In today’s game, both physically and mentally, the Iranian team was truly exhausted.
Iran also had a youth team participating in the World Youth Championship, and the senior team had trained in the same arena as the youngsters. They were familiar with each other, so there were many senior players who paid attention to the tournament.
Naturally, there were also numerous adult players from around the world watching the World Youth Championship. The Chinese team had gained a considerable amount of attention for their performance against strong teams, and they had achieved a wave of fame.
The Iranian team was well aware that the current Chinese team was formidable, and strong teams were particularly vulnerable to being defeated by them. They were mentally prepared that after facing the Chinese team, they might not have enough stamina to compete against other strong teams.
However, they never expected to capsize against the Chinese team! It was ridiculous to lose to a team where two-thirds of the players had just been promoted from the youth team.
But winning or losing was always beyond their control.
In the first game, they felt that the Chinese team was a resilient opponent. In the second game, they realized that the team’s tactics were also highly adaptable.
As they prepared for the third game, they expected to face Li Ling’s superb maneuvers once again. However, they were surprised to see Li Ling playing more honestly and Ding Rong launching attacks as well.
What kind of resilience was this? It was difficult to cope with!
The Iranian coach stared at Newton with a fierce gaze, considering him a rival.
What kind of mind did this new coach of the Chinese team possess? Why were his tactical arrangements so unpredictable? He was truly challenging to deal with!
Sensing the Iranian coach’s intense gaze, Newton turned to Qin Chunxiao and said, “Defend fiercely and make it difficult for them!”
Understanding the instruction, Qin Chunxiao abandoned his attacking role entirely and dedicated himself to defending with all his strength.
Being young and completely free from ankle problems, Qin Chunxiao was the healthiest player on the team. He was willing to cover the court extensively, showcasing a surprisingly wide defensive range.
Initially, Qin Chunxiao predicted the ball’s trajectory in advance and positioned himself to defend, which already made the Iranian team’s attackers uncomfortable. But now, with Qin Chunxiao’s wild running, the Iranian team’s attackers finally experienced the relentless heart of the young beast, Dominique.
Sometimes, it wasn’t a matter of whether one wanted to score or not, but whether the opponent allowed the ball to hit the ground.
When the ball was sent over, Qin Chunxiao sprinted with the speed of a 100-meter race, receiving, passing, attacking the opponent, defending, and counterattacking in a coordinated manner. The game’s pace remained rapid. The Iranian team hadn’t caught their breath yet, as they had to quickly organize their defense to handle the Chinese team’s counterattack. They were truly being tested by the Iranian team.
This score was more challenging than laying an egg!
Qin Chunxiao also didn’t have the idea of completely defending against the opponent. There was no absolute offense in this world, nor was there a defense without loopholes. He was not a god, and his teammates were robust men. Generally, they stood over two meters tall, with a high center of gravity. Their floor technique was inevitably not exquisite enough, and it was common to miss a ball.
His real purpose was to wear down the Iranian team. If they were not defeated, they would be weakened in the future. From the fourth and fifth sets, it would be the Chinese team’s time for a fierce comeback.
This was the tactic they had used all along to win the World Youth Championship, and it was incredibly effective.
Fortunately, the coach of the Iranian team had studied these “gangsters.” At 10:8 in the third set, he stood up and called a timeout, immediately rotating several injured veterans in the team to conserve energy and maintain their health.
Especially the captain, Mallard, had his knee ligament operated on less than six months ago. It was uncertain if he could complete a whole game, and at worst, he would end up in the hospital again.
The game was far from over. They had already reached the semi-finals, so it wasn’t worth risking injuries during the group stage!
The Iranian coach’s judgment was correct, and the Chinese team’s strategy of wearing them down could be dealt with through substitutions.
With these changes, the score reached 16:15. A 20-year-old player who had recently been promoted from the youth team was also sent onto the court by the Iranian coach.
When the player, who had just played against the Chinese National Youth Team in the World Youth Championship, saw the familiar face across the net, he couldn’t help but tremble.
