gave Pepe a boost.
They were not at all intimidated by Raul, the Golden Ball laureate.
Eighth minute.
Portugal also had a chance.
Figo and Rui Costa’s understanding was intact; the latter sent a through ball to the former.
Figo chased the ball down the right and made a Backward Triangle Pass.
Rui Costa followed with a flick, and on the left, Deco received the ball.
At the top of the penalty area, he took a long shot with great momentum.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep it down and the football flew over the crossbar.
Causing Casillas to break out in a cold sweat.
"This kid has a problem with his mentality," Trigella’s colleague from the coaching staff, the Manchester City manager Maxa, said in an advisory capacity next to him.
The assistant coach nodded repeatedly: "Yes, Deco was too hasty with that shot, too eager for a surprise. If he had performed the shooting motion more smoothly, the quality would have been higher."
Maxa shook his head repeatedly: "No, what I meant was that Kai was in such an open space on the left, with a better opportunity. Deco should have continued the pass to Kai!"
The assistant coach was stunned.
Are you sure?
Deco was at the top of the arc with no one defending him.
Deng Kai was on a cut-in run without the ball on the left.
After receiving the ball, the shooting angle wouldn’t exceed thirty degrees, and you call that a better opportunity?
The assistant coach thought Mr. Maxa must be crazy.
Right, he had been away from Portugal for two years and didn’t know how good Deco was.
This was a core player of a Champions League team.
He had more than 15 assists for four consecutive seasons, exceeding 20 in three of those seasons, ranking second in Europe’s assists leaderboard for four consecutive seasons!
If Maxa knew what the assistant coach was thinking, he would definitely say, "Yes, yes, everything you’re saying is correct, but do you know who has been in front of Deco on the European assists leaderboard for these four seasons?"
"And do you know about the European Golden Shoe for the past two years?"
"If I may say something offensive about Deco, in the end, Deco is just a bankrupt version of Kai, you know?"
