Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

The German center-back Mertesacker, standing at a height of 198 cm, might be nothing special among basketball players, but in the football world, he's practically a bug-like existence.

Across the entire Premier League, the only player taller than him is the 201 cm Crouch, who plays for Stoke City.

The German center-back's performance in this match was arguably the best of the lot.

In aerial duels against big players like Yaya Toure, Ranocchia, and Iheanacho, he frequently had the upper hand. According to statistics, he's had 13 aerial duels so far, winning 12 of them, demonstrating his absolute dominance in controlling the air space!

However, as time progressed, the players' stamina and focus gradually waned.

Especially for defensive players, a momentary lapse might lead to a mistake.

In the 92nd minute, Ranocchia had already moved up to the center forward position.

Pellegrini, in the final moments, took a gamble, planning to utilize his 195 cm height to enhance heading opportunities.

Joe Hart took a goal kick, gesturing for everyone to move up, then unleashed a powerful goal kick, propelling the ball all the way to Arsenal's penalty area line!

The target was Ranocchia!

Mertesacker kept a firm eye on this Italian defender, lifted his eyes to watch the ball, and went for the aerial duel!

Unexpectedly, Ranocchia cunningly stood still, not jumping, causing Mertesacker to sway in the air, missing the ball, and landing directly on Ranocchia, who fell to the ground with a thud.

If he had headed that ball, by Premier League standards, it would have been perfectly legitimate.

But the referee still blew the whistle, because Mertesacker didn't get the ball, making it a plain case of over-the-top foul.

Manchester City won a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area!

At this point, the game was already in the 94th minute, the last minute of injury time.

Over such a decision, Wenger immediately rushed to the fourth official to protest, and the Arsenal players on the field surrounded the referee, exclaiming, "Time's up! You can't give a set-piece now!"

Over on Manchester City's side, Tang Long was discussing with Yaya Toure.

Manchester City had three main set-piece takers.

Silva, Kolarov, and Yaya Toure.

Silva was known for his curve balls, Kolarov a power shooter, and Yaya Toure combined curve and power.

With the first two absent, Yaya Toure logically should have taken the shot.

But Tang Long negotiated with Yaya Toure, obtaining the right to take the shot.

His reasoning was, "I feel good about my kicks now. I believe I can score this time."

Yaya Toure, having seen Tang Long make an extraordinary long-range goal in the game and in training, hesitated for a few seconds but eventually handed over the ball.

"What are you doing? Don't fight over the free kick!" Assistant coach Rein stepped forward and shouted at the two.

Pellegrini held him back, saying, "Let them decide for themselves. The players know what to do."

Tang Long stood before the ball.

The rain had made his hair a chaotic mess.

His whole body was soaked.

He had to use his hands to desperately sweep away the water from the spot to place the ball stably.

Since last season, Premier League referees had begun using dispersible spray.

When players take a free kick, they first draw a semicircle to mark the spot for the ball;

and then, draw a straight line 9.15 meters from the ball to ensure the defending wall is at the correct distance.

In the pouring rain, the spray immediately got washed away, barely visible.

...

Live broadcast room.

-[This is killing me with suspense!]

-[This rain, it's practically water polo!]

-[Isn't this Tang Long's first free kick for Manchester City? Such a rarity, even Yaya Toure's pride allows it.]

-[Show some skills, Tang Long, and get us the winning goal!]

-[If this goes in, won't Wenger be furious?]

-[Honestly, this free kick is tough; it's too close to the goal, only about 17 meters, no room for the ball to dip!]

-[There's still a way: take a low, powerful shot and hope for the best!]

From Tang Long's perspective.

This shot is indeed tough!

Not only is it close to the goal.

Arsenal had lined up a six-man wall!

Blocking his view completely.

The 7.32-meter-wide goal left Tang Long with an angle of about one meter.

Tang Long looked at this only gap, with Cech staring right back at him.

The purpose of Cech positioning the wall was obvious, block all your near angles while he stands at the far post, for the near angle, the distance is too short, even if the ball crosses the wall, it won't dip at all;

If you aim for the far post, he will be waiting there, leaving you with a one-meter gap, but standing still, he can cover more than a meter, you will just hit into him, standing still he'll still make a save!

Watching Cech swing his arms confidently.

Tang Long decided to use this strategy against him, as you wish!

The main referee's whistle blew, Tang Long took a deep breath, swung his arms back and forth, stomped his feet twice, then ran up—

At the moment of contact, his body leaned forward almost to a point that his torso was parallel to the ground, and he struck the center of the ball with a diagonal volley!

This low shot was much more powerful than any previous ground shot pass Tang Long had made, and the football shot forward like a ground-grenade on a crash course with Cech!

The waterlogged pitch added 20% extra speed to the ball, and Cech only saw a yellow blur rushing towards him, instinctively stepping and reaching out, only feeling his ankle hit hard, and hearing a loud thud, he was secretly pleased, though the ball was a blur, he was sure it had been saved.

Little did he know, just as he started to track the ball, he saw Ranocchia had already made a header action!

The ball was volleyed into the net!

The main referee blew the final whistle of the match!

In the 95th minute, Manchester City won 2-1 against Arsenal away from home!

Everyone madly rushed towards Ranocchia!

Standing at 195 cm, he was surrounded by a crowd of teammates, yet from afar, you could still clearly see his head towering over the group, shouting towards the sky!

Around him, centered like a circle, all the Arsenal players collapsed onto the ground, covering their faces with their hands.

"Ding!"

"It has been detected that the base of the gadget [Gualin's Shin Guards] is increasingly cracked, having reached a state of severe damage."

"Used once, 4 uses left remaining."

"With each remaining use, the bonus in shot power and strength will decrease cumulatively by 4%."

"That is, the 2nd time +16%, the 3rd time +12%, the 4th time +8%, the 5th time +4%, after which it will break."

"With each remaining use, the reduction in speed and dribbling will cumulatively decrease by 2%."

"That is, the 2nd time -8%, the 3rd time -6%, the 4th time -4%, the 5th time -2%, after which it will break."

Tang Long was taken aback; he instinctively pulled down his sock to take out the shin guard and examine it.

Just as he pulled it down, the spot on his shoulder where he had collided with Arsenal's Iwobi flared up with a sharp stabbing pain!

Ssss...

Tang Long clutched his left shoulder, moving it slightly, the muscle pain was still quite noticeable.

"Detected that the host has removed [Gualin's Shin Guard], attributes restored!"

"Shot Power: 97.2—81, Strength 98.4—82, Speed 72—80, Dribbling 75.6—84"