Mbappé also fell silent...
He no longer had the strength to be angry. With Cao Baming no longer on the field, any desire he had to prove himself was meaningless.
As for the remaining time, they just wished for it to end quickly.
Under Wu Dahai's command, the Tangguo team players were organized and efficient. As soon as they got the ball, they immediately kicked it to the opposing team and retreated to their own half to set up a blockade.
The opponent couldn't break through their defensive formation!
As long as there were no more unexpected incidents like the one just now, they would be fine!
"Brothers! Keep it up, endure these last four minutes, victory is ours!"
"Victory belongs to the Tangguo team!!"
"Bring the World Cup home!!!"
...
Cao Baming watched from the sidelines, his heart filled with emotion, tears welling up in his eyes.
It seemed he had underestimated his teammates. They could truly handle things on their own. Perhaps, they really could!
At that moment, the Tangguo fans in the stadium began to sing a song of victory, their voices growing louder and louder, awaiting the final moment.
In the last moments, even a casual shot from the opponent would make everyone, whether at the stadium or watching on screen miles away, gasp and hold their breath, their hearts in their mouths!
Mbappé collected the ball and immediately cut inside. He fell in the penalty area, throwing his hands up. The referee didn't react, then issued a yellow card.
The referee clearly felt that this dive was too disrespectful of the referee's intelligence.
Then Danilo took a long shot, which was blocked by Wu Lei's left leg.
He could only be thankful that the shot didn't have even half the power of Cao Baming's, otherwise his left leg would surely have been broken.
Zidane, under immense pressure, continued to act as an organizer. Seeing his teammates getting anxious, he used his mind to calm the team, but he himself became silent.
At this moment, even though Zidane remained silent, he was still directing the entire team with his body and his feet, trying to maintain his teammates' morale.
After all, he was the one under the greatest pressure! Many in the crowd were already booing, and it was easy to guess who the boos were for.
It was because of that penalty just now!
Time had unknowingly ticked down to the final two minutes.
Zidane withstood the pressure, sorted out the rhythm, and proactively created an opportunity, sending a through ball!
The captain had done more than enough at this point; he had done everything that was expected of him and even more.
Although this through ball successfully penetrated two defensive lines, the Tangguo team's defense at this moment was a dense formation of four lines.
Griezmann received the ball, and in a small area, he and Kounde exchanged a pass to get past the third defensive line, but his final pass to the great Henry was intercepted.
It was extremely difficult!
Time, however, was unforgiving, flowing by second by second, neither speeding up nor slowing down!
"Only one minute left! If the Tangguo team can hold on, victory will be theirs!"
The commentator's voice grew increasingly excited, and it was clear he was crying at this moment!
The fans began to cheer ecstatically, singing the song of victory, paving the way for the final championship!
At this moment, some might have waited for decades!
They had never even imagined that they would live to see the Tangguo team win the World Cup!
Had this love, this persistence, and this unwavering support finally received its ultimate reward?
Cao Baming was already beginning to rejoice. In his eyes, the World Cup was already in the bag, and the World Cup Grand Prize promised by the system would also arrive!
There had been no mission rewards throughout the World Cup because the grand prize would be awarded at the end, with the reward size and level determined by the final ranking. Thus, if they won the championship, it would undoubtedly be the ultimate prize!
While the reward was exciting, it paled in comparison to the pride of personally leading his national team to win the World Cup in his very first tournament!
Tangguo would probably celebrate for a full decade because of this!
And Chinese football was about to enter a new era, with a prosperous future unfolding before everyone's eyes. Open your eyes quickly and behold it!
At this moment, everyone counted down the final tens of seconds together.
Although the referee might add some extra time, it wouldn't make much difference.
The Tangguo players on the field also withstood the pressure at this time, focusing intently, holding their positions. It was the final moments, they had to give it their all!
They would defend it with their lives!
They were already starting to run out of stamina, but what did that matter?
They had long forgotten they had bodies. Now, the entire Tangguo team was a wall, each player a brick and mortar forming that wall.
Team France, come at us!
Mbappé, Danilo, Griezmann, Pavard, the great Henry...
They tried wave after wave, but none could score! They too, were disheartened!
Zizou tirelessly continued to organize opportunities. Despite them being wasted time and time again, as long as the final second hadn't arrived, and as long as the referee hadn't blown the whistle, he wouldn't stop!
His own story had long told him that giving up prematurely was the greatest crime in the world!
"Go! Tangguo team! Only thirty seconds left!!"
"Ahhhhhh I'm too excited!!"
"Help, I can't take it anymore!"
"I believe in you!"
Cao Baming couldn't help but stand up at this point. Although his left leg was sore, he no longer cared about anything else.
He looked at the field with expectant eyes, a surge of energy building within him, waiting to erupt in the next moment.
The fans could also see that Cao Baming had walked from the resting area to the sideline!
Even though he had been substituted early, if anyone was to be called the biggest contributor to this match, there was no doubt it was Cao Baming!
Everyone knew that.
Then, everyone continued to count down in their hearts, and Zidane also felt the urgency of time.
There was no other way. Now was not the time to tell the players not to be anxious; now was the time to be anxious. If they weren't anxious now, it would be over!
Instantly, all the immense pressure surged into his heart. Zidane felt as though he was about to collapse, unable to hold on any longer.
He took a deep breath, and the next second, he looked at the goal, his eyes blazing with a ferocity no one had ever seen.
He dribbled the ball forward himself, one step, two steps, and shot directly!!
He couldn't care anymore!!
Zidane had no other options. At this moment, he needed to vent the anger, frustration, regret, nervousness, and disappointment that had been accumulating in his heart.