Chapter 1 October's Harvest

October is a season of harvest.

The Japanese Football Association, in addition to settling the relevant "performance fees," also specially presented many gifts: pears, persimmons, buckwheat noodles, sake, rice cookers...

Tokyo, a city with relatively low altitude, cannot yet deeply feel the autumn.

As soon as the Spanish players got off the bus, they took off their jackets one after another.

The hotel where they were staying was about twenty kilometers away from the Ajinomoto Stadium.

The lobby was dimly lit.

The hotel manager cautiously said, "In order to comply with European lighting flicker standards, we have specially turned off several large chandeliers."

Del Bosque nodded with satisfaction.

It must be said that the Japanese do a very good job in the details of serving people.

After checking in, the group passed through a gloomy courtyard, listening to the chirping of insects and the croaking of frogs, and arrived at their respective rooms.

"Li-san, our hotel has five seasons: spring cherry blossoms, early summer fireflies, summer coolness, autumn red leaves, winter camellias... Camellias are also known as mountain tea flowers! In two weeks, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of blooming flowers..."

Li Kang is not in the mood to look at flowers right now.

He must seize the time to adjust to the time difference.

[Ding! The "Environmental Adaptation" module is now in effect...]

The hotel waiter tactfully left.

Morata suddenly turned pale and dashed into his room to find the toilet, so hurried that he even left his luggage at the door...

Li Kang helped his teammate tidy up his luggage, closed the door, and stepped into his own room.

The system prompt sounded quietly.

[Ding! The "Turn the Tide" module has been triggered!]

[Ding, Arsenal teammate Morata has diarrhea. You have received a special module bonus: Composite Center Forward (Incomplete)!]

[This module cannot replace the template function and can take effect in any position in the lineup!]

[Additional trigger effect: Heading 88→95!]

[Duration: Until teammate recovers.]

Li Kang was stunned, quickly picked up his mobile phone, and sent a text message to the coaching staff about his teammate's diarrhea.

Diarrhea is a big problem.

In the history of football.

Many superstars have been embarrassed on the green field because of this.

English legend Gary Lineker once stood before tens of thousands of live spectators and millions of television viewers around the world...

'If you watch the game footage, you'll notice a clue... it was the 83rd minute of the game! Stevens came over and asked me what was wrong. I said I shit myself, but I didn't know what to do!'

'Thank God I was wearing dark blue shorts that day. I wiped the poop off like a dog rubbing himself on the grass.'

'Damn it, that was the World Cup!'

'Oh! Poor Stevens, he accidentally kissed that buttery grass after being knocked down at the end of the game!'

....

After Li Kang informed the coaching staff, he began to browse the unread social media messages:

Voller's Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Old Man Topp and Dino's warm greetings.

Brandt asking for help buying "specialties."

Havertz's selfie.

Messi's new Barcelona promotional video "Stars Shine at Camp Nou."

Buffon's investment plan...

For some reason, fewer and fewer girls are sending him messages.

Still some.

Scrolling down, he saw a long-lost avatar.

Asuka-chan.

Didn't we agree to break up?

The message content was just one punctuation mark: "."

Li Kang certainly didn't reply, just assuming the other party sent the wrong message.

Perhaps affected by the Environmental Adaptation module, he fell asleep soon after lying on the bed.

...

Two days later.

Ajinomoto Stadium.

50,000 tickets were sold out early.

Three-legged crow feather flags, banners, scarves... decorated the J-League home stadium into a deep blue ocean.

Drums were set up in the stands, buzzing with various strange sounds.

The paper strength of the Japanese team in this historical period is a bit weird.

They defeated Sam Allardyce's Three Lions in Dubai last month!

Who is Sam Allardyce?

The strongest relegation coach in the Premier League!

Never relegated in his 20-year coaching career - creating a myth!

However, he was dismissed after coaching the England national team for 67 days.

North stand.

A pretty girl asked curiously, "Asuka-chan, Li-san didn't reply to your message?"

After receiving a negative answer.

She began to comfort her companion: "Don't be sad, Li-san is destined to become a football superstar. Hesitant feelings will only interfere with his career. You are also in a period of rising career...

"Why don't you give me his contact information... I can give up my acting career!"

...

Pre-match press conference.

Del Bosque showed a "solemn" expression.

"Japanese football is in a period of rapid development!"