Qiao Mingming was delighted to see this familiar face. He greeted him across the net, saying, “Hey, Mebadi, long time no see. You’re also playing in the Asian Championship! Hahaha, I thought only young players from our country could participate in such a big competition. It turns out you’re a super rookie in Iran’s men’s volleyball team?”
Mebadi remembered his sore knees and ankles after playing against the Chinese team, as well as his swollen wrist and fingers from being hit by Qiao Mingming’s powerful shots. He had no intention of responding to Qiao Mingming at all.
He replied vaguely, “Yeah, hello.”
Qiao Mingming turned his head and shouted, “Mebadi is also here at the Asian Championships!”
Fu Biyang came over first and said, “Really? It’s Mebadi. This kid has good blocking skills, and their coach has a good eye.”
Li Ling was also excited, saying, “Mebadi, haven’t your other teammates joined the senior team yet? We’ve already made it in first. Hahaha.”
Even Qin Chunxiao, who always had a stoic expression and was as cold as a snow wolf on the court, followed the trend and nodded to Mebadi as a form of greeting.
People who didn’t know would think that Mebadi had a good relationship with the Chinese team.
The eyes of everyone in the Iranian team were fixed on Mebadi, some curious and puzzled. They couldn’t seem to understand why Mebadi and the Chinese team were so familiar. Were they being overly modest and reserved? Why were these Chinese players acting so familiar!
Mebadi thought to himself that he didn’t know any of these people at all! The last time they met, his team suffered a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Chinese team. It was as good as saying that the two sides were enemies.
The TV commentator, Wu Di, said with a smile, “It seems our players made a lot of good friends during the World Youth Championship.”
His commentator partner, Professor Li Laiheng, smiled and replied, “Yes, that’s one of the joys that come with competition.”
In the end, it was the referee who saved Mebadi, saying, “The third game is about to start. You can make friends after the game, okay?”
The referee actually looked at both sides with affectionate eyes, seemingly happy to witness the friendship between the players.
This was the spirit of competitive sports!
Everyone returned to their respective positions. Mebadi stood up and heard the senior setter in the team ask him, “After the World Youth Championship, have you thought about how to deal with this team?”
Mebadi replied subconsciously, “Only one person can exploit the weak defense on the opposite side, so it’s better to direct the ball to others when attacking, and have someone block Misha Qin’s saving route.”
Everyone in the Iranian youth team referred to this tactic as the “wolf-killing tactic.” The name was derived from Misha Qin’s clear and cold wolf-like eyes and his role as the core of the Chinese team’s defense.
Anyone with discerning eyes knew that if Qin Chunxiao’s defensive gate was breached, it would be a significant step forward on the path to victory against the Chinese team.
The senior setter smiled lightly and said, “That’s right, it’s good to think about it.”
This senior player was Ah Sang, the SSR-level setter of the Iranian team, born in the 1990s, and the future captain.
He was a rare member of the Iranian team who didn’t have a beard. It was said that Iranian men grew beards due to their religious beliefs, but Ah Sang publicly stated that he didn’t have any beliefs and was a materialist. Whether or not he grew a beard depended solely on his mood.
Ah Sang also held a degree in electrical engineering from Oxford University. He possessed good looks, high IQ, and football skills. He had the most fans among the Iranian team and was known as the number one idol in Middle Eastern volleyball.
Ah Sang looked at the silhouette of the blue-eyed boy conversing with his teammates and knew in his heart that the youngest player on the Chinese team was the most skilled.
It was Misha Qin’s defense that kept the two teams evenly matched. Therefore, if they could break Misha Qin’s defense, the Iranian team had a chance to win.
Ah Sang whispered, “I heard that Misha Qin used to be a sprinter. Volleyball is different from sprinting.”
A sprinter, when standing on the track, could perform miracles regardless of the number of opponents. They relied solely on themselves. But volleyball was a team sport.
