Before the game, Rick Link was extremely relaxed, no matter how violently he churned in his heart, at least on the surface he gave the players of the Chinese national junior team a very good demonstration, and at the same time, in the pre-war encouragement, he also conveyed his meaning: "I told everyone in the semi-finals. We've made history, we've got the quality and we're going to be able to enjoy the game. The same is true for this game. Our opponents are nowhere near as strong as Nigeria, so I'm sure we'll be able to deal with them better. ”

Mali's history at the Under-17 Junior World Championship is mediocre, and this is the first time they have reached the final of the World Junior Championship, but they won last year's Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over South Africa.

In this game to the final, Mali's strongest defense is their defense, except for the North Korean team, there was a big score of 3:0, and the others were 1:0 and 2:1.

Moreover, compared to Nigeria, the Mali team relies more on the body, and their tactical arrangement can be said to be simpler - stable at the back, speed and body of the players on the wing, and the center and shadow striker in the penalty area to grab points.

Compared to Nigerian coach Almnik, who played in Europe and was influenced by tactics in Barcelona, Mali coach Baye Ba started from Mali's own home and handled the tactical details even worse.

After the start of the game, the Mali team was obviously more nervous than the players of the Chinese national junior team, everyone reached the final for the first time, but their players seemed to be shrinking and extremely out of shape.

Only two minutes into the opening game, Xiang Tiange on the right side came up with an assist, and a cross that was not very good was actually blocked by the opponent's defender No. 3 Bagayoko with his hand.

The referee decisively gave the Chinese national junior team a penalty.

Mali's goalkeeper Samuel Diarra, the all-time winner of the Golden Glove Award at this year's World Junior Championships, will face the test of Nie Jiang, who is now at the top of the scorer list.

In the end, Nie Jiang calmly pushed into the lower left corner, and the score became 1:0, and the Chinese national junior team got a dream start.

Liu Jianhong, who was in charge of the commentary, was also surprised: "Haha! Penalty, the Chinese team got such an opportunity at the beginning, this shot should be Nie Jiang." He has now scored eight goals and is now the top player in the World Junior Championships. Second-placed Osimhen also has eight goals, but Nigeria have been eliminated, and the third place is two fewer than Nie Jiang, who will overtake Osimhen and firmly dominate if he scores. ”

"Regardless of the final result of this game of the Chinese national junior team, Nie Jiang's top scorer should be stable. In this game, LeTV also came up with its strongest commentary combination, Liu Jianhong and Huang Jianxiang. Huang Jianxiang also looked very proud this time.

When Nie Jiang scored the ball, Liu Jianhong shouted loudly: "The ball is in, it's in, it's in." The Chinese national junior team has taken the lead, and the national junior team will be much easier in the following games. ”

"This national junior team is one of the few teams that can play ground ball and play very well, and being able to control the ball well is our biggest advantage. Huang Jianxiang also began to blow his home team at this time, "At the same time, our counterattack is extremely threatening, as long as everyone stabilizes their mentality, it will be difficult for the Mali team to play." ”

Sure enough, the Mali team, which had planned to play a defensive counterattack before the game, was completely in a dilemma - they wanted to attack, but there were not many ways to attack;

With a wave of the hand of head coach Valle Ba, the Malian team began to attack with all their might.

From the start of the World Junior Championships, Mali's attack has been mainly concentrated on their left flank.

Bagayoko, who gave the Chinese national junior team a penalty at the beginning, and left winger Mahler are actually the most dangerous side of the Mali team.

But the left-back Hajdala in the middle of them is more responsible for defense, so in the transition to the middle, Hajdala is more of a past to fill in for Bagayoko, and he doesn't have much ability to organize and pass.

The Chinese national junior team also saw this, and the right midfielder interfered with him from time to time, resulting in the Mali team's attack on the left side was very awkward.

On the contrary, the Chinese national youth team with one goal in hand played very patiently, they knew that the opponent just wanted to counterattack, and I would never take risks if I didn't have a good chance.

The national junior team, who won possession in midfield, left Mali with more reliance on non-stop pressing and fouls.

In the twentieth minute of the first half, the Mali team organized an attack on the left side, Hajdala was snatched by Yang Yilin and Zeng Fanfang, and the Chinese national youth team that broke the ball in the front field launched a sudden and rapid attack.

