Volume 7 Heart of the Lion King Chapter 113 Tang England
The stands at the Camp Nou were packed. Due to Spain's close proximity to Portugal, there were a lot of Portuguese fans in this game, and they almost wanted to turn the stadium in Barcelona into the home of the Portuguese team.
The reporters present were given England's squad, which included the entire starting XI and bench players. Someone saw "George" on it. Wood". They were a little confused β didn't they say that Wood was not well injured and would not be able to play in the full stages of the group stage? Shouldn't he be sitting in the stands, not on the bench?
Could it all be a smoke bomb cast by Donn?
English journalists understood what was going on. Done must have wanted to be the captain of George at every game. Wood being with the team gives the team a sense of security.
They guessed right.
George. Wood can't play, but he's doing what he can to help the team.
His teammates were warming up on the field, and instead of watching the play, he helped the coaches set up the triangular pyramids, and then he did some jogging to warm up. This scene fell in the eyes of the reporters and caused another wave of discussion.
"I really don't see the impact of his injury, look at his running movements, how normal it is!"
"No, if you look closely, you can still see that the front end of his right foot still doesn't dare to exert force."
"That's right, jogging and playing on the field are two different concepts...... Alas, qualifying from the group was not a problem at all, but now I am worried about England. β
"What are you worried about! It's not without George. Wood, England is a rabble. Are the best players in the Premier League to look at? β
Someone muttered in his heart: "The Premier League publicity is so big, maybe it's really ...... to watch"
Let's take a look at the players in the England squad. There are probably only four people who can reach a truly world-class level, Gerrard, Terry, Wayne Rooney and George. Wood. It is still unknown whether the others can play the main role in the giant clubs of Serie A, La Liga and Bundesliga. Just like Lennon, who was considered the first choice on the right side in England, he couldn't even play as a substitute at Inter Milan.
So for those who know the ball, England has always been a "pseudo-strong team". The media in England certainly know the game, but in order to satisfy the pride and arrogance of the English fans, they are pursuing the goal of promoting the talent of English football everywhere and the super-first-class as many dogs. This is the only way to bring them financial gains, after all, no one likes to hear bad things about their support for the team.
As a result, England has looked starry, but in fact it is vulnerable, like a porcelain vase with a bright appearance. And what's even more terrifying is that these English players live in the lies and exaggerated propaganda of the media all day long, really think that they are all world-class, unwilling to continue to improve, arrogant, and collectively drop the chain at a critical moment.
It's no secret that everyone in Europe knows that England is just blowing a lot of mouths. For example, their opponents in this game, the Portuguese, are well aware of this.
After returning to the dressing room after the warm-up, Queiroz gave the players an analysis of where England are now. He came to one conclusion - Tony. Donn was bluffing, saying what he didn't want others to think without George. Wood's England are second-rate teams, and they are. If Portugal were afraid of England's fabled "nuclear-free tactics" and held back from the game, they would lose a great opportunity.
This is a rare opportunity to score points.
Quiroz remembered Donn's contempt for him at yesterday's press conference, which made him very angry. That man was just lucky enough to win a few trophies, and the reason why he is famous is not because he is strong, but because he is in England! In that overdeveloped media, sesame-sized things can make them blow up as major events that affect the development process of the world.
How can a maverick, swearing-mouthed, and married a supermodel wife who is 21 years younger than himself not be famous? He only needs to scold "**" to this shot, which is enough for the media to hype up for a week.
His fame and self-confidence are built on this foundation, and such a foundation is simply fragile and illusory.
This game is for you to see......
"At the beginning of the game, you have to attack." Queiroz said as he looked at his players.
β»β»β»
'If we have the kick-off, we drop back after a round and bring them out. If the kick-off is in their hands, that's just right, let them attack and we defend and counter-attack. β
Don was in the locker room making the final arrangements.
"The first fifteen minutes of the game should be the most stressful time for you. Either way, I don't want to see a goal conceded, even if it's at the expense of the attack, I have to defend it. Once you let the opponent score first, the game is not good. β
He said: "This is our first group game, whether we can qualify depends on the result of this game." Guys, we have to admit that we're not in a good place right now. Our opponents want to take advantage of that. "Everybody knew he was referring to George. Wood missed the group stage.
