The World Cup finals are about to begin!
The two teams returned to their locker rooms one by one, and after some time, emerged again and headed towards the center of the field.
Naturally, this was accompanied by the collective shouts and cheers of over a hundred thousand spectators and fans in the stadium! The momentum was unstoppable!
The pre-match ceremony was still the national anthem segment. This time, however, many Tang Guo players shed tears. These were not tears of sadness, nor of being moved, but tears of happiness and excitement!
But at the same time, it was evident that the French players standing on the other side were also full of emotion. They might not be on the finals stage for the first time, but each time, they were still one hundred percent excited.
Henry and Zidane, as the two true gods of the French team, needed to act as leaders. As for Mbappé, the current top sprinter in football, his task was simple: to completely dominate one flank.
"Friends, viewers, the World Cup final we have long awaited is finally about to kick off!"
"This match is between Tang Guo and France. One is the dark horse of this World Cup, a team that was the least expected to reach the finals, having successively defeated the seemingly unstoppable Croatian and Samba legions, constantly refreshing external perceptions. The other is France, the reigning champions, whose overall strength has been elevated by two levels with the addition of Zidane and Henry!"
"Will Tang Guo continue their Cinderella run and march ahead victoriously, or will France, with their superior overall strength and experience, clinch the victory? We await with bated breath!"
The players on the field had already found their positions and were ready. The fans were cheering wildly from the sidelines.
No matter who it was, this was a battle of desperation!
There was no one who wouldn't take this match seriously. This was the World Cup final, and if one didn't take this match seriously, then there was likely nothing else worth taking seriously.
According to the original plan, Cao Baming was placed on the substitute bench.
This had not been anticipated by Deschamps. It seemed that the news previously reported about the Tang Guo team was not false; Cao Baming was indeed playing with an injury.
At this very moment, the French team had fielded almost their entire best lineup, with Mbappé, Henry, and Zidane all on the field!
Conversely, Li Gang's brows were tightly furrowed. He wanted to project an image of confidence and preparedness, but he found it incredibly difficult now; he couldn't do it.
The most crucial player for Tang Guo, Cao Baming, was sitting on the bench. The camera continuously zoomed in on his face, its intention clear!
The referee's whistle blew, and the match began.
From the outset, the French team unleashed an extremely strong pressing game, pushing forward with overwhelming momentum, seemingly aiming to finish the battle within ten minutes!
Deschamps wore a confident expression, as if without a trace of worry. He exposed the weaknesses in his defense, daring them to attack.
The result was as he had expected. Despite the team pushing forward aggressively from the start, Tang Guo couldn't even manage a single counter-attack opportunity and was instead put through immense pressure.
Just one minute and fifty-one seconds into the match, Mbappé outplayed Wang Gang on the flank, cut inside, and shot directly into the net!!
"One-nil! France takes the lead!"
After scoring, Mbappé displayed a look of disdain on his face, his gestures and expression seeming to say, "This is too boring!"
"Even with twice the speed, you wouldn't be able to catch me!"
And in fact, it was more than just that.
The excitement on the faces of the Tang Guo fans was completely extinguished by this early blow. Their smiles gradually faded, and the stadium fell considerably quieter!
However, just thirty seconds later, Upamecano's diagonal pass from his own half found Mbappé on the flank again.
This time, he was even more confident. As he received the ball, he deliberately stopped it ten meters away, then immediately accelerated, and in an instant, he was so far ahead that he was completely uncatchable.
He successfully received the ball at the byline and delivered a cross!
Henry met it with a header! It went slightly wide!
France's momentum surged immediately!
The Tang Guo coaching staff grew increasingly anxious. The situation on the field, even without much football knowledge, was clear: it was like a moth to a flame.
On one side was a raging beast, and on the other, a moth!
They were essentially defenseless!
While the Tang Guo team was discussing the match, France seized another opportunity. Pavard even ventured into the penalty area and took a shot, which was blocked by a defender.
Mbappé, with incredible luck, appeared near the second ball and unleashed a low volley shot!
The ball went in again!
There was no time to react!
The Tang Guo coaching staff were now completely despairing, and the fans were even more so.
They shouted Cao Baming's name, hoping he could step up and save the team!
But Li Gang's original plan was to bring him on at least thirty minutes later!
The current situation had far exceeded his expectations. It had only been four and a half minutes. If they waited until thirty minutes, they would have conceded more than ten goals!
It was over! Hesitation leads to defeat!!
Li Gang couldn't wait any longer. Ignoring the objections of the coaching staff and medical team behind him, he made the decision himself.
"Cao Baming, go warm up!"
At this moment, Cao Baming's eyes lit up. He quickly rose from his seat on the bench, nodded lightly, and then sprinted towards the warm-up area by the sideline.
He was the only player warming up this time!
Attentive fans by the sideline noticed this and quickly let out screams. The entire stadium's cheers erupted like firecrackers, quickly resonating throughout the venue!
Trailing by two goals to nil, the Tang Guo fans experienced a brief surge of excitement!
However, at this moment! Suddenly, Zidane unleashed a thunderous shot from midfield, silencing the Tang Guo fans!
"Goal!! Ahhhhhh, it's a goal!"
"Zidane! A spectacular long-range goal!"
"France is now leading three-nil!!!"
The fans were bewildered. Where had they ever seen a World Cup final like this? Three-nil in just seven minutes, was this real?!
Cao Baming, while warming up, heard the commotion.
"Damn, this is really frustrating! This is getting difficult!"
"Don't let it get to ten-nil by the time I can come on!"
Everyone could see the helplessness and exasperation on his face, and the fans were feeling the same way at this moment!
"We're being utterly dominated!"
After scoring, Mbappé and even Zidane began celebrating their goals on the field. For some reason, besides their coolness, it mostly felt like mockery to the Tang Guo fans!