Chapter 113: The first match of the World Cup, a shocking leak [4,000-word chapter]
Fluminense Club, in the training base.
Under the scorching sun, the players of the Three Lions
With a few days left before the first game, the team reduced their physical and technical training and mainly practiced tactics, increasing The running-in and tacit understanding between the players.
For example, offensive routines combining both sides and center, set-piece tactics, etc.
Every half-hour of training, the players will come to the sidelines and take out slightly cold sports drinks from the water tank to rehydrate.
In Brazil in June, the sun is blazing.
Although it is not too hot, professional players will consume a lot of physical energy after high-intensity exercise and must replenish water at any time.
At this time, Hodgson and the assistant coaches will make one-on-one adjustments and guidance on the execution of tactics by the players on the field.
At this moment, Hodgson is holding Sterling's shoulders and giving him some tips:
"Rahim (Sterling), when you are dribbling on the wing, don't always keep your head down. After you break through, look up and observe your teammates in the center as soon as possible!"
"Also, you can play with Daniel (Sturridge) changed positions"
Stirling, who had a slightly curly mohawk, drank water and listened carefully to the coach's instructions.
At this time, Sterling has not yet transferred to Manchester City, nor has he been carefully cultivated by Guardiola, nor has he made those unbelievable happy operations on the court.
At this time, Sterling was not half angel and half devil, who was later nicknamed "Happy Boy" by fans.
Outstanding physical fitness, coupled with sharp breakthroughs, make him one of the few breakthrough points among the entire Three Lions.
Of course, his average shooting skills and decision-making issues after a breakthrough still restrict his further growth into a world-class winger.
However, in the Three Lions, he is in a similar situation to Ling Feng, and he can definitely use his strengths and avoid his weaknesses.
There are Sturridge, Gerrard, Rooney and others in the team who can attack the goal. Sterling only needs to focus on rushing on the wing, tearing apart the opponent's defense, and then sending crosses to his teammates.
As for shooting, it was not his turn.
Of course, in the game, whether to pass or shoot depends on the player's own judgment.
Tactics are dead, players are alive!
Top players have strong game reading skills and can make corresponding decisions according to changes in the situation on the field.
After a short rehydration, the players returned to the training ground again superior.
Sterling, who had just listened to Hodgson's teachings, changed his rhythm on the right wing, passed Luke Shaw, and then passed a low ball to the center.
Then Gerrard stepped in, accelerated suddenly and ran past Ling Feng, met the ball and completed a powerful kick into the goal.
It was just that the angle of the shot was too right and was firmly held by substitute goalkeeper Foster.
Even so, this wave of offensive routines combined with the side and the center still made Hodgson on the side nod with satisfaction.
Then he said a few words to the assistant coach beside him.
The next second, the latter shouted loudly to the two midfielders on the substitute side:
"Ling, James (Milner), you let Steven shoot too easily, press harder!"
Hearing this, Ling Feng gave a thumbs up to the sidelines, indicating that he understood.
It is worth mentioning that as social media fans exceeded one million, Ling Feng completed the achievement of [social media fans exceeded one million].
The reward is another [Training Acceleration Card]
However, compared to the [Training Acceleration Card] obtained for the first time, the effect of the card is somewhat different:
[Item name: Training accelerator card]
[Item effect: You can choose any one attribute to speed up your training! 】
[Item duration: ninety days]
Yes, the duration of this [Training Acceleration Card] is three times longer!
In other words, the training effect will be three times stronger!
However, consider that after the World Cup, it is the annual offseason.
Ling Feng has no intention of continuing to train hard after frequent matches in the league and World Cup, when the body should relax and rest the most.
The so-called balance between work and rest.
Besides, given his current age and physical condition, training too hard would put too much strain on his body.
If it causes any irreversible hidden damage, then the gain outweighs the loss.
Therefore, he did not use this card immediately, but planned to wait until he returned to the club for pre-season training.
With the experience of pre-season training and Premier League games, coupled with the effect of the [Training Acceleration Card], he can quickly improve one of his major attributes even without additional training!
. . .
