Manchester United legend

Chapter 139 England vs Tunisia

The most popular in England is Beckham. This year is very critical for Beckham. It is an important moment for him to be promoted from the golden boy of Manchester United to the "heartbeat" of the whole UK.

There is only one way, and that is to shine in the national team.Beckham was successfully selected for the England national team under Hoddle and has shown strong potential.

Under Manchester United's comprehensive training and excellent commercial packaging, with his outstanding performance at Manchester United and his handsome appearance, Beckham has become the darling of Manchester United fans and a veritable "heartbeat".

In addition to Beckham, England was star-studded in the 1998 World Cup. Among them were superstars like Shearer and Adams who could support the sky, Ince, a strong player in Italy, and Owen, a star of tomorrow who was much-anticipated, "England's golden boy".

The World Cup in France kicked off as scheduled, with last-time champions Brazil taking on Scotland in their first opener.

The whole England team came to watch the game in the hall of the training base. The Brazilian team did not take advantage of Scotland in the opening game. After Sampaio opened the scoring, Collins equalized with a penalty kick. It was not until 73 minutes that Cafu made an own goal to seal the victory.

Jost saw Brazil's number one superstar Ronaldo, who was still on the bench in the last game, and England did not enter the World Cup.

Now both of them have come to France to compete in the World Cup. The difference is that Ronaldo is the number one star in this World Cup.And Jost is still working hard for his starting position.Jost secretly thought in his heart that he would have the opportunity to compete with Ronaldo.

On June 1998, 6 in Marseille, it was finally England's turn to play in their opening game against Tunisia in this World Cup.

After the England team had breakfast, the whole team was going to take the bus to the Velodrome Stadium, but the bus broke down before leaving the training base.

Then the staff of the England team urgently contacted the main committee and transferred a bus from elsewhere.

The England team just drove out of the training base. Jost and Beckham were sitting together. Neither of them was a starter, but they were a little nervous when they participated in a major competition for the first time.The faces of the two people were tense and there was no smile.

The big shots of the England team showed no nervous expressions at all. Shearer, Adams, Sheringham, and Ince were playing cards and gambling behind the bus.

England's bus drove to the Velodrome Stadium, but the staff of the stadium did not allow the bus to enter. He told the England team leader that there are potential safety hazards in the stadium and are now being investigated.

The players waited another long time in their cars before being allowed onto the pitch.Enter Velodrom's locker room.The jerseys are all ready, everyone changed their jerseys and went to the field to warm up and adapt to the field.

Hoddle set out his 442 starting lineup, goalkeeper Seaman, the defense line is, right back Gary Neville, center back Adams Campbell, left back Le Saux, in midfield, the left midfielder is Scholes, the midfielder is two defensive midfielders David Batty and Paul Ince, and the right midfielder is Anderton. .

Anderton, who was born as a midfielder and wide player, is a versatile player who can adapt to multiple positions on the field. Although his physical condition is not outstanding and he is still short-sighted, his skills and mind make him one of the best midfielders in English football.

On the front line, Hiller Sheringham, the combination of the European Championship in 96, was sent.The two have been familiar with each other for many years in frontline cooperation.Beckham and Jost sat on the bench.

Tunisia's Polish coach Kasparzak also arranged a 442 formation.

Goalkeeper Owell, left back Trabelsi Jr. (c) center back Chiuciani, Bocadida right back Clayton.The four midfielders are Kikibaya, Gedobani, Boahishisoya, and the strikers are Selimi and Ben Srimani.

At the beginning of the game, the two sides tested each other, then England took the initiative on the scene, England attacked, and Tunisia defended and counterattacked.

England's two wingers are very threatening. England's two wingers, Anderton and Scholes, are not players who pass from the bottom with speed, but they are both players with high IQ. They know how to find the opponent's weaknesses.

During the game, Jost saw Ryan Hayes, who was in charge of England's security department, come in front of Hoddle, whispered something in Hoddle's ear and left.After hearing Hayes' conversation, Hoddle's face was very bad. He looked back at the bench. The players thought that whoever played badly on the field would have to make a substitution, and everyone was gearing up.As a result, Hoddle turned around again, which disappointed the players on the bench.

Assistant coach Rhodes came to Hoddle and whispered two words on the sidelines.

Beckham asked Jost beside him, "You said what they were talking about just now, which made Hoddle look so bad."

Jost: "You know? I just want Hoddle to let me play quickly."

Beckham: "Me too."

Why did Hoddle look so bad? It was not until later that Hoddle reported in an interview that England suffered a terrorist attack. Hayes told Hoddle, "We will also be attacked by terrorists, let the players pay attention to safety!"

After hearing what Hayes said, Hoddle's face was very bad. In fact, a group of gangsters were carrying threatening items and wanted to sneak into the stadium, but they were captured by the French police.

In the No.20 minute of the first half, Sheringham stopped the ball with his chest and then volleyed.

No. 305 minutes, England got a free kick near the sideline of the penalty area on the right side, and Anderton and Le Saux stood in front of the ball.

The referee blew the whistle and England started to take a free kick. First, Anderton ran towards the ball, but missed it without kicking it. Then Le Saux ran towards the ball without kicking it and missed it. Then Anderton ran back and kicked the ball towards the penalty area.

The England players all knew that this was a tactical corner kick, and they all paid attention to Anderton, knowing that he was the one who took the penalty.

But the players of the Tunisian team didn't know it. They saw the two players from England who blessed the free kick running back and forth without kicking the ball. When England's free kick passed to the penalty area, they were not prepared enough.Shearer, who was ambushed in the penalty area, grabbed the spot and shook his head to attack the goal. The Tunisian goalkeeper did not block the ball.The football rolled into the net and England led 1-0.

After the goal, Shearer once again raised his iconic right arm in celebration.Other England players also came to celebrate with Shearer.

Head coach Hoddle is suitable for the whole team on the sidelines and should also pay attention to defense. At the end of the first half, England did not break through the gate of Tunisia. England led 1:0 and ended the first half.

In the second half, they changed sides and fought again. Tunisia was still looking for a chance to counterattack, but they couldn't find it. England's central defenders Adams and Campbell were extremely solid in defense.

On the contrary, in the 68th minute, Campbell assisted and passed to Scholes on the left side of the front penalty area line. He ran into the penalty area and took away a Tunisian defender.After the goal, Scholes was very excited and took off his shirt to celebrate the goal.

Then England coach Hoddle dispatched troops, but Beckham and Jost never played.In the end, England beat Tunisia 2:0 to win a good start.

(End of this chapter)