Chapter 157 Europa League grouping, the Gunners are coming [Four thousand words in one chapter]
On August 28, the new England national team roster was announced:
With the official announcement of the double Germany Withdrawing from the national team, the Three Lions ushered in a new era.
Rooney, who was appointed captain of the Red Devils by Van Gaal this season, naturally took over the armband of the Three Lions and became the double captain of the club and the national team!
The vice-captain is Cahill, the backbone of Chelsea's defense.
The English football community applauded this decision.
Whether it is in terms of seniority or strength, Rooney is indeed the best candidate after Shuangde to take the lead and lead the Three Lions forward.
In the new round of England's squad, "Leicester City Twin Stars" Ling Feng and Vardy were selected again.
In addition to the overall framework of the World Cup, Hodgson also recruited Chambers (Arsenal), Rose (Tottenham), Cole Baker (Newcastle) and Delph (Aston Villa). A newcomer.
A few days later, the Three Lions ushered in their first friendly match after the World Cup, facing the "Vikings" Norway at home at Wembley Stadium.
Then five days later, it will go to Basel to play the first round of the 2016 French European Cup qualifiers against Switzerland.
England’s European qualifying group can be said to be outstanding.
The opponents in the same group are Switzerland, Slovenia, San Marino, Lithuania, and Estonia.
Except for Switzerland, which still has some combat effectiveness, the other four teams basically only suffered a bloody beating in front of the Three Lions.
Therefore, Hodgson also plans to recruit some newcomers who have performed well into the team to examine their performance.
Let's see who can become the future backbone of the team, and also prepare for the 2016 European Cup.
It is worth mentioning that compared to the last time when the assistant coach called to inform him, this time he was selected for the national team and it was the head coach Hodgson who personally called him.
It can be seen that after the emergence of the World Cup in Brazil, his status in the Three Lions has become an indispensable member of the team from a fledgling rookie!
With the end of the double Germany, the Three Lions' midfielder will inevitably undergo an update.
As the star of the British Empire who has high hopes in England, he is the most valuable player in U20 football today, and coupled with the double virtue roll call, he has almost become the successor of the double virtue in everyone's eyes.
After notifying Ling Feng that he had been selected for the new national team squad, "Huo Taigong" did not forget to care about whether he had adapted to the intensity and rhythm of the Premier League.
With such a friendly attitude, Ling Feng definitely felt that the national team coach valued him!
In this regard, he also thanked Hodgson for his call, and blurted out words of loyalty such as "I will definitely live up to your trust as coach" and "I will definitely perform well when I return to the national team." .
Anyway, everyone is carrying the sedan chair. If you give it to me, of course I will reciprocate.
Football has always been about fighting and killing, but about human relationships
. . .
On the day after the new England national team roster was released, Leicester City also ushered in a historic moment for the club.
That is the Europa League group drawing ceremony!
"Huha. Huha"
In the gym at the Belvoir base, Leicester City players are sweating in front of various fitness equipment.
Ling Feng, who was sweating profusely, was riding his exercise bike while looking at the LCD TV hanging on the wall.
On the LCD TV that is rarely turned on in the gym, the Europa League draw is being broadcast live!
The draw ceremony for the 2014-15 Europa League will be held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
The teams participating in the Europa League this season include powerful teams from the five major European leagues, as well as top players in various European leagues.
The teams classified in the first tier are headed by defending champion Sevilla, and include Naples, Tottenham, Inter Milan, Eindhoven and so on.
There are also many familiar names in the second and third tier teams, such as Wolfsburg, Borussia Monchengladbach, Everton, Saint-Etienne and other teams.
Only the fourth level is basically composed of little-known players from various minor leagues.
After fifty-three years, Leicester City, which once again participated in the European competition, was placed in the fourth tier.
This is something that has been expected.
After all, Leicester City has not participated in the European competition for many years, and its UEFA ranking is the lowest among all teams participating in the Europa League!
The result of the final draw made the corners of Ling Feng's mouth slightly raise involuntarily.
