Manchester United legend

Chapter 140
After the victory over Tunisia, the whole England team was very happy, singing and dancing in the locker room. Jost was also infected by this atmosphere. Coach Hodlyer was satisfied with the team's performance.Hoddle encouraged the team to beat Romania to break through the group.

After England defeated Tunisia, the English media blatantly said that England would qualify as No.1 in the group, and Romania was not worth mentioning. They did not deserve to be the seed team at all, but England.

Soon England ushered in the second game of the group stage, the game against Romania, Romania defeated Colombia in the last game, and the morale was high.
Captain Haji (c) serves as the front midfielder, and the striker is a combination of one high and one fast Ilye Moldovan.

England still lined up the starting line-up against Tunisia.

Both teams are full of confidence. With the referee's whistle, the two teams started the game. From the beginning, they tested each other, and then England began to take the initiative, but Romania's quick counterattack organized by captain Haji was very threatening.

In the 30th minute of the first half, Romania's midfielder Pedrescu hit the crossbar of the England team with a seemingly passable shot, scaring the England goalkeeper Seaman into a cold sweat.This was the most threatening shot of the two teams in the first half.

Then England's two defensive midfielders Ince and Batty took turns pestering the Romanian captain Haji. The England team's wing was also restricted by Romania. Both teams shot without any threat. The two teams drew 0:0 in the first half.

After a short break between the two teams, the second half of the game began. Just a few minutes after the opening of the second half, Romania seized an opportunity to break the deadlock first.

Romania sent a throw-in from the right side, Hagi was guarded by Anderton, but Pedrescu who took the throw-in was very smart, he threw the ball behind Haji, Haji turned around and touched Anderton, before the England defender blocked it, Hagi picked up the ball and passed it into the penalty area.

Adams turned around and interfered, but it didn't affect Moldovan. Moldovan faced goalkeeper Seaman at close range. Moldovan shot, but goalkeeper Seaman missed the ball. Romania took the lead in scoring 1:0 to lead England.

England organized an attack immediately after being scored, but Romania’s defense was solid. England had no effective offensive means for a while. England coach Hoddle had to make adjustments. Jost had watched the World Cup in 98. Jost decided to make a joke with Owen. Jost said to Owen who was sitting on the bench: "Boy, you are going to play."

Owen smiled shyly, but at this time the assistant coach Rhodes called Owen and asked Owen to go out to warm up. Everyone knew that warming up the players on the bench was to prepare for the game. Owen looked at Jost in surprise, and Jost laughed: "Don't look, I can tell fortunes with tarot cards, and you can score goals in a while."

Owen: "Really?"

Before Jost could answer, head coach Hoddle came over and hugged Irving and explained to him the task of playing.

Then Liverpool's 18-year-old teenager Owen came off the bench and replaced Sheringham.

Beckham witnessed the whole process beside Jost, and Beckham asked Jost: "Paul, can you use the Tarot cards for me to count?"

Jost pretended to be a magic stick: "I'll forget it for you last night."

Beckham: "Oh! How can I play today?"

jost. "You can rest assured that it will be your turn after Irving plays."

Beckham: "Really!"

Jost: "One thousand pounds, I bet you will play soon, do you bet?"

Beckham: "Bet, as long as I play, I will give you a thousand pounds, and if I don't play, you will give me."

Jost: "No problem"

Within 5 minutes, the assistant coach Rod asked Beckham to warm up, and Beckham completely convinced Jost.

Jost was also worried. After Beckham played, the Manchester United players almost didn't play by himself. Even the 18-year-old Owen played. He didn't know when he would be able to play. England coach Hoddle trusted Ince and Batty more, and Jost was behind them.

After a while, Beckham also played, he replaced Batty, and Hoddle let Beckham play in the middle to organize the attack, so Beckham's first World Cup tour began.

After England fell behind by one goal, with Beckham playing, England accelerated their offensive rhythm. Beckham became the commander on the field. With the addition of Scholes and Ince, who was also a Manchester United player, the three cooperated tacitly and England took control of the midfield.

In the 65th minute, center Shearer pulled the ball to the right to receive the ball, and then passed the ball into the penalty area. Scholes failed to grab the ball at the front point, but he interfered with the defender. Owen, who was ambushing the penalty spot, saw the opportunity and kicked the ball into the goal. England tied the score 1:1.

Owen scored the goal, so he became the youngest scorer in England's World Cup final stage.Prior to this, he also maintained the youngest international player in the England team.

After scoring the goal, Irving was so excited that he ran to the bench and hugged Jostqing: "Hey! Paul, you are a wizard, you are amazing."

Jost can't say that I have traveled here!

After the goal, England's morale was boosted and they began to attack Romania frantically.

After conceding the goal, Romania did not panic. After all, they entered the quarterfinals of the 94 World Cup, and the team's background is still there.Romania defended steadily and looked for opportunities to fight back against England.

With the end of the game time approaching, England wanted to quickly end the fight.The offense started with long passes, but it has always had the advantage of finding the field, but they always gained momentum and failed to score.

In the 44th minute of the second half, the fourth official raised a card on the sidelines, and there were 2 minutes of stoppage time.

Just when everyone thought the two pairs would make a 1:1 draw, the Romanian team launched a counterattack.

Captain Haji pierced England's defense with a pass from the left. Midfielder Pedrescu jumped in at high speed. England's left-back Le Saux also sprinted together. The two were Chelsea teammates, and they were familiar with each other. They competed for speed.

The ball entered the penalty area, and Le Saux had already grabbed the position, but in the entanglement with Pedrescu, Pedrescu stretched his legs to reach the ball and stabbed him. The ball was too close to the goalkeeper. England goalkeeper Seaman had no time to react. The ball rolled into the England net. Le Saux performed very badly in this defense.Le Saux is really a "good teammate".

After the goal, Pedrescu was extremely excited. This goal can be said to be a lore, and England didn't have much time at all.

The entire Romanian team celebrated crazily. Only the head coach didn't look very happy. It turned out that the coach Iordenescu encouraged the players before the game and said: "Boys, do you think we can get the right to qualify or even the first place in the group? I think we can do it!"

Captain Haji said, "Can we make a bet on this?"

The bet was: Iordenescu shaved his head and all the players dyed their hair.It appears that the bet has been fulfilled.

On the other hand, the entire England team couldn't believe that they were just so lore, and there was not much time at all, unless God came.

When Pedrescu, who had celebrated his goal, walked past England's bench, Jost stood up in surprise. Wasn't this the former head coach of Chinese football Jiangsu Sainty Club?Later he resigned.

At the last game time, God did not come, England lost the game regrettably, and the whole team ended in despondency.The opponent to meet in the next game is the Colombian team, whoever will qualify from the two Mizukage teams.Jost's head was thinking, will I be able to play in the next game, Beckham of the bench duo has already played, and he is the only one left, Jost is eager to play.

(End of this chapter)