The God of Football Starts With Passive Skills-Chapter 147 - 51: Quality New Idol! A Rebirth-like Upgrade! I Want to Become the Strongest Player in the World

Chapter 147: Chapter 51: Quality New Idol! A Rebirth-like Upgrade! I Want to Become the Strongest Player in the World

Guy Demel was 1.88 meters tall, while Dutch center-back Mathijsen stood at 1.83.

Klopp made it clear to Wang Shuo that this center-back pairing was one Martin Jol had "tailor-made" just for him.

Their usual starting center-back pairing was Mathijsen and the 1.94-meter-tall Reinhard.

But the towering center-back had played in the UEFA Cup midweek, so he was rotated out for this match, with Guy Demel partnering Mathijsen instead.

Why make such a change?

Reinhard excelled at direct defending and winning aerial duels, but at 33 years old, he lacked the stamina for a war of attrition.

Most importantly, he was too clumsy.

So, for Wang Shuo, the key to this match was figuring out how to attack the space behind the defense! 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Wang Shuo, however, was eager for the challenge.

Empowered by his Intercontinental Level [Breathing], his mind was exceptionally clear, taking in every movement around him.

As he bypassed Petrich and Olic in the center circle, he looked across its full diameter and met Hainauer’s gaze. Wang Shuo gave a slight lift of his chin.

Hainauer responded with a silent nod.

Just two days prior, Wang Shuo had treated the entire team to dinner.

It was a crucial time for the European Golden Boy Award selection, with the results expected to be announced any day now.

Therefore, Wang Shuo was pouring all his effort into winning this individual award.

And naturally, he needed his whole team’s support.

You don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

So naturally, Hainauer was going to do everything he could to support Wang Shuo.

Mainz, for their part, stuck with their 4-4-1-1 formation.

The most noticeable change was in the defensive midfield.

Gunkel still wasn’t fit enough to start, so the double pivot in defensive midfield once again consisted of Pekovic and Kirschhoff.

On the right wing was Schürrle.

That meant Mainz was starting three young players in this match.

If you included Subotic on the back line, that made four players under the age of 20.

’Klopp really is insane sometimes!’

’But this was the Uncle Mustache that Wang Shuo admired!’

...

As referee Grafy blew the whistle, Wang Shuo immediately charged toward the deepest-lying center-back.

After a series of passes from Hamburg, Mathijsen moved the ball to the right flank for Jerome Boateng just before Wang Shuo could close him down.

As a Dutch center-back, Mathijsen was the key to Hamburg’s build-up play, receiving the ball and distributing it from the back.

Wang Shuo quickly changed direction and bore down on Jerome Boateng.

With the power of his Intercontinental Level [Breathing], Wang Shuo felt much lighter on his feet.

His body felt like it was brimming with inexhaustible energy.

Especially when he saw Mainz win back possession, he would immediately start making a run.

His goal was to get in behind the defense, but he didn’t always make that run.

If the player on the ball was too far away, it was pointless to run in behind, as Mainz didn’t have any expert long passers.

So, he constantly moved into the pockets of space between the center-backs and the midfield.

Hamburg was marking him tightly.

The moment Wang Shuo received the ball, he was swarmed by defenders.

Wang Shuo played as if the ball were a hot potato, releasing it with a one-touch pass whenever he could, never letting it linger at his feet.

He would pass and move, never giving defenders a chance to get ahold of him.

This was a style of play Wang Shuo had gradually developed since his Bundesliga debut this season.

It was perfectly suited to his tireless, high-stamina style of play.

The defenders had no choice but to chase him relentlessly, gradually getting worn down in the process.

All of Germany knew that Mainz excelled at launching early onslaughts.

They were ferocious in the opening stages of a match.

The media had previously published stats showing that Mainz conceded the most goals between the 10th and 20th minutes.

This was precisely the period after their initial offensive burst, when the team needed to slow down and catch its breath.

Hamburg was the visiting team, after all, so their game plan was surely the same as every other opponent’s.

Just wait for Mainz to slow down.

But in the 11th minute, Hainauer received a pass from Schürrle in a central position, about 30 meters from Hamburg’s goal.

What’s more, the Hungarian midfielder was facing directly toward the goal.

At almost the exact same moment, Wang Shuo, who had been waiting for just such an opportunity, glanced back to pinpoint Guy Demel’s position. The instant he had it, he burst forward at top speed.

Previously, Wang Shuo had mostly been making lateral runs.

This sudden, straight-line vertical run, at full sprint from the get-go, caught Guy Demel completely off guard.

As the two players brushed past each other, Hainauer swiftly delivered the pass.

A ball over the top!

It flew over Mathijsen’s head, dropping toward the left side, just outside the penalty area.

Wang Shuo quickly raced onto it, turning sideways to control the ball with his chest. At the same time, he glanced back at the pursuing Guy Demel and then at the advancing goalkeeper, Rost.

Jerome Boateng was likely tracking back behind him, but Wang Shuo couldn’t see and had to guess.

Rost came off his line with perfect timing.

Wang Shuo was perfectly calm. He took a quick glance at Rost’s position, and just as the ball was about to hit the turf, he gave it a gentle nudge with the inside of his right foot.

He moved with the ball into Hamburg’s penalty area, creating a one-on-one with the keeper!

Facing the onrushing Rost, Wang Shuo skillfully kept the ball between his feet. His legs seemed rooted to the grass, but his upper body swayed continuously from side to side.

Just as Rost got close enough to dive for the ball, Wang Shuo suddenly took a step with his right foot and leaned his whole body to the right, feinting a cut inside.

But just as an unprepared Rost shifted his center of gravity, Wang Shuo sharply changed direction.