"The Portuguese backline has been amateurish so far, with two fatal mistakes that led to Portugal being 3-0 down by three goals. This backline is simply an invitation to the attacking players of the United States team, creating attacking opportunities for the American team. 'While there is no doubt that there is a lack of attacking force up front to this point, there is no doubt that the back line has more to bear.

The long-established center-back duo of Couto and Costa looked awkward in the face of the onslaught of the sturdy American cowboys. The full-backs on both sides also clearly became colanders, and they did not play a role in containing the rapid counter-attacks of the American team on the wings.

At 1:0, you don't have to panic, at 2:0, you have to fight with all your energy, but at 3:0, you are launching a decisive assault, and you still need a lot of luck to help you. The initiative is no longer in your hands, you can only pray to see if God's old man favors you.

At this time, Portugal is facing a scenario that they have never imagined, and in Oliveira's emergency response plan, there is no such situation at all. Blindly optimistic before the game, they have reached the edge of the cliff, or it can be said that they only have one hand on the cliff wall to support themselves.

After a long period of distraction, Oliveira finally couldn't resist making a substitution, and the situation on the field made him almost think it was his nightmare. "Beto, get up and warm up." This is a defender, number 22, from Sporting Lisbon. It seems that Oliveira is going to stabilize the defense first, and he doesn't have a hot head to want the team to press hard to equalize. Before that, his first thought was to avoid conceding again, in that case, 4:0, but it would really be powerless. No.21 Gomez was substituted and his performance in the first 37 minutes was not complimentary, with only two touches of the ball and his form was sluggish.

Gomez, who had been replaced, was visibly unhappy, and after a high-five with Oliveira, he covered his head with a towel on the bench, and no one could see what expression was on his face. For this player who is at odds with him to be replaced, in other words, Lao Lei may have gloating in his heart, but now he has already focused his attention on the court, and he didn't even look at Gomez.

With Beto on the pitch, Portugal's formation changed to 5-3-2, with Joao being pushed up front and three centre-backs at the back. The humiliation of being hit by three goals in a row finally made Portugal's attacking line start to exert strength, and after more than 30 minutes of play, the players finally found some form. Figo and Rui Costa are finally starting to come alive up front, and Portugal's attacking line is alive.

Sensing that Portugal has a tendency to fight back, the United States team, which has three goals in hand, is ready to defend with all its strength to support and consume the last little time left in the first half. The U.S. team defended all the way, and even McBride, the only forward forward, would defend near the halfway line. Looking at the situation on the field, Arena on the sidelines clasped his hands to his chest, and his mood was proud, which could become the most representative game of his coaching career, and there was no one. Who would have thought that the first half of this game would be like this, and the corners of Arena's mouth couldn't help but show a smug smile when he thought about it.

In the face of the all-out defensive American team, although Portugal wanted to pull it back in one go, it also had to calm down and slowly organize the attack. After 30 minutes, Portugal's attack was really played, which was something that no one expected. In the 36th minute, the forward Rui Costa faced the unrelenting interference of the American midfielders, after a continuous horizontal pluck, slightly shook off a little defender, in a small space, a very sudden long pass close to the ground, found Figo on the left, and played behind the American right fullback.

Figo relied on his pace to get the ball first, and then a skilful stoppage shook off the right wing-back of the USA. Near the baseline, he burst horizontally into the penalty area and then suddenly shot from a tight angle. However, American goalkeeper Keller reacted quickly and made a downed side save to keep the ball out of the line. It was Portugal's most dangerous shot so far in the first half.

Oliveira and Portugal's substitutes were already celebrating the goal, but Keller's save left them in no air. Being hit to the heart so easily by Figo, Arena broke out in a cold sweat and was relieved to see that the ball did not go in. However, he immediately went to the sidelines and expressed his dissatisfaction with his disciples, asking them to cheer up.

Costa's big central defenders all came to the U.S. penalty area at this time, ready to fight for the top. However, in the competition for high-altitude balls, the American team, which can run and jump, is not afraid of the Portuguese. They grabbed the first point, and Cuto, who was outside the box, took the lead and got the second spot, and directly passed the ball into the box, this time again blocked by the defenders of the American team. Another corner was awarded and during this time Portugal launched a series of attacks, and the US defence felt a lot of pressure.

Figo took this corner from the right, and this time in the penalty area, Beto, who had just been replaced for a short time, grabbed the first spot in front of goal. His header was blocked by a U.S. defender with his foot outstretched in front of goal, but the ball was back in front of Beto. Beto's reaction was quick, and it was a rush shot, which Keller and the American defenders did not react to. 3:1, Portugal finally pulled a goal back in the 38th minute.

“GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL！！ Beto, who had just come on the pitch, helped Portugal pull a point back. Oliveira's substitution this time had the best and most direct effect. Our boys, work harder, we still have hope!! After the goal, the Portuguese commentator finally began to release his pent-up passion, changing the frustration and depression that preceded the goal.

After the goal, Portugal's morale was boosted, and in the last few minutes of the first half, they launched a more fierce attack. In the 41st minute, Conceição burst into the penalty area with the ball, attracted the attention of the defenders, and then picked up a pass to Pauletta, who was running to receive it. It's a pity that Pauletta's non-stop shot on goal was brilliantly defused by Keller.

Portugal, whose morale was boosted, launched an active press directly in the frontcourt, not giving the American team time and space to take the ball and pass the ball. In those few minutes, the Grape pair clearly grasped the initiative on the field, and the attack was impressive.

Because of Portugal's accelerated efforts, the tempo of the game suddenly increased in the latter stages of the first half, and the transition between attack and defense was very fast. On 44 minutes, Figo crossed the ball into the box and Pauletta grabbed the first spot, but the header was deflected wide. Soon, the regular 45 minutes of the first half were over, with two minutes of stoppage time.

On 46 minutes, Figo broke through on the flanks again, but was caught in the middle of the USA team's two-man pack near the corner flag. At this point, he won a corner kick with his experience, kicked the ball to the foot of one of the American players, and bounced off the line. After the corner, the U.S. team pushed the football out of the penalty area again, and this time Costa, who assisted up, fought for the second landing point, and made a slight adjustment to shoot directly from a long distance. The ball was played with a lot of force and speed, but unfortunately the angle was too good and Keller used his fists to keep Portugal's shot out again.

Portugal won another corner, this time with Costa on the spot, but his header went over the crossbar. A series of Portuguese offensives has finally come to an end. The back-to-back attacks had already left the U.S. defence a little scrambled, but Keller's heroic play made several dangerous attacks by Portugal go to naught. At this time, the stoppage time was also over, and Portugal unfortunately did not pull a goal back before the end of the first half, so that Oliveira could have more leeway and space in the second half.

“3:1,。 The United States is in front and Portugal is behind. This was unexpected, and Portugal were bound to launch even more frantic attacks in the second half. I don't know if this game will break out in Portugal the second big upset of this World Cup, the same as the French team. "The players have entered the tunnel and the commentators are summing up the unexpected situation of the first half. The players of the U.S. team walked into the tunnel with a satisfied, relaxed smile, while Portugal was the opposite, and it was a very smelly half for them.

In the dressing room, Oliveira's mind was also racing to summarize the problems that Portugal leaked in the first half, and to think about the solutions for the second half. The team had the upper hand in the final stages of the first half and pulled a goal back. However, he knew that it was just the recovery of the players' form and the consumption of physical strength, and the Portuguese team still fell behind tactically.

Oliveira had to admit the American formation. The lineup and tactics were all unexpected. And it's clear that they've studied their team seriously and carefully, doing a lot of pre-match homework. Putting on a 5-4-1 lineup of quick counter-attacks, avoiding the advantage of Portugal's strong control in the midfield, he always passed through the midfield quickly, and used the speed and strength of the players to impact the Portuguese defence. Defensively, he was also unrelenting, with decisive fouls to disrupt Portugal's rhythm, and the defense hoarded heavy troops to not give Portugal's frontcourt players room to play.

These two moves just hit the soft underbelly of this Portugal team, and the simple point is that the midfield led by Rui Costa lacks hardness and intensity, and suffers a lot in confrontation. In front of the fierce American lines, the elegant command of the Portuguese commander Rui Costa was restrained. Although reluctant, Oliveira had to admit in his heart that he had completely lost to Arena in terms of set-up, and he should bear the main responsibility for the situation in the first half.

Once you know the problem, you have to think of a solution. Since the midfield is a bit soft, it has to be hardened, and the key position is the waist. At present, Oliveira has three options for Bento of Sporting Lisbon, Freshot of Boavista, and Lao Ray in the midfield position. In terms of form, Lao Lei is of course the best one, after all, he took Leiria to play all over the Portuguese Super League last season and played a double. And Lao Lei's style of play is also in line with the tactical changes that Oliveira wants to achieve, to make the midfield hard, Lao Lei is definitely the hardest player among the three. The only thing that bothers Oliveira now is that he has experience problems, and he has to shoulder such a big responsibility for his first appearance, Oliveira doesn't know if Lao Lei can do it.

After thinking for a while, Oliveira gritted his teeth and fought. Since you chose him in the first place, you should believe him. Hopefully he won't let me down, otherwise I'll be scolding after the game.

In the quiet dressing room of Portugal, Oliveira's voice rang out: "Reima, you are ready to start the second half, you will replace Couto. ”