Chapter 1 France, Île de Ré

Minyano asked, puzzled, "Boss, why are we still working on the midfield configuration of Li Kang, Busquets, and Iniesta?"

Since the friendly match training camp in Brazil, the Spanish coaching staff had insisted on putting the "Li-Busquets-Iniesta" combination in the same group for every daily scrimmage.

Del Bosque scratched the team emblem on his chest and smiled, "Mr. Cruyff's tactical system is the magic weapon to defeat the Germans."

1974 World Cup Final.

Netherlands vs. Germany.

"Total Football" vs. "Libero."

For many years after.

Cruyff used La Masia as an experimental base, constantly optimizing and improving the concept of Total Football.

Beckenbauer left a crucial key for future generations to counter Total Football: seize the moment of transition between offense and defense.

"Piqué, why are you daydreaming again!"

"I'm not daydreaming, I just want them to ask Messi how things are going at the Copa América."

Piqué waved his hand at De Gea, looking impatient.

At this time, the relationship between the Barcelona center-back and Messi was still very strong. In club matches, whenever Messi was fouled, he always rushed to defend him, and in public interviews, he said: Barcelona without Messi is like a child without a father.

In terms of strength alone, he was two levels higher than San José, and he had developed a tacit understanding with Ramos over the years.

But he had one shortcoming: he was prone to daydreaming.

During Barcelona's peak Dream Team era, Guardiola often pulled his ear for daydreaming.

There were even related rumors: Guardiola wanted to clean Piqué out many times, but was strongly opposed by Barcelona's management.

...

Messi, Fàbregas, and Piqué were all La Masia's Class of '87.

Among that batch of kids, only the three of them achieved the highest level of success in their professional careers.

According to early documentary interviews:

Piqué used to tease Messi a lot when they were kids, often bullying Messi to the point of breaking down and crying, calling it: increasing their relationship and helping him integrate into the team.

The collective bullying reasons between children were simple: foreign accent, introverted, shy, poor family, outdated clothes, a head shorter than his peers...

...

"Piqué, you go to Team B, San José you go to Team A!"

Minyano shouted loudly after receiving instructions.

Del Bosque grabbed the Bilbao star, "We don't need you to be the starting point of the attack like in the club, just pass the ball to Li."

Then he made a gesture to Team B, "Imitate Germany's cover formation, Piqué, you try to play the ball out like Boateng."

After a long time.

The scrimmage ended.

Team A, led by "Li-Busquets-Iniesta," defeated Team B, led by Cazorla, David Silva, and others, 2-0.

The first victory for the optimal midfield configuration.

Iniesta and Li Kang high-fived in celebration.

Busquets stood there, looking a little dazed.

Minyano asked, puzzled, "Boss, our defense and goalkeeper can't integrate into the tiki-taka system, this isn't Barcelona's way..."

Del Bosque said cheerfully, "Well, the German team will also wonder about this question."

Li Kang took the dry towel handed over by Isco and wiped his sweat.

He couldn't help but wonder: why can we still win when the midfield is disconnected from the backfield.

He kept replaying the details of the match in his mind from a God's-eye view.

Gradually, he seemed to understand something.

Del Bosque patted him heavily on the shoulder and said, "Don't think too much, the coaching staff will arrange everything before the match."

...

July 3rd.

Bordeaux International Airport, France.

Beckenbauer walked slowly out of the arrival gate, surrounded by a group of people.

The old man was radiant, tall and straight, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, his silver hair combed meticulously.

Flashes of magnesium lights kept flickering.

Reporters rushed forward like crazy.

Spittle flew.

Dense long guns and short cannons moved with the old man's steps.

"Mr. Beckenbauer, some people think the match between Spain and Germany is a battle between the top three in La Liga and Bayern. What do you think of this view?"

Beckenbauer stopped, raised his glasses, and smiled:

"I think the talent from North Rhine will be the protagonist of the match, he is the treasure of the Bundesliga."

"If he doesn't start, Spain will be defeated."

"As for the outcome, what you have to do is enjoy the football feast tonight."

"And me? I'm here to take a look at my younger self."

The reporters didn't react for a moment.

