Godfather of national football

Chapter 81 Is This Still Italy?

As Nocerino's explosive shot went wide of the goal, the Chinese fans in the audience breathed a sigh of relief, and then everyone couldn't help but have a question in their hearts, that is, is this the Italian team?

In China, there has always been a stereotype of thinking about Italy, that is, Italy's defense is very strong. Over time, it seems that the Italian team can do nothing but defend.

So in this game, when Italy's offense was sharper than Brazil's, Chinese fans were confused.

Take a look at this Italian midfielder, maybe this kind of confusion will be alleviated a little. The Italian midfielder is a diamond-shaped midfielder. People who are familiar with Serie A should know this formation very well. AC Milan liked this midfield configuration the most.

The four are Montolivo, Marchisio, Nocerino and Chigarini.

Look at the two Italian forwards, one is Giovinco who plays for Juventus, and the other is Giuseppe Rossi who plays for the Yellow Submarine in La Liga.

With such a midfielder and such a striker, it is not difficult to understand that the Chinese team was beaten by Italy at the beginning of the first half.

*****
"We can only breathe with the Italians," Zheng Zhi thought. Now the rhythm of the game on the field is completely controlled by the Italians. They speed up when they want to speed up, and slow down when they want to slow down. Such a game is easy for Italy, but it will be very tiring for the Chinese team.

Italy's diamond-shaped midfielder cooperates very tacitly. Three passes and two downs can pass the ball to the Chinese team's penalty area. In front of the penalty area, the Italian players either shoot directly or pass through to the two forwards in the penalty area. In short, they can form a certain threat every time.

Li Guo can only be thankful that Pirlo did not come, otherwise, with "Sleeping Skin"'s exquisite footwork, the Chinese team's defense line is now riddled with holes.

At this time, Li Guo hoped that Allardyce would give him some advice. Big Sam was like Li Guo's intimate padded jacket, and he really appeared, "Li Guo, there is too much space in the midfield of the Chinese team."

"I know, is this a defect of the 4231 formation? Because the 4231 has only two midfielders, but the opponent's diamond-shaped midfielder is varied."

Li Guo has been puzzled by this question, but Allardyce smiled, "If this is the case, then why did 4231 finally replace the diamond-shaped midfielder after the 2004 European Cup?"

"This... I don't understand," Li Guo replied honestly.

"Because there is a big problem with the defense of the diamond-shaped midfielder," Allardyce pointed to Nocerino on the other side. "Look, Italy's huge backcourt has only one defensive midfielder. Once their physical fitness declines, the defense in front of the defender is tantamount to useless."

Li Guo took a look at Nocerino, who is currently playing for Palermo in Serie A, and Li Guo knew that he would go to AC Milan, where he would reach the peak of his career and be called Nuo Tianwang in Chinese.

"Big Sam, I seem to understand what you mean. Does it mean that all we need to do now is wait?"

"Yes, you understand quickly,"

"Then what if what we are waiting for is not an opportunity but a goal from the opponent?"

Allardyce's forehead was sweating, "Li Guo, you have to understand that half of the football circle is about strength, and the other half is about luck. If the goal is to lose the ball, then..." Allardyce didn't say any more.

"All right,"

Then Li Guo applauded sometimes, jumped up and down, and praised the players on the field. In short, he had to put on the appearance of a big-name coach, but in fact he was very nervous at this time, and on the other hand, he was also looking forward to the decline of the Italian team's physical fitness.

*****
Giovinco.

Whether in Juventus or the Italian national team, this is a regrettable player.

Qiao Wenke, nicknamed the Atomic Ant, has top-notch skills and fast speed, but at this time he lost his temper, not because the Chinese team's defense was too strong, but because his teammates didn't pass him the ball.

He yelled at Marchisio: "Pass the ball, what a chance."

But Marchisio also has his own ideas. The Chinese team's defense is shrunk in the penalty area, and there are relatively few defensive players around the arc of the penalty area. On the other hand, Marchisio is very confident in his long-range shooting ability.

After the long-range shot, Marchisio needs to move again. Montolivo will come over for the next attack, and the diamond-shaped midfielder keeps changing.

Just when the Italian diamond-shaped midfield changed and was not properly arranged, an accident happened. Chigalini lost the ball, and it was the Chinese team's midfielder Fang Suo who stole the ball from his feet.

Fang Suo was going to pass the ball to Zheng Zhi, but Zheng Zhi pointed directly at Chen Gelin on the forward line, meaning to pass directly, don't pass me.

Zheng Zhi knew that the Italian team's defense was fast, so don't drag the attack at this time. Fonso pushed straight forward and penetrated the diamond-shaped midfield of Italy. Nocerino, who was dragged at the end, was useless at this time.

But Italy's defensive quality is really good. The fence built by the four defenders is very layered. Chen Gelin noticed it before he took the ball, so when he touched the ball, Chen Gelin didn't stop the ball. Instead, he crossed his legs on the ball.

Chen Gelin's omission can be described as a big brain hole, not to mention the Italian Olympic team, even the Italian team that won the World Cup in 2006. It is estimated that there is nothing they can do about this ball.

*****
After scoring the goal, Sun Jihai rushed 50 meters towards Li Guo, flying high and falling heavily like a dive bomber.

Li Guo knew that this guy threw himself on him, it must feel uncomfortable, but there was no way, as the coach of the national football team, Li Guo had no choice but to hide.

Fortunately, Sun Jihai was not very heavy, and Li Guo only took a few steps back in the end. If Yin Di hit him, then Li Guo would have to take it easy!

When the Chinese team celebrated wildly, the Italian side fell into mutual complaints. The striker complained that the midfielder was not strong enough, the midfielder complained that the defense was not good, and the goalkeeper Sirigu complained that the team was too loose.

World champion Italy fell into a small crisis because of this ball.But this ball made Li Guo understand why the diamond-shaped midfielder was finally replaced by 4231. It is true that such a position is too layered.

At the critical moment, Italy's coach Casi Lacy stood up and pointed four fingers at the disciples in the stadium. The meaning was very clear. The four midfielders stood in parallel.

And Casi Lacy's purpose is very clear, to replicate the miracle of the national team in the Olympics.

(End of this chapter)