"I've heard some things before, I don't know if you've heard of them." Donn suddenly laughed, but in the eyes of the players who knew him, his smile was very strange.
"The outside world has such a perception of us, they think that the England team is blown out by the British media, and in fact the strength is only second-rate in Europe."
Some of the players had a look of surprise on their faces, while others didn't seem surprised.
"I don't know what you guys think, but I'm not very happy. Because I picked you out, they called the 'second tier in Europe' as a team you formed. European second-rate! Donn raised his voice sharply, "I don't care what England's results have been in the past, and what impression it has made. I only know one thing β my team is aiming for the title, will a team that can win the European championship be the second best in Europe? β
"No, it's not, sir."
The players replied.
"So I kept thinking that we need a chance to prove it to them. Prove that we are not gimmicks. Donn waved, "Portugal is a good opponent. He laughed, "We don't have to beat them as unconvincing because we beat them." As long as we win against Portugal, the bastards who say we are 'second rate in Europe' will only be slapped by us! But winning one game is not enough, because there are always some diehards who will say that we are shit lucky, so this game, the next game, the next game...... All the way to the final, we're going to win! β
The players' emotions were gradually mobilized by Donn.
When the time came, Don said: "I don't care what club you come from, and it doesn't matter what kind of football education you receive. I want to say that here for me, here for the national team, forget who you are at the club and football. Football for the national team is simple, I don't ask you to do anything other than win! β
β»β»β»
It's been a long time since Wood has had this experience, sitting on the bench watching his teammates play. In the past, during the days of Eriksen and McLaren, he often enjoyed the treatment of sitting closest to the pitch and watching the game. Later, he gradually developed into the team's main midfielder, but he did not expect to become a spectator again after many years.
It doesn't feel good.
The game has started and Terry has won the right to pick the edge, so the possession belongs to Portugal. Donn was pleased with the result, and he applauded below before the game began.
Once the game began, Portugal took advantage of their kick-off and took the initiative on the pitch.
Portuguese and Spanish football share a lot of similarities, both belong to the European Latin school, pay attention to ball control, delicate technique at the feet, and scoff at the English style of play of long balls and slings. Once they have the ball in their hands, it will be difficult for the opponent to grab it again.
In the first ten minutes of the game, Portugal did exactly that.
As long as the ball is at their feet, it will be difficult for England to cut off their ball unless it is an attack. Portugal's two full-backs can therefore be assured of bold assists.
Moutinho and Veloso pinned down England's Steven Gerrard and Michael in the middle. Johnson, Cristiano. Ronaldo and Quaresma attacked England's backline from left to right.
The only good thing is that a high striker like Mitchel is not in Portugal and they can't use their headers to threaten Joe. Hart's goal.
It's just that the Portuguese changed their style of play after discovering that they didn't smile when they blindly crossed from the wing.
At the beginning, when Portugal frequently crossed from the wing, England almost abandoned the wide defence, narrowing the middle to mainly release crosses. Now after Portugal's adjustment of surnames, the England team is a little embarrassed.
Portugal's wingers have excellent technique, speed and awareness, and they are not passers who can only cross. At the same time, they are also well-known wide raiders.
Quaresma suddenly switched inside after using a feint on the right to get past England's left midfielder Downing. Joe. Mattok reached out to break the ball but tripped the opposition. The referee blew the whistle and awarded a foul on Mattok. The foul scared all England supporters into a cold sweat β the foul was committed just a stone's throw from inside the box. Quaresma almost made a penalty!
If that's the case, Donn's pre-match deployment will be nullified. ToGeorge . Wood's "Fu", Quaresma suffered a serious injury, and now he is thirty-two years old, not as fast as before, but his skills are mature, quite like Louis back then. Figo, who can trick his opponent into a breakthrough with only his foot skills.
Veloso took the free-kick, he didn't choose to cross, but shot straight into the corner of the box!
He completely deceived England goalkeeper Joe. Hart, when the ball grazing the post and flying off the line, Joe. Where is Hart still at the far post to guard the cross......
"Wow! What a pity! The narrator shouted.
