Although he hadn't intentionally touched the ball, he did prevent Henry from heading in the high-quality cross a second later!
At this moment, all the fans from Tang Country held their breath.
After holding on for so long, they were going to concede because of a handball that wasn't even intentional?
Wu Dahai, furious and excited, went to argue with the referee on the field. The entire Tang Country team stood up and took a step forward.
However, the referee maintained a righteous demeanor, decisive and firm, pointing to his ear with one hand.
His meaning was clear: VAR had confirmed it, and they shouldn't argue further.
But in reality, it truly wasn't intentional. According to the rules, a handball in the penalty area, if not deliberate, might have some room for leniency.
Wu Dahai continuously pointed to his upper arm, indicating that the part that had collided with the ball was not his hand, but his upper arm – a spot difficult to control intentionally.
All the Tang Country fans watched with bated breath, but the referee remained unmoved, continuing to point to the penalty spot.
There was no other option!
Cao Baiming slapped his thigh in frustration.
Who could have predicted this? It was wrong to substitute him when they were only two goals ahead. Li Gang should see it clearly now!
It was going to go to extra time! This was what everyone in their hearts thought, not just a thought, but practically a certainty.
After all, during training, penalty kick conversion rates could easily reach over ninety percent, and for excellent penalty takers, even higher!
Now, the Fran team was only one goal behind, with only six minutes left until the end of the match!
If they scored, they would go into extra time. If they missed, it would be almost like wasting the best chance before the end of the match, essentially kicking the World Cup away with one shot.
This person would absolutely need extraordinary mental fortitude!
Who would it be?
Everyone's gaze turned to the field with concern. Players were already spreading out to create space in front of the goal, leaving the defensive responsibility entirely to the goalkeeper!
At this moment, a man emerged from the Fran team. He was completely bald!
The shiny, bald Zidane walked forward with an incredibly confident and steady stride!
Seeing him, the last shred of hope for the Tang Country fans vanished!
Zidane taking a penalty, what could possibly go wrong? He was too reliable!
He had scored a panenka penalty in the first half. To attempt another panenka in the final was an act of incredible courage!
Deschamps was also extremely nervous. He was now very glad that Zidane was his designated penalty taker, because if Mbappé had stepped up, he felt he might have had a heart attack.
Most of the Tang Country fans closed their eyes. No one could bear to watch the next moment; it required too much courage!
The fans knew full well what it meant to drag the game into extra time – simply put, the odds were stacked against them!
Even though the opponents were a man down, their stamina was much stronger than the Tang Country team's. In extra time, the competition would primarily hinge on two factors: stamina and mentality!
At this moment, Zidane was ready. He placed the ball steadily at his feet and looked towards the goalkeeper with a sharp gaze, making no attempt to avoid eye contact, actively seeking it!
The king's confidence needed no further explanation, and fear was non-existent.
At this moment, most of the crowd in the stadium had closed their eyes. Even Li Gang had turned away to compose himself. Cao Baiming sat steadily on the bench in the resting area, his brow furrowed, his gaze sharp as he watched the goal.
Upon the referee's signal, Zidane began his run-up!
The fans on the sidelines couldn't help but speculate about how the goalkeeper would face Zidane's penalty. This was, after all, the most crucial kick of the entire match!
Would he aim for the top corner, or a ground shot?
An upper corner shot might be too risky. With such a massive expenditure of energy at this point, even Zidane might not dare to take that risk?
If he missed, it would be over!
So, would it be to the left or to the right? Could it be the middle again, another panenka?!
Clearly impossible. Any fool would know that a panenka penalty could only be used once. Zidane using it again in the same final was excessive.
Time didn't allow for further deliberation. Zidane had already begun his move, and the answer would be revealed in an instant!
Run-up! Pause! Shot!
!!!
!!!
!!!
For a moment, time seemed to stand still!
"Another panenka!!!"
"Zidane used a panenka penalty again!!"
"???"
The entire world was stunned. No normal human would have expected him to attempt a panenka for the third time!
However!!!
Yan Junling had guessed it! The goalkeeper of Tang Country, his figure appeared remarkably imposing at this moment!
"Wooooooo!! The goalkeeper predicted the direction and easily caught the ball!!!"
"Zidane's embarrassing moment! A panenka penalty gone wrong!"
"Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!! Beautiful ahhhhhh!"
The entire Tang Country crowd erupted in cheers. Their screams seemed capable of lifting the stadium!
Although no one could comprehend how Yan Junling had predicted the panenka, they were deeply impressed!
Clearly, an extraordinary mentality had encountered an extraordinary person!
Cao Baiming smiled with satisfaction and embraced his teammates.
Now, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief!
My goalkeeper father saved the entire Tang Country team today! The hero today wasn't Cao Baiming!
Li Gang had been so cowardly that he hadn't even opened his eyes throughout the match, and he regretted it immensely!
But tears of excitement still flowed. This was too damn difficult! Too thrilling, too thrilling...
Zidane's dejected expression was remarkably similar to his walk off the field after being sent off in the 2006 World Cup.
Despite this, people would still choose to forgive him!
"There's still time! Don't lose heart, everyone!"
Henry shouted on the field!
At this moment, the psychological blow to the Fran players was fatal!
And the "time" that Henry spoke of was the remaining four minutes.
Even if they scored another goal, it would only be to equalize and force extra time!
No one had the mood for that anymore!
Seeing the state of the Fran team, Henry could do nothing. Zidane, who had previously been their leader and spokesperson, was now silent.
He was too ashamed to say anything further. He knew that his little panenka trick just now might be criticized for another decade!