Why is Sneijder at the Meazza stadium?
Born in 1984, Sneijder was cast out by Real Madrid in 2009 and transferred to Inter for a fee of 15 million euros.
As the saying goes, "a tree relocates and dies, while people move and thrive!"
The Dutch midfielder spent three and a half glorious years at Inter and even became the absolute mainstay of the 2010 Inter team that dominated European football and won the treble!
However, the good times didn't last long.
Inter's owner Moratti gradually cut back on his gratuitous investments in the club after 2011, and the treble-winning contributors were purged.
High-salaried Sneijder also moved to Galatasaray in the Turkish Super League in 2013.
Logically, with the Turkish Super League underway.
Sneijder wouldn't come to Milan to watch a match.
But he suffered a knee injury, and the medical conditions in Turkey are average.
Sneijder chose to return to Milan for treatment.
And while visiting his old club, he returned to Meazza to watch a game.
Even though he left Inter, Sneijder maintained a decent relationship with his former club.
Not only did they proactively help him contact a doctor in Milan, but they also invited him to watch a Serie A match in the stadium's VIP box and meet the fans who adore him.
Sneijder originally thought that, with Inter's strength, playing against Genoa would be a piece of cake!
However, after more than a year away, Sneijder expressed the same sentiment in the box tonight as the new Inter coach Mancini:
"How did Inter become so weak, and are these players on the field worthy to play for Inter?"
It's now 80 minutes into the game.
Inter is still trailing 0-1.
Some home fans chose to leave early in protest.
Meanwhile, the mere two thousand away fans from Genoa were cheering jubilantly, waving flags for their team!
Taking three points from Meazza is a major morale booster for their survival this season!
Off the field.
Mancini was standing with his hands on his hips, visibly fuming!
At the 72nd minute, he replaced the wing-back Jonathan with the towering forward Bonazzoli, who had been promoted from the youth team for half a season.
It was a last-ditch effort!
But the effect was not obvious.
Neither Bonazzoli nor Palacio.
Rarely had opportunities to receive the ball in the opponent's penalty area.
Assistant coach Herrera bluntly advised Mancini:
"Boss, get that youth team kid with the number 99 off the field; we're effectively playing with 10 against 11!"
Mancini wore a grim expression, giving no immediate response.
How could he not know the assistant coach was right?
Mancini had long noticed that Tang Long didn't have his teammates' trust!
It was understandable.
Tang Long had never played in a professional league, nor had he ever trained with the first team even once.
Thrust in to replace the important midfielder Gualin from the previous regime.
The teammates naturally had doubts.
Moreover, Tang Long honestly played quite average.
In the few touches, dribbles, turns, and ball stops, it was evident.
His basic skills were clearly not on the same level as the other Inter players.
In the context of Italian professional football, he was merely at an Italian Third Division level at best!
"No, we can't sub out the number 99, take off Alvarez, and put Icardi in!"
"But boss, Icardi is not fully recovered, and our team doctor advises against playing him!"
"Hurry up, no more dawdling, there's not much time left!"
The proud Mancini wasn't going to sub Tang Long off.
The youth team player with the number 99 was meant for establishing authority, being subbed in during halftime.
To swap him out again towards the match's end.
Wouldn't that be like slapping himself in the face!
Mancini wouldn't do it.
When a new official takes the post, they must exhibit strength and establish authority!
"Even if we lose this match, I'll accept it..." Mancini gritted his teeth.
In the 82nd minute of the second half, Icardi made a comeback.
His appearance was met with cheers from the Inter fans!
Now, Inter had three forwards on the field!
When behind, stacking forwards in desperation was familiar to fans as Mancini's Inter.
In the VIP box, Sneijder's eyes lit up, and he said to a friend:
"This Icardi, even though I only played with him at Inter for half a season, this kid is a natural scorer; his positioning and shooting skills are definitely top-tier in Serie A."
"But unfortunately," Sneijder smiled wryly, "I'm not on the field, who can deliver him those perfect through balls?"
Icardi's inclusion pushed Genoa's defensive line further back.
They quickly subbed off a forward and brought in a tall defender, contracting full-on defense.
The penalty area was packed with their players defending!
Tang Long continued waiting for his opportunity.
He knew that the more forwards Inter had moving, the greater his chance of delivering a killer pass.
"Give me the ball, I'm open here!"
A vast open space appeared in front of Tang Long, and he quickly signaled to the wing-back Yuto Nagatomo.
Perhaps because of a previous failed combination with Tang Long, or perhaps because they were both Asian.
Yuto Nagatomo decisively passed the ball to Tang Long this time.
"Hey! Don't hold onto the ball, pass it to me!"
Kovacic hurried towards Tang Long, reaching for the ball, afraid that Tang Long would waste the limited time.
However, this time, Tang Long had his own plan!
"Detected the opponent's three center backs in disarray, the defensive midfielder out of position, aiming a direct pass from the wing into the penalty area flanks has a 90.67% chance of creating a one-on-one threat!"
Within the tactical heatmap constructed in Tang Long's mind.
Among the three forwards, Palacio and Bonazzoli hadn't made lateral moves.
Only Icardi had started with an intention to move laterally!
"Icardi, whether this ball can be placed properly depends on your positioning skills!"
Tang Long, following the AI-designed passing route, tilted his upper body by 30 degrees, swung his arm, kicked with his leg, eyes fixed on the ball, and struck the center of the ball fiercely with his instep!
Bang!
The ball zipped along the ground, swoosh swoosh swoosh—
Sure enough, it passed through the gap in the disordered area of the center backs, rolling through the gap between two central defenders into the penalty area!
"Damn!"
Icardi was startled but quickly accelerated his steps!
The path Tang Long's pass took was excellent, but the power was too strong!
It was as strong as a shot!
Icardi used all his strength, nearly stumbling, but he barely managed to intercept the ball!
No sooner had he caught his breath than a shadow loomed over him from behind.
The striker's instinct told Icardi that the covering center back was closing in!
Icardi, with his back to goal, nudged and flicked, creating a fake move to pull out some space—
Left-footed inside shot!
The ball grazed the opponent's toe, drawing an odd curve in the air, plunging into the top left corner of the goal!
"Beautiful!!!!"
The Meazza stadium roared!
The fans never expected Icardi, just returning from injury, to score such a world-class goal!
The score was finally equalized!
Icardi waved off the teammates coming to celebrate with him and rushed to retrieve the ball from the net.
"We have five more minutes; we still have time!"
No one paid attention to Tang Long.
Yet Yuto Nagatomo walked over and patted Tang Long on the shoulder.
"Lucky shot kid, your off-target attempt became an assist, hahaha!"
Tang Long froze, only then realizing.
His pass route was indeed correct and effective.
Just due to an ordinary passing skill and excessive power.
Even his teammates thought he was attempting a shot!
And by a stroke of luck, Icardi intercepted the ball midway, turning what was supposed to be a shot into an assist.
Everyone thought so!
Even Mancini off the field repeatedly said to the assistant coach that fortune favored that moment!
However.
When Icardi swiftly ran past Tang Long while clutching the ball.
He suddenly turned his head to glance at Tang Long.