Chapter 45: Blink
Regardless of the mood of the Brazilian and Portuguese fans right now, the neutral fans who came to the scene were already satisfied. There were 4 beautiful goals in regulation time, both in terms of the scene and the result, which is a rare and wonderful World Cup final. Both teams played pleasing games, and it's no wonder that after the World Cup matchups came out, there were a lot of media lamenting that this was the return of offensive football. For the outside world, the game has been played to such an extent that no matter who wins the championship, there is no objection, and both teams are championship-level teams.
Of course, this can only be said by outsiders who don't have backache. With the strength of the championship, but not winning the championship, this is the most regrettable thing for the players. If you know that your strength is not enough, then you can accept it more peacefully. Just like the Netherlands, which is known as the uncrowned king, the title of the uncrowned king, although it looks very majestic, also has a bit of sad romanticism. But perhaps only the Dutch themselves know the bitterness in it, and when they are proud of the title of uncrowned king, it is often accompanied by helplessness and bitterness that cannot be dissipated.
When the break came, overtime was about to begin. This is not the first time that Portuguese players have played extra time in this World Cup, they have already withstood the test of extra time when they played Italy in the quarter-finals. Compared to Brazil, who were all fighting in the space of 90 minutes, Portugal were more experienced in how to play extra-time in which they died suddenly. With a "beep", the overtime of the sudden death method of the Golden Ball system began.
At the beginning of overtime, it is inevitable that the excitement will drop a few levels immediately. The players are physically exhausted, and it is impossible to continue to play that kind of continuous attacking football. When it comes to extra-time, it's all about efficiency, and it's up to who has the better ability to take chances. Other than that. In terms of overall tactical arrangement, it is bound to tend to be conservative. More emphasis on defense.
In the first half of extra time, Portugal kicked off first, did not dare to press rashly, and played ball control tactics in the back court first in order to seek stability. Lao Lei slowly controlled the rhythm of the pass in the backfield, dispatching back and forth, carefully looking for loopholes in the Brazilian formation. Since he no longer has the blessing of the devil's flesh and blood man at this time, Lao Lei is very distributed, adjusts his physical strength, and basically does not choose to work brutally if he wants to find the right opportunity. When you pour the ball from the back of Portugal, the Brazilian players don't take you either. The harassment of frontcourt players such as Ronaldinho is more like scratching the boot and does not play a substantive role. However, once Lao Lei has a tendency to expand the area of possession across the halfway line, he will encounter aggressive and tough pressing from Brazilian players.
Compared to the smooth and exciting 90 minutes of regular time, the extra-time game is now more like a boring slow motion. Slowly, it was already the fifth minute of the first half of extra time, and when the fans in the stands were drowsy, Lao Lei suddenly launched an attack. In the back and forth between the left and right of the old Lei organization, Brazil's defense on its right flank finally showed a hole. There was a gap in the Brazilian ribs between Cafu and Lucio. I don't know if the 32-year-old Cafu can't keep up physically.
Seeing the loophole, Lao Lei suddenly made a long pass with a big foot, which hit directly between Lucio and Cafu. Figo also stepped forward alertly at the moment of Lao Lei's pass. Accelerating to catch up with the ball. Cafu couldn't keep up with Figo in terms of speed at this time, although he wanted to jam Figo's position and give Lucio room to clear the siege. But Figo directly forcibly wiped it with his body. Didn't let Cafu succeed in holding himself back. Got the soccer ball before the ball went out of the bottom line. However, at this time, Lucio had already made up for it in time, and Cafu was also rushing here. Face Lucio. Figo suddenly toes and the ball rolls past Lucio's right foot, and then accelerates around Lucio from outside the baseline, trying to eat Lucio raw with his speed.
Lucio's big body was horizontal, blocking the line of Figo's stadium, trying to create space and time for his teammates to clear the siege. His position was stuck, his hands were crossed, and he firmly stuck Figo behind him, and he also played a small movement, and the pointed elbow bone was pressed against Figo's chest, once Figo accelerated, it was enough for Figo to drink a pot. It can be said that Lucio himself has done a good job of sealing Figo's route to death.
As usual, this attack may end like this, but Figo is really willing to fight this time. Holding back the pain in his chest, he gritted his teeth and used a near-tackle to kick the ball in front of goal before Júnior's big foot cleared the ball and completed the cross. Then he lost his balance and collapsed on the pitch, ignoring the pain in his chest, but staring at the situation in front of goal, trying to see what the result of this attack was.
The ball rolled past Júnior's feet and in front of the goal after Figo's kick. In the penalty area, Gomez and Pauletta were desperately pushing forward to grab the spot. Gomez's tackle didn't touch the ball, and the box was overturned. Pauletta, who was outflanked at the back post, was also entangled by Silva, and in the face of the incoming ball, he could only barely stretch out his toes and poke it, changing the direction of the football to the direction of the goal. But unfortunately, the shot did not hit the power of the goal, the ball speed was not fast, and the Brazilian goalkeeper Marcos saved under him to defuse the attack.
The Portuguese fans in the stands couldn't help but cover their heads, it was a great chance to win, which is not often the case in extra-time. Scolari, who was in a state of panic on the sidelines, immediately made a substitution, replacing the captain Cafu with Belletti who had fitness problems, to make up for the holes in Brazil's defense on the right side. The only thing that is not beautiful may be that Belletti is a pure defensive defender, and there is no Cafu forward to assist, so that Brazil's right attack is about to go out all of a sudden.