Running hard alone wasn’t enough. Misha Qin, it’s time for you to experience being tactically targeted. For a 16-year-old, it was already a remarkable achievement to have a dedicated set of tactics designed to deal with him.
Ah Sang called for a timeout and gathered his teammates, pushing Mebadi forward. “Explain to them what the wolf-killing tactic is.”
Mebadi stumbled and stuttered, “The wolf-killing tactic is… to create obstacles in Misha Qin’s path of saving, attacking weak spots in the opponent’s defense, which increases the difficulty of Misha Qin’s defense and also undermines the attacker’s confidence. However, this requires coordination between our setter and attacker to control the ball and make precise strikes.”
The Iranian team exchanged glances, but the coach smiled and said, “It’s a good idea, let’s give it a try. I think that player named Qiao Mingming is quite troublesome. Let’s test him.”
The reason the Iranian youth team couldn’t execute the wolf-killing tactic during the World Youth Championship was their lack of accuracy and power in spiking. Where others couldn’t pick it up, as long as Newton added another libero to the court to expand the effective defensive range, the tactic would be self-defeating.
But the Iranian senior team was different!
As the game resumed, Ah Sang quickly passed the ball to the fourth position. Mallard smashed the ball hard and directed it towards Qiao Mingming’s side!
Qin Chunxiao began his run but collided with Kong Duojin on the way. If it weren’t for Li Ling reaching out to support him instinctively, Qin Chunxiao would have fallen to the ground.
Being skilled in combat was one thing, but Qin Chunxiao, who was only 178 centimeters tall and weighed 68 kilograms, collided with Kong Duojin, who stood over 2.1 meters tall. In such a collision, it was Qin Chunxiao who would be sent flying.
Without the backing of his teammate, Qiao Mingming could only slide and kneel to catch the ball, but it landed on his shoulder and bounced out of bounds.
Qiao Mingming missed the ball.
The referee blew the whistle, indicating a point for Iran.
In the third game, the Iranian team took the lead with a score of 17-15.
Qin Chunxiao stood firm, looked across the net, and snorted in annoyance.
In the following game, the Iranian team continued to employ the wolf-killing tactic relentlessly. Although not every ball was aimed at Qin Chunxiao, anyone with discerning eyes could see that Iran had started targeting him.
After a few balls, Fu Biyang moved to the back row, and Newton took the opportunity to bring in libero Du Xiaofeng.
The last time the Iranian youth team used the wolf-killing tactic, it was Du Xiaofeng who came to their rescue.
Qin Chunxiao gave him a high five, and Du Xiaofeng smiled. “The Iranian team is targeting you again.”
Qin Chunxiao sighed, “That’s why I asked Brother Xiaofeng for help.”
Du Xiaofeng was straightforward, “No problem, my brother. It’s easy to talk about.”
From that point on, the game grew more intense.
Although Du Xiaofeng had good positioning ability, he couldn’t match Qin Chunxiao’s speed. Otherwise, he and Qiao Mingming wouldn’t have been defeated by the Iranian team in their previous international competition. His presence was just to make the Chinese team miss fewer balls, but it didn’t significantly change the situation.
The wolf-killing tactic started to take effect.
Newton clenched his fists tightly. If Dundun couldn’t free his hands to focus on defense, the two teams wouldn’t reach a 50-50 split, and they would return to a situation where the enemy was strong and they were weak.
The efficiency of the Chinese team’s attacks wasn’t as good as that of the Iranian team. If this continued, they might lose the third game, and Dundun could no longer be the target.
But if there was one more person on the team who could make effective saves at this crucial moment, the situation would be different. However, after careful consideration, Newton still felt like he had been thrown into battle with elite monsters before he was fully prepared. They simply didn’t have that capability.
The players on the field were also feeling anxious. They desperately wanted to make the saves, but defensive skills weren’t always readily available.
What should they do?
What could they do now?
Qiao Mingming was filled with anxiety. He was the primary target of the opposing team’s offensive strategy. Would he become a burden to Xiaozai and the team?
