Chapter 122 "Color of Skin, Peace"

Li Kang didn't go anywhere else, returning home right on time.

Parties are exhausting. Given the choice, ninety-nine percent of people would quietly return home to rest after a day's work.

The system prompt sounded quietly.

[Ding, mission completed: Capture Anfield.]

[Mission receipt: You'll Never Walk Alone.]

[Mission reward: Liverpool Legend · Dark Gold Treasure Chest.]

A dazzling array of prizes radiated a blinding light.

[Dalglish "King" Module.]

[Ian Rush "Natural Goalscorer" Module.]

[Gerrard "Versatile Midfielder" Module.]

[ . ]

[Dark Gold Treasure Chest is opening... Congratulations on obtaining: Klopp "Counterattack" Module!]

The Dark Gold Treasure Chest, suspended in mid-air, emitted billowing smoke.

In a daze, Li Kang found himself in darkness.

Gradually, horizontal and vertical lines lit up on the ground, dividing it into 24 grids.

Countless golden grains of sand floated up in the grids, coalescing in the wind.

The grains of sand seemed to have their own names.

Reynolds, Michels, Cruyff, Guardiola, Vilanova.

Wenger.

Sacchi, Bielsa, Pochettino.

Simeone.

Klopp.

Foundation, structure, pillars.

An unfinished magnificent building, suspended above a chessboard viewed from God's perspective!

The next morning.

Li Kang and his little assistant arrived at Trafalgar Square to shoot the last PUMA World Cup advertisement.

"This square was built to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar."

"But few people remember its significance now. It's just a community center."

The filming hadn't started yet.

The director, Gulden, was introducing the history of the square to Reus and Rihanna.

Griezmann was nowhere to be seen. He was injured in the match against Espanyol a few days ago, and the Atlético Madrid star had been confirmed: unable to participate in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

A staff member wanted to throw the unfinished bread crusts to the pigeons nearby.

Lukaku stopped him loudly.

The little black egg reminded him, "You can't feed the birds here, it's illegal."

A long time ago, Trafalgar Square was nicknamed "Pigeon Square," with tens of thousands of pigeons pooping everywhere.

The filming was simple.

The citizens cooperated with the crew's clearing and evacuation activities, as the square was often used as a filming location for movies.

PUMA's final World Cup advertisement.

No passionate shouts.

No soccer.

Dozens of athletes from all over the world, of different skin colors, held up their respective portraits.

The advertisement's theme: "Color of Skin, Peace."

Close-up shots quickly swept across everyone's smiling faces.

The little assistant looked bewildered. "I didn't see any PUMA products?"

Gulden smiled. "Sometimes, not showing is the best way to show."

That night.

The advertisement blockbuster was released.

The number of likes, reposts, and comments skyrocketed.

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[What does this ad have to do with the World Cup?]

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[Li Kang standing in the front row center is the best World Cup ad.]

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[Who is the black female star standing next to him?]

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[Did you guys see another ad? That brand said if the French team wins, all "championship package" orders during the World Cup will be refunded!]

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[Isn't that just giving it away for free?]

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[Why the French team?]

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[Because soccer is a sport of eleven people. The French team has the most balanced lineup, the strongest combat power, and the most top players.]

Time flies.

Two days later.

The second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals arrived.

Simeone led Atlético Madrid to London.

Walking out of the arrival gate, the Atlético Madrid coach looked at the "old, weak, and disabled" behind him, his face solemn.

In the weekend's La Liga match, Atlético Madrid challenged Espanyol away from home. Facing the dirtiest team in Europe during this historical period, even if some positions in the Rojiblancos were rotated, it was still inevitable that they would suffer casualties.

Stamford Bridge Stadium.

A sea of people, every seat filled.

"Ctv5! Ctv5! Good evening, viewers."

"Welcome to the second leg of the 2017-18 Champions League quarter-final."

"Chelsea versus Atletico Madrid!"

"In the first leg, the Blues secured a narrow one-goal away victory."

"Advancement is still full of suspense."

"Can the Rojiblancos create a miracle at Stamford Bridge?"

Pre-match press conference.

Tuchel was concise.

"Chelsea will give their opponents the utmost respect."

Simeone was helpless in his heart, trying to maintain a firm tone.

"We are only one goal behind."

Players' tunnel.

Li Kang saw many unfamiliar faces.

Koke took the initiative to greet him with a bitter smile.

Morata was eager to try; without having to face Godín, this match would be his stage.

Bakayoko looked at the unfamiliar lineup, lowered his head and approached Kanté, whispering, "Which number did the boss tell me to keep an eye on?"

A moment later, the referee team led the players from both sides out of the tunnel.

Stamford Bridge, a magnificent display.

The fans had learned the starting lineups an hour before the match.

"Now, let's introduce the starting lineups for both sides."

"Chelsea is lining up in a 4-3-3 formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Buffon."

"Defenders: Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Rudiger, Marcos."

"Midfielders: Li Kang, Kanté, Bakayoko."

"Forwards: Willian, Morata, Pedro."

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[All Iron Men. Chelsea fought Liverpool to the death last weekend and can still field their full strength starting lineup.]

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[The bench is too deep. Having money really allows you to do whatever you want.]

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[There's no suspense that Liverpool will advance to the Champions League semi-finals.]

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[The gambling odds. Chelsea is giving up 2 goals tonight, that's too exaggerated! The first leg was still a draw!]

"Atletico Madrid is lining up in a 4-4-2 formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Moya."

"Defenders: Thomas, Savic, Giménez, Lucas."

"Midfielders: Koke, Augusto, Gaitán, Carrasco."

"Forwards: Gameiro, Correa."

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["World's Number One Goalkeeper" Oblak is also injured. He was kneed in the head by Espanyol's forward.]

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[Atletico Madrid is too miserable. They couldn't strengthen the team during the summer transfer window because of the transfer ban, and they couldn't buy suitable players during the winter window. It's a chain reaction, leading to a downturn.]

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[The strength of most of the players in Atletico Madrid's lineup is not bad, at least at the t2-t1 level, but their opponents Chelsea have a group of t0s.]

With the referee's whistle.

The match officially began.

The depleted Atletico Madrid was simply unable to execute Cholo-taka, and even the diamond cutting of the first leg was difficult to execute properly.

Simeone made timely adjustments, adopting a low defensive posture, looking for opportunities to counterattack.

Too miserable.

The audience was greatly disappointed: compared to the peak showdown in the first leg, the ultimate strangulation, isolated wings and center, creating blind spots, driving from the 14th zone, lurking on two lines, converting counterattacks, breaking the fourth point of the Krebs triangle rotation, the evolution of the backcourt ball-out system...

The depleted Atletico Madrid in the second leg was like a lamb to the slaughter.

Finally.

Beep! Beep beep~

The referee blew the whistle to end the match.

Chelsea advance to the Champions League semi-finals!!!

(End of this chapter)