However, it wasn't as simple as he imagined.
If neither side wanted possession, then all tactics would be rendered useless; they couldn't just hand the ball to the referee.
For the French team, they had a psychological advantage, believing they were stronger and thus might be the first to break and attack.
But Desailly had already anticipated this. By scoring three goals in the absence of Cao Baming right at the start, they were no longer in a hurry. The opponent was certainly more anxious than he was.
The trailing side had no tactical initiative!
At this point, the Tang National team could only place all their hopes on Cao Baming, as there was little else they could do.
Unbeknownst to them, another ten minutes of the match had passed. Compared to the opening moments, neither side seemed to have a strong desire to attack. Instead, they were both waiting for counter-attacking opportunities.
This made the spectators less excited. They had initially hoped for a match with the most goals in football history, but now it seemed their expectations were too high.
Tactics on the football field were ever-changing, and both sides had become conservative.
But only the truly astute could understand that this conservatism wasn't genuine passivity, but rather a waiting game for a sudden burst of power that would catch the opponent completely off guard!
When the opportunity arose, it would be a fatal blow!
Some fans remained on edge, while others were visibly impatient.
"Why were they so fierce when trying to win the ball, only to stop attacking once they got it?"
"We're still behind, it's understandable for them to want to consolidate and play defensively, but we can't!"
"What's going on now? There haven't been any shots for a long time."
However, at this very moment, the situation on the field suddenly changed dramatically!
As expected, the first to seize the opportunity was none other than Cao Baming!
Seizing a moment of lapse in concentration from the opponent, even just for a second, Cao Baming unleashed a long-range shot with all his accumulated buffs!
This sudden strike caught not only the French goalkeeper Lloris off guard, but also the players on the field and the spectators in the stands.
The commentator was slow by three seconds before erupting.
"Goal! Goal! It's in!!"
"Cao Baming's surprise strike, a super long shot, a world-class goal!!"
The entire French team was bewildered, completely unaware of what had just happened. They hadn't even sensed Cao Baming's intention to shoot, and then, in the next moment, the ball was in the net!
"WTF???"
Even Mbappé could hardly believe his eyes.
"From about thirty-five meters from the goal, Cao Baming seized the opportunity and struck with a fatal blow!"
"In adversity, you can always count on Cao Baming! Being behind is not scary, Cao Baming will make his move!"
The Tang National team fans finally reacted, erupting in cheers and celebrations.
"Two to three!! The Tang National team has pulled one back again! We are moving forward!"
"Let us believe in miracles, believe in the Tang National players!"
For a moment, the stadium was about to explode!
The replay of Cao Baming's goal, captured by high-definition, high-frame-rate, high-precision motion-capture cameras, showcased Cao Baming's abilities to the fullest!
Despite appearing to be just an ordinary long-range shot, the body movements and gaze before the shot were incredibly deceptive, leaving one completely unsuspecting.
Furthermore, the ball's speed was so immense that even with the advanced cameras, only a blur could be seen!
As the ball approached the goal, the entire French team was fixated on Cao Baming's feet, not the ball!
Their reaction was a beat too slow! This included the experienced Lloris!
"There's nothing that can be done about this goal!"
Desailly conceded defeat.
...
At this moment, he realized the situation was not good and immediately made two substitutions.
These two players carried his second set of tactics, a strategy he had rarely considered using, only bringing it out when at a disadvantage.
However, in the current scenario, although they were still leading, they could no longer be considered in an advantageous position; in fact, they were somewhat at a disadvantage.
Cao Baming's individual ability was simply too monstrous!
As these two players entered the field, Li Gang's heart tightened.
These two defensive midfielders were known for their toughness and their "dirty" play, unafraid of receiving cards.
Could it be that the opponent intended to use a fouling strategy to restrict Cao Baming?
Cao Baming merely glanced sideways and saw the two players preparing to enter the field, immediately guessing their intentions.
He felt a slight ache in his left ankle, but with just the two of them, they were still far from being able to physically contend with him!
Instead, Cao Baming himself showed no signs of worry.
The first half reached the thirty-fifth minute. The fans were still anticipating goals. The French fans hoped their team, with their perfect combination play in the front, would score another goal to extend their lead, while the Tang National fans were praying for Cao Baming's brilliance to equalize the score.
"Just one more goal! Score, damn it!"
"Go Cao Baming! Go Tang National team!!!!!"
With only one step left to the championship, no one was willing to make a mistake at this juncture and be defeated here!
Although in the past ten-plus minutes, some of the younger French players' mentality had been affected, even becoming somewhat flustered, Zidane remained the most stable player for the French team.
His role as captain was for a reason.
The midfield maestro frequently orchestrated the rhythm of the French team, and at this moment, Cao Baming quietly retreated beside him.
This was Zizou, and Cao Baming knew that if he could contain him in the next few minutes, there shouldn't be many problems.
After all, whether it was Mbappé or Henry, with the current defensive formation, they would need Zidane's passes to create opportunities.
Cao Baming's judgment was always accurate.
As expected, in the subsequent moments, Zidane actively sought possession, attempting to organize the play. However, Cao Baming appeared beside him!
Even a top superstar like Zidane was somewhat wary of Cao Baming at this moment.
Facing Cao Baming's aggressive pressing, he was often unable to make the most correct decision immediately, despite the trust of his teammates and the fans.