"They have many core players who have a foothold in the top five league giants. I look forward to their performance in the World Cup two years later!"

"This is a difficult game!"

Applause thundered.

The Japanese media reporters at the scene couldn't help but feel excited.

This is recognition from a world-famous coach.

Japanese coach Vahid Halilhodžić was not fooled.

He had been on the verge of being fired several times in the past few months, but fortunately, the opponents in the qualifiers were too weak, allowing him to forcibly extend his life.

Now a great opportunity is in front of him.

As long as they defeat this European champion...

....

Dirges sounded from the stadium loudspeakers.

The Japanese players looked solemn, chanting strange syllables.

"ESPN! ESPN! Good evening, viewers!"

"We are now broadcasting an international friendly match."

"Japan versus Spain!"

"The lineup value of the two teams is comparable to that of the top five leagues!"

"Now let me introduce the starting lineups of both sides!"

"The formation of the Japanese team is 4-3-3!"

"Goalkeeper: Eiji Kawashima!"

"Defenders: Hiroki Sakai, Maya Yoshida, Gotoku Sakai, Yuto Nagatomo!"

"Midfielders: Makoto Hasebe, Shinji Kagawa, Keisuke Honda!"

"Forwards: Yuya Osako, Shinji Okazaki, Takashi Usami!"

...

Livestream.

-[The Japanese are treating the friendly match like a life-or-death battle! All Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Premier League, Serie A players...]

-[Why is the theme song of *Captain Tsubasa* being played on the radio?]

-[They think Keisuke Honda's growth path is very similar to Tsubasa Oozora.]

-[This all-European main force can defeat the Three Lions, but it's not enough to beat Spain.]

-[I'm optimistic about 0:6!]

...

"The Spanish team's formation is 4-2-3-1!"

"Goalkeeper: David de Gea."

"Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba!"

"Double defensive midfielders: Javi Martinez, Roberto Soriano!"

"Attacking midfielders: Isco, Marco Asensio, Thiago!"

"Forward: Lucas Vázquez!"

Livestream.

The barrage exploded.

-[Li Mingdeng and Morata aren't playing? What's going on?]

-[Morata is injured.]

-[Where is Cazorla? Diego Costa, David Silva?]

-[The Premier League itself is multi-line combat, they can't withstand the fatigue of the national team's travel.]

-[Don't panic, there is absolutely no problem with this defense. Even if Pique is distracted, Ramos can defeat the opposing forward line alone!]

-[The Japanese can score two goals against the Three Lions. This game is uncertain...]

-[If the Japanese team can defeat Germany or Spain in my lifetime, I'll eat shit just because they got lucky and won a game!]

-[Could it be that the Japanese Football Association didn't pay enough appearance fees?]

...

Li Kang sat on the bench.

The fans in the nearby stands were frantically shouting his name.

The system prompts always manage to isolate all the noise.

[Ding, mission triggered: Blue Samurai Nightmare!]

[Mission introduction: The branch Boss in the novice village is showing his true strength! They have the strength to overturn the Matador battleship in the midst of the changing of the guard!]

[Mission reward: ???]

It must be a bond item again.

Last year's reward was a turtle... tied with a red rope!

In international friendly matches, system rewards are always linked to the opponent's style.

...

With the referee's whistle.

The game officially started.

Ajinomoto Stadium immediately erupted with a tsunami of chattering.

Spain has possession.

Vázquez passes the ball back to Thiago.

This young player from the Castilla youth training camp is also deeply loved by Zidane and is a stable substitute forward under Real Madrid's BBC.

He once created an interesting record: the most fouled player in a single La Liga season.

...

The tactics shown by the Japanese team are very "cautious."

They did not press aggressively, but instead gave up possession and the forty-meter area of their own half.

Spain firmly controlled the rhythm.

Thiago, as the core of the midfield, organized the advance in an orderly manner.

He is also "Xavi's successor."

His foot skills are very delicate, but his current style of play is more suitable for Bayern Munich.

Frequent vertical passes... made Alba and Vázquez a little uncomfortable, after all, their characteristics are not related to Alaba and Lewandowski!

Advance to the thirty-meter area.

The Japanese seemed to have gone berserk and began a frantic press.

Fortunately, their competitive attitude was also very "friendly," and there were no major defensive moves in the scramble.

Time passed quickly.

The intense situation made the audience a little breathless.

