"Ferran Torres—what a strike!"
"Spain clearly rehearsed that opening move!"
The Spanish fans erupted instantly. No one expected the goal to come so easily—England conceding right from the start!
Casillas and Raúl exchanged high-fives in celebration, the Spanish legends brimming with confidence.
Leo Lin, who had been caught up in the moment, suddenly sensed something was off. He turned his head and saw the England players looking remarkably calm.
Foden quickly scooped up the ball and sprinted back to the center circle. Everyone returned to their positions at once, waiting for the restart, as if conceding that goal had been fully anticipated.
Head coach Greg stood on the touchline with both hands pressed down. For this final, he had prepared no fewer than twenty in-game tactical plans, including detailed responses for scenarios where England fell behind by a goal.
So Spain scoring first didn't surprise England at all. On the contrary, they knew this final would never end as a dull 1–0 affair.
England were going to play the pack-of-wolves tactic.
Using their superior overall squad strength to tear the game wide open.
High tempo. Big swings.
An all-out attacking battle.
After the celebrations, play resumed.
"Spain are trying to settle into possession, but England aren't letting them. They're pressing hard, throwing everything into winning the ball back."
"In midfield, Gallagher and Angel are glued to Leo Lin—even when he's off the ball, they're right by his side."
Gallagher was a classic defensive midfielder, fearless in physical challenges.
Leo Lin kept working tirelessly, trying to drag defenders and carve out space to receive the ball.
But with the double-team and constant tugging, Spain struggled to find a clear passing lane to him.
Gradually, England forced the battle out wide, where Foden and Hudson-Odoi both possessed devastating one-on-one ability on the flanks.
13th minute!
"Spain move the ball forward. Leo Lin lays it off with one touch to avoid losing possession."
"Antonio pushes it out to the left, Gomez carries it forward."
"One-on-one!"
"He beats Doyle! Ball into the middle!"
"Leo Lin receives, turns, muscles past Gallagher, and shifts it to the right!"
"He finds Ferran Torres!"
Ferran Torres tries to take on Gibson one-on-one.
But Gibson is sharp defensively, stretching out a foot to win the ball cleanly!
Leo Lin immediately drops back as Spain's shape retreats as a unit.
But Gibson threads a precise through ball down the flank, slicing open the defense!
Hudson-Odoi uses his pace to ghost past Meyler with an off-the-ball run!
"Brilliant pass!"
"Hudson-Odoi drives into the box!"
"He's got a shooting angle on the left!"
"Cuts inside!"
"Curls it!!!"
"GOAL!!!!!!"
In the Sky Sports commentary booth, Neville leaps to his feet.
"Hudson-Odoi!!!"
"A perfect piece of individual brilliance!"
"England's counterattack after the turnover is absolutely lethal—everyone is involved!"
"This is how England should play!"
"Even with Lin in Spain's side, England are stronger across multiple positions."
"Who says we're destined to be crushed by Spain?"
"This is real football—not a video game!"
Hudson-Odoi drops into a sliding celebration, England teammates rushing in behind him.
Leo Lin gestures to his teammates. He can feel it—England are deliberately keeping the ball away from him.
"Stick to zonal defense. I'll keep widening my movement—they can't shut us down like this forever!"
Gallagher and Angel were tasked with shadowing Leo Lin, but their effectiveness was limited.
Early on, while their stamina was still high, the marking worked reasonably well.
But as the match wore on, their energy would inevitably dip. Leo Lin was confident he could rip through their midfield line.
Just over ten minutes in, the score was already level at 1–1, and the intensity of the match soared.
The crowd held its breath, eyes locked on every movement on the pitch.
Leo Lin began ramping up the physical battles. The young Gallagher and Angel were finally getting a taste of the pain Foden and Palmer had once endured.
Now fully adapted to the tempo and defensive pressure, Leo Lin started to reveal a frightening, crushing dominance.
25th minute!
"Central circulation again—everything goes through Leo Lin. Gallagher is pressing hard!"
