Ye Chen had initially liked player 272.

After all, his flair and creativity on the field were visible to the naked eye.

But after some of his controversial remarks, Ye Chen was thoroughly disappointed in him!

As Germany made their substitution, France quickly responded by swapping Cabaye with Lassana Diarra.

Cabaye had played exceptionally well today; his control and distribution in midfield were crucial for France's 2-0 lead.

Ye Chen had just come on the field when Diarra immediately marked him closely.

"Kid, you're all over the news in Europe lately. You're quite the star, huh!" Diarra said in English, taunting Ye Chen.

"Just doing okay," Ye Chen replied calmly.

Ye Chen wasn't much of a talker on the pitch, but Diarra seemed to be quite the chatterbox.

Of course, this was just one of Diarra's tactics.

If his opponent got caught up in talking, how could they stay focused on the game?

Seeing Ye Chen ignore him, Diarra persisted, "Our coach gave me a specific task: stick to you. I mean, it's just a friendly match, don't take it so seriously!"

Ye Chen merely smiled without responding.

Although this was a friendly, it was Ye Chen's debut for the German national team.

Countless eyes were watching him—not just those on TV, but also the fans in the stadium chanting his name. There was no way Ye Chen could afford to slack off.

But most importantly, it was about professional pride.

Ye Chen had the kind of personality where even losing a single game would make him uncomfortable. As long as the match wasn't over, he would give it his all!

When Germany gained possession in the midfield, Ye Chen immediately raised his hand, calling for the ball.

Reus glanced at Ye Chen's position and passed the ball without hesitation.

In the past couple of days, Ye Chen's performance in training sessions and prior matches had already earned him a lot of respect.

Although they didn't always say it out loud, they trusted Ye Chen and would pass him the ball when he asked for it.

Ye Chen received the ball, facing Diarra with a calm demeanor.

Diarra crouched low, fully focused on Ye Chen's movements.

Diarra also wanted to earn a spot in the European Championship squad, so he needed to play his best in this match!

Ye Chen began to pedal the ball, his upper body swaying dramatically.

Suddenly, his left foot pushed the ball to the left as he accelerated.

Diarra reacted quickly, but Ye Chen had already broken past him!

Thud!

Diarra made no hesitation, sliding in to bring both Ye Chen and the ball crashing to the ground.

Ye Chen tumbled several times before coming to a stop, a sharp pain radiating from his leg.

Was this Diarra's way of sending a warning?

The referee ran over, awarding Germany a free kick but opting not to show a card.

This decision sparked protests from the German players, who pressured the referee, while Sven Bender rushed to Ye Chen's side to check on him.

"Ye, are you alright?" Sven Bender crouched down, concerned.

In the previous league match, Sven had been forced off early due to an injury. Thankfully, it hadn't been serious, allowing him to play in this friendly against France.

Ye Chen shook his head. "I'm fine. Just a bruise."

"Don't push yourself. If you're hurt, take a break. We've got important matches coming up," Sven advised.

"Got it!" Ye Chen replied before jogging away.

The free kick position was too far from the goal for a direct shot, so Germany prepared for a set-piece attack.

Their strategy was straightforward: aim for their center-backs or strikers in the box.

Gomez, Höwedes, and Badstuber moved in for the aerial duel, while Ye Chen stayed outside the box, waiting for an opportunity.

Diarra reappeared beside Ye Chen, grinning smugly. "How did you like that tackle? Consider it a welcome gift!"

Ye Chen ignored him, focusing on off-the-ball movement instead.

His positioning wasn't random; it was based on his speed, explosiveness, and keen judgment of the ball's trajectory.

Tweet!

Reus delivered the ball into the box, where Gomez and France's defender Rami contested the header.

Rami managed to clear the ball, sending it outside the penalty area.

Ye Chen, positioned perfectly, reached the ball first. A deft chest control brought the ball to his feet, but Diarra was right behind him, preventing him from turning.

However, Diarra's major weakness—his height—became apparent.

Though touted as the "new Makelele" for France, Diarra was only 173cm tall.

Against Ye Chen's hold-up play, Diarra struggled to gain an advantage.

Ye Chen used his body to shield the ball, attempting to turn toward the goal. But as he held off Diarra, the French midfielder suddenly shoved him forcefully to the ground, preventing him from turning.

Ye Chen landed heavily on the pitch. The referee's whistle blew again!

Germany was awarded another free kick, but the referee still refrained from showing a card. Instead, he signaled "two" with his fingers to Diarra, warning him that he had committed two fouls.

Typically, players would be carded after three or four fouls unless their actions were deemed dangerous.

The referee didn't view Diarra's shove as malicious, so he let it slide.

Ye Chen stood up, brushing himself off, as Kroos approached.

"Ye, I'm the team's designated free-kick taker. I'll handle this one," Kroos said bluntly.

Ye Chen frowned slightly but didn't argue, knowing he was new to the team.

He stepped aside, though he felt frustrated. After being on the field for a few minutes without a single shot, he finally got a free-kick opportunity, only for it to be taken away.

Kroos took the free kick with excellent technique, but Lloris, ever reliable, tipped it out for a corner.

Germany earned another chance, but Lloris claimed the ball from the ensuing play.

Leading 2-0, France adopted a more controlled approach, keeping possession in their half.

Germany pressed high, but France managed to play the ball back to Lloris, who launched it forward toward Giroud.

Giroud won the header, directing it to Malouda, who passed back to Abidal.

Time ticked away as France played possession football.

Diarra, still shadowing Ye Chen, sneered, "You might as well give up. Even Messi couldn't get past me. What chance do you have?"

Ye Chen remained silent, but his determination grew stronger.

Sure, Messi might currently have better overall skills, but that didn't mean Diarra could handle him!

Especially when he was in peak form today.

At 62:22, Germany's corner was cleared again by France's center-backs.

Nasri collected the ball outside the box but, lacking support, passed back.

However, as soon as the ball reached Malouda, Sven Bender intercepted it!

Bender immediately passed to Ye Chen, who was facing the goal. Diarra closed in, but Ye Chen quickly passed to Reus on the left and sprinted forward.

Reus received the ball and threaded it into the space ahead.

Ye Chen accelerated into the penalty area, leaving Diarra trailing behind.

Lloris rushed out to narrow the angle, but Ye Chen unleashed a powerful left-footed shot toward the near post.

Despite Lloris's quick reflexes, he couldn't stop the strike!

Goal!

Ye Chen didn't celebrate but retrieved the ball from the net and ran back to the center circle.

There was still time to equalize!

As Ye Chen passed Diarra, he stopped momentarily and said, "I wish your skills matched your mouth."