At this moment, the Samba Legion had just concluded a major battle. Although the match had been played with relative ease, the players were understandably fatigued after the exertion. As a result, the entire team was granted a full day of rest.
This was particularly noteworthy given that they were in the knockout stages of the tournament, where any loss would result in immediate elimination and a four-year wait for another World Cup.
Their relaxed demeanor and carefree attitude stemmed from an abundance of confidence.
The expressions on their faces and the way they carried themselves, even in their movements, clearly indicated their level of ease. This relaxed atmosphere extended to the coaching staff as well, let alone the players on the field.
Meanwhile, Cao Baming's Tang Nation team was engaged in rigorous basic skill training. The contrast between the two teams, separated by this gulf in approach, was stark and undeniable.
While external fans might not witness this difference firsthand, they could observe it in the facial expressions and speaking styles of the head coaches during interviews.
Despite both sides having periods of bravado and moments of humility, Tite's confident tone when making bold statements and his somewhat hesitant demeanor when being modest revealed his underlying assurance. Li Gang, on the other hand, spoke softly when issuing challenges and seemed more confident when expressing humility.
Ultimately, both sides were eager to win.
Cao Baming had put in his utmost effort, ensuring that every pass he made to his teammates was delivered with exceptional precision and gentleness, making it easy for them to control the ball, even if they lacked skill.
If his teammates could maintain this level of composure, and his passes remained at this peak of perfection, he had little concern about their ability to receive the ball.
Only two more days of training remained.
Following this would be the semi-final clashes. Their match was scheduled alongside Argentina's and France's, with the games taking place on consecutive days.
Fortunately, the Tang Nation team's match against the Samba Legion was scheduled first, allowing Cao Baming to learn the outcome of the duel between his two teammates later.
He felt a sense of paternal affection for both Messi and Henry, and genuinely did not wish for either of them to be eliminated prematurely. He yearned for a direct contest with them on the field, but it seemed increasingly unlikely.
These two would face each other in the semi-finals, with one emerging victorious first.
However, if they were to lose to the Samba Legion, then the outcome of the subsequent match would be of little consequence to him, regardless of whether he paid attention or not.
In this light, the scheduling of these matches seemed almost fated.
...
The fans' excitement was palpable and difficult to contain.
Even within Tang Nation, there was a surprising coexistence of support for Cao Baming and the Samba Legion.
The final two days of training passed quickly. During this period, the Tang Nation team's dedication to training was undoubtedly on par with that of the Samba Legion.
Finally, game day arrived, and the two teams were set for a decisive showdown on the pitch.
The ultimate victor would be determined not by mere speculation, but by the direct confrontation between the players themselves.
The venue for this encounter was the Education Institute Stadium, arguably the finest football stadium in the region, capable of accommodating over 100,000 spectators.
Despite its capacity, tickets were sold out within the first second of their release, with approximately 80% of the buyers being Tang Nation fans.
As the home team for this match, Tang Nation had orchestrated a formidable home-field advantage. The fans arrived with immense passion, having also prepared a collective display.
Much like what is often seen in league matches, each fan held up a colored placard. Individually, these placards might not represent much, but when assembled in their seats, connected to one another, and raised in unison, they formed a striking image.
This image was none other than the portrait of Cao Baming, the true hero of Tang Nation, set against a red backdrop.
It had long been said that if Tang Nation were to have someone capable of leading them to a World Cup victory, that individual would undoubtedly be a superhero to the entire nation.
Just as Maradona in Argentina and Zidane in France were hailed as national heroes by their fans, Tang Nation finally had their own.
The team engaged in mutual encouragement and final pre-match exhortations.
Everyone was filled with emotion. While not possessing absolute certainty, the culmination of the past two days of training and pre-match analysis had instilled a sense of preparedness. They had effectively banished their fear of the Samba Legion.
What was there to fear? Ultimately, the match outcome was binary: a win or a loss. Losing this match today would not be shameful, but winning would truly be making history.
If the Tang Nation team could end the seemingly unstoppable Samba Legion's dominance in this match, it would astound the entire world, leaving everyone in awe and trembling.
Carrying this fearless mentality onto the field, the players' strides became more resolute.
Concurrently, the Samba Legion emerged from their locker room, clad in their iconic yellow jerseys, their steps light and their demeanor relaxed.
As Cao Baming took his first step forward, he couldn't resist glancing at the Samba players beside him. Their eyes indeed held an air of nonchalance, as if the day's match was merely a friendly game.
Had they truly not even considered the possibility of losing this match?
Even with the most basic deduction, it was evident that from the players to the coaching staff and the team's upper management, they had entirely dismissed the idea. Their demeanor was characterized by an arrogant and restless spirit, which, ironically, could prove to be their undoing.
After all, history had shown that those who underestimated Cao Baming invariably faced their own comeuppance, with some falling from greater heights and suffering more severe consequences than others.