On June 13th, the much-anticipated World Cup in Brazil officially begins!
In the opening match, the host "Samba Legion" Brazil played against the "Grid Legion" Croatia.
Neymar, the leader of Brazil's new generation, scored twice in the game and led the Selecao team to defeat Modric, Rakitic, Perisic and many other amazing players with a score of 3 to 1. Croatia got off to a good start.
The next day, after repeated deliberation by the coaching staff, the Three Lions also determined the starting eleven for the first game against Italy.
Tactical formation: 4231
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart
Defenders: Johnson, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines
Midfielder: Gerrard and Henderson
Left and right wingers: Welbeck, Sterling
Midfielder: Rooney
Forward: Sturridge
Ling Feng, who performed amazingly in the three warm-up matches, did not enter the starting lineup.
Ling Feng was not surprised by this.
In the final analysis, head coach Hodgson chose to be more prudent.
After all, Ling Feng worked hard with his teammates for three games, which took less than two hours in total.
Even though he performed well in the warm-up match, he has also integrated well with the team.
However, if he replaces one of the original main players with his performance in only three warm-up games, then for the main player who has experienced the World Cup preliminaries with the team and personally helped the team advance to the World Cup It is undoubtedly unfair!
Moreover, the World Cup is the most important and greatest event in football!
Every game is related to the country's honor, and every game is a tit-for-tat battle.
Hodgson, who was under great pressure, did not dare to make changes to the main lineup in his mind.
I am afraid that a change will destroy the originally stable main structure and chemical reaction.
Of course, considering Ling Feng's outstanding performance in the warm-up match and his unique tactical role, Hodgson hopes that Ling Feng can understand his decision and do a good job as a substitute.
For this reason, after the starting lineup was announced, Hodgson even called Ling Feng to his room to comfort the supernova.
To summarize, it means that you performed very well in the warm-up match, but you were not allowed to start. It was due to tactical and experience considerations.
This is somewhat similar to the situation when Ling Feng was first promoted to the first team.
So, Ling Feng can understand Hodgson's thoughts very well.
He was also very grateful that Hodgson could give him an "explanation" in person. After all, with Hodgson's qualifications and identity, there was no need to do so.
However, Hodgson did it anyway.
This is enough to show how much Hodgson takes himself seriously!
Ling Feng also said that he respects all the head coach's decisions and is determined to contribute his share to the Three Lions and so on.
He is not afraid that he will not have a chance to appear in this World Cup.
Ling Feng believes that the ability he showed in the warm-up match will definitely leave a deep impression on the coaching staff.
Once things go wrong, Hodgson will definitely think of himself first!
And their first group match opponent, Italy, was not a good opponent.
The "League of Azzurri" Italy is led by two historical stars, Pirlo and Buffon. The team has backbones such as Marchisio and De Rossi, as well as Balotelli and Villa. Di and other young talents.
The defense has always been the most reassuring part of Italy.
Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli, and head coach Prandelli directly moved Juventus' defense to the national team.
The tacit understanding and competition experience of this trio are trustworthy. Coupled with Buffon standing on the goal line, any forward will be wary of seeing it.
In this lineup, the 35-year-old Pirlo is still the absolute core of the team.
It is worth mentioning that Pirlo's contract with Juventus would have expired this season.
As a result, just a few days before the opening of the World Cup, Juventus signed a new two-year contract with Pirlo.
Without worries about the club's future, Pirlo can devote all his energy to his last World Cup.
How to allow this midfield artist to give full play to his passing advantages and coexist with young players will determine how far the Azzurri can go in this World Cup!
It is worth mentioning that many fans in later generations have made the assumption that if England had been given Pirlo, England would have won the championship long ago.
Unfortunately, Pirlo is Pirlo only because he was born and grew up in the Apennine Peninsula.
However, in this World Cup, the Three Lions have a "new Beckham" with peak De Bruyne passing skills
Perhaps, Lingfeng, this little butterfly, will bring some different changes to England
. . .
June 15th.
The weather is sunny.
The Amazon Arena in Manaus is about to host its first World Cup match.