Antonio releases the pass, and before Leo Lin can even take a touch, Gallagher and Angel charge in from behind.
One to the left, one to the right, closing the door.
Leo Lin drops back with his back to goal, shaping to receive.
He stretches out a foot as if to control it—then lets the ball slip through his legs and spins instantly!
Before the trap can fully close, Leo Lin forces his way straight through the narrow gap between them!
A turn, beating two men at once!
Pure power!
Gallagher desperately reaches out to grab him—but can't budge him at all!
No foul given. The referee waves play on!
Leo Lin surges forward as if no one is there!
Only the back line remains!
He drives to the top of the penalty arc and strikes!
"Bang!!!"
Ocho throws his body in the way, blocking the shot!
The ball ricochets to the right. Ferran Torres collects it and sends a looping ball into the middle of the box.
It's a little high, and the drop isn't ideal.
Leo Lin charges in. Ocho is still on the ground, leaving the landing spot completely unmarked!
A direct shot would be difficult. The smarter option is a cushioned header.
Ninety-nine percent of players choose the header here—the safest, most reliable play.
But Leo Lin is that one percent.
As he reaches the drop point, he looks up at the ball falling through the air.
He suddenly turns his back to goal.
In that instant, something called inspiration explodes in his mind, flooding his entire body!
Both feet drive into the turf—and he launches himself into the air!
Higher and higher he rises, his body arching backward as he ascends!
His right leg whips around, slicing through the air like a crescent blade, gleaming with icy menace!
Ankle locked tight, Leo Lin strikes the ball perfectly in midair!!!
The power is complete.
The contact point flawless.
For a split second, his body hangs suspended, radiating a raw, primal beauty of strength!
"Bang!!!"
"Swish!!!"
An earth-shattering bicycle kick!
It's in!!!
Leo Lin springs to his feet and sprints toward the touchline, stabbing both fingers into the turf to claim it as his territory—an outrageous celebration, his face overflowing with confidence and arrogance!
"GOALLLLLL!!!!!!!!!"
Casillas nearly loses his mind!
"My god!!!"
"What the hell!!!!"
"What kind of goal is that?!"
"Explosive! Savage! Absolute!"
"Perfect!"
"Absolutely perfect!!!"
The Salt Lake Stadium detonates in an instant!
Every fan is plunged into stunned silence.
The sheer difficulty of that bicycle kick has people clutching their heads in disbelief.
Spanish supporters are left speechless, repeatedly raising both hands in worship toward Leo Lin.
Across live broadcasts everywhere:
"This bicycle kick reminds me of the greatest in football history—and it's even better!"
"An 18-year-old pulling this off? His core strength is unbelievable!"
"Is this really something an 18-year-old can do?!"
"I suddenly wish the U17 World Cup had more matches—don't send Lin back to Liverpool, he's a monster!"
"Did you see that?!"
"Did you see that?!!" Casillas is completely unhinged.
Raúl enters a state of total frenzy, getting up and pacing around the studio.
He doesn't even know what he's doing anymore—the shock coursing through him won't let him sit still.
"A monster!"
"A naked, undeniable monster!"
"A true flash of genius!"
"I guarantee you—ask him to do that again, and he couldn't recreate it!"
"But some players just unleash inexplicable energy at the most critical moments!"
"That's the potential only the very top stars possess!"
ESPN broadcast.
Derek Rae almost swears as he shouts in exhilaration:
"Leo Lin has scored a stunning bicycle kick!"
"Why do we love football so deeply?!"
"Because football doesn't just tell stories of struggle and perseverance—it allows humanity's ultimate talent to shine!"
"In the world of football, nothing is impossible!!!"
"Eighteen-year-old Leo Lin delivers a jaw-dropping bicycle kick in the U17 World Cup final!"
"As the first half draws toward its end, Leo Lin's goal puts Spain back in front!"
"The score is now—"
"Two to one!!!"
...
(60 Chapters Ahead)
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