Godfather of national football

Chapter 163 The first match against Argentina ([-])

Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa.

This stadium with a capacity of more than 8 people was built for the World Cup, where the first match of Group D of the World Cup will be held, China VS Argentina.

The commentators for this game are Duan Xuan and Fan Zhiyi. Lao Fan is a more domineering member of the older generation of international players, and he is also the leader of the defense line of the 2002 Chinese team.

"Old Fan, what do you think of this match?"

"I believe this Chinese team can achieve what we failed to do, which is to score a goal in the World Cup."

"But our opponent is Argentina,"

"I know, but I always had a feeling that I could score today."

Soon, players from both sides walked out of the player tunnel, and there was a huge noise at the scene, all of which were vuvuzela voices.

There are not many fans in Argentina and China in this game, because it is not easy for fans from the two countries to come, and the security in South Africa is really bad, so most of the fans on the scene are local fans in Johannesburg.

The players of the two teams stood in line, and the camera lens scanned the players on both sides in turn. The tension of the imminent battle made the players' faces expressionless.

Looking at Argentina's starting lineup, Maradona still put a smoke bomb before the game. In the defense, he did not send Samuel, but used Burdisso from Serie A Rome.

Otamendi, Burdisso, Demichelis, and Heinze lined up in turn to form Argentina's defense line.

Argentina's defense line, to put it nicely, is battle-tested, but it is actually old. This may be the reason why the old horse did not send Samuel.

The lineup of the Chinese team is exactly the same as before. Zheng Zhi is the attacking midfielder, Chen Gelin is the lone striker, but Hao Junmin and Ji Ke are also sitting on the bench. If the situation is passive in the second half, then Li Guo is likely to make substitutions.

With the whistle of the referee, the game began.

*****
After the game started, the head coaches of both sides were unable to sit down because of nervousness, and stood on the sidelines to direct the game.

Li Guo looked at the old horse. In fact, it was not easy for this Argentine team to come to South Africa. They were almost on the brink of extinction in the qualifiers. I still remember the scene of Maradona diving to celebrate when Palermo's goal sent Argentina to the World Cup in South Africa.

But Li Guo also knows that the reason for Argentina's poor performance in the qualifiers is that the Argentine players are all the main players of a strong team. Both the club and the national team are difficult, but with Argentina's strength, it is definitely a favorite to win the World Cup.

Argentina's 433 formation has a strong frontcourt attack. After Messi and Tevez crossed positions, Tevez put the ball straight into the ribs, and Messi went forward.

The speed of the little flea is very fast. This is the position of Mu Fei of the Chinese team. He blocks the inside line to prevent Messi from cutting inside.

Messi made a dunk before the bottom line, and then made a cross. Higuain in the middle shoveled and flew.

There was a burst of sighing, and then a burst of applause. Although most of the fans are South Africans, because of Argentina's reputation, they will support Argentina and Messi more.

After the opening game, Argentina played the same routine several times, either for Messi or Di Maria. Anyway, they used the advantages of the players' speed and technology to tear open the Chinese team's ribs.

After all, the combination of central defender and full back is the most likely to have opportunities, but after trying a few times, it was found that the Chinese team was not easy to penetrate, so Argentina's offensive rhythm slowed down.

*****
The Chinese team's offense can only be sporadic. Occasionally shooting a goal in the frontcourt does not form an organized offense. This is what Li Guo expected before the game. Li Guo asked the players to shoot more, even if it was a wave, because there are many miracles on the football field.

Zheng Zhi took the ball in the frontcourt, and immediately Argentina's Mascherano, Burdisso, and Rodriguez surrounded Zheng Zhi. This is the problem encountered by the Chinese team's offense today. As long as they hold the ball for more than one second, the opponent will be surrounded by layers.

This is the defense of a strong team, very forward-looking, Zheng Zhi can only pass back, Argentina presses forward, and finally Geng Chong is under pressure and kicks the ball out of the sideline.

Argentina suppressed the Chinese team very well with early predictions and high-position pressing. Li Guo formed the offensive team cooperation of the Chinese team in the past 3 years. Today, he was basically interrupted in front of Argentina. The connection between the players was cut off.

Duan Xuan and Fan Zhiyi, who were at the top of the stands, saw all this clearly, "If you can't hold the ball, you can't pass it. Argentina's prediction is very good," Fan Zhiyi said.

"Yes, Argentina's stealing of the ball is not blind grabbing, but the way of grabbing the ball that makes us very uncomfortable."

"I hope the Chinese team can survive the most difficult period. I think the Argentine players also need to breathe."

*****
Messi has the ball, Fang Suo is following, and Zhou Dun is in front. As long as Messi has the ball, the Chinese team must have two or three people to defend.

But that's it, it still feels very unreliable, Messi has been observing with the ball, so you don't know what he is going to do, pass the ball?Break through by yourself?Still shoot.

Zhou Dun fights and retreats. He is the last guarantee. Fang Suo sticks to Messi and does not hesitate to foul, but Messi wipes it away.

Messi split the side to Carlos Tevez, and the Chinese team's defense immediately became unstable. Zhou Dun pointed to Carlos Tevez, and Mu Fei went over.

Zhou Dun himself was still staring at Messi. Sure enough, Tevez passed the ball back to Messi, and Messi tapped his heel under Zhou Dun's marking, and the ball rolled to Higuain.

Maradona held his head in regret, but the Chinese team's defense line was penetrated again, and it will be a matter of time before this continues to lose the ball.

Messi is too strong. He alone can attract two or three defensive players, causing vacancies in other positions. This makes the Chinese team's defense stretched. What's more terrible is that there seems to be no good way for Messi. Unless he is in a sluggish state, he cannot be restrained.

Li Guo could only let Li Weifeng and Fang Suo block him in Messi's way like throwing sandbags, but the effect was still mediocre.

As a last resort, Li Guo asked Zheng Zhi to come back, and the Chinese team became a 433-[-]-[-] formation with three midfielders. After all, Zheng Zhi also played the midfielder, which was slightly better, but the price was that the Chinese team completely sacrificed their offense.

Li Guo's current goal is to "simmer" in one word. Argentina is no longer the Argentina it was two years ago, and the Chinese team is not the host. Li Guo hopes to delay it a little longer. Maybe when the physical fitness of the Argentine players declines, the Chinese team will usher in a turning point.

At this time, Maradona secretly glanced at Li Guo, with a look of pride in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)