Kong Duojin was also facing difficulties. He was the second attacker targeted by the Iranian team. Standing at over 2.1 meters tall and weighing more than 200 kilograms, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to dive and make saves, but his size made it… inconvenient for such agile movements.
At this moment, cracks appeared in the unwavering fighting spirit they had developed through their battles against the wind. The memories of being targeted by various attackers during the U21 period resurfaced.
Jiang Xiaohai muttered anxiously, “Hold on, you must hold on. We finally shook off the reputation of being a fragile team!”
Previous Chinese teams had not lacked strength, but they often had the upper hand in the first two rounds, only to be overturned later on. They were not adept at handling adversity, and the entire team had been labeled as fragile, unable to withstand pressure.
The budding national team had managed to build their self-confidence through victories. If all their progress were undone because of this game, Jiang Xiaohai would be devastated!
The score reached 24-23, with the Iranian team needing one more point to win the third game!
Commentator Wu Di was also anxious. “Man, this Iranian team is really tough to handle.”
Li Laiheng chimed in, “Breaking through the current situation won’t be easy. Players other than Qin Chunxiao and Du Xiaofeng need to step up and deliver passes of sufficient quality to ensure that the defensive areas uncovered by Xiao Qin can be reasonably protected.”
Netizens were equally distraught.
[The problem is that our defense is lacking!]
“It’s over! The biggest weakness of our team of strong hitters has been exposed!”
[Come on, Team Qiao! You guys need to work even harder!]
[Team Qiao is already working really hard, okay? He dove and slid on the floor, but he didn’t do it properly…]
[When we return, we must continue working on the skills of our big guys!]
[Help! Other countries’ teams also have tall players who are excellent at defense. Why doesn’t our country pay attention to our players’ defensive abilities? Damn it, relying solely on Qin Chunxiao’s defense won’t cut it!]
After finally finding their rhythm, all the members of the Iranian team were rejuvenated. Mallard stood on the serving spot and launched a powerful jump, targeting Qiao Mingming!
But this time, Qin Chunxiao didn’t move to receive the ball because, unfortunately, Du Xiaofeng was positioned between him and Qiao Mingming.
Did he give up on catching the ball and let Du Xiaofeng handle it?
No, in the next moment, Li Ling pushed Qiao Mingming aside, raised his arm, and directed the ball towards Qin Chunxiao! Li Ling himself fell to the ground, supporting his body with one hand and sliding his abdomen and hips smoothly along the floor in a beautiful diving motion.
Qin Chunxiao, who had positioned himself near the net in advance, lightly jumped and flicked his left hand in front of the net, guiding the ball downwards.
At that moment, Qin Chunxiao and Li Ling seemed to have switched their positions on the court. Li Ling moved to receive the first pass, while Qin Chunxiao executed the second attack, almost like an offensive setter.
Netizens were perplexed.
[What… What’s going on?]
[Could it be…]
[Stand up, everyone! This is the dual-core mode of the Guangdong team!]
The U21 players on the Chinese team suddenly realized something. They finally remembered why Newton insisted on recruiting both Qin Chunxiao and Li Ling from the Guangdong team.
The reason was simple. This pair of twin stars from Guangdong had astounded everyone when they activated their dual-core mode during the U21 competition.
Li Ling got up, and Qin Chunxiao walked up to him, giving him a punch. Then, in unison, they turned around and faced each other across the net.
Volleyball was not an individual sport. No player could excel in both offense and defense.
So when Qin Chunxiao was targeted, Li Ling would step up and share the pressure with him. And when Li Ling faced difficulties, Qin Chunxiao would also provide cover.
The two were supporting each other. They were partners!
In Russia, Coach Nikolai, who was watching the game on TV, had his eyes light up. “So, that’s the case. Their complementarity runs deeper than I imagined…”
This pair of partners was not struggling individually while guarding the defensive gate, but rather, they were pulling each other forward and moving together. Qin Chunxiao was not alone.
This was the first time that the Guangdong Gemini had activated their dual-core mode on the international stage.
