Thunder crashed like exploding drums. Torrential rain tore through the night.
Wild celebration erupted. This was France's moment, and this was Julien De Rocca's moment!
The European Championships—an international tournament watched by millions. At that moment, De Rocca was the focal point drawing every eye. Some marveled, some praised, some envied, some thrilled with excitement. The reactions were varied, yet universal.
Yet everyone knew one thing. This thunderstorm had raised the curtain on De Rocca's establishment in the national team.
A seventeen-year-old boy.
With such brazen disregard for convention, he had used pure talent to force his way into the fans' field of vision, taking root and growing.
Would he struggle to adapt, or would he grow into a towering tree? No one knew for certain.
But in that moment. In the heart of the storm, the most brilliant name shining through was—
"De Rocca!"
Teammates rushed over, racing through the downpour to embrace Julien tightly.
Giroud was the first to lift De Rocca up, roaring, "Julien, you did it!"
Giroud hoisted De Rocca high above his head.
Julien raised his right arm in triumph, shouting, "La France!!"
This ignited the French fans in the stands, who waved their tricolor flags and roared back in unison, "La France!"
Of course, they also cheered De Rocca's name with equal passion.
On the sideline, Blanc's anxiety finally melted away, his face breaking into an ecstatic smile.
Success!
De Rocca had proven himself. The manager threw punches in celebration, embracing his coaching staff in the rain.
The Ukrainian players watched France's celebration, wiping endless rainwater from their faces, helplessly returning to the center circle.
In such torrential conditions, for De Rocca to maintain such nimble ball control, they dared not imagine how strong he'd be in normal weather.
Tymoshchuk felt some remorse.
In his view, this goal was entirely his fault. If he had decisively followed up, De Rocca wouldn't have gotten such an opportunity.
"There's still a chance!"
Shevchenko also wiped away the rain, raising both arms toward his teammates, trying to lift their spirits.
In Ukraine, Shevchenko was a flag-bearing player. The Ukrainian players didn't want to see Shevchenko's career end with this match.
They needed at least a draw to maintain hopes of advancement!
In the stands. Mbappé clutched his head dramatically, telling Jires and the others, "Hey, did you see that?! My God! De Rocca is so brilliant!"
Jires applauded De Rocca's goal, though he was unsure whether Mbappé meant the dribbling was brilliant, the goal was brilliant, or the lightning-strike celebration was brilliant.
Little Ethan Mbappé stood on his chair, topped with a raincoat hood, and asked Mbappé with hopeful eyes, "Kylian, will you play alongside De Rocca someday?"
Hearing this, Mbappé's eyes filled with longing. "Of course, I definitely will!"
Who wouldn't want De Rocca as a teammate?
At least he certainly did.
Mbappé believed he had football talent. Though he couldn't match De Rocca, he was confident he could surpass others!
In his eyes, De Rocca would surely play for a top club someday. If he couldn't join De Rocca's club team, then he'd work hard to make the national team.
To become De Rocca's national team teammate!
Watching Julin bask in adoration by admirers, Mbappé silently vowed, "We're four years apart. Give me four years, and I won't fall too far behind where you are now."
In the same section, Chataigner sat with his family. When Julien scored, he cried out, "Did you see that? Did you see! This is Julien! The player I signed! He's also from Birdsong Town! This is our pride!"
Chataigner's wife and daughter looked at the radiant De Rocca, and were genuinely happy for him.
Chataigner had already told them Julien's story many times.
A lost boy.
Now back on the right path.
Zidane had only smiled at De Rocca's earlier performance, but this time, he laughed out loud with genuine joy.
If De Rocca had passed the ball. In his mind, De Rocca would be a first-class player worth developing.
If De Rocca hadn't passed but had lost possession. In his mind, De Rocca would need more tempering.
But now, De Rocca had completed this choice in exactly the way Zidane most wanted to see.
He laughed out aloud.
Beside him, Véronique Zidane looked at him with some confusion. "Are you that happy?"
Zidane just simply told Véronique, "Because I'm seeing France's future."
Just One goal.
It stirred countless fans' emotions, not just those in the stadium, but far away in Bastia as well.
In the taverns, roars and clinking glasses created a symphony belonging to their Bastia.
"De Rocca!!"
The fans in the stands shouted with all their might.
Until the players finished celebrating and walked back to the center circle.
Corner flag reporter Andersen trembled with excitement, carefully shielding his camera with a rain cover, though he had already taken waterproofing measures.
But he was extremely cautious.
Inside that camera were what he considered the best photograph of his career or perhaps he had ever seen in his life.
Bar none!
Andersen thought he might become famous because of one photograph.
He carefully clicked through the countless photos he had just captured, sliding through them one by one, until he saw that moment when De Rocca seemed to summon the lightning itself.
His whole body trembled with excitement.
Tweet!!
Kuipers quickly blew his whistle to resume play.
On the sideline, Blokhin directed his players on how to pass, not afraid of being behind, only afraid of his players giving up.
Blokhin represented Eastern European football from a previous era.
He had led Dynamo Kyiv to seven Soviet top-flight championships and two European Cup Winners' Cup titles.
In 1975, he had even edged out Beckenbauer and Cruyff to win the Ballon d'Or, pushing him to legendary status.
Representing the Soviet Union in Olympics and World Cups, he had delivered outstanding performances.
His career had collected every personal honor imaginable.
He had retired in 1990.
After becoming Ukraine's national team manager in 2003, he had not only led Ukraine out of their "Group of Death" to reach their first World Cup finals in Germany, but had also successfully advanced to the quarterfinals.
However, after failing to qualify Ukraine for the 2008 European Championships, Blokhin had resigned.
The previous year, he had returned to manage Ukraine, determined to take them to the knockout rounds.
But as the match situation developed. His heart grew heavier.
He couldn't see any possibility for Ukrainian advancement.
Rumble!
Another thunderclap.
Crash!
Fans cried out in alarm as lightning struck the stadium's big screen, causing the entire display to malfunction.
Tweet!!
Referee Kuipers' whistle sounded. He made an immediate decision to suspend the match.
After blowing his whistle, he signaled to the players to quickly run off and take shelter from the rain.
In such thunderstorm weather, he had to interrupt the match!
Immediately, players from both Ukraine and France teams ran toward the tunnel for cover. Seeing the players evacuate, referee Kuipers also retreated to the tunnel.
Commentators worldwide received this news.
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