There was also a huge sigh in the stands. Camp Nou, where Portuguese fans make up the vast majority, has completely become the home of the Portuguese national team.
Veloso was also a little annoyed by the loss of such a good scoring opportunity, and he looked up at the sky and kept muttering in his mouth.
The shot sent Don to his feet from the dugout, and he felt a little nervous. No matter how much preparation you try before a match, you can't predict exactly what will happen during the game. It may be a charm of the game of football, but it is torture for Donn.
"If you're going to foul, remember to stay away from the penalty area...... he said to himself on the sidelines.
No George. Wood, in terms of midfield defense, England are not as good as they used to be. Portugal's midfield clearly had the upper hand and they then laid siege to the England goal in the hope of scoring early.
The Portuguese fans in the stands cheered on their team and left no stone unturned.
But twenty minutes passed, and the Portuguese indiscriminate bombardment had no effect. England's dense defence left the Portuguese at a loss.
They wanted to use their individual skills to break through, but England preferred to give them free-kicks rather than let them break through. The Portuguese also deserved not to score a goal, and several of their free-kickers were not in good form today, except for Veloso who came up to take advantage of Joe. Hart's habitual mentality threatened the goal, and there was no goal to embarrass Hart.
Seeing that his team was helpless in the face of a dense defence, the Portuguese commentator quipped: "When did England shrink back to defend? It's almost like a weak brigade from Eastern Europe. Tony. When Donn was in charge of Forest, Forest's style of play was considered the most unsightly and unpassionate, and now he has transformed England into such a ......"
The BBC commentator in charge of the England game, Mortensen, didn't care so much, and he couldn't have said enough for Donne's team: "The Portuguese thought they were sharp in attack, but in front of the England defence, they knew how wrong they were!" β
The coach of the German team, sitting in the stands, wrote in a small notebook: "...... Lost George. Wood's England have clearly taken a toll on their strength, and they have used more of a dense defence to de-pressurize the backline......"
Later that same day, Germany will play Wales in Valencia, and they haven't forgotten to keep an eye on the other two qualifying rivals in this group. As for Wales, they don't care.
β»β»β»
Marsh. Fidel Castro, the centre-back for the Portuguese national team, is bored. His team-mates were busy scoring England in front of them, and he and Pepe stayed behind to watch the show. It's not fun to play like this.
He looked around and continued to run a short distance forward, pressing on the halfway line. He was thinking in his heart whether to see the right time to plug in and participate in the attack, and come to have a long shot to enjoy it.
"Jose, come back!" Pepe suddenly shouted his name loudly in the back.
Castro rushed back and waved his hand, England is like a turtle with a shrunken head, what is there to be afraid of?
"This idiot!" Seeing that he couldn't call him back, Pepe cursed in a low voice behind him.
He set his sights on the England dugout on the sidelines.
Tony. Don was standing in the command area with his hands in his pockets, but fortunately he wasn't sitting in the coach's seat with his legs crossed.
After a year or two, he has not forgotten the habitual movements of the leader, different movements mean different things, and only the players of Nottingham Forest can understand. If he sits on the sidelines and crosses Erlang's legs, it means that he is confident, and there must be a conspiracy behind this. Now that he is standing on the sidelines, it shows that he is not very confident in his heart - he is also afraid that his team will be destroyed by Portugal's stormy attack.
Maybe it's your own nervousness?
Pepe shook her head slightly. I don't know why he saw England guarding so badly, he always had a sense of foreboding in his heart. It felt familiar, the taste of Nottingham Forest.
If the England team in front of me had changed the white jersey to red, I am afraid it would be even more similar.
Pepe was distracted, his centre-back partner simply pressed over the halfway line, and after receiving a return pass from his teammates, he chose to break through with the ball himself after a false shot!
As a Portuguese player, even the centre-back has delicate footwork, successfully dribbling past the midfield and opting to pass the ball as he approached the England penalty area. But after passing the football to team-mate Moutinho, he didn't run back, but continued to cut forward, trying to play a one-two!
Moutinho's pass was met by Michael. Johnson was broken!
England strikes back!
Johnson passes the ball to Gerrard and makes a long pass forward with a big foot!