There is only one thought in my mind:
“This wave is stable!”
As a fourth-tier team, Leicester City was finally placed in Group L.
Group with Polish champions Warsaw Legion, Turkish Super League team Trabzonspor, and Ukrainian Super League team Kharkiv Metallurgy.
Compared with the five major league teams such as Sevilla and Inter Milan, as well as league leaders such as Copenhagen and Celtic, these three opponents in the same group are basically the weakest teams in each level.
This round of drawings will definitely win!
Of course, perhaps in the eyes of these three teams, I, a newly promoted Premier League team that has finally returned to the European competition after many years, is also a loser who can be bullied at will.
Strictly speaking, this group focuses on noobs pecking each other!
After the lottery was over, Ling Feng also got off his bicycle, picked up a towel and began to wipe his sweat.
At this time, Mahrez suddenly came over and asked:
"Ling, what do you think our chances of qualifying for the group stage are?"
Hearing this, Ling Feng kept moving his hands. , he just replied lightly:
"One hundred percent!"
"Huh? Why are you so sure?"
"Because we have such strength!"
After saying such crazy words, Ling Feng patted Mahrez on the shoulder, stood up and walked out of the gym.
Only Mahrez stood there, blinking his eyes, and then slowly smiled:
"It's so crazy, but I like it!"
Arrived In the bathroom, standing under the shower head, letting the hot water soak through his body, Ling Feng's mind was running at high speed.
Helping Leicester City go further in the Premier League and Europa League is his goal this season!
In fact, as early as the meeting where he was asked to change his jersey number, head coach Pearson had proposed to him his playing time this season.
He hopes that Ling Feng will focus all his energy on the Premier League and the Europa League.
As for the FA Cup and League Cup, let the team's star player rest in rotation.
Pearson made this decision after careful consideration.
On the one hand, as the core of the team, Ling Feng plays an indispensable role on the court;
On the other hand, he is only nineteen years old and must be protected and not used to death.
Continuous high-intensity games will only cause his underdeveloped body to bear excessive fatigue and damage, thus increasing the chance of injury.
Once Ling Feng gets injured, the team's tactics and record will definitely be greatly affected.
After all, his tactics and style of play are all based around Ling Feng!
That's why he made it clear to Ling Feng in advance.
Originally, Pearson was afraid that Ling Fengfeng would feel that such playing time was not enough and would be dissatisfied with his arrangement.
However, what he did not expect was that Ling Feng accepted this arrangement very happily. And also thanked Pearson for his protective use.
For a newly promoted team that has just been promoted to the Premier League and has not made large-scale signings, it is already very difficult to fight on both fronts in the Premier League and Europa League.
Therefore, strategically giving up the FA Cup and League Cup is a very wise decision.
As the core of the team, Ling Feng does not want to have physical problems or even injuries and miss more key games because of playing too many games.
Besides, he has already won the FA Cup championship;
The League Cup championship has too little gold content for him to despise.
If you give up, you will gain, and if you give up, you will gain!
If you want to go further in the Premier League and Europa League, you must make reasonable rotations of the existing lineup.
At present, Pearson is doing well.
. .
With the resumption of war in the five major leagues, the transfer market has also come to an end.
The most shocking transaction in the entire Premier League also followed:
Manchester United signed Argentinian star "Angel" Angel Di Maria from Champions League champion Real Madrid for a sky-high price of 59.7 million pounds!
This transfer fee broke the record transfer fee of 50 million pounds held by Fernando Torres in January 2011.
With this, Di Maria has become not only the top transfer bidder in the Premier League this season, but also the most expensive player signed by a Premier League club in the history!
On the last day of August, Leicester City welcomed last season's FA Cup final opponent at home - Arsenal!
Arsenal this season can be said to have smashed Wenger’s savings.
As of the day of the match, Arsenal had spent a total of 75 million pounds on signings!
Bought Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez for 35 million pounds, bought Welbeck from Manchester United for 16 million pounds, and won Newcastle United for 10 million pounds. Full-back Debich, Southampton's newly promoted international Chambers, who was purchased for 12 million pounds, and Colombian international goalkeeper Ospina.