After receiving Yang Yilin's pass, Liu Ruofan distributed the ball to Zeng Fanfang, who ran to the side, and the latter's inverted triangle pass on the left side of the penalty area was handed over to Nie Jiang, who was pulled out of the penalty area.

Nie Jiang first made a fake shot and dunked past the defending central defender Fofana, and then Nie Jiang shot vigorously in front of the penalty area to find the upper right corner of the goal.

Samuel Diarra lived up to his Golden Glove title, taking advantage of the explosiveness and arm length characteristic of African players to save the shot that went straight into the corner.

The hopes of the national junior team to expand the score were disappointed.

Rick Link gave encouragement on the sidelines, and after he applauded hard, he gave Nie Jiang a thumbs up, and the national junior team is now playing extremely easily, and his demeanor is also very relaxed.

The head coach of the Mali team, Baye Ba, shouted angrily on the field, asking his players to strengthen the defense of Nie Jiang, before the game, he regarded Nie Jiang as the biggest threat to the Chinese national junior team, and now his players easily gave Nie Jiang the opportunity to shoot, which is too undeserved.

After missing the goal, the Chinese national junior team continued its tactics, passing and controlling in the midfield, and this is the U17 game after all, the mentality of the young players is difficult to control, Haidala was cut off once before and almost caused his team to lose the ball, and then he has not been able to get the ball, he saw Zeng Xingxing in the midfield command at hand, a fierce tackle shoveled Zeng Xingxing to the ground.

For this foul on Haidala, the referee gave a yellow card without thinking about it, and then let the team doctor of the national junior team enter, Rick Link was also heartbroken, Nie Jiang was more concerned by others because of the more goals, but Zeng Prosperity is the absolute organizational core of this national junior team.

If Zeng Prosperity is injured, there will really be no one to take over the offensive organization of the national junior team.

Liu Jianhong was also worried and said: "Zeng Prosperity has two goals and three assists so far, he is definitely the core player of this national junior team, I hope he will not have an accident." ”

"According to this situation, Zeng Prosperity is definitely another player with a great future. Huang Jianxiang also nodded and said, "This is another aura midfielder cultivated by the Longteng team. ”

Fortunately, Zeng Rongxing quickly returned to the field under the inspection of the team doctor, and the two commentators were also relieved, and Rick Link was also relieved and applauded Zeng Rongxing.

Zeng Prosperity, who returned to the field, was not affected by the violation just now, and he was more resolute in the face of Haidala's defense.

Haidala was also scared after receiving a yellow card, and he seemed a little shrunken in the face of Zeng Prosperous's breakthrough.

Seeing Zeng Prosperity's performance, Liu Jianhong also smiled: "This player's foot ability is really strong." I don't know if he can have an excellent development like those star predecessors who came out of the World Junior Championship before. ”

"There are still a lot of stars in the World Junior Championships. "Huang Jianxiang is very familiar with the history of the World Junior Championships, "Xavi and Iniesta both won the championship in the World Junior Championships and later won the World Cup, so they can be said to be stars from the World Junior Championships." I hope Zeng Prosperity can work hard to catch up with these players. ”

Mali's manager saw Hajdala's performance and had to make tactical adjustments, allowing right-back Diakite and Hajdala to switch positions.

At the same time, he asked Koita, who was in the midfield, to help him drop back to defend, which only made the Mali team's attack look more weak.

In the 40th minute of the first half, the national junior team almost scored again, this time it was Shin Jun on the left, Cao Jinghao's cooperation broke through the defense of the Mali team on the right side, and finally Cao Jinghao's shot tested Samuel Diarra again.

"If it weren't for the play of the goalkeeper of the Mali team, the national junior team would have expanded the score a long time ago. Liu Jianhong also said regretfully at this time, "Our side should strengthen the shooting." ”

"If you really make a goalkeeper feel hot, it's troublesome. Huang Jianxiang has his own opinion, "More control of the ball, in the final stage of the game in the coming waves of attack, the hope of scoring is greater." ”

As the two of them chatted, the first half of the game slowly entered the stoppage time, after the referee made up a minute, he blew the whistle at the end of the first half, and the Chinese national junior team easily entered the second half with a 1:0 lead.

