0038 The Passion of Dunga (Please Bookmark and Vote)

Pellegrini was injured again, leaving Mancini as the captain on the pitch.

After the exchange of pennants, Mancini noticed the coach gesturing toward Lu Deyang. He shoved the pennant into Lu Deyang’s hands and said, "The boss is over there, he wants to talk to you."

"Coach, did you need something?" Lu Deyang asked as he reached the sideline.

"Take these; they’ll bring you some luck," Boskov said, handing him a pair of wristbands.

Lu Deyang immediately noticed the Orthodox cross on them. The Orthodox cross features an extra horizontal bar, and since the Serbians in Yugoslavia were Orthodox, this revealed a bit about Boskov’s background.

Lu Deyang looked at Boskov with surprise. Football was always a superstitious world, but Boskov hadn't shown any such tendencies before.

Boskov explained with a wry smile, "I heard there were UFO sightings at this stadium, so it’s better to wear them just for peace of mind."

Lu Deyang nodded and put the wristbands on.

During this era, the Qigong craze was in full swing, and back home, people were even using "cosmic signal receiving pots." With the next generation playing around with the supernatural, it was no surprise that in a religious continent, people held a certain reverence for things beyond the Earth. Lu Deyang understood what he meant. Regardless, Boskov’s intentions were good.

When Lu Deyang returned, Mancini noticed the change on his wrists. He couldn't help but glance at the captain's armband on his own arm; he was no longer the coach’s favorite player.

*Beep—*

Referee Rosario blew the whistle to start the match.

Both sides were cautious from the kickoff. Neither Fiorentina, who started with the ball, nor Sampdoria played with much aggression. This was the reputation that preceded big-name attacking players.

It didn't matter how famous Inter Milan's defenders were; Klinsmann was still a foreigner. But Baggio was different. His appearance, his story, and his playing style were deeply beloved by the Apennine Peninsula.

Nappi received the ball and chose to pass it back. Battistini immediately found Dunga.

Dunga controlled the ball and took a look, noticing Lu Deyang sprinting toward him, so he quickly passed it back. Before the match, the coach had repeatedly emphasized not to give that young number seven too many opportunities.

Dunga’s style of play was disciplined and rugged, quite at odds with the typical Brazilian flair. Because of this, he understood the danger Lu Deyang posed all the better. In Brazil, you could indulge in useless dribbling to please the fans, but based on the match footage, Lu Deyang’s dribbling—while flashy—always had one core objective: keeping the ball close to the goal. That was dangerous.

After sending the ball away, Dunga focused on his positioning, shadowing Lu Deyang. He believed he could balance team defense with man-marking.

***

Pari successfully intercepted the ball and immediately looked for Lu Deyang. Lu Deyang, his hand hidden behind his back, gave a subtle wave. He wanted to observe Fiorentina’s defensive characteristics first. He would save his big move for the first time he touched the ball.

Pari had no choice but to pass to Lombardo. Lombardo received the ball with his back to the goal, dragged it with his right foot, and turned. Buso lunged at him, but Lombardo leaned back, using his calf to poke the ball to the retreating Mancini.

Once Mancini had the ball, he played like a mad dog, pushing it forward with his right foot and charging toward Fiorentina’s penalty area. He knew the Italian national team coach, Vicini, was likely in the stands. This was the best chance to prove he was better than Baggio.

Battistini was a step slow and could only trail behind. Pioli saw the situation and charged out, his tackle quite aggressive. Mancini cleverly feinted past Pioli, but as he approached the box, he grew anxious and pushed the ball too far. Faccenda poked it away, and Celeste cleared it over the sideline.

The excited commentator Paolo Paolo remarked, "Pioli, a young defender who looked promising at Juventus, doesn't seem to have improved since moving to Fiorentina; in fact, he’s regressed. Mancini is too anxious. He should learn from Deyang—sometimes, patience is a virtue."

Viriar replied, "Anyone facing Baggio would lose their cool. Perhaps Mancini doesn’t realize there are five top-tier attackers on the pitch: he is one, Baggio is two, and Deyang is also two."

Many Italians loved Baggio to their very bones. Later, when he was sold, it even sparked riots and bloodshed in Florence. Of course, there were also those who detested him.