These transactions have strengthened some of Arsenal's positions.
Especially at the winger position, the arrival of Sanchez immediately added another ball-holding point in the frontcourt.
The Chilean star also quickly integrated into the team and became the most active figure in the Arsenal team, and provided an assist in the first round.
The losses in the lineup are former captain Vermaelen and full-back Sagna.
It has an impact on the lineup.
But not much.
It can be said that Arsenal's lineup, except for the depth of the bench that has always been criticized, is still very competitive.
Arsenal’s start to this season has been pretty good.
First, they reversed Crystal Palace at home in the first round, and then drew with Everton in the second round away game.
Although we did not win two consecutive games, we did not lose.
It is worth mentioning that in both games, the Gunners achieved comebacks after falling behind.
Arsenal's resilience in the face of adversity has been widely praised.
In this game as a guest at the King Power Stadium, Wenger and the Gunners have only one goal, and that is revenge!
They want to avenge last season's FA Cup final!
For Leicester City, the good news is that during Arsenal’s Champions League qualifying match against Besiktas, Arsenal’s starting center Oliver Giroud suffered a fractured fibula and will be absent for a long time. For three months!
Therefore, in this away game at Leicester, Wenger had no choice but to use Sanogo as the starting center.
Arsenal’s tactical formation is also 4231.
Goalkeeper Szczesny.
The four defenders, from left to right, are Monreal, Koscielny, Mertesacker, and the newly joined Debich.
Three midfielders, Flamini and Ramsey partner in the midfield, and Ergo is slightly ahead.
On the left and right are Sanchez and "third brother" Cazorla!
The one in front is Sanogo.
Seeing Arsenal's starting lineup, after a summer window operation, Arsenal's strength in the two full-backs and wingers has improved.
However, due to the injury of starting center Giroud, this lineup can only lack a powerful battering ram.
This is Arsenal’s hidden danger in this game!
The last matchup in the FA Cup final proved that Sanogo is useless.
But there is no way, the only one in Arsenal who can play center is Sanogo.
In the last game against Everton, Wenger used Sanchez as the center forward.
But the effect is not good.
And Podolski's condition is worrying, and he is even more unsuitable to be at the front and fight with strong central defenders.
So, Sanogo just has no solution.
Although Arsenal is defeated by Leicester City, Leicester City's strength has also improved.
However, Pearson also emphasized in the locker room that he must concentrate.
You know, there are also stars in the opposing team who can change the situation on the court.
Especially the three future Arsenal "thigh" Sanchez, Ergo, and "third brother" Cazorla, the three offensive midfielders, are the three most threatening players in Arsenal.
Coupled with the "Reaper" Ramsey who comes in from time to time, Arsenal is definitely capable of turning the tables at the King Power Stadium!
Leicester City, who returned to home, only made one position adjustment compared to the starting lineup against Chelsea last time.
That is to replace right back De Wright with Danny Simpson!
In the last game, De Wright was sifted by Hazard and almost strained a muscle.
So, for safety reasons, Pearson activated Simpson and gave him his first league start of the season.
Compared with De Wright, Simpson is stronger and not slow. Playing against Sanchez should be able to limit the opponent's breakthrough to some extent.
Before the game, standing in the player tunnel, Ling Feng couldn't help but cast his eyes on Sanchez, who had just transferred from Barcelona.
It is indeed a "mulberry thigh"
Sanchez's thigh muscles are really thick, comparable to Cristiano Ronaldo's muscular, streamlined thighs!
And seemingly noticing Ling Feng's gaze, Sanchez couldn't help but murmur in his heart:
"Is this black-haired boy the core player that the boss emphasized to focus on? "
"It doesn't look like anything special."
Just as he was thinking this, Ling Feng rolled his eyes and suddenly spoke to Sanchez in somewhat broken Spanish:
"Hey, what's the weather like in England?"
(End of Chapter)