The perfect center forward: Becoming a soccer king from the corner of Chuanu Chapter 189

Maguire, who had just transferred from Hull City to Leicester City last summer, was somewhat tempted.

Joining the Champions League winners and receiving defensive tutelage from Mourinho sounded quite appealing.

Although he might become a future colleague, Maguire didn’t hold back in his chase, his big head’s professionalism absolutely commendable.

Even if he would be ridiculed as the clumsy Maguire in the future, even if he, as captain, would be verbally abused by newcomers.

He still trained diligently, helping the team secure a last-gasp equalizer at a crucial moment, earning another chance to play through his own efforts.

After enduring England’s set-piece onslaught, the Azzurri launched a swift counterattack. Henderson, facing the valiant Luccia, could only fight and retreat.

The Liverpool captain, with teammates nearby, chose not to foul. He only needed to successfully slow Luccia’s sprint and wait for his teammates to return.

That old fox, Ashley Young, showed no mercy to his club captain, immediately going in for a body tackle, but still couldn’t win back possession from Luccia’s skillful ball control.

The Manchester United striker, facing two opponents, remained unfazed, directly knocking the ball forcefully to accelerate on the outside.

Ashley Young, with plenty of stamina early in the game, made it impossible for Luccia to replicate his last-minute curved overtake from the Champions League final.

The experienced Manchester United wing-back cleverly held the inside line, fighting and retreating, like a scumbag who doesn’t actively attack, maintaining an ambiguous distance.

Luccia, with average dribbling skills, could only accelerate a second time to create space before directly passing the ball across the goal.

Insigne arrived just in time. As he was about to unleash a shot, Maguire, chasing back diligently, stretched out his long leg and successfully cleared the ball a step ahead.

The applause of the English fans was given, but the players on the field dared not slack off.

The breathless few looked at the composed Luccia with fear.

Especially Ashley Young, his teammate, who now suffered as much as he enjoyed playing with Luccia at the club.

He couldn’t hold him, his speed wasn’t slow, and he was a super stamina monster. Such a striker on the counterattack was truly difficult to deal with.

If they hadn’t had a numerical advantage this time, Luccia would have easily broken through their defense and threatened the goal!

The subsequent match turned into a dreaded sight for the English team. The tough and unyielding Apennine defense rarely gave England’s young talents a chance to make an impact.

In defense, they absorbed England’s attacks like a sponge, then returned them all in offense.

The scene shifted, and the Azzurri continued to create chances in the attacking third. Barella and Luccia played a one-two.

Using the big striker’s shielding ability, the young player received the ball and unleashed a powerful shot, which unfortunately curved wide of the right post.

One side sang, the other took the stage. With a failed clearance from the back, Kane chose to drop deep to receive the ball.

The Great English Star, with his delicate footwork, remained calm under Jorginho’s pressure. After a change of pace, he sent a diagonal pass to Sterling, who was cutting in on the wing.

Fortunately, the new generation of Italy’s great left-back was highly focused, making a clean tackle to thwart the opponent’s attack.

Taking advantage of the change in possession, the Azzurri’s attack came again.

Jorginho orchestrated a counterattack opportunity in the middle. Insigne received the ball on the left and sent a through ball. Luccia’s shot at the goal successfully evaded the defenders’ interception, but unfortunately, in his pursuit of the corner, it went wide of the far post.

The Azzurri couldn’t extend their lead again. Luccia’s third hat-trick in the World Cup didn’t materialize.

The offense on the field was thrilling, and the fans in the stands were equally passionate.

Not only were the Azzurri fans singing loudly, but the white-clad section was also cheering enthusiastically.

Although England’s situation was not ideal at the moment, at least the match was exciting. No fans would experience the embarrassing scene of being hypnotized by Southgate’s team in the second half of the Round of 16 match.

The end-to-end attacking rhythm had no dull moments. The ball traversed back and forth between both halves, with one side accumulating heavy forces in attack and the other having numerous defenders at the back.

The clash of spear and shield unfolded in the Samara night sky, with two distinct styles emerging in this historic city.

Like the vast difference between the intricate carvings of a classical mansion and the grand lines of socialist constructivism.

It was also like the stark contrast between the romantic Pushkin observation deck and the grim secret bunker.

In short, the confrontation between the two sides drew on the distinct styles of two countries, two leagues, and two youth training philosophies.

England pursued the best opportunities with a super-charged chase, while Italy maintained a steady, close-marking blockade.

