The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1 Chapter 176

For the fans at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Gao’s footwork was truly a dream.

Without watching the replay on the big screen, it was impossible to understand how he had accomplished it.

Some fans held their heads in disbelief; such a style of football was rarely seen, at least in Finland.

What they usually saw in the Veikkausliiga was more long passes and crosses, a chaotic charge.

Finland’s football level was not high in Europe, and their team had a century-long blank in international competitions.

World Cup qualifiers and European Championship qualifiers were the highest-level matches they could participate in.

This was somewhat related to the climate.

Helsinki’s winter lasted four to six months a year, with temperatures ranging from zero to minus thirty-five degrees Celsius.

Throughout Finland’s football history, for most fans, they might only have heard the names of Litmanen and Hyypiä.

These were legends of Finnish football.

Finnish fans described Litmanen as the supreme God, and Hyypiä as the embodiment of the redeemer—Jesus.

However, the current Finnish squad had no such players; Moisander had taken over from Hyypiä.

Leading the attack was Teemu Pukki.

Finnish fans gasped, and so did French fans—because after Gao’s cut-in was blocked, he passed the ball to Giroud, who had run into open space, but the latter kicked the ball wide.

Deschamps at the sideline had a very expressive face, surprised by Gao’s performance and regretting Giroud’s missed opportunity.

As Deschamps’ first official match, he did not want to lose, so he was inevitably a little agitated.

Some Arsenal fans who occasionally watched this match merely said indifferently when they saw Giroud’s shot, “It’s alright, there have been even more outrageous golden opportunities missed at Arsenal.”

Paatelainen at the sideline looked relatively calm, just constantly pointing at the defense, instructing players to mark closely.

In this home game, Paatelainen decisively turtled up.

The initial formation was 4- 4- 2, but it quickly became nine players hunkering down near the penalty area, with Pukki alone upfront waiting for counter-attack opportunities.

Such tactics were not unexpected.

What was unexpected for French fans, however, was how ugly Deschamps’ French team played.

Apart from occasional flashes on the two flanks, there was absolutely no creativity.

Across France, fans expressed the same thought: “The current French midfield is too mediocre.”

Facing Finland’s bus defense, the French team had yet to find a way to break through their opponent.

Drip! !

When the referee blew the whistle for halftime, both sides shook hands.

Deschamps walked into the locker room, shaking his head.

The French team dominated the game, but just as Deschamps described Paatelainen’s tactics, “When they have possession, they don’t know how to play.”

The same was true for the French team.

The TF 1 commentator lamented at halftime, “Throughout the first half, despite having over 70% possession, there were only six shots, and five of those six opportunities came from the right flank where Gao was.

Gao was constantly facing three to four defenders; he was already excellent enough. The key is, who in the French team can step up to help Gao, instead of letting Gao repeatedly carry the ball into a crowd, wasting his physical energy?

On this point, I think Deschamps’ use of this French team has significant problems…”

In the French locker room, “We did well with possession and pressing, but lacked the final touch. Finland’s defense is well-organized, but we need to be calmer and more decisive!”

Deschamps stood in the middle of the locker room, looking at the players, some sitting, some standing, and continued.

“Franck, your crosses and Valbuena’s crosses are too low in quality. You must make changes, and Rio too.”

Deschamps pointed to Mavuba, “You must make decisive runs forward, use your long shots to create chaos for them, even if it’s not a shot, you need to get to the edge of the box to offer support…”

Deschamps wasted no time.

He spoke for over ten minutes, covering the situation of almost every position on the field.

Including Gao, “Sometimes you don’t have to pass just because you see open space. I think you can trust yourself more, decisively drive inside. They can’t stop you. A penalty is also a tactical option.”

“Okay.”

In the Finnish locker room on the other side, Paatelainen merely continued to emphasize, “You must mark France’s right flank tightly! Even if it means fouling, don’t let that kid get past you!”

Paatelainen looked at the Finnish left-sided players: Toivio, Alexander Ring, and Sparv.

These three players had spent all their energy in the first half primarily defending France’s right-wing attack.

Most of the time, they let the overlapping Réveillère go, focusing on defending Gao.

After all, no team had dared to underestimate Gao since the European Championship.

Even Italy, a team considered capable of reaching the final at the European Championship, had their European Championship dream shattered by Gao.

Why would Finland dare to underestimate him?

Second half.

Neither side had made any substitutions yet.

The first five minutes were the same rhythm as the first half.

Gao passed the ball on the right flank, and Sparv instinctively gave him a slight push.

Among these Finns’ defenses against him, there were quite a few small fouls.

Gao drifted slightly towards the center.

Sparv stuck to him like a dog-skin plaster, impossible to shake off; wherever Gao went, he followed.

The TF 1 commentator couldn’t help but frown, “Finland is defending Gao like a superstar. In this match, Gao hasn’t even had a chance to get near the penalty area. In this dense defense, and on artificial turf, Gao is finding it a bit difficult to perform…”

Madrid.

Zidane was watching this match. The French team, Deschamps’ official coaching debut, and Gao’s World Cup qualifier debut all deserved his attention.

Zidane had somewhat anticipated the French team’s predicament.

He tried to put himself in Deschamps’ shoes, wondering what he would do if he faced such a situation.

As Zidane pondered, Gao’s figure involuntarily appeared in his mind.

“Give the ball to Gao.”

Zidane smiled; perhaps that was his tactic.

Trust Gao.

Trust the players’ individual performance.

One could only say that Deschamps having Gao was like grabbing onto a big leg.

“Hoo, Gao is fouled again! This time the referee finally gave Sparv a yellow card; he has fouled Gao multiple times…”

The commentator’s voice continued to come from the TV.

The free kick was taken.

Sakho won the header but headed it wide.

“Oh! No! Why did he shoot that ball? He could have laid it back to Gao! Gao could have scored!” Kylian Mbappé’s voice echoed through his home in Bondy.

The Mbappé brothers and Saliba sat together on the bed in Mbappé’s bedroom, watching the only small TV in the room.

They watched the French team miss chance after chance, sighing with regret.

“Gao!”

Ethan suddenly exclaimed!