pdf-ebookys Chapter 365
Chapter 365
After the quarterfinals, the top four teams were announced: Croatia, Argentina, Italy, and Portugal.
"Croatia beat Germany 4:3, Su Fei scored a 35-meter free kick! A miracle! 》
"Crespo scored with a header, helping Argentina beat England 1:0 and advance to the semifinals! 》
"Luca Toni scored twice! Italy 2:0 Spain! 》
"Portugal defeated Ukraine after 98 minutes with Maniche's goal! 》
After the game, relevant news was flying everywhere. In the quarterfinals, the attention to each round was very high.
Among the fans, there were more discussions about who would win the championship.
- [I didn't expect Croatia to beat Germany, and it deserves the title of this year's super dark horse! ]
- [Did you watch this game? It was so exciting, Su Fei was amazing! ]
- [I didn't watch it, but I found it exciting to read the news. But this year, I still support Italy to win the championship. Italy is so strong this year that it almost crushed all the way to the next round. 】
-【That makes sense! Although Croatia is surprising, it is still too difficult to win against a strong team. It is impossible to win the cup by relying on Su Fei alone, right? 】
-【I think Argentina has a good chance of winning this year. It has been 20 years since the last time the Pampas Eagles won the championship. It is time to give Argentina football another championship. 】
-【I support Portugal! In fact, Portugal's performance this year is not inferior to Croatia at all. It can be regarded as a dark horse. Who would have thought that Portugal would enter the semi-finals before the game. 】
Who will win the championship?
Before the whistle of the final, no one can give their own answer.
As the highest hall of football, the World Cup.
Under heavy pressure.
There has never been a lack of upsets and magical births.
Just like Brazil and Germany, which have attracted much attention from fans this year, they have already withdrawn from the championship competition in advance.
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While the fans were discussing, the four teams that entered the semi-finals were also preparing intensively.
Four days.
The Croatian men's football team only had four days to prepare.
Rest and recuperation.
This became the arrangement of the Croatian coaching staff during these four days, in addition to the basic tactical explanations about Argentina.
The coaching staff left more time for the Croatian men's football players to arrange and adjust their status.
Along the way.
Kranjcar saw clearly that mentality was the key to influencing and determining victory or defeat.
The Croatian men's football team arrived at the hotel in Berlin in advance.
July 6.
The day before Croatia played against Argentina, the semi-finals between Italy and Portugal started first.
Old rules.
Kranjcar took his players to the conference room to watch the live broadcast of the game together.
"No matter what the result of our match with Argentina tomorrow is."
"One of these two teams will become our opponent."
"The time for preparation is too tight. You must watch carefully and observe the offensive and defensive tactics of the two teams, as well as the players' positions."
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On the screen, on the field, the match between the Azzurri Italy and the Five Shields Portugal is about to begin.
The camera is now focused on Su Fei's old acquaintance standing in the Portuguese team.
Cristiano Ronaldo.
On his tender cheeks, visible tension is revealed.
This is Cristiano's first World Cup.
As of the semi-finals, as a young player, he performed well. In the group stage, he scored the first goal steadily through the handicap of his teammates.
He won the new head coach position and also secured the starting position of Portugal.
Beep! Beep——
With the referee's whistle, the game officially began.
Portugal starts.
Goalkeeper: Ricardo Pereira!
Four defenders: Paulo Ferreira, Miguel Monteiro, Carvalho, Fernando Meira!
Five midfielders: Cristiano, Costinha, Thiago, Figo, Deco!
Single striker: Pauleta!
In this World Cup, the 4-5-1 formation that emphasizes midfield control is very popular, and Portugal coach Jose Pekerman, facing the powerful opponent Italy, also put out a double defensive midfielder.
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Italy's starting lineup.
Goalkeeper: Buffon!
Four defenders: Grosso, Materazzi, Cannavaro, Zambrotta!
Four midfielders: Perrotta, Gattuso, Pirlo, Camoranesi!
Double strikers: Toni, Totti!
On the Italian side, under the famous coach MalUnder the arrangement of Chelo Lippi, the 4-4-2 formation with balanced offense and defense is still used.
It is worth mentioning that Nesta, one of the core players of Italy's defense, suffered a recurrence of his old groin injury in the group stage and still sat on the bench in this game.
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The battle is about to start.
Portugal, which took the lead in getting the ball, launched a fierce attack at the beginning.
With a group of offensive midfielders such as Figo, Deco, and Cristiano, offense has always been the main theme of Portugal in this World Cup.
The third minute of the opening.
Cristiano broke through with the ball on the left, and after shaking and deceiving Italian midfielder Perrotta, he passed the ball to his teammate Deco who was advancing in the middle.
Deco, who helped Barcelona reach the top of Europe this year, is the offensive engine of this Portuguese team.
Deco, who got the ball, advanced in the middle, attracted the defense, and then knocked the ball and passed it to Pauleta who was following up next to him.
33-year-old Pauleta is still one of the best shooters in the French Ligue 1.
He sent a long shot directly from the front court.
The ball flew out of the baseline.
Although Portugal failed to break through Italy's goal first, it also showed the world their strong offensive ability.
Even facing Italy, which has been known for its solid defense since the start of the game, they got a chance to shoot at the beginning of the game.
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The next ten minutes.
The contest between Portugal's offensive football and Italy's Italian defense.
Italy, which almost lost the ball at the beginning, locked Portugal's several attacks through the chain-style defense strategy in the backcourt.
On the offensive end.
Italy seemed particularly patient.
On the premise of solid defense, launching an attack through the mobilization of midfield master Pirlo is the characteristic of this Italian football.
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The 19th minute of the game.
The stalemate was broken!
Pirlo made a precise long pass from the backcourt and found Camoranesi who was advancing on the right.
Camoranesi was running fast on the right.
A sudden pass from the outside of the foot tore open Portugal's defense!
Luca Toni used his speed to eat Monteiro alive!
He grabbed the ball.
After confronting Monteiro, he sent a push shot directly into the penalty area!
The quality of this shot was very high.
The angle was tricky!
Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira attacked in time, but let the ball slip past his hand.
1:0!
The stadium was instantly filled with thunderous cheers from Italian fans. Italy, who had been the main defender for nearly 20 minutes, was like a sharp blade with hidden edges.
Between the sheath, the knife fell!
It was a goal.
After moving away from the celebrating Italian players, the camera was aimed at the lost Portuguese players.
Crostiano's expression of hanging his head and sighing.
Appeared in the screen.
Su Fei silently rubbed his chin.
Sure enough.
It is indeed a bit difficult for Portugal, which originally ranked fourth in history, to face Italy.
Italy is good at defense.
This made Portugal, which won by attacking, unable to use its strength, and instead allowed Italy to counterattack successfully.
Little Ronaldo, little Ronaldo.
You Portugal can't control Italy, so you should wait for us Croatia to come.
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