In today’s game, both physically and mentally, the Iranian team was truly exhausted.
Iran also had a youth team participating in the World Youth Championship, and the senior team had trained in the same arena as the youngsters. They were familiar with each other, so there were many senior players who paid attention to the tournament.
Naturally, there were also numerous adult players from around the world watching the World Youth Championship. The Chinese team had gained a considerable amount of attention for their performance against strong teams, and they had achieved a wave of fame.
The Iranian team was well aware that the current Chinese team was formidable, and strong teams were particularly vulnerable to being defeated by them. They were mentally prepared that after facing the Chinese team, they might not have enough stamina to compete against other strong teams.
However, they never expected to capsize against the Chinese team! It was ridiculous to lose to a team where two-thirds of the players had just been promoted from the youth team.
But winning or losing was always beyond their control.
In the first game, they felt that the Chinese team was a resilient opponent. In the second game, they realized that the team’s tactics were also highly adaptable.
As they prepared for the third game, they expected to face Li Ling’s superb maneuvers once again. However, they were surprised to see Li Ling playing more honestly and Ding Rong launching attacks as well.
What kind of resilience was this? It was difficult to cope with!
The Iranian coach stared at Newton with a fierce gaze, considering him a rival.
What kind of mind did this new coach of the Chinese team possess? Why were his tactical arrangements so unpredictable? He was truly challenging to deal with!
Sensing the Iranian coach’s intense gaze, Newton turned to Qin Chunxiao and said, “Defend fiercely and make it difficult for them!”
Understanding the instruction, Qin Chunxiao abandoned his attacking role entirely and dedicated himself to defending with all his strength.
Being young and completely free from ankle problems, Qin Chunxiao was the healthiest player on the team. He was willing to cover the court extensively, showcasing a surprisingly wide defensive range.
Initially, Qin Chunxiao predicted the ball’s trajectory in advance and positioned himself to defend, which already made the Iranian team’s attackers uncomfortable. But now, with Qin Chunxiao’s wild running, the Iranian team’s attackers finally experienced the relentless heart of the young beast, Dominique.
Sometimes, it wasn’t a matter of whether one wanted to score or not, but whether the opponent allowed the ball to hit the ground.
When the ball was sent over, Qin Chunxiao sprinted with the speed of a 100-meter race, receiving, passing, attacking the opponent, defending, and counterattacking in a coordinated manner. The game’s pace remained rapid. The Iranian team hadn’t caught their breath yet, as they had to quickly organize their defense to handle the Chinese team’s counterattack. They were truly being tested by the Iranian team.
This score was more challenging than laying an egg!
Qin Chunxiao also didn’t have the idea of completely defending against the opponent. There was no absolute offense in this world, nor was there a defense without loopholes. He was not a god, and his teammates were robust men. Generally, they stood over two meters tall, with a high center of gravity. Their floor technique was inevitably not exquisite enough, and it was common to miss a ball.
His real purpose was to wear down the Iranian team. If they were not defeated, they would be weakened in the future. From the fourth and fifth sets, it would be the Chinese team’s time for a fierce comeback.
This was the tactic they had used all along to win the World Youth Championship, and it was incredibly effective.
Fortunately, the coach of the Iranian team had studied these “gangsters.” At 10:8 in the third set, he stood up and called a timeout, immediately rotating several injured veterans in the team to conserve energy and maintain their health.
Especially the captain, Mallard, had his knee ligament operated on less than six months ago. It was uncertain if he could complete a whole game, and at worst, he would end up in the hospital again.
The game was far from over. They had already reached the semi-finals, so it wasn’t worth risking injuries during the group stage!
The Iranian coach’s judgment was correct, and the Chinese team’s strategy of wearing them down could be dealt with through substitutions.
With these changes, the score reached 16:15. A 20-year-old player who had recently been promoted from the youth team was also sent onto the court by the Iranian coach.
When the player, who had just played against the Chinese National Youth Team in the World Youth Championship, saw the familiar face across the net, he couldn’t help but tremble.
