Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
"Lance Makes World Cup Debut, Creates History! 1 Assist and 1 Goal Help Belgium Comeback to a Winning Start"
— Xinhua News Agency
"Scorpion Kick Assist + Stoppage Time Winner! Lance's 10-Minute God-like Performance Saves Belgium"
— Sports Weekly
"Belgium's 400 Million Euro Squad Nearly Crashes, Lance's Miracle Saves the Day with a Comeback Winner!"
— Sky Sports
"Bayer Leverkusen's Golden Boot Shines at the World Cup! Lance's Substitute Appearance with 1 Assist and 1 Goal Helps Belgium Comeback"
"Bundesliga Record Goal Scorer Crowns Himself on Debut: 1v4 Scorpion Kick Assist + 90th Minute Winner, Replicating Bayer Leverkusen's Miracle!"
— Munich Evening News
"LeTV Live: Lance's World Cup Debut Delivers a Miracle! 1 Assist and 1 Goal Earns Him Man of the Match"
"LeTV's Exclusive Footage Captures the Divine Scorpion Kick Pass, Chinese Genius Conquers Brazil's Estádio Mineirão in 10 Minutes, Named FIFA Official MVP as a Substitute!"
— LeTV
"Young Prodigy Saves the Day in 10 Minutes! Lance's Scorpion Kick Assist + Stoppage Time Winner Helps Belgium to a 2-1 Comeback"
— BBC Sport
"2014 Brazil World Cup Group Stage Round 1 Match Report: A thrilling match in Group H has just concluded. Belgium's 400 million euro squad was surprisingly suppressed by Algeria until the 86th minute, when 17-year-old substitute Lance came on and immediately delivered a bizarre scorpion kick assist to equalize, and then completed a fatal blow with a volley in stoppage time, setting new World Cup records for youngest goal and assist!"
"Before the match, public opinion favored the star-studded Belgium Team. This European Red Devils team maintained an undefeated record of 8 wins and 2 draws in the qualifiers, being one of the first teams from Europe to qualify. They scored 18 goals and conceded only 4, with the entire team in high spirits, hoping to achieve good results in this World Cup."
"Many superstars in the team, such as Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany, Moussa Dembélé, and Daniel Van Buyten, all play for top Premier League giants or strong teams. Compared to Belgium, Algeria was clearly the weaker side."
"However, throughout the match, Algeria maintained tenacious fighting spirit and impressive combat effectiveness. A penalty goal in the 24th minute allowed Algeria to maintain their lead, and through tenacious defense, they did not give the Belgium Team many opportunities."
"The star-studded Belgium Team held possession, but their coordination was rather chaotic, failing to pose much threat to Algeria's goal, and the 400 million euro squad found itself in a passive situation. Just as the Belgium Team was about to suffer an upset defeat in their opening match, 17-year-old Lance was entrusted with a critical mission, coming on as a substitute for only 10 minutes."
"Facts proved that Marc Wilmots's substitution adjustment was crucial, but also had shortcomings. He should have brought Lance on earlier! After Lance came on, he continued his miraculous performance from last season in the Bundesliga."
"At Bayer Leverkusen, Lance repeatedly played a crucial role in key battles, helping the team achieve come-from-behind victories. In this match, Lance also delivered a perfect performance, an 86th-minute scorpion kick assist for Eden Hazard's goal, and a calm volleyed winner in the last minute of stoppage time. Lance proved with his strength that World Cup performance has nothing to do with age! This rising star is still continuing his miraculous performance…"
After winning the first World Cup match, Lance was not overly happy. He had a tough time against Algeria, and next up were the stronger Russia Team, and South Korea.
Leaving aside the Russia Team for now, South Korea has performed very impressively in international competitions in recent years, they at least have a chance to reach the Round of 16, or even the Quarter-finals. Son Heung-min in the team is a Bayer Leverkusen teammate, under his leadership, he could pose a great threat to Belgium.
