Because it was only a warm-up match, the atmosphere wasn't particularly tense.
There was no need for the players to walk out through the tunnel either. After getting changed, both teams simply headed straight to their respective halves.
China (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Tong Lei
Defenders: Zhuo Yue, Gao Leiliang, Fernando Kairui, Guan Zhe
Midfielders: Guo Liang, Kai, Yu Hao
Forwards: Chen Man, Wang Yi (C), Jia Zhenhua
Japan (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Eiji Kawashima
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Masato Morishige, Maya Yoshida, Atsuto Uchida
Def. Midfielders: Makoto Hasebe (C), Hotaru Yamaguchi
Att. Midfielders: Shinji Kagawa, Keisuke Honda, Shinji Okazaki
Forward: Yuya Osako
"Good evening, everyone. You're watching CCTV-5's broadcast of today's World Cup warm-up match—China versus Japan."
"The team in red shirts and shorts is China. The team in blue shirts and white shorts is Japan."
"Both sides have gone with strong lineups today, which shows just how seriously they're treating this friendly."
After Duan Xuan finished, his co-commentator Tao Wei added:
"Coach Liu has China set up to defend and counter. You can already see it from the starting shape. Kai and Fernando Kairui sit just ahead of the back line, offering protection. And Kai's passing range is crucial—he'll be looking to pick out Chen Man or Jia Zhenhua. Those two can push forward with pace and turn it into a quick counter."
"Kai is absolutely central to how this side functions."
"We'll be focusing on him a lot—both his defensive work and his distribution. And of course, we'll see whether he can carry his Premier League form into the national team."
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the referee started the match.
Japan kicked off.
Right away, Wang Yi and Chen Man surged forward, applying pressure inside Japan's half. It was an aggressive press—something the Chinese team historically struggled to execute in a coordinated way.
But since Kai's inclusion and the tactical adjustments that followed, the team's pressing game had clearly improved.
The moment Shinji Kagawa received the ball, Jia Zhenhua and Guo Liang closed in, trying to win it back immediately.
Kagawa glanced up, looking for a forward pass—then paused. Kai had already slid into the passing lane.
"Back!" someone shouted.
Kagawa didn't hesitate. He turned and laid it off.
Meanwhile, Kai drifted back toward the central lane, repeatedly checking over his shoulder to scan the pitch.
From kickoff, China had pressed aggressively, and Japan was clearly uncomfortable. They weren't expecting this level of front-foot pressure from a Chinese side that usually preferred a more conservative, Italian-style defensive structure.
Duan Xuan sounded genuinely surprised. "China is pressing high! Japan is moving the ball around, but look—every pass is being forced backward. The pressure is constant."
Chinese fans erupted in the stands.
Even though it was a warm-up match, the pace and intensity were far beyond what anyone expected.
"That's more like it! Keep squeezing them!"
"Hold the line!"
"Don't let them breathe!"
The historical rivalry between the two sides only added fuel to the crowd's emotions.
On the pitch, Kai kept observing. The moment Japan shifted into a deeper recycling pattern, his instincts kicked in.
This was the moment he'd been waiting for.
Under pressure, Japan's centre-back launched a long pass toward Shinji Kagawa.
Kagawa sprinted forward, judging the trajectory. He raised a foot, cushioning the ball beautifully—
—but before he could make his next move, a solid force slammed into his shoulder.
At 68 kilos, he had no chance of resisting Kai's frame. One decisive nudge sent him stumbling away from the ball.
Kai stepped in, hooked the ball with the tip of his boot, and used his hips to pivot, dragging a clean semicircle across the turf as he secured the interception.
"A steal straight out of the Maldini's playbook—beautifully done!"
Duan Xuan couldn't contain his excitement. "Barely minutes into the match, and Kai has already shown brilliant anticipation and defensive timing!"
Chinese fans roared in approval, chanting his name.
Kai steadied himself and lifted his head. With one smooth motion, he used the outside of his foot to sweep a diagonal pass forward.
Upfield, Chen Man feinted left, drawing Yuto Nagatomo with him, then abruptly cut back and burst straight ahead.
That single second of hesitation was all he needed. By the time Nagatomo recovered, all he could see was the name on Chen Man's jersey pulling away.
"Chen Man!"
"Go! Keep pushing!"
Chen Man's acceleration was frightening—people often joked he was really a sprinter who accidentally wandered into football.
Jokes aside, his explosive pace genuinely made him one of China's biggest threats on the flank.
This time was no exception. After receiving Kai's pass, Chen Man only needed one touch before he was already charging straight at Japan's centre-back.
Before Yuto Nagatomo could close him down, Chen Man whipped in a cross.
It wasn't the cleanest delivery, though, and Wang Yi overran it by half a step.
Even so, Wang Yi reacted instantly. He twisted mid-stride, leapt, and attempted a bicycle kick.
"Wang Yi! He goes for it!"
Duan Xuan's voice jumped an octave as he watched the ball sail toward the far corner.
It crashed off the post with a sharp clang and bounced back into the box.
Under pressure, Maya Yoshida didn't hesitate—he hooked the ball clear into touch.
Anything to stop the danger.
It was only a warm-up match, but that moment genuinely rattled the Japanese defence.
"Ay—so close!" Duan Xuan groaned with a helpless smile. "Wang Yi didn't quite finish it. That bicycle kick was… ambitious, but impressive."
Tao Wei chuckled, "Chen Man's cross was a bit wild. It flew right behind the Wang Yi."
"That it did," Duan Xuan replied with a grin.
On the pitch, Chen Man's face flushed red. He glanced down, tapping the toes of his boots as if the equipment was somehow responsible.
Kai wasn't having it.
"That pass was awful!"
Chen Man knew it was his mistake, but he still muttered back stubbornly, "Mind your own business!"
"Don't waste chances like that!"
Kai barked again.
Chen Man shrank his neck and swallowed whatever comeback he had left. He knew Kai was right—and he knew better than to provoke him.
He mumbled under his breath, frustrated, "It's just one bad pass… what's the big deal?"
Still, he understood deep down: he had to reset his mentality. With a cleaner pass, that could've been a goal.
Even though the attack didn't end in a finish, it electrified both commentators and fans.
This kind of instant counterattack—steal, transition, and shot within seconds—was something the old Chinese team rarely managed. Especially not against Japan.
But with Kai orchestrating the midfield, everything looked different.
As long as Kai won the ball—or anyone won it—Kai could immediately launch a deadly counter with a pinpoint pass.
"It's switched on!" Duan Xuan exclaimed. "Chen Man's pace, Wang Yi's instinct—this is how you activate their strengths! And Kai makes it all work!"
In the stands, fans erupted.
"Unreal!"
"That long pass was world-class!"
"A steal straight into a counter—this is football!"
"I've been telling you—Kai is the core! He's unbelievable!"
"He's a Premier League champion midfielder! What do you expect?"
"I want to see Kai connect with Wang Yi! Imagine the fireworks!"
The supporters' eyes burned with renewed hope.
As they watched Kai, Wang Yi, Chen Man, and the others…
They saw something they hadn't seen in years:
A future.
A team with rhythm, structure, and confidence.
...
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