Qiao Mingming was delighted to see this familiar face. He greeted him across the net, saying, “Hey, Mebadi, long time no see. You’re also playing in the Asian Championship! Hahaha, I thought only young players from our country could participate in such a big competition. It turns out you’re a super rookie in Iran’s men’s volleyball team?”
Mebadi remembered his sore knees and ankles after playing against the Chinese team, as well as his swollen wrist and fingers from being hit by Qiao Mingming’s powerful shots. He had no intention of responding to Qiao Mingming at all.
He replied vaguely, “Yeah, hello.”
Qiao Mingming turned his head and shouted, “Mebadi is also here at the Asian Championships!”
Fu Biyang came over first and said, “Really? It’s Mebadi. This kid has good blocking skills, and their coach has a good eye.”
Li Ling was also excited, saying, “Mebadi, haven’t your other teammates joined the senior team yet? We’ve already made it in first. Hahaha.”
Even Qin Chunxiao, who always had a stoic expression and was as cold as a snow wolf on the court, followed the trend and nodded to Mebadi as a form of greeting.
People who didn’t know would think that Mebadi had a good relationship with the Chinese team.
The eyes of everyone in the Iranian team were fixed on Mebadi, some curious and puzzled. They couldn’t seem to understand why Mebadi and the Chinese team were so familiar. Were they being overly modest and reserved? Why were these Chinese players acting so familiar!
Mebadi thought to himself that he didn’t know any of these people at all! The last time they met, his team suffered a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Chinese team. It was as good as saying that the two sides were enemies.
The TV commentator, Wu Di, said with a smile, “It seems our players made a lot of good friends during the World Youth Championship.”
His commentator partner, Professor Li Laiheng, smiled and replied, “Yes, that’s one of the joys that come with competition.”
In the end, it was the referee who saved Mebadi, saying, “The third game is about to start. You can make friends after the game, okay?”
The referee actually looked at both sides with affectionate eyes, seemingly happy to witness the friendship between the players.
This was the spirit of competitive sports!
Everyone returned to their respective positions. Mebadi stood up and heard the senior setter in the team ask him, “After the World Youth Championship, have you thought about how to deal with this team?”
Mebadi replied subconsciously, “Only one person can exploit the weak defense on the opposite side, so it’s better to direct the ball to others when attacking, and have someone block Misha Qin’s saving route.”
Everyone in the Iranian youth team referred to this tactic as the “wolf-killing tactic.” The name was derived from Misha Qin’s clear and cold wolf-like eyes and his role as the core of the Chinese team’s defense.
Anyone with discerning eyes knew that if Qin Chunxiao’s defensive gate was breached, it would be a significant step forward on the path to victory against the Chinese team.
The senior setter smiled lightly and said, “That’s right, it’s good to think about it.”
This senior player was Ah Sang, the SSR-level setter of the Iranian team, born in the 1990s, and the future captain.
He was a rare member of the Iranian team who didn’t have a beard. It was said that Iranian men grew beards due to their religious beliefs, but Ah Sang publicly stated that he didn’t have any beliefs and was a materialist. Whether or not he grew a beard depended solely on his mood.
Ah Sang also held a degree in electrical engineering from Oxford University. He possessed good looks, high IQ, and football skills. He had the most fans among the Iranian team and was known as the number one idol in Middle Eastern volleyball.
Ah Sang looked at the silhouette of the blue-eyed boy conversing with his teammates and knew in his heart that the youngest player on the Chinese team was the most skilled.
It was Misha Qin’s defense that kept the two teams evenly matched. Therefore, if they could break Misha Qin’s defense, the Iranian team had a chance to win.
Ah Sang whispered, “I heard that Misha Qin used to be a sprinter. Volleyball is different from sprinting.”
A sprinter, when standing on the track, could perform miracles regardless of the number of opponents. They relied solely on themselves. But volleyball was a team sport.