A few minutes later, Baggio successfully reached the baseline, toyed with Mannini with a series of feints, and chipped a ball into Pagliuca’s arms. Although it didn't create a threat, it left Mannini looking quite embarrassed.

Vierchowod looked at Baggio’s back and said, "We can't go on like this. We have to put some pressure on them."

"Isn't Roberto attacking all the time?" Mannini asked, hands on his hips.

"Hah, he’s clearly not as good as the Roberto on the other side. Marco, you go support Deyang; I’ll handle this side myself," Vierchowod said authoritatively. Regardless, since Baggio was on Mannini and Carboni’s side, Vierchowod wouldn't be under much pressure even if Marco Lanna didn't track back.

Lanna nodded quickly. He didn't want to get hit by Vierchowod’s massive hand.

After the ball was kicked out from the back, Marco Lanna charged forward. Pari, who had the ball, hesitated for a moment before deciding to pass it to the flank.

Once Lanna received the ball, he had only one thought: carry it down the sideline at full speed. His only job was to bring it to the front and pass to Lu Deyang.

Dunga: ...

Suddenly seeing a fierce young man charging at him, he was slightly dazed. Could this be another genius?

Lanna’s speed was decent, with long strides and a quick cadence, somewhat reminiscent of the future Kaka. Just as Dunga hesitated, Lanna flicked the ball behind him.

*Oh no!*

Dunga didn't even think; he turned and sprinted back.

Lu Deyang, receiving the ball, couldn't help but marvel. This guy deserved to be the captain of Brazil. Other players might have turned to look first—an instinctive reaction that would have cost them a step in recovery—but Dunga was decisive.

This guy’s high football IQ was hidden under a style that didn't fit Brazil at all.

Faccenda chose to mark Vialli, leaving Alberto Di Chiara to simply vacate his position to provide cover. Lu Deyang hadn't found a way into the box yet, so he carried the ball laterally to the right baseline, with Dunga shadowing him the entire way. Celeste came over to help defend.

Mannini ran up to receive, but Lu Deyang, holding the ball sideways, had no intention of passing. He stood his ground against Dunga on the right.

*Click.*

Lu Deyang suddenly moved. He shifted his left foot, then pulled the ball back with his right!

Right foot, it was still his right foot!

An outside-of-the-boot trap. A twisted, behind-the-back "elastico."

"DEYANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

It wasn't just Dunga; even the defenders in the box were stunned. No one had guessed that Lu Deyang would handle the ball that way.

After the outside-of-the-boot trap, the ball popped up. Dunga reacted quickly, instinctively lifting his foot, but only managed a graze. Lu Deyang used his thigh to settle the ball and crossed with his right foot. The keeper, Landucci, hadn't even reacted before the ball flashed past him. Fortunately, Battistini had sprinted back into the box and dove to head the ball over the baseline.

Only then did Rossi erupt in the broadcast booth: "Deyang!!!"

"A behind-the-back elastico, completely fooling the 'Iron Wall' from Brazil. Sometimes God is just so unfair. Even if you are a Brazilian player, you might not have such flashy technique, but sometimes, your opponent’s talent simply overflows, allowing them to express themselves freely on the pitch. A simple little move is enough to ignite the world!"

Dunga’s face was grim. The move was cool, but being the backdrop for it was not a good thing. He could already imagine the highlights of this match being sent back to Brazil and how crazy the fans would be—though his countrymen wouldn't be cheering for him.

Mancini walked toward the corner flag. Lu Deyang glanced at him and chose to stand near the arc of the penalty area. He didn't expect Dunga to stay glued to him.

*Beep.*

Mancini took his run-up and sent the ball in. Faccenda jumped first and headed it clear.

Lu Deyang turned to chase the ball immediately, and Dunga started just as quickly. The two were neck-and-neck, separated by only a body length.

Vierchowod moved up. He was closer to the ball and gestured to Lu Deyang. Lu Deyang turned instantly, and Dunga followed.

Vierchowod saw Lu Deyang’s hand, hidden behind his back, pointing toward the right flank. The "Tsar" couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Lu Deyang’s opponent.

How is a human supposed to defend an alien?