A few minutes later.

During a dead-ball situation.

Li Kang looked towards Croatia's backfield.

In God's-eye view, countless red lines spread wildly.

It had been a long, long time since he had dissected an opponent's defense in a national team match.

Because he usually didn't need to.

What way could he use his 'existing resources' to directly break through Croatia's midfield barrier?

On the other side.

Modrić was also looking at Spain's central defenders.

He and Li Kang were thinking about the same thing.

78th minute of the match.

"Piqué's long pass is a mistake."

"Mandžukić's pressure worked."

"The Barça center-back delivered a dangerous ball."

Near the center circle, Li Kang was preparing to lift his foot to control the ball.

In an instant.

The red lines in God's-eye view crazily entangled Croatia's midfield structure.

No answer.

But the problem-solving approach became clearer.

Rakitić quickly approached.

David Silva, sensing the danger, stepped forward to support.

Modrić slammed his cleats into the turf, instantly accelerating and changing direction, preparing to stretch his foot to intercept the short passing connection between the two Spanish midfielders.

A flawless strangulation preemptive move.

Too bad.

If he were as slow to react and as stupid as Çalhanoğlu, Croatia might have successfully prevented their opponent's transition attack.

The next moment.

St. Petersburg erupted in applause.

Li Kang's movement tendency was to control the ball and pass it to David Silva.

The instant the ball hit the ground.

A touch with the outside of his left foot.

The trajectory deviated.

The local space where David Silva and Modrić were about to gamble was completely invalidated.

The approaching Rakitić was also blocked from view by Li Kang's body.

Li Kang just turned around like that and started dribbling explosively.

"So imaginative."

"The unpredictable stop, the deviated trajectory, instantly resolved the midfield strangulation and entanglement that was about to unfold."

"Maestro!"

"A true maestro!"

"This also reflects the huge advantage manifested by the control radius and ankle strength."

"Looking at the top five European leagues, only Pogba and Li Kang possess this top-tier talent."

"Modrić and Rakitić are going all out to chase back."

"Li Kang accelerates towards the left wing!"

Intermittent high-intensity and sustained high-intensity place different demands on a player's physical energy.

The entire Croatian team quickly fell back to defend.

The reason Li Kang went to the wing was because his midfield teammates couldn't keep up for the moment.

Facing Croatia's five-man trapezoidal defensive line retreating.

Morata used every ounce of strength he had to sprint on the right wing.

As if telepathically connected.

In the vision of the reverse-footed marksman, a golden, brilliant curly-haired phantom continuously emerged.

Two against five.

Although he often misses open goals, there is no defense on this planet that would make Morata feel fear.

Stronger when facing the strong.

"Spain's attacking opportunity is a bit slim, Croatia is too desperate, and the coordinated retreat of the overall defensive line is also done perfectly."

"The other teammates can't keep up with Li Kang's rhythm for the time being."

"Lovren looked back to observe Morata's run."

"Li Kang dribbles the ball to the left side of the penalty area, with two Croatian defenders beside him, and he continues to dribble towards the baseline."

"Morata accelerates again, cutting diagonally into the center!"

"Lovren spotted it, quickly adjusted his defensive direction, and sealed the near post."

"Vida also cut off the connection between Li Kang and Morata."

"No chance..."

"Wow!"

"Morata plants his foot and runs to the far post!"

"It's too late for Lovren to look back at this time!"

"Or is Morata just seizing the opportunity of Lovren's look back?"

Morata appeared in the most perfect far post position at the most perfect time.

Li Kang delivered a cross with a curved trajectory amidst the close-quarters wrestling of three Eastern European giants.

The bizarre micro-arc trajectory made the Croatian goalkeeper, Subašić, unable to resist.

Far post.

Morata gently raised his foot.

The ball hit the post and rolled into the net.

The emotions of all the spectators took a roller coaster ride at the last moment.

Del Bosque also finally let go of his chubby hand that had been covering his chest at this time.

2:0!!!

Morata excitedly punched the air in celebration, then rushed towards Li Kang and hugged him tightly: "Li, I knew you would pass the ball over!"

The assist and finish between the two finally returned to normal.

"Legendary connection!"

"Another goal!"

"Li Kang and Morata's collaboration created this goal!"

"One breaks out of space."

"One runs to the finishing point."

"The Croatian legion's defense is like a thin sheet of paper in the face of the two's sharp blades."

"The launch of this attack, uh, was orchestrated by Piqué!"

"The Matador fleet has already stepped into the World Cup final stage with one foot; the time left for the Croatians is running out."

Livestream.

The big screen replayed the entire goal process.

-

[Damn, Piqué has done a great job! His blind long pass allowed Li Mingdeng to use the outside of his foot to stop the ball and deceive Modrić and Rakitić!]

-

[The trajectory of the ball stopping and unloading the force was so magical, directly allowing Spain's advance to skip a layer of "strangulation and entanglement." I witnessed a 20-year-old midfield master with my own eyes.]

-

[Putting aside the brain, in terms of control radius and ankle strength alone, Li Kang and Pogba are in a league of their own in history.]

-

[If Pogba were here, he would constantly compete and entangle with Modrić, and could play 14 positional games in a match...]

-

[Croatia's midfield and frontcourt strength is very strong, but the defense is still average, and the defensive flaws all rely on the midfield's running to make up for it. Spain finally seized an opportunity to tear apart their midfield barrier.]

-

[I thought De Bruyne kicked that curling diagonal pass.]

-

[Morata's running position is really magical, the speed is also fast, and the awareness of reading the defense is also super awesome. If he improves his shooting skills properly...]

Sideline.

Del Bosque finally started celebrating.

Miñano shouted, "The final, the stage of the final is waiting for us!"

On the other side.

Dalić reviewed the process of the goal they just conceded and couldn't help but be stunned.

No mistake.

His players didn't make any mistakes, and all the defensive tendencies were very reasonable.

It's just that the opposing number 6 midfielder is too strong...

Modrić looked up at the LED scoreboard in mid-air.

He didn't lose heart.

The Croatians regained their passionate fighting spirit.

These players who have experienced the baptism of war may possess the most tenacious souls on the World Cup stage.

The match resumed.

The Croatian legion launched a more concise blitz.

Even if they were two goals behind, even if there was very little time left, they would use their last strength to rewrite the ending.

The Spanish defense was crumbling.

Apart from Li Kang and the substitutes Saúl and Koke, the other Matador players had already been tormented to "shed their skin" in the high-intensity match.

Deformed movements.

Inconsistent offensive and defensive thinking.

At this moment in St. Petersburg Stadium, some people felt that time was passing very slowly, while others felt that time was passing very quickly.

The final moment of the match.

Modrić resolved Spain's attack in his own half.

The counter-attacking long pass he orchestrated had not yet flown over the center circle.

Like a butterfly that can't fly over the ocean.

The referee's final whistle had already sounded.

In an instant.

Two kinds of emotions spread wildly in the sky above St. Petersburg.

(End of this chapter)