How should I put it?

Spain is very strong, but the control seems to have decreased a little bit!

"Halilhodžić's Japanese team is very willing to put down their posture and play counterattacks when facing strong enemies!"

"Hey!"

"Thiago and Asensio didn't think the same way!"

"This ball is lost!"

"Counterattack from the Japanese team!"

...

After Hiroki Sakai intercepted the ball, he sent a super long-distance diagonal pass.

Finding Shinji Kagawa in the middle.

"A midfielder from Borussia Dortmund!"

"He was shortlisted for the Bundesliga's Best XI last season."

"Very slow!"

"Very thin."

"But the passing ability while running is too strong!"

"His current girlfriend is not Ami Tokito, but Margaret Natsuki. The two met on a variety show... Look at this ball!"

Pa!

Before Soriano could steal the ball, Shinji Kagawa sent a through ball!

The poor Villarreal captain didn't react at all.

"Local engagement!"

"Dortmund defeated Villarreal!"

The camera moved rapidly along the trajectory of the football.

Ajinomoto Stadium, the drums are thundering.

Tens of thousands of Japanese fans cheered in unison, they saw the hope of taking the lead!

...

Landing point.

Shinji Okazaki, in a state of sprinting, gently tapped the ball with his head.

What happened to Spain's defense?

Where are the defenders?

"Oh dear!"

"Martinez's retreat occupied Pique's defensive space!"

"The two of them ran into each other and almost collided!"

"The Bayern midfielder and the Barcelona defender still need to work together!"

"Shinji Okazaki! Straight to the heart!"

...

Bang!

The Leicester City forward fired a shot!

The football howled into the arms of the Manchester United goalkeeper.

"How dangerous!"

"De Gea's positioning is too good! Easily resolved the Japanese team's fatal blow!"

"From the replay... if Shinji Okazaki passes the ball to Keisuke Honda who has run out of space, the result may be different."

"He turned his head and gave his teammate a thumbs up..."

"The Spanish team has to be careful, the Japanese team's offensive cannot be underestimated!"

"The fans at the scene are also enthusiastic about this shot!"

...

Livestream.

Barrage flying.

-[No way? Why is the Spanish team sleepwalking collectively?]

-[It's funny, it would be too embarrassing to really lose to the Japanese!]

-[This story tells us that Bayern midfielders and Barcelona defenders are incompatible, and Bayern midfielders and Real Madrid forwards are incompatible.]

-[Of course, the tactical concepts of the three giants are different. Martinez and Thiago's strength is at the European t0.5 level, very strong, but they still need time to integrate with the national team!]

-[The problem left to Del Bosque is: how to arrange the lineup of the national team during the changing of the guard? It doesn't mean that a group of superstars can win!]

...

Sideline.

Vahid Halilhodžić clapped excitedly, cheering loudly for the players on the field.

He has always been criticized by Japanese fans: "Giving up passing and control, giving up beautiful football! The scene is getting uglier and uglier!"

What can I do?

If you want to win the strong with the weak, how can it be beautiful?

Even if there is a Space Wing in the team, it is impossible to maintain the stability of passing and control in front of European powerhouses!

On the other side.

Minyano paced back and forth anxiously.

The strength of the Japanese team seems to have exceeded the cognitive level of this physical coach.

"Boss, the problems in the training match have emerged again!"

"I'm not denying Martinez... he is the strongest all-around midfielder in Europe, but his defensive attitude is too aggressive, and it is easy to occupy the space of Pique and Ramos!"

"And Vázquez... he is being targeted and can't receive the ball!"

His idea is understandable.

If this game is lost... who knows what kind of criticism will be suffered when returning to the Iberian Peninsula? *Marca* and other media will not hold back: Snow White and a group of goblins... similar articles will definitely spring up like bamboo shoots after a rain.

Del Bosque patted him on the shoulder lightly, his expression very calm.

"Don't panic."

"This Japanese team is very suitable for us to integrate the lineup."

"We have survived the scolding of the 2014 World Cup, let alone a friendly match!"

"Besides, we won't lose that easily!"

...

Bench.

Morata's lips were white and his face was pale.

Acclimatization, an old problem.

He had diarrhea when he first came to Tokyo.

[Ding, teammate Morata's injury has worsened.]

[The "Composite Center Forward" incomplete module has been upgraded to complete!]

[Heading: 99→???]