The Belario Stadium in Porto Alegre—better known as Estádio Beira-Rio—sat quietly along the Guaíba River as a cool night breeze drifted in, sweeping away the day's lingering heat.
The temperature drop came as a relief to the Chinese players, helping calm at least some of the tension before kickoff.
Inside the stadium, the stands were filling rapidly.
Dutch fans.
Chinese fans.
Local Brazilian fans.
For the locals, the fact that Porto Alegre was hosting World Cup matches still felt surreal. Being able to watch the tournament in their own city was a privilege—and they weren't going to waste it.
The only disappointment, some felt, was that the matchup wasn't between two traditional powerhouses.
Yes, China had impressed everyone in the first round, but the consensus among neutrals remained unchanged: the Netherlands were still on a different planet.
Even many Chinese supporters admitted as much.
Still, that didn't dampen their enthusiasm. They sang, waved flags, and painted the night with red banners under the bright stadium lights. Cameras swept across the stands, catching cheers, whistles, and an electric atmosphere beneath it all—because this wasn't just another group match.
This was a battle for first place in Group B.
Both teams came in with one win from one match, three points each. The Netherlands sat atop the group only because of goal difference. In every other sense, the slate was level.
A fight for first place between China and the Netherlands at the World Cup. For Chinese fans, it sounded almost absurd… and yet unbelievably exciting.
Even if the odds were tiny, hope had already taken root.
Tonight, the stars in the stands were noticeably more numerous than in the previous match. Among them were well-known figures like Chen Yixun, along with several young celebrities looking to ride the wave of fan culture.
Most wore jerseys with the numbers 10, 7, or 4. The number 4 shirts—Kai's number—stood out everywhere.
After all, Kai had become China's biggest football star almost overnight.
...
Inside the Chinese Locker Room
Liu Hongbo stood in front of the whiteboard, still going over the final tactical details.
"The Dutch attack relies heavily on their wings," he said, tapping at the flanks on the diagram. "Their wide players link well with the central forwards. Set pieces are another major threat."
He paused before continuing.
"They're not particularly strong with short central combinations or long diagonal balls. Their real danger lies in the front three—Van Persie, Robben, and Sneijder."
He flicked to a new page.
"And from the first match, it's clear their counter-attacks are razor sharp. But that only works if they have space behind the opposition's back line."
Then he looked up, eyes sweeping across the room.
"So our job is simple. Compress that space. Don't let them break into open ground. We may not match them in total individual ability, but we can close them down collectively."
He raised his voice slightly.
"Do not leave gaps behind you. Understood?"
"Understood!" the players responded, their expressions tightening.
Liu Hongbo then turned toward Kai and Fernando Kairui, giving the two midfield anchors a moment of consideration.
"Kai and Fernando will lead the defensive organization," he said. "When we're pinned back, Kai takes command. When we counter, Fernando takes over."
Both nodded without hesitation.
"Good," Liu Hongbo said, clapping once. "We're fully prepared. Keep your heads. Don't rush. If we can survive their pressure long enough, they will make mistakes."
He looked at everyone again before adding, "Your job is to stop every attack, again and again. Once the pressure gets to them, once impatience kicks in, something will break. And then…"
He turned to Kai.
Kai responded, voice steady, "We seize that moment—and finish."
"Exactly." Liu Hongbo allowed himself a faint smile. "Alright. Stay calm, stay tight, no loose ends in the back. Let's go."
The team rose together and filed toward the tunnel.
...
In the Tunnel
China arrived first.
A minute later, the Dutch players emerged.
Kai glanced back and saw Van Persie and Robben taking up the rear. Van Persie gave him a subtle nod of acknowledgement. Robben, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes and flashed a cold grin that carried a hint of challenge.
Kai snorted under his breath.
Last season's Champions League still lingered in Robben's memory—Bayern knocked out by Arsenal, and Robben repeatedly shut down by Kai.
Of course, he wanted payback.
But wanting it and getting it were two very different things.
...
Commentary Booth
"This is the second round of Group B in the 2014 World Cup," Huang Jianxiang announced passionately. "Both China and the Netherlands won their opening matches. Tonight, they're fighting for the top spot!"
He had been waiting all week for this.
China's first-round victory over Chile had been exhilarating—controlling the rhythm, seizing momentum, and finishing decisively. Huang had nearly jumped out of his seat watching it from home. Now he finally had the chance to unleash that energy in the booth.
Huang Jianxiang was a man driven by emotion. His sharp tongue, dramatic calls, and bold reactions had thrilled countless fans—but had also landed him in trouble more than once.
Not that he cared.
To him, football was meant to be played and celebrated with raw passion.
And the Chinese national team? That was his team. No amount of praise would ever feel like too much.
"Both Group B and Group D are in complete chaos right now—especially Group B. After the Netherlands demolished Spain and China stunned Chile, every pre-match prediction has basically gone out the window!"
Zhang Lu nodded, adding in a thoughtful tone, "China's win over Chile was a pleasant surprise, no doubt. But it also made us a bit overly optimistic. Right now, the Netherlands stands alone at the top in Group B. How China approaches this match will determine everything."
Just as he finished, the starting lineups for both teams appeared on the stadium screen.
China (4-4-2):
Goalkeeper: Tong Lei
Defenders: Zhuo Yue, Gao Leiliang, Fernando Kairui, Guan Zhe
Midfielders: Che Jingdao, Kai, Guo Liang, Gong Peng
Forwards: Chen Man, Wang Yi
Netherlands (3-4-3):
Goalkeeper: Cillessen
Defenders: Indi, De Vrij, Vlaar
Midfielders: De Jong, De Guzman, Blind, Janmaat
Forwards: Van Persie (C), Sneijder, Robben
Seeing the lineups—especially the Dutch one—Huang Jianxiang exhaled lightly and said:
"The Netherlands is going with three at the back, pushing more resources into midfield and attack. Robben, Van Persie, Sneijder—this is a classic inverted triangle up front."
Zhang Lu agreed, adding with a small smile, "They're calling it a 3-4-3, but in practice it's much closer to a 3-2-2-1-2."
It was a setup born purely from an attacking mindset. This system demanded an unreal workload from the two wide players and the central midfield pairing. When two teams were evenly matched, almost no one dared to use this shape.
For a simple reason: if the opponent seized a single opening, the entire formation could collapse in seconds.
Yes, it provided overwhelming numbers in attack and relentless pressure up front.
But it was a double-edged sword—one mistake, and the defensive line would explode.
The fact that the Netherlands used it here made one thing painfully clear:
They didn't see China as a threat.
Every Chinese player felt the sting of that disrespect.
Yes, China and the Netherlands were far apart in strength.
But this blatant disregard?
This stung, but reality did not pity the weak.
Surprisingly, Kai's eyes lit up because he saw a chance.
...
Wow!!!
A sudden surge of noise swept through the stadium.
The players from both sides were walking out of the tunnel—the match was moments away.
The Chinese players wore stern expressions, fully locked in.
Across from them, the Dutch players strolled out lightly, almost casually.
"Watch out for Kai's press right from kickoff."
Van Persie leaned toward Sneijder with a quick reminder. Sneijder paused, nodded… but didn't seem particularly bothered.
Kai had a strong reputation for winning tackles, but Sneijder trusted his own technique.
OOF.
They never learn.
...
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