Argentina secured their qualification with a comfortable 3-0 victory, thanks to Enzo Fernandez's goal and assist, and a penalty from Messi.
Tang Country's more anticipated match involving Portugal also concluded. Portugal brought on C Ronaldo as a substitute, ultimately winning 3-1 and successfully advancing to the quarterfinals.
The Tang Country team did not relax their training; the last two days were dedicated to more targeted practice and simulations for the upcoming match.
If they can defeat the Vatreni in this match, it would mean successfully advancing to the quarterfinals! This would also be the first time in history that the Tang Country team has reached the quarterfinals!
It is truly an unprecedented achievement. Their previous best result was being brutally defeated by opponents in the round of sixteen!
Now, everyone on the team is fighting hard and taking it very seriously. None of them wish for this great opportunity to be wasted again like last time. No one wants to experience that kind of惨状 again!
If successful, their quarter-final opponent would be Portugal, a team whose difficulty level would instantly double.
However, the most important and urgent matter right now is to play well in the next match. Other things can be discussed after they win.
Because from this point forward, every step is about creating history!
In the blink of an eye, it was game day.
Cao Baiming's physical condition had gradually returned to normal. His teammates didn't ask many questions, though they lamented the twenty body enhancement potions.
One could argue it wasn't entirely necessary, as his current physical strength was already enough to overwhelm almost all other players, and could even be elevated further within the penalty box.
Perhaps the potions were not needed after all!
The fans were eagerly awaiting the match, their hearts filled with excitement for a long time.
In the locker room, Li Gang was giving his final pre-game motivational speech. Cao Baiming, as captain, also rallied the team.
The players were in great form, ready to take the field!
The two teams knew very little about each other. The Tang Country team, from the perspective of any other team, was a highly mysterious entity; they had almost no information about any of the players.
Unless someone on the team played in the Tang Country league, allowing for some understanding of Tang Country's playstyle and certain players. However, at this stage, no such player was found who met the requirements.
Looking at the Tang Country team, aside from Cao Baiming and Wu Lei, no one else played in the top five leagues. Generally, there were few opportunities for them to play against each other. Furthermore, the Tang Country team rarely qualified for the World Cup.
For the Vatreni, their most informed player was Wu Lei. Even Cao Baiming had only played in the Premier League for one season, and his peculiar playing style would take at least half a year to decipher!
Time waits for no one; soon, the match would begin!
"Hello everyone, and welcome to the broadcast! We are bringing you the Round of 16 knockout stage of the World Cup, a clash between the Tang Country team and the Vatreni!"
"This is the first time in twenty years we've reached the World Cup Round of 16. Every Tang Country player on the field today carries honor and hope. Can they break their previous best record?"
"I believe they can. This Tang Country team has shown an unyielding and tenacious fighting spirit. And with the addition of Cao Baiming, their attacking explosiveness has been elevated to world-class level!"
"Although the Vatreni were the runners-up in the last World Cup, if we prepare thoroughly, we have a very good chance of winning this match!"
Hearing this, the fans felt much more reassured.
"Alright, the two teams are now undergoing their final pre-match ceremonies. The players from both sides are about to sing their national anthems!"
"This match... with the referee's whistle, the game has officially begun!"
Cheers erupted from the fans at the sidelines. Looking around, Tang Country fans were in the majority, most wearing bright red and with small national flags painted on their faces.
"The fans are exceptionally enthusiastic today. They came here today to witness history!"
On the field, Cao Baiming's eyes glinted. Stationed at defensive midfield, he was always ready to defend, yet his gaze constantly held a killer instinct. No one knew when he might suddenly launch a fatal attack.
"Other teams' matches are nowhere near as exciting as Tang Country's!"
"With Cao Baiming on the field, everyone else gets a bit more nervous!"
"Look at this chance for the Vatreni!"
Luka Modrić worked his magic on the right side of midfield, feinting past Wang Gang and Dai Weijin with two consecutive sideline passes before delivering the ball!
"A master of midfield, who won the Ballon d'Or in the era dominated by Messi and Ronaldo! Effortless and elegant!"
"The ball goes to the wing, Perišić has an opportunity! Dangerous!"
"He can cross or cut inside!"
"Perišić chose to go down the line, which he uses less often! He cuts inside after going down the line!"
"Tang Country's defense has tightly blocked his passing lanes, forcing him to go down the line. Cao Baiming is back too!"
"A shot from an almost zero-degree angle!"
"Fortunately!!"
The goalkeeper rushed out in time and averted the crisis.
The shot from almost a zero-degree angle did not faze him. He simply needed to spread himself to cover the tiny remaining space of the goal.
He successfully held onto the ball with his hands.
A glint of light flashed in Yan Junlin's eyes. In an instant, he made a decision to launch a quick counter-attack!
Cao Baiming was already running forward. This was evident to him. With such a good opportunity, if he had run and the ball wasn't delivered, it would have been the passer's fault.
That red lightning bolt appeared on the field once again, incredibly conspicuous from the perspective of the tens of thousands of spectators.
Two seconds later, the Vatreni realized something was wrong, seeing Cao Baiming already in position!
Their eyes widened, muscles tensed, and they desperately chased back!!
"When did he get there, damn it!"
"What the hell is going on! We can't catch up!!"
The Vatreni players ran, cursing, and before they could finish their expletives, the ball was in the net.
"A super chip shot from Cao Baiming's outside of his foot, the ball arcs an astonishing trajectory into the top corner!"
"You can't rely on the goalkeeper to defend against Cao Baiming!"
"Third minute of the match! Tang Country scores first! A brilliant fast-break goal, and the scorer is, as we know, that man! Cao Baiming!"