Talent from North Rhine, treasure of the Bundesliga?

Isn't that referring to the Spanish midfield core - Li Kang?

The Kaiser is praising his opponent!

...

After the Football Emperor left by car...

A scream rang out again from the crowd.

Everyone turned to look at the arrival gate.

The Saint of Football!

Cruyff!

The old man was emaciated.

Facing the camera, his face still had an arrogant look.

"This German team hasn't changed much from the 2014 World Cup winning lineup."

"They will push Spain to the brink."

"You will witness the dominance of the La Masia crown prince on the green field!"

"Without that red and blue jersey, the third-generation number 4 from La Masia can still dominate France!"

"Li, like me when I was young, can decide the game!"

The whole place was shocked.

The media reporters wrote furiously.

Only then did they realize:

The Spanish genius midfielder had actually received the unanimous recognition of the Football Emperor and the Saint of Football!

My God!

What level had his talent and brilliance on the green field reached!

......

Atlantic Stadium.

The weather was fine, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

The eyes of the world once again gathered on this elegant and beautiful white palace.

Thousands of fans gathered around the stadium.

Red and black-gold flags fluttered in the wind.

As if holding an incredibly grand ceremony.

"Ctv5! Ctv5! Good evening, friends of the audience!"

"Welcome to watch the 2016 European Cup 1/4 knockout match!"

"Spain vs. Germany!"

"A contest between two World Cup champions!"

"Another highly anticipated peak showdown!"

"I am the commentator for this match: Duan Xuan!"

"I am He Wei!"

Duan Xuan and He Wei were a little excited.

The previous battle between Spain and Italy could be said to have been affected by rain and the barren midfield of Italy, which made the tactical and technical content highly questioned by the outside world.

But Germany is different.

Except for the lack of a center forward, the other positions on the field are almost perfect.

The starting lineup is very close to the lineup that won the World Cup two years ago.

Li Kang will face a real test in his national team career!

....

"Next, I will introduce the starting lineups of both sides!"

"Spain's formation is 4-3-3!"

"Goalkeeper: De Gea!"

"Defenders: Carvajal, Ramos, San José, Juanfran!"

"Midfielders: Li Kang, Busquets, Iniesta!"

"Forwards: Cazorla, Koke, David Silva!"

Livestream.

The number of viewers is increasing.

The barrage is frantically scrolling.

-【Isn't this a 4-6-0 strikerless formation?】

-【The "Li-Busquets-Iniesta" combination? Holy crap! Spain is going to unleash a big move!】

-【Will the real big move be saved for France?】

-【Strange, if they want to play Barcelona's tiki-taka, why not use Alba and Piqué... and De Gea's ball-playing ability...】

-【De Gea's ball-playing success rate is as high as 74% at Manchester United, not bad, it's just that the outside world is used to comparing him with Neuer, Courtois, and others.】

-【The case is solved, it's not Barcelona's set, it's Spain's tiki-taka system from 2008, just missing a Senna.】

-【If only Diego Costa's foot skills could also embroider, Coach Del Bosque's coaching staff is really amazing, the list and formation they put out for each game are different.】

....

"On the German side, the formation is 4-2-3-1!"

"Goalkeeper: Ter Stegen!"

"Defenders: Kimmich, Boateng, Hummels, Hector!"

"Double defensive midfielders: Khedira, Schweinsteiger!"

"Attacking midfielders: Müller, Kroos, Draxler!"

"Forward: Götze."

-【Germany is also using a 4-6-0 strikerless formation!】

-【Kroos's position will definitely slowly move back. He is the most important core.】

-【Don't panic, Löw's substitution time is always in the second half, and there are also excellent forwards such as Podolski, Schürrle, Havertz, Sané, and Gómez on the bench.】

-【Without Neuer, will Germany's defensive problems be very serious?】

-【No, they all grew up in the same German youth training system, Ter Stegen and the defense will not have too much of a problem with their tacit understanding, what's missing is a center forward, Gómez is not comprehensive enough, his personal strength can't reach the level of Klose.】

-【To be honest, among the new generation of German goalkeepers, I think Karius is very good, Liverpool has a very good eye in this summer window.】