The two sides are the "Three Lions" England and the "Blue Jackets" Italy!
The stadium, which can accommodate 46,000 spectators, was packed with seats.
In the stands, blue and white compete.
“Welcome to Manaus, the first match of Group D is about to begin, the battle between England and Italy!”
“Let’s take a look at the starting lineups of both sides.”< br>
"Italy has a 4141 formation."
"The starting goalkeeper is not the Buffon we are familiar with. His replacement is the goalkeeper Siligu of the French giants Paris Saint-Germain"
"In defense, Paletta replaced Bonucci and became Barzagli's partner, while Chiellini was on the left."
"There are five players in the midfield, with De Rossi trailing behind. . Pirlo and Verratti are in the middle, Marchisio and Candreva are on the left and right."
"The one at the front is Super Mario, Balotelli!"
< br>
In the last eleven meetings between England and Italy, Italy has the absolute upper hand.
The most recent defeat was the penalty shootout in the quarter-finals of the European Cup two years ago!
Gerrard, Rooney, Welbeck and others in the Three Lions formation all witnessed the moment when they were eliminated by Italy on penalty kicks.
Therefore, of course they hope to take revenge on Italy and get a good start in the first game to make a good start for this World Cup.
Before the start of this duel, countless football figures and media reporters gave the Three Lions advice and helped them come up with various ways to "target Pirlo".
Hearing these rumors, Italian coach Prandelli at the pre-match press conference just smiled:
"Restrict Pirlo? This is nonsense, everyone knows this."
>Whether it is the coaches and players of the Three Lions or the fans of England, everyone knows that Pirlo is the most threatening player in the Italian team.
However, knowing and doing it are not the same thing at all!
With bursts of cheers and applause from the fans at the scene, the starting players from both sides slowly walked into the court holding the ball boys.
Ling Feng came to the bench with other substitute players.
After the pre-match ceremonies such as playing the national anthem and lining up to shake hands, the players from both sides came to their respective half-courts and waited for the game to start.
Looking down at the time on his watch, the referee gave a long whistle. This focus battle of Group D has officially begun!
From the beginning of the game, Ling Feng, who was sitting on the bench, had his eyes fixed on Pirlo.
Having read the script, he certainly knew that the protagonist of this game was undoubtedly the man wearing the No. 21 blue jersey.
Almost every attack in Italy is handed over to Pirlo's organization.
Every pass, whether it is a direct pass, a side pass, or a reverse pass with Verratti and Marchisio, looks so reasonable and elegant.
However, the revengeful Three Lions showed a strong desire to attack from the beginning.
In the fourth minute, Sterling broke through on the right side of the frontcourt, drove all the way to about 25 meters away from the goal, and suddenly fired with his right foot.
What surprised Ling Feng was that this long-range shot was pretty good.
It just missed the goal a little and hit the side netting on the right, causing ripples.
In response, the England fans in the stadium gave him applause.
Without any probing, the two sides started fighting with real swords and guns.
Both sides have offense and defense, and both have opportunities to attack, but they are always just a little bit behind.
Until the 35th minute of the game, Italy got a corner kick on the right side of the front court.
Candreva, who was responsible for the kick-off, looked at the crowd in the penalty area and Pirlo on the line of the penalty area. He chose to take a tactical corner kick and passed the ball to the nearby Verratti.
The latter stopped and passed directly, passing the ball to Pirlo who came to meet from outside the left penalty area.
Under everyone's attention, Pirlo made a move that surprised everyone present:
He rushed forward and, under Sturridge's hand, Under the interference, he did not catch the ball, but consciously opened his legs and missed it!
This leak deceived the whole world!
At this time, the attention of the English players on the field was attracted by Pirlo's fake running, but they did not expect that Marchisio behind him stepped forward to catch the ball and observed Joe Hart's position in front of the goal. Then he moved his legs and shot angrily!
Hit the ball with great force and hit the ground. The ball was extremely fast and went straight to the lower right corner of the goal.
Joe Hart failed to make the save and could only watch the ball and sigh
(End of this chapter)