From Arsenal to the Ball God

"Gilbert?"

Pierce’s voice rang out, and Gilbert snapped back to reality, realizing that he had been called out but his mind had wandered. "Huh?"

"You’re most familiar with him. You’ll be subbed in for the second half, stick to him like glue!"

Pierce glanced at the field, then locked his eyes on Gilbert. "Can you do it?"

An eager expression appeared on Gilbert’s face. He initially thought to say he could try, but after thinking it over, he firmly stated, "Yes, I can!"

"Good!"

Soon after, the first half of this Anglo-French War ended. The process was far from spectacular; on the contrary, it was somewhat lackluster, except for Ma’el’s long shot. The rest of the time both sides were just pulling the game back and forth.

For those working in the football industry, perhaps this kind of game has some intrigue, but for the fans, it’s just dull.

Nonetheless, everyone witnessed history.

A superstar forward from the lower leagues, successful in the top league, now scored his first European Cup goal.

It seems he is ready to extend his reach to the continental stage!

...

After the break, players from both teams returned to the pitch, ready for the second half.

"Beep beep!" The substitution whistle blew, and Tottenham’s midfielder Scott Parker was replaced. Gilbert, wearing the No. 18 jersey, made his national team debut.

After high-fiving Parker, he touched the turf, made the sign of the cross on his chest, then led with his right foot into the pitch.

Standing on the sidelines, Ma’el saw this and couldn’t help but smile...finally, the long-awaited competition together.

Gilbert glanced over at Ma’el and also broke into a silly grin, with a complex mix of feelings in his eyes.

"Beep!"

The game then kicked off, and the France team sent the circle ball, starting their defensive passing.

England increased their rhythm, beginning to push their lines forward, as they had no choice; they had to fight in the second half.

With Rooney feeling muscular discomfort, others had to step up and strive to gain points against the France team!

"Boom boom boom...!"

The sound of passing echoed continuously, and finally, the game looked more appealing, with many England fans getting excited.

In the 47th minute of the match, the newly on-field Gilbert excitedly maneuvered forward to intercept the ball Malouda passed to Yohan Cabaye and sent it straight to Gerrard beside him.

England counterattacked quickly, with Welbeck ultimately receiving Ashley Cole’s cross and executing an aerial strike, but unfortunately, he sent it way off target.

Six minutes later, the France team seized a transition opportunity and passed the ball to where Ma’el was.

Facing his friend Gilbert’s defense, Ma’el unleashed his swiftest footwork, using his highest battle power to evade his defense and continued pushing toward the flank while seeking a chance to shoot into the center.

"Bang!"

Gilbert’s body slammed hard against him, but as one of the few Premier League players who hadn’t faced Ma’el, he clearly lacked a clear understanding of Ma’el’s intensity.

He quickly lost his footing, uncontrollably crashing toward Ma’el and tackling him to the ground.

"Beep!" The referee came up and handed him a yellow card, which would make his upcoming defense a bit trickier.

Ma’el got up, smiling at him, wanting to say something, but instead closed his mouth and focused back on the match.

"Boom!"

One minute later, he seized the drop point of a high airborne ball again, striking a header, but it went wide of the goal.

This made him a bit frustrated. England’s ground defense was decent today, but their aerial defense often gave him opportunities, yet he couldn’t complete a header to score.

In the 65th minute, the pace quickened, and both teams’ offensive push seemed to encounter some troubles, frequently trying long shots near the penalty area.

Gerrard and Ashley Young both unleashed strikes, Ma’el and Benzema also had chances, but most were blocked by defenders and didn’t pose a threat to the goalkeeper.

"Beep beep!"

England’s coach Pierce’s expression grew anxious as he substituted the off-form Milner and Chamberlain in the 71st minute, bringing on Walcott and Tang Ning.

His choices were somewhat flawed; fearing the intense European Cup battles, he didn’t use the two substitutes who performed better in the league but instead opted for those he believed more durable.

This indirectly caused England’s attack struggles, constantly defending or holding the ball without many goal threats.

In contrast, the France team, although not playing great, at least Ma’el took the ball with threats that couldn’t be stopped without three or four defenders. Even careful attention couldn’t prevent him from scoring.

"Bang!"

By the 78th minute, not much time was left in the match, as Walcott sent a crossing ball toward the center of the penalty area, trying to find Welbeck, the lone striker.

Welbeck stepped forward towards the near point position, seeking body contact as he passed Koscielny.

At the moment of contact between the two, he suddenly stumbled, falling to the ground, disregarding the ball overhead, then writhing in agony within the penalty area. "Ah.....!!"

He fell!

"Bang!"

Koscielny jumped up to clear the ball, landed, then looked at Welbeck’s figure and the approaching referee, his face turned purple.

He seemed to anticipate what was about to happen, waving his hands frantically to show he absolutely did not commit a foul.

"Ay.....!" Both England and France team fans stood up together, booing to express dissatisfaction with the referee.