At half-time, Rick Link suppressed his excitement and pretended to be relaxed to relieve the pressure on his players: "We played very well in the first half. Our strength is in the technique at our feet, we stick to our style of play, and they will collapse in the final stages of the game. ”

Rick Link's thoughts coincide with Huang Jianxiang.

The Mali team made a decisive substitution adjustment, Hajdala was replaced by Babakar, and an attacking midfielder replaced a midfielder with a balanced attack and defense, which is going to be a strong attack.

Mali had a very good idea, but at the start of the second half, they were hit hard.

Just three minutes into the second half, a pass from the Malian team, who had been attacking at the kick-off, was intercepted by Dawn in the penalty area, and he handed the ball to Shin Joon on the left.

Although Shen Jun's speed is not fast, he and Cao Jinghao, Zeng Prosperous's rapid transmission makes the counterattack speed of the national junior team not slow at all.

And the other national junior team players who have gradually adapted to the passing style of the Longteng team players also seem to be very powerful, although Liu Ruofan can't make a very beautiful offensive cooperation, his transition is still no problem, after making an offensive triangle with Cao Jinghao, he handed the ball to Nie Jiang.

Nie Jiang also knew that he was closely marked by the opponent, and did not let the ball stay at his feet, but directly made a two-on-two cooperation and straight plug, breaking through the back line of the Mali team that was not in a neat position because he was eager to attack.

This time, Liu Ruofan won a one-knife ball.

Liu Jianhong also shouted excitedly: "Nie Jiang's pass is too decisive, Liu Ruofan is a single knife after receiving the ball, it depends on his choice." Push the bottom left corner. The goal is in, it is in, it is in! The Chinese national junior team expanded the score. 2:0, came Liu Ruofan's goal. ”

"Haha! It's beautiful. Huang Jianxiang also couldn't close his mouth with joy, "Xiao Liu scored a key goal, we not only have Nie Jiang, but also shooters like Liu Ruofan." ”

After the goal, Liu Ruofan's hands were trembling with excitement, he turned around and rushed towards Nie Jiang, the latter's pass was too beautiful, and he didn't question himself because he wasted two excellent opportunities in the last game, but gave himself trust at a critical moment.

Liu Ruofan's gratitude is beyond words, and he uses his own actions - hugging Nie Jiang to express his gratitude.

The other players of the national junior team also gathered around to celebrate the goal. Mali's goalkeeper Samuel Diarra expressed his displeasure with a frustrated kick to the ball in the goal.

After the goal, the national youth team also completely relaxed their mentality, if the score of 1:0 is not safe, then now the score of 2:0 plus the advantage on the field has reassured everyone.

In the next game, the Mali team didn't care about the midfield competition, and when they took the ball, they sent it to the two wings, or simply made a long pass to their center Traore.

This offensive method still brought a lot of trouble to the national junior team, and Liming had some impact on his actions in the competition for high-altitude balls because of his injury, giving the Mali team several opportunities to head in the penalty area.

Mali's top scorer Koita's follow-up shot and a second-point long-range shot from outside the box gave the national junior team some tests on goal.

However, Huang Dawei did not let Samuel Diarra concentrate on the front, and he made several brilliant saves in quick succession to deny Mali's shots.

Twenty minutes into the second half, the Malian team, who had failed to make a successful attack, made another substitution, and the previous games were good, but the right midfielder Mecca, who was not in good shape, replaced the defender Diakite, and now the Mali team has no defensive midfielders on the field.

Rick Link also made adjustments at this time, Wang Xing replaced Liu Ruofan, the hero of the goal, and let Nie Jiang pull out of the penalty area, giving him more space to impact the opponent's defense.

The substitution paid off in the 37th minute of the second half.

At this time, the physical fitness of the Mali team has just declined, Nie Jiang seized the opportunity, after receiving Wang Xing's return ball, he knocked on the left side of Cao Jinghao, the latter's side cut inside the goal caused the goalkeeper to get out of his hand, after passing the ball to the penalty area Nie Jiang who was resolutely inserted grabbed the second point, his shot made the opponent helpless, and the national youth team turned the score into 3:0.

This score also means that the game is completely over, and the victory of the national junior team is in sight.