At this time, Figo had already gotten up and comforted Pauletta, who was still in a state of remorse. There's no time to regret it, you have to keep playing right away, and if you make too many mistakes, you can make more mistakes and waste more opportunities. Once the game resumed, it was Brazil's turn to take control of the tempo. Brazil adopted almost the same tactics as Portugal, also controlling the ball in their own half first. Then look for opportunities. However, Brazil does not have the talent of Lao Lei who can organize attacks at the back, and the inversion of the backfield is more like a pure waste of time. There was no clear purpose, but soon the football was handed to Ronaldinho, who dropped back to receive the ball.
At this time, Lao Lei no longer had so much physical strength. You can also defend against Ronaldinho and follow the Brazilian half. So Ronaldinho easily controlled the ball at his feet and accelerated forward with the ball from the back. In the face of Rui Costa's pressing, Ronaldinho shook off his entanglement with a quick heel change. Then he fully carried his dribbling speed and flew through the halfway line. Lao Lei quickly pressed forward and was ready for a tactical foul.
Ronaldinho also seemed to know Lao Lei's intentions, and did not try to break through Lao Lei, but directly distributed the football to Rivaldo. Then start running forward without the ball yourself. Ready to answer at any time, Old Ray followed him, and Rivaldo could only be handed over to Bento and Rui Costa, who had returned to the defense. After Rivaldo received the ball, he was holding his stomach and wanting to atone for his sins, to make up for the failed stunner.
Facing Bento, Rivaldo showed the outside of his right foot flicking to the right, then suddenly stepped on the ball, pulled it back, and then knocked his heel. Immediately after that, he suddenly accelerated the lateral dribble. With his speed, he dodged a space to handle the ball. Rivaldo himself dribbled the ball diagonally to the Portuguese penalty area, came to the edge of the penalty area, and caused Coutoto to press out for defense. At this point, Rivaldo suddenly passed the ball to Ronaldo, and then accelerated forward himself. This is to play a match with Ronaldo to hit the wall.
Carrying Costa beside him, Ronaldo bumped the ball with his right heel and gave the ball to Rivaldo's path. Then quickly pull the side yourself and give Rivaldo an empty route forward. At this time, Lao Lei had already followed Ronaldinho. Pulled to the middle of the edge of the penalty area. Rivaldo got the ball in the box, in addition to facing interference from Kuto next to him. There is also a hot defense in front of him, blocking his shooting lane.
Rivaldo couldn't find a chance or line to shoot for a while, and made a feint to shoot without deceiving Jorge to get a trace of the shooting line. He had to choose to continue dribbling the ball and was forced to the edge of the box. At this point, he suddenly came with a half-turned pick-and-roll, and the target was Ronaldo, who had already run to the middle of the penalty area. He caught the attention of two Portuguese defenders at this point, and the middle of the Portuguese penalty area was empty.
Ronaldo once again showed his talent as a goalscorer, and in addition to being good at breaking through with the ball, his movement is also top-notch. This time he ran to the back of his position to face the ball and wanted to volley straight at goal, bounced with his outside instep. At this time, the shooting location was too close to the goal, and it is conceivable that Baia could only rely on luck for this shot.
However, this time Costa made a meritorious service, he risked being kicked by Ronaldo, a desperate sliding tackle to the ground, blocking Ronaldo's tackle, and the football flew high, but it was not far away. Ronaldinho wanted to get forward into the box to make a follow-up shot, and the old Lei Xin said that it was not that easy. During the run, Lao Lei squeezed the position with Ronaldinho fiercely on the side. In terms of the strength of the body, after all, Lao Lei was better and took the lead in the first landing point of the ball that was stuck.
Ronaldinho, who was unwilling to be anxious behind him, frantically squeezed Lao Lei forward to compete for the ball. He was also too anxious, and in the physical contact with Lao Lei, his hands reached Lao Lei's chest from behind, and he exerted a backward force on Lao Lei's shoulders, but it was not enough to make Lao Lei fall. And at this time, Rivaldo has also come over to fight for this high ball.
If he has to face two people, Lao Lei is not confident that he will be able to successfully solve the siege. At this time, the football has fallen to the chest, and it is extremely dangerous for this ball to be taken by either Ronaldinho or Rivaldo. At this time, Lao Lei suddenly thought that he still had an unused experience card "Fake Fall Master Experience Card", and now looking at Ronaldinho's stance, it doesn't provide an excellent opportunity to fake fall.
At this juncture, Lao Lei did not hesitate to open the "Fake Fall Master Experience Card", and suddenly there was a name "Inzaghi" in the system prompt sound that sounded in his head. Then Lao Lei felt his body, leaning against Ronaldinho's body, slowly falling back, and raising his hands while falling, like a drowning person, by the way, there was a natural frightened and surprised expression on his face. At this time, Lao Lei had only one thought in his heart, an Oscar-winning performance.
In Ronaldinho's surprised expression, the referee's whistle sounded, signaling him to pull a foul and Portugal possessed the ball. Lao Lei was in front of him, holding his hands on the ground and sitting on the grass.
He looked up and saw Ronaldinho's surprised look in his eyes.
Suddenly blinked, with a mischievous, smug gaze. (To be continued......)