Time quickly arrived at the twenty-fifth minute. Sterling, after a high-speed advance in the attacking third, distributed the ball. Trippier, who had pulled wide to support, chose to pass back from the right edge of the box.

Harry Kane, who had dropped deep and then surged forward, met the ball with a powerful shot. Buffon was highly focused, bravely tipping the Great English Star’s thunderous shot over the bar.

The danger was not yet cleared. Sterling followed up with a sliding shot at the goal. This time, Italy’s iron defense was not to be trifled with. Barzagli stretched out his leg, defusing the immediate danger.

After a dream start, this was the Three Lions’ best chance to score so far, but unfortunately, the Italians managed to thwart it first.

Just a minute later, Jorginho sent a cross from the right. Luccia directly overpowered Stones at the goal, then, under Maguire’s close marking, delivered a brilliant backheel pass.

Unfortunately, Barella’s shot, coming in from deep, didn’t connect cleanly, and the ball went wide of the left post towards the byline.

By now, the attacks from both teams were becoming more intense with each passing minute. In this quarter-final “go home” match, no one wanted to leave the stage of chasing the World Cup.

Just over a minute later, the Azzurri’s quick counterattack came again. The big striker’s familiar pivot role allowed Insigne to pick up a loose ball at the edge of the box and shoot directly into the chaotic scramble.

Unable to penetrate the defense, Insigne, who still had the ball, passed it back to the middle. The Manchester United striker, seeing a path to goal, made a slight adjustment and unleashed a powerful shot towards the near post!

Pickford reacted this time, stretching his body to the limit and bravely tipping the ball over with both hands.

It was an Italian corner, and Luccia, pulling defenders in the box, became a major headache for England.

Chiellini, who scored with a header in the last match against Switzerland, was also tightly marked.

Although England’s set-piece training had been quite effective defensively, Luccia, with his explosive physicality and tricky runs, was truly difficult to mark.

Like an eel, he made a run, got to the near post, and unleashed a flicked header!

The incredibly fast ball speed and sudden change of direction caught Pickford off guard. At the crucial moment, the post saved the Three Lions.

With a loud thud, the post was visibly shaking. The rebounded ball was successfully cleared by Kyle Walker.

After Luccia’s header hit the post, the pace of the match became even faster, but everyone seemed to have entered a “happy hour,” as several attackers made elementary mistakes.

First, England had an attacking opportunity in the attacking third. Sterling, in the box, seemed to be possessed by Balotelli, starting to ponder life, and Buffon directly rushed out to clear the danger.

Then, in Italy’s attack, Luccia sent a cross in the box, and Insigne, from twelve yards out, simply “happily” skied it, sending the ball home with the fans.

Indeed, with Sterling on the field, happiness is contagious.

At the crucial moment, it was the stoic, serious Luccia who had to step up. Towards the end of the first half, the English, already trailing by one goal, suffered another fatal blow.

Spinazzola, the new generation of Italy’s great left-back, galloped forward on the counterattack, launching another fierce assault on England’s half.

After a series of feints and turns, he evaded Kyle Walker’s interception and crossed the ball to Luccia in the middle.

The Italian Caesar continued to exert force, directly overpowering his opponent with brute strength to gain a positional advantage.

Still some distance from the box, Stones decisively fouled Luccia, preventing the Italian star from penetrating deep into their territory!

Italy earned a free-kick opportunity just outside the box.

Luccia, already crowned and robed within the Azzurri squad, naturally stepped up to the spot.

Approximately forty meters directly in front of the goal, the Manchester United striker began to measure the distance, his resolute gaze fixed on Pickford.

Fans on the sidelines were chanting Luccia’s name, and the stadium lights focused on one person.

The previous Portuguese star who enjoyed such treatment had already gone home early, and Luccia, who had surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo in Champions League goals, would not follow in the footsteps of the Real Madrid superstar.

Holding his breath, taking two deep breaths, he began his slow run-up.

Watching his thick thighs and the ground vibrate violently, the English players instinctively covered their groins with both hands.

A shot with such power, if it accidentally hit a vital spot, would surely be devastating.

“Run-up! Shot!”

“Low drive!”

“Goal!!!”

“Pickford completely didn’t expect that move, and England hadn’t arranged for a player to lie flat on the ground.”

“The score on the field has been changed again, another hat-trick, the crazy Italian striker!”

“Currently, in matches where Luccia scores, his personal minimum is three goals!”

“A new generation of superstar has risen. As Messi and Ronaldo age, Lu God stands tall!”

Thanks to the promotion by his Manchester United teammates, the English team all expected Luccia to use his club-era curving shot.

