Emperor of Football: Julien De Rocca

Whoosh!

Julien's sudden sprint caused the Donbass Arena to erupt in fan exclamations.

Everyone was stunned by Julien.

This fast?

Julien's performance wasn't over. After using his pace to penetrate Ashley Cole and Lescott's defense, he entered the penalty area, directly facing goalkeeper Joe Hart.

This was a goalkeeper known for being beaten by wonder goals.

"When heaven has feelings, even heaven grows old — when Hart's in goal, any shot might strike gold."

But Julien wasn't thinking about trying his luck. He didn't slow down in the final stretch.

When Joe Hart came out and was still two or three meters away, Julien suddenly came to a sharp stop.

Then his left foot feinted a shot.

Hart quickly reacted, but just as Julien was about to make contact with the ball, he twisted his ankle and knocked the ball to the right.

Hart made a second effort to dive toward the ball.

At the last moment, he tried to block the ball, but Julien's footwork was too quick.

So quick that just as Hart shifted his weight, Julien had already flicked the ball back to the left with the outside of his foot, took a quick step forward, and left him behind.

Empty net.

A gentle push, and the ball rolled into the goal.

Hart turned his head dejectedly to watch the ball rolling in the net. Julien's sequence had been complex but took only a few seconds, and now the ball was already moving in the net.

Seeing Julien rush out to celebrate, Hart felt terrible inside. He had been completely played by Julien. And the team was going to lose.

The moment the goal went in, the Donbass Arena erupted in thunderous cheers from French fans, they had scored a winner!

It was phenomenal.

2-1!

Julien ran to the stands, found the section with Bastia fans, grinned, and pointed to the jersey in their hands, the Bastia's number 29 shirt.

"De Rocca!"

They shouted Julien's name with all their strength. As Bastia fans, their blood was boiling intensely at this moment.

They had to shout to release that surge of excitement in their hearts.

Everyone was shouting with all their might, only this could express their elation.

Other French fans also began chanting Julien's name.

The youngest player to appear and the youngest to score! A winner!

This was simply a script written for genius. Was this another French talent bursting onto the scene?!

Many fans thought back to the European Championship eight years ago.

England had held a 1-0 lead for 89 minutes, and just as fans were leaving their seats to exit, Zidane pulled off a stunning comeback with a free kick and penalty in three minutes.

And now, Julien didn't score twice in three minutes, but in his three minutes on the pitch, with one possession, he had delivered a winner against England!

The same three minutes! The same opponent, England! The same French genius!

French fans cheered, and some even began chanting "Zidane's" name in the stadium.

Zidane was actually at the stadium. He had stood to applaud when Julien scored.

The camera even gave Zidane a close-up.

Other French legends and French Football Federation officials also applauded Julien's performance.

An amazing young man.

They began to discuss about Julien, some knew him, some didn't, but by the end of their conversations, they all did.

Julien De Rocca, a story of redemption, a story of a talented player quietly spread through the stands.

The substitute bench was on the same side as Julien's celebration. When Julien spread his arms in front of the stands, celebrating his first national team goal, Giroud was the first to rush over.

Along with other teammates, he embraced Julien in celebration.

"Beautiful, Julien! Your first national team goal!! I knew you could do it! You can!" Giroud shouted wildly, lifting Julien up.

The rest of the teammates were equally excited, all gathering to celebrate.

Who wouldn't love victory?

Even Nasri joined the celebration.

This was his assist!

"Julien scored!" At this moment, Mbappé was no different from any other fan in the stands.

He shouted Julien's name with all his might.

Kanté and Mané too, they had watched Julien's entire goal sequence, and playing alongside such a player made them look forward to next season's journey with Bastia.

Perhaps choosing Bastia would be a turning point in their careers.

Who wouldn't want to shine brilliantly in front of countless fans like Julien, becoming the team's hero?

Blanc embraced his coaching staff.

England manager Hodgson was still in shock from Julien's goal.

How had Julien just beaten three players and rounded Joe Hart?

The stadium's silence and passion were equally reflected online.

French fans were so excited they nearly fainted, while England fans showed helpless bitter smiles.

When it came to choking in major tournaments, they really never failed to choke.

After giving Julien extended close-up coverage, the broadcast showed various stadium shots.

One was of a stunned Wayne Rooney.

After passionately praising Julien for two or three minutes, the TF1 commentator saw this shot and joked. "I wonder if Rooney is thinking that if he had been on the pitch and converted Milner's first-half one-on-one chance, the final result would have been different? Unfortunately, reality has no 'what-ifs.' Eight years later, England still falls at the final three minutes."

Amid the wild celebration of French fans, injury time ended.

No one on the England team became a hero like Julien, no one equalized the score again.

The final whistle blew.

England's stars walked toward the dressing room with hanging heads.

The Donbass Arena had become a blue ocean!!

After the final whistle, the TF1 commentator said. "Before the match, everyone said this was a French team without star quality, but 17-year-old De Rocca seemed to answer those doubts. France doesn't have stars? No, they do—it's just that he's only seventeen and often overlooked.

Zidane said he hoped fans would give De Rocca some time, and he would prove himself. I think now De Rocca doesn't need fans to give him time, but needs Blanc to give him time. With his goal in three minutes, he has already told everyone why he can be the youngest player to appear in an official national team match.

The sea breeze from Bastia has blown to Donetsk."

Blanc hugged Julien tightly. "Well done, kid!"

No extra words were needed.

Blanc patted Julien's shoulder, letting him celebrate with his teammates while he walked toward the mixed zone.

There were difficult reporters waiting there.

"Seeing you score was like me scoring myself, it was so exciting! This is what you call making a name with one goal. I think I witnessed the birth of a legend tonight."

Giroud also gave Julien a big hug, still unable to contain his excitement, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke.

"No, our legend hasn't started yet. This isn't just my story, it includes you and many others."

Julien responded to Giroud.

After the embrace, Giroud looked into Julien's eyes.

They were sincere and clear.

This time, Giroud believed him.

A surge of emotion rose in his heart, he couldn't describe the feeling, but he just wanted to play football with Julien.

To win together, to claim those damn championships together!

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