Running hard alone wasn’t enough. Misha Qin, it’s time for you to experience being tactically targeted. For a 16-year-old, it was already a remarkable achievement to have a dedicated set of tactics designed to deal with him.
Ah Sang called for a timeout and gathered his teammates, pushing Mebadi forward. “Explain to them what the wolf-killing tactic is.”
Mebadi stumbled and stuttered, “The wolf-killing tactic is… to create obstacles in Misha Qin’s path of saving, attacking weak spots in the opponent’s defense, which increases the difficulty of Misha Qin’s defense and also undermines the attacker’s confidence. However, this requires coordination between our setter and attacker to control the ball and make precise strikes.”
The Iranian team exchanged glances, but the coach smiled and said, “It’s a good idea, let’s give it a try. I think that player named Qiao Mingming is quite troublesome. Let’s test him.”
The reason the Iranian youth team couldn’t execute the wolf-killing tactic during the World Youth Championship was their lack of accuracy and power in spiking. Where others couldn’t pick it up, as long as Newton added another libero to the court to expand the effective defensive range, the tactic would be self-defeating.
But the Iranian senior team was different!
As the game resumed, Ah Sang quickly passed the ball to the fourth position. Mallard smashed the ball hard and directed it towards Qiao Mingming’s side!
Qin Chunxiao began his run but collided with Kong Duojin on the way. If it weren’t for Li Ling reaching out to support him instinctively, Qin Chunxiao would have fallen to the ground.
Being skilled in combat was one thing, but Qin Chunxiao, who was only 178 centimeters tall and weighed 68 kilograms, collided with Kong Duojin, who stood over 2.1 meters tall. In such a collision, it was Qin Chunxiao who would be sent flying.
Without the backing of his teammate, Qiao Mingming could only slide and kneel to catch the ball, but it landed on his shoulder and bounced out of bounds.
Qiao Mingming missed the ball.
The referee blew the whistle, indicating a point for Iran.
In the third game, the Iranian team took the lead with a score of 17-15.
Qin Chunxiao stood firm, looked across the net, and snorted in annoyance.
In the following game, the Iranian team continued to employ the wolf-killing tactic relentlessly. Although not every ball was aimed at Qin Chunxiao, anyone with discerning eyes could see that Iran had started targeting him.
After a few balls, Fu Biyang moved to the back row, and Newton took the opportunity to bring in libero Du Xiaofeng.
The last time the Iranian youth team used the wolf-killing tactic, it was Du Xiaofeng who came to their rescue.
Qin Chunxiao gave him a high five, and Du Xiaofeng smiled. “The Iranian team is targeting you again.”
Qin Chunxiao sighed, “That’s why I asked Brother Xiaofeng for help.”
Du Xiaofeng was straightforward, “No problem, my brother. It’s easy to talk about.”
From that point on, the game grew more intense.
Although Du Xiaofeng had good positioning ability, he couldn’t match Qin Chunxiao’s speed. Otherwise, he and Qiao Mingming wouldn’t have been defeated by the Iranian team in their previous international competition. His presence was just to make the Chinese team miss fewer balls, but it didn’t significantly change the situation.
The wolf-killing tactic started to take effect.
Newton clenched his fists tightly. If Dundun couldn’t free his hands to focus on defense, the two teams wouldn’t reach a 50-50 split, and they would return to a situation where the enemy was strong and they were weak.
The efficiency of the Chinese team’s attacks wasn’t as good as that of the Iranian team. If this continued, they might lose the third game, and Dundun could no longer be the target.
But if there was one more person on the team who could make effective saves at this crucial moment, the situation would be different. However, after careful consideration, Newton still felt like he had been thrown into battle with elite monsters before he was fully prepared. They simply didn’t have that capability.
The players on the field were also feeling anxious. They desperately wanted to make the saves, but defensive skills weren’t always readily available.
What should they do?
What could they do now?
Qiao Mingming was filled with anxiety. He was the primary target of the opposing team’s offensive strategy. Would he become a burden to Xiaozai and the team?