Currently, Belgium's qualification situation is not too stable, they need to go all out in the next two matches. After a short 1-day break, Marc Wilmots led the team to begin serious preparation and training again.
"Run!! Faster! Haven't you eaten?"
Coach Wilmots was very anxious. In the first match, if not for Lance's life-saving intervention, Belgium would have lost their opening match! The team's performance was not up to par.
He sternly reprimanded the team, hoping the players would put in more effort. However, it was clear that the Belgium players' faces showed pain, each of them looking exhausted as if they had stayed up for many days.
"Coach, can we rest for a bit, we really can't train anymore."
Captain Vincent Kompany was panting, even a strong man like him couldn't hold on, let alone the thin young player Adnan Januzaj, who was almost collapsing. Lance also found it difficult to persist, he just had enough willpower and gritted his teeth to hold on.
"Alright, 15 minutes of rest."
Hearing the coach's command, the Belgium players were relieved. After a season of exhaustion, it was supposed to be a good time for vacation, they had to travel across the ocean and expend their last bit of energy to participate in the World Cup.
The World Cup schedule is dense, which is a test of players' physical fitness and perseverance. Yet, the World Cup represents the highest honor in world football, players must face it with even more spirit than in the Bundesliga.
No wonder many players dominate in the Bundesliga but completely fall flat at the World Cup.
"Lance, why are you working so hard? If you keep pushing yourself like this, you'll make us look lazy."
Eden Hazard complained helplessly. He originally wanted to be lazy, but Lance pushed the intensity of all training sessions to the maximum, Hazard had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep going.
"Didn't we come to the World Cup to win? Besides, I have a reason why I must win the next match."
"I know, the opponent in the next match is your teammate, right? Son is indeed very strong…"
"Well… something like that."
[WARNING: Nationalism and Racism]
Lance thought for a moment, not knowing how to explain to Hazard. As a Chinese player, even though he hadn't played in the domestic environment, he had watched Chinese National Football Team matches with his father Lu Yongping since he was a child.
The peak Chinese National Football Team in 2002 played an attacking game against five-star Brazil. They lost 0-4, and the whole country was scolding them, but Lance felt they played quite well, at least much better than in so many years since.
He thought it was the beginning, but it turned out to be the peak. Mainly in that World Cup, South Korea's performance was understood by those who understood, Lance, from then on, greatly disliked the "sportsmanship" of his neighboring country.
So much so that at first, he really disliked Son Heung-min, but after daily training interactions, he felt that Brother Son himself was alright, temporarily dispelling his dislike. That was only for him personally, as for the next opponent, Lance still genuinely disliked them.
The Chinese National Football Team has "Korea-phobia," finding it difficult to defeat their opponent for so many years. As a Chinese, Lance felt it was necessary to teach them a lesson! In this match, he had a reason why he must win!
Brazil, Paraná State, Foz do Iguaçu. At the Pedro Bassu Training Base, all members of South Korea were in the media screening room, watching a review of their next opponent's match together.
On the projector, Lance was completing an absurd scorpion kick assist in the penalty area, leaving the South Korea players dumbfounded.
"Ugh—has he gotten stronger again?"
The most shocked was Son Heung-min. As a club teammate, he was very aware of Lance's ability. When the group draw results were announced, followed by the news of Lance joining Belgium, Son Heung-min couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart.
The most feared episode had appeared! He would rather face Portugal, rather face Argentina and play against Lionel Messi!
"Heung-min, you and Lance are teammates, what do you think of his true skill level? Is it really as hyped up as it seems?"
Ki Sung-yueng, a national player playing for Sunderland in the Premier League, was very curious, could a 17-year-old really be as legendary as the media claimed? In the field of football, Ki Sung-yueng inherently looked down on his neighbors, with a condescending attitude.
He found it hard to believe that a Chinese person could play football. But then he saw Son Heung-min, who had originally been smiling, now had a very serious expression.
"I advise you, it's best to take this person seriously. It's fine if he doesn't play, but if he does play, we will probably have a very difficult time!"