They had no idea that Luccia’s main tactic today was to take them by surprise!

A long-range low drive flew straight towards the bottom left corner of the goal. Pickford reacted too late and couldn’t make an effective save!

Southgate lost a few more strands of hair. Not only had they failed to equalize before the end of the first half, but they had also conceded another goal.

The rest of the match against Italy’s iron defense would undoubtedly become even more difficult!

Ancelotti excitedly pulled his son along to celebrate Luccia’s goal. True to his pre-match statement about valuing family, the coach led by example, cheering on his adopted son-in-law.

Compared to his Scottish family far away in Edinburgh, he was equally supportive.

…

On the pitch, Luccia embraced the ball, making a “three” gesture to the broadcast camera. This not only signified his third goal in the match but also represented his third hat-trick in the World Cup.

An absolutely unique record. In World Cup history, many stars have achieved two hat-tricks in a single tournament, but no one has ever accomplished the feat of three hat-tricks like Luccia.

The Manchester United striker successfully surpassed Sándor Kocsis in 1954, Just Fontaine in 1958, and Gerd Müller in 1970, engraving his name uniquely in World Cup history!

This was also his eleventh goal in a single tournament. Even if the sixth trait hadn’t been triggered yet, Luccia, with five upgradable traits and an Easter egg trait, was already a lethal weapon on the international stage.

A striker with multiple hard-solution abilities, coupled with a strong Italian team, and a Champions League-winning coach brought in as a temporary fire-fighter at a crucial moment.

Such a combination on the international stage was simply unstoppable. It was truly a perfect alignment of timing, location, and human factors!

From the group stage to the current quarter-final, Luccia had already equaled the record of scoring five goals in a single match over five games.

He also created the miracles of consecutive hat-tricks and three hat-tricks in a single tournament.

Currently, only the records for goals in a single tournament and total goals had yet to be marked by Luccia.

Oh, and there was Batistuta’s record of hat-tricks across different years. As a big striker with his own tactical system, Luccia’s future would definitely make him a record-breaker on the international stage.

…

The netizens in the Douyin live stream inherited Ancelotti’s true teachings. The Azzurri fans immediately started popping champagne in the comments.

Leading the charge was Li Gan, who, for the sake of traffic, had transformed from a Ronaldo fan into Luccia’s number one fan.

“I told you England isn’t strong, it’s all media hype!”

“Believe it now, right?”

“The Premier League is strong because of foreign players. I’ve long said that the core of the big clubs are all imports. Now you know who truly understands football, right?”

“Wang Chuqi can’t even play well in the Chinese Super League, does he understand football?!”

“Given the situation in the lower half of the bracket, my brother Lu is definitely a loan-to-the-final, alright!!”

– [Exactly, I just want to hahahahaha!!!]

– [Clown! I unfollowed you because I used to be a C Ronaldo fan!]

– [Brother Lu is too insane, how does everyone else play when he gets a hat-trick every game??]

– [Yeah, a big striker like him has such an advantage on the World Cup stage, England’s defense really can’t stop him!]

– [That’s right, those stronger than him aren’t as fast, and those faster than him aren’t as strong. Plus, Luccia’s physicality is comprehensively strong; his explosiveness, flexibility, and balance have no weaknesses!]

– [It’s the same defensive counterattack rhythm as the previous matches. England, trailing by two goals, will definitely have a weak defense. Italy truly uses one trick to conquer the world!]

Towards the end of the first half, the English, trailing by two goals, felt as if they were in a dream, still unable to believe the score before their eyes. How did a dream start turn into a magical half for the opponent?

It’s all Luccia’s fault!!

Lingard and Ashley Young on the field began to experience the despair of their Champions League opponents, especially in the final attacking and defending sequence.

Lingard sent a diagonal pass to Ashley Young’s feet. Professor Young, always sensitive to aerial objects, painted a rainbow from the left byline.

A wonderfully precise cross. Teammates were already in position at the goal. In a flash, the blue No. 9 appeared in the ball’s path.

He leaped high, overpowering the less agile Harry Kane, to clear the ball!

Ashley Young, who had delivered the brilliant cross, muttered to himself. It was so enjoyable when the big striker played as an attacking midfielder as a teammate, but it was incredibly difficult as an opponent!

The price of gossiping behind someone’s back: a gift from the migratory birds falling from the sky found its way to the English wing-back.

There was nothing he could do. Migratory birds like to breed in Russia, and it was barely 6 PM local time, so unlucky Ashley Young could only passively experience the benefits of a bird’s straight gut.

At least it was still warm~