As the game continued, both teams began to focus more on defense.
In the dying moments of the first half, the combination between Mbappé and Henry successfully broke through the Argentine defense. For the first time, their teamwork made Argentina's defense seem so vulnerable! However, a lofted ball at the end squandered a golden opportunity. Mbappé's finishing, compared to Henry's, still left something to be desired.
In the second half, both sides made tactical adjustments. Mbappé, on the wing, repeatedly utilized his astonishing explosive speed to bypass defenders. France took the lead, completing their comeback! Griezmann's cross from the wing found Henry in the penalty area, and Henry then unleashed a first-time shot, a move often seen in club matches! The ball found the net again! It felt so effortless! Griezmann, by continuously creating chances, demonstrated to the world that his assisting and passing abilities were not far behind those of Messi!
Argentina equalized in the very last minute of the match! Another penalty inside the box! This time, it was substitute Álvarez who earned it with a burst of speed into the box during a quick counter-attack, creating a semi-one-on-one situation. The foul was committed by the superstar defender Koundé, and the referee seemed to be officiating fairly. Both sides were awarded a penalty! Argentina's final hope, naturally, rested on the person they trusted most, their captain, Messi! Messi calmly converted his penalty!
Cao Baiming was deeply engrossed, his emotions even stirred for a moment. However, since he already knew the outcome, he couldn't truly get excited. Messi's penalty was placed in the upper corner of the goal. The shot was powerful, and while not as elegant as Zidane's earlier strike, it was impossible for the goalkeeper to save. Despite Lloris guessing the right direction, his reaction speed was insufficient to push the ball away. Opting for the upper corner when taking a penalty is an extremely risky decision; without absolute technical skill, players wouldn't attempt it.
The two teams then went into extra time. Despite several brilliant exchanges, the score remained unchanged. Only at the end did Cao Baiming realize that the match had ended in a 2-2 draw in regulation time, leading to a penalty shootout. It was evident that Messi was beginning to show signs of fatigue; playing for over two hours continuously would be a struggle even for a young man in his prime with excellent physical condition. Moreover, he was already thirty-five years old.
The penalty shootout sequence then unfolded. Cao Baiming was eager to see who would miss the crucial penalty! As expected, Henry stepped up to take the first penalty for France and easily scored! Argentina sent Messi to take theirs. This time, his approach differed from his earlier shot; he cleverly faked out Lloris before calmly slotting the ball home! All subsequent penalties were converted until Argentina's final player stepped up. Cao Baiming already knew the result, and at that moment, he exited the video. His emotions were still surging, not yet subsided. He closed his eyes. "We must win the final match! It's the final!"
Just then, the team doctor, sitting in the passenger seat, spoke. "We're almost there."
"So soon?" Cao Baiming was surprised. Ambulances didn't have to wait for traffic lights; how convenient! The navigation showed twenty minutes remaining, but the initial estimate of one hour and forty minutes had been covered in just over half an hour. The rest shouldn't take too long. Soon, the ambulance entered a small town. The crowd thinned, but the architectural style became more luxurious. It seemed that while the area might not have many people, they were all very wealthy. Along the way, he saw many uniquely designed private villas, some as extravagant as five stories high, with a footprint of at least five hundred square meters! This didn't even include areas not visible from the road; perhaps their swimming pools alone were five hundred square meters!
After a few more minutes, Cao Baiming could see the outline of the hospital through the car window. Although he had never seen this hospital before, its complete image remained vivid in his mind, with every detail perfectly clear. The knowledge acquired through points had no boundaries, and ever since Cao Baiming realized this, his life had become increasingly comfortable. Due to prior contact, Cao Baiming, or rather the Tang National Football Club, was considered a rather important client, and their appointment was prioritized. This treatment was urgent, as the finals were only three days away, and they understood the seriousness of the situation.
Soon, the navigation system announced their arrival. They lifted Cao Baiming out of the ambulance. Although he knew he could walk independently, just not very fast, lying down was more comfortable, so he didn't object. Upon meeting the doctor, the team doctor and the hospital staff began exchanging information. The professional jargon they used was completely unintelligible to Cao Baiming's teammates and staff, but Cao Baiming understood it because he had recently crammed medical knowledge. As it was quite cheap, he had simply read all the medical literature from yesterday backward, of course, with the system's help. At this moment, no one in the world understood medicine better than him.
Listening to their conversation, Cao Baiming could barely contain himself. "Stop talking. Those are not my symptoms. Since there are no neurological issues, there's no need for examination."
"Don't you have a newly developed piece of equipment? I don't want surgery; just use that instrument on me!"
The doctors all looked at him with astonishment, frozen for a full three seconds. "How do you know about that? Are you also in the medical field? No, that was only published last month, and the first machine was only manufactured yesterday..." The doctors exchanged glances, unsure of what to say. The team doctor also fell silent. Cao Baiming had no choice but to explain his injury himself. The professional terms he used were even beyond the understanding of the medical doctors present; even the hospital's top expert could only grasp the general meaning.