About 20 minutes before the start of the game, the players from both teams who have warmed up leave the field and return to the locker room to change into their game uniforms, and the head coach begins to arrange the final tactics or give a speech.
For the Chinese team, there is nothing much to say about the tactics. They have always played 4231 defensive counterattack. Only a few new starting players such as Wu Lei need special reminders.
In this game, the Chinese team's starting lineup included goalkeeper Zeng Cheng, defenders Rong Hao, Zhao Peng, Wang Qiang, Zhang Linpeng, midfielders Zhao Xuri, Wang Yongpo, midfielders Deng Zhuoxiang, Hao Junmin, attacking midfielder Lu Wenbin, and lone striker Wu Lei.
Wu Lei replaced Gao Lin as the starting striker of the national team because of his achievements and performance in the Olympics.
In the past, the Chinese team would always find various excuses when they lost a game, such as too much pressure at home, being unfamiliar with away games, slippery grass, bad weather, the referee taking care of the opponents, bad luck, etc.
The current team is not allowed to make excuses, because all the pressure is actually on Lu Wenbin.
As the captain and core of the Chinese team, Lu Wenbin is the one who bears the most responsibility.
Gao Hongbo told everyone that this nationally watched game was not about maintaining a draw or winning, but about winning. Lu Wenbin, in particular, had to take on the responsibility of leading the Chinese team to victory.
Lu Wenbin raised his head and agreed without any hesitation.
Outside, the stadium broadcast began to introduce the lineups of both teams.
When the Japanese players were introduced, the whole stadium was silent, with only a few hundred Japanese fans applauding in the corner.
When the Chinese players were introduced, the audience burst into applause, especially when No. 6 Lu Wenbin was called, the cheers reached a peak.
At this time, Lu Wenbin is the banner of Chinese football.
At 19:20, the entrance ceremony began. Players from both teams entered the field leading their caddies, and then the national anthem was played, and they shook hands, took photos, and chose sides.
In the side-to-side ceremony organized by the referee, captain Lu Wenbin won the right to kick-off for the Chinese team.
After gathering in a circle with teammates and giving a final encouragement, everyone shouted "We must win" together, then dispersed. Lu Wenbin and Wu Lei walked to the center circle, ready to kick off.
At 19:30 on the evening of March 26, 2013, with the referee's whistle, the seventh round of Group B of the Brazil World Cup Asian qualifiers, in which China played against Japan at home, officially began.
Another match taking place at the same time was Australia's home game against Oman, with Iraq having a bye.
As soon as the game started, the CCTV commentator habitually addressed the audience in front of the TV and then introduced the starting lineups of both teams.
Before even reading two names, the commentator suddenly realized something was wrong:
"Wait, Lu Wenbin didn't pass the ball back after kicking off. Instead, he dribbled the ball towards the Japanese team's half and passed the first player."
On the court, after Wu Lei kicked the ball from the center circle to Lu Wenbin, Lu Wenbin did not pass it backwards, but suddenly kicked forward, using his body and speed to dribble past Japanese striker Ryoichi Maeda and headed towards the Japanese team's penalty area.
Lu Wenbin wanted to use the kick-off right to catch the Japanese team off guard, just like the fastest goal in the history of the Champions League that he scored in the Champions League match against Lyon.
On the field, Lu Wenbin's dribbling forward did catch the Japanese team off guard.
Because it has been a long time since Lu Wenbin performed a good opening attack on the court, everyone has forgotten about it.
Not only was Ryoichi Maeda, who had mediocre defensive ability, dribbled past in one encounter, but midfielder Shinji Kagawa was also easily dribbled past by Lu Wenbin with a bicycle kick fake move. Only Hasebe Makoto, the defensive midfielder, concentrated his attention and prepared for interception.
Lu Wenbin and Hasebe Makoto slowed down their speed, and then faced the siege of Hasebe Makoto and the central defenders Yoshida Maya and Konno Yasuyuki who quickly came to defend outside the penalty area, and they could no longer advance into the penalty area.
Wu Lei joined the team from the back row not far away, running while shouting "Captain, here".
Upon hearing the sound, Lu Wenbin made a move to pass the ball towards Wu Lei, which prompted Maya Yoshida to move a small step towards Wu Lei.
It was this small step that gave Lu Wenbin the opportunity to shoot.
Lu Wenbin knocked the ball into the gap between Maya Yoshida and Yasuyuki Konno, then took a step forward, raised his right leg and shot.
Maya Yoshida and Yasuyuki Konno realized they had been tricked and even though they stretched their legs to disrupt the play, they were unable to touch the ball.
The ball passed by the toes of Maya Yoshida and Yasuyuki Konno and flew towards the goal.
Goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima had already focused his attention when Lu Wenbin was dribbling towards him alone, but the angle of Lu Wenbin's shot was too tricky and his desperate save still failed to touch the ball.
When Kawashima Eiji saw the ball flying past his hand, his heart sank.
The audience in the stands also held their breath, wondering if they were going to score a goal and take the lead right at the start of the game
The commentator also shouted: "Lu Wenbin shoots..."
Then, the ball avoided the goalkeeper's fingers and hit the goal post and bounced out of the bottom line.
Lu Wenbin's shot was too focused on the angle and ended up hitting the post and bouncing out of the bottom line, failing to score a goal.
There was a sudden sigh in the stands, and countless fans who had stood up to celebrate were beating their chests, feeling sorry for Lu Wenbin for not being able to score the goal.
However, after being annoyed, everyone quickly applauded Lu Wenbin and expressed their appreciation for his shot.
In contrast to the Chinese team's reaction, the Japanese team was startled at first, then felt delighted when they saw the ball hit the post and bounce out of the baseline.
After calming down, I felt a huge pressure coming at me again.
Lu Wenbin's move was simply a warning to the Japanese team.
Although no goal was scored, it scared the Japanese players and fans.
Everyone looked at Lu Wenbin with a frightened look on their face.
As a result, the Japanese team did not dare to attack much after the opening, giving the Chinese players more time to adapt to the game and get into the game.
Under the national attention, except for Lu Wenbin, the other players were more or less nervous, and no matter how Gao Hongbo and Lu Wenbin tried to comfort them, it was useless.
The Chinese team gradually got into the game and played better and better. In the 6th minute, winger Deng Zhuoxiang took the ball in the middle, broke through a Japanese midfielder and made a cross at a 45-degree angle on the wing.
The moment Deng Zhuoxiang kicked the ball, Wu Lei suddenly turned around and rushed towards the opponent's penalty area, successfully got past the offside, and then jumped and headed the ball on the penalty area line before the opponent's defender.
The ball drew a parabola and flew towards the far corner of the goal.
Fortunately, the ball was far enough away, giving Kawashima Eiji enough time to react. He was originally standing on the small penalty area line and wanted to attack to save Wu Lei's one-on-one shot, but he braked suddenly, turned around to save it, and successfully got the ball off.
Although they didn't score, the Chinese team had two very threatening shots in just six minutes after the start of the game, which was still very exciting.
The Chinese fans in the stands were overjoyed and kept cheering for the Chinese team, hoping to score the first goal soon.