Kong Duojin was also facing difficulties. He was the second attacker targeted by the Iranian team. Standing at over 2.1 meters tall and weighing more than 200 kilograms, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to dive and make saves, but his size made it… inconvenient for such agile movements.
At this moment, cracks appeared in the unwavering fighting spirit they had developed through their battles against the wind. The memories of being targeted by various attackers during the U21 period resurfaced.
Jiang Xiaohai muttered anxiously, “Hold on, you must hold on. We finally shook off the reputation of being a fragile team!”
Previous Chinese teams had not lacked strength, but they often had the upper hand in the first two rounds, only to be overturned later on. They were not adept at handling adversity, and the entire team had been labeled as fragile, unable to withstand pressure.
The budding national team had managed to build their self-confidence through victories. If all their progress were undone because of this game, Jiang Xiaohai would be devastated!
The score reached 24-23, with the Iranian team needing one more point to win the third game!
Commentator Wu Di was also anxious. “Man, this Iranian team is really tough to handle.”
Li Laiheng chimed in, “Breaking through the current situation won’t be easy. Players other than Qin Chunxiao and Du Xiaofeng need to step up and deliver passes of sufficient quality to ensure that the defensive areas uncovered by Xiao Qin can be reasonably protected.”
Netizens were equally distraught.
[The problem is that our defense is lacking!]
“It’s over! The biggest weakness of our team of strong hitters has been exposed!”
[Come on, Team Qiao! You guys need to work even harder!]
[Team Qiao is already working really hard, okay? He dove and slid on the floor, but he didn’t do it properly…]
[When we return, we must continue working on the skills of our big guys!]
[Help! Other countries’ teams also have tall players who are excellent at defense. Why doesn’t our country pay attention to our players’ defensive abilities? Damn it, relying solely on Qin Chunxiao’s defense won’t cut it!]
After finally finding their rhythm, all the members of the Iranian team were rejuvenated. Mallard stood on the serving spot and launched a powerful jump, targeting Qiao Mingming!
But this time, Qin Chunxiao didn’t move to receive the ball because, unfortunately, Du Xiaofeng was positioned between him and Qiao Mingming.
Did he give up on catching the ball and let Du Xiaofeng handle it?
No, in the next moment, Li Ling pushed Qiao Mingming aside, raised his arm, and directed the ball towards Qin Chunxiao! Li Ling himself fell to the ground, supporting his body with one hand and sliding his abdomen and hips smoothly along the floor in a beautiful diving motion.
Qin Chunxiao, who had positioned himself near the net in advance, lightly jumped and flicked his left hand in front of the net, guiding the ball downwards.
At that moment, Qin Chunxiao and Li Ling seemed to have switched their positions on the court. Li Ling moved to receive the first pass, while Qin Chunxiao executed the second attack, almost like an offensive setter.
Netizens were perplexed.
[What… What’s going on?]
[Could it be…]
[Stand up, everyone! This is the dual-core mode of the Guangdong team!]
The U21 players on the Chinese team suddenly realized something. They finally remembered why Newton insisted on recruiting both Qin Chunxiao and Li Ling from the Guangdong team.
The reason was simple. This pair of twin stars from Guangdong had astounded everyone when they activated their dual-core mode during the U21 competition.
Li Ling got up, and Qin Chunxiao walked up to him, giving him a punch. Then, in unison, they turned around and faced each other across the net.
Volleyball was not an individual sport. No player could excel in both offense and defense.
So when Qin Chunxiao was targeted, Li Ling would step up and share the pressure with him. And when Li Ling faced difficulties, Qin Chunxiao would also provide cover.
The two were supporting each other. They were partners!
In Russia, Coach Nikolai, who was watching the game on TV, had his eyes light up. “So, that’s the case. Their complementarity runs deeper than I imagined…”
This pair of partners was not struggling individually while guarding the defensive gate, but rather, they were pulling each other forward and moving together. Qin Chunxiao was not alone.
This was the first time that the Guangdong Gemini had activated their dual-core mode on the international stage.