Forwardfield lighthouse Mitchel grabbed a position ahead of Veloso and then leaped high to head the ball......
The ball flew diagonally behind. Walcoat is plugging in at high speed!
At this time, the only thing in the entire Portuguese backfield was Pepe and goalkeeper Rui. Patricio two, the Portuguese didn't even react for a moment - is our backfield so empty? Where have all the people gone?
"Bastard!" At this time, Pepe could only scold his partner Castro who rushed up to vent his anger, and he hurriedly threw down the middle and ran to the side to intercept Walcott, this kid's speed is at the level of a 100-meter sprint......
The foreboding feeling in his mind came true, a scene that he knew all too well β they used to do this against strong opponents when they were in the Forest team. While the opponents were complacent about besieging the forest, they had no idea that their Achilles' heel had been completely exposed to the forest's firepower.
Pepe grabbed Walcott's ball with the idea of fouling. He flew to tackle, hoping to knock the opponent off the pitch with the ball.
But he miscalculated. Two years ago, he might have done this, but at the age of thirty-two, he didn't have the capital to underestimate the youth of "Little Tiger" Walcott.
Before his toes touched the ball, Walcott stabbed it away. Then the Arsenal winger leaped up deftly and dodged Pepe's flying tackle.
Breakthrough!
Donn's hands were pulled out of his trouser pockets, and he was clenched into fists ready to swing.
England's chance, which had been on hold for more than twenty minutes, finally came, and it came so easily, that he wondered if Walcoat would waste this golden opportunity with too many distractions in his mind......
"If you miss the next game, give me a cold bench!" Don muttered viciously.
Theo Walcott broke past Pepe and the rest of the Forest squad wasn't watching from behind. Mitchel, Wayne Rooney and Downing's attackers all raised their speed to the highest speed, desperately running towards the opposition's penalty area, ready to receive possible passes.
This horrifies the Portuguese - this is definitely not an accident, it is a premeditated counterattack, it is a naked conspiracy!
Now, even if Theo Walcott slows down, England have a good chance of finding the back of the net, Portugal's centre-back Ze. Castro even only returned to the centre circle...... He's running hard, but he's not born a speed player. It was the two full-backs who were quick to chase back.
Rooney rushed forward, raising his arm to signal that Walcott could pass the ball.
Walcott, who had already dribbled into the box, looked at goalkeeper Patricio who had hit the shot, and then at Wayne Rooney, and swept the ball over.
The ball was a little bit forward...... Rooney gritted his teeth and rushed over, then kicked the shovel!
"England's counter-attack...... Walcoat is fast! Patricio strikes! He's gone! Wayne Rooney rushes in, will Walcourt pass the ball...... He passed! He passed! Slightly bigger, some bigger, some bigger...... Shovel shot!! The neutral Spanish narrator spoke so fast that it was like a machine gun, and the audience's heart beat faster.
He tackles the soccer ball, which bounces off the line and towards the goal.
Mortensen had already shouted out the sound of the goal celebration in advance: "goooo-"
The ball flew off a parabola and crashed into the empty goal.
βββoooalοΌοΌβ
Pepe, who was lying on the sidelines, saw this scene and angrily smashed the turf with his hands.
Don raised his fists and swung them into the sky. Behind him, the people in the dugout and on the bench rushed out, waving their fists and cheering.
Rooney got up from the ground and ran excitedly with open arms to Walcott who passed the ball for him, and Downing and Mitchel, who were still sprinting just now, did not slow down and turned directly to chase Rooney. The rest of England's players are also rushing forward. It was a spectacular scene.
It took less than 15 seconds for England to break the ball and they went out to celebrate the goal, and more Portuguese players were still stunned in front of the pitch and did not react.
Queiroz angrily kicked the water bottle at his feet. England is too forced and too cunning!!
England scored their first goal of the tournament and in the twenty-third minute they were 1-0 up Portugal! It was only their second shot of the game! Terrifying efficiency! β
The England players hugged each other tightly after the goal, and Donn saw the "unity" he wanted most. He glanced at an angry Queiroz, and he knew that Portugal couldn't turn over the palm of his hand.
(To be continued)