[Football Fans] Glory

Saturday, June 1996, 6

In the quarter-finals of the European Cup, Spain played hosts England.

The venue for the match is Wembley Stadium, London.

This is a rare fine weather, Wembley Stadium packed with England fans to watch the game.

The current venue called Wembley Stadium is not the famous Wembley Stadium that can seat 9 people in the future, but the home of a former Wimbledon Football Club. In recent years, due to the decline in performance, they have lost a large number of local fan groups. In order to survive, they had to move to the outskirts of London and changed their name to MKDONS.Therefore, the MK team gave up the right to rent Wembley Stadium.Later, Wembley Stadium was rebuilt and became the home of the English football team. It is also used to hold some venues similar to the FA Cup final semi-finals, League Cup finals, and Community Shield Cup finals.

Football-loving English fans almost occupied Wembley Stadium, and it was almost impossible to find Spanish fans at the scene.

"Should I say that it really deserves to be the home field!"

Guti, who was warming up, chatted with his teammates.

Guerrero nodded. "I barely see our fans anymore."

"It is said that many fans who came with the team could not buy tickets."

Guti shrugged.

"why?"

Don't the organizers sell it to Spanish fans?

Guerrero's eyes widened in surprise.

Looking at the small dimple on the side of his cheek, Guti really wanted to poke there with his finger, "That's right, it's just that except for the tickets for our fans, it is said that all other tickets have been snatched up by England fans."

"Even in the neutral zone?"

"That's right!"

Guti nodded.

"too exaggerated."

Guerrero shook his head.

"Isn't the slogan of this European Cup is that football returns to England? British fans are the craziest fans in the world!"

Guti spread his hands.

"makes sense."

The two chatted, and after doing some simple activities such as running around, stretching their legs, and kicking their feet casually, they were called back to the locker room by the assistants to make the final preparations before the game.

"...In this game, the full-backs should not easily step forward to assist in order to prevent being counterattacked by the opponent. Also, pay attention to protecting the midfield..."

Coach Camacho is making the final arrangements on the field. Of course, no matter how well the preparations are made in advance, the players on the field can only deal with emergencies on the field themselves. Most of the time, the players need to respond on the spot.

"Finally, if there is a dispute on the field, except for the captain, you are not allowed to argue with the referee."

Camacho made the final addition in the chapter on getting out.

After the coaching staff walked out, Hierro got up and stood in the middle of the locker room, clapping his hands, "Attention everyone, this is England's home court. In case of any problems, don't conflict with your opponents at will. What's the matter?" I will come forward, and everyone must remain calm."

The team members nodded.

"If you haven't packed it yet, pack it up quickly, check your equipment, and go to the toilet quickly."

Admonishing like an old lady, Hierro looked at the other teammates who had already announced the starting roster, looked at their expressions, and observed if they had any other problems.

The captain sounds very good, but it's not easy to be a captain!

After that, the players who were not on the starting list went out of the locker room first, while the starting 11 players stayed in the locker room, waiting for the time to come.

"Jose, are you nervous?"

Hierro sat next to Guti and asked.

Guti smiled, "How can you be nervous."

I have been looking forward to it for so long, and finally on the international stage, I can only feel the joy of being excited and looking forward to the start of the competition.

After carefully looking at Guti, Hierro found that his teammate was indeed not nervous, so he nodded in satisfaction.

"Captain, if we eliminated the host today, do you think we will be unable to move forward in England from tomorrow?"

Guti's boring whimsy.

"That's a really good question."

Ye Luo also nodded seriously, "If we win, you don't go out again from tomorrow, in case something happens, it's over."

Pfft, someone laughed out loud.

"I think we can send Jose out to try, beauties will always have a discount."

Enrique whistled.

Guti raised his middle finger, "I think the English must prefer a strong man like you."

"Beautiful girl?"

The teammates deliberately chimed in.

"No, it's homosexual(*)."

Goody was serious.

"what?"

He spoke in English, but many of his teammates didn't understand it.

Only Enrique stared at him fiercely, "Brat."

Hierro covered his forehead, he just wanted to let everyone relax their tense emotions, he didn't intend to watch his teammates fight among themselves, why Guti likes to provoke Enrique so much, Enrique is really, what's the matter with a child!

However, Hierro glanced at Enrique, who did not expect him to be able to bear this tone.

Seeing that Hierro was looking at him, Enrique grinned, thinking that I was that brat, speaking out loud.

And Guti also realized that what he said was a bit too much, so he quickly shut up and kept silent.

At this time, the door of the locker room was pushed open, and the staff shouted at them.

Hierro stood first, followed by his teammates.

Because he was worried about Guti, he put Guti in the second place, and Enrique, who should have been in the second place, was pointed at by him to stand in the last one.

"eccentric."

Enrique complained and stood behind obediently.

Guti also stood obediently, and heard Hierro whispering, "Stop talking nonsense."

"Ok!"

Go out along the passage and meet the members of the England national team at the entrance of the passage.

Hierro, who started the game, said hello to the captain of the England national team, their No. 4 Paul Ince (*).

As the first black captain in the history of the England national team, Paul Ince, who transferred to Inter Milan in the 95-96 season, performed well in the first half of the season, but after the second half of the season, his state plummeted and has been criticized by many people He should not continue to serve as the captain of the national team. Of course, we all know that Houllier did not recruit him into the team. The captain was also taken over by Alan Shearer. Of course, he still participated in the 98 World Cup , also kicked a penalty kick in the game against Argentina.

But now, as the captain of the national team, he shoulders the hopes of the Chinese people, his face is very serious, and he looks a little nervous.

Following the leadership of the referee team, the two teams walked out of the passage.

Cheers erupted in the stadium.

"He's your opponent."

Hierro and Guti say so.

"I heard that he has been in a bad state for the past six months."

Guti replied in a low voice.

"The state in the league is not the same as in the cup."

Hierro patted Guti on the shoulder, "Don't be careless."

"of course not."

Knowing that the captain was worried about him, Guti smiled at him.

England's starting 11 squad:

Goalkeeper: No. 1 Seaman

Defenders: No. 2 Gary Neville, No. 4 Ince, No. 6 Southgate, No. 17 McManaman

Midfielders: No. 11 Anderton, No. 15 Redknapp, No. 16 Robert Lee

Forwards: No. 8 Gascoigne, No. 9 Shearer, No. 10 Sheringham

The starting 11 list of the Spanish national team:

Goalkeeper: No. 1 Subisareta

Defenders: No. 3 Balsu, No. 4 Arcota, No. 6 Hierro, No. 20 Nadal

Midfielder: No. 8 Guerrero, No. 10 Donato, No. 21 Enrique

Forwards: No. 9 Pizi, No. 11 Alfonso, No. 19 Guti

After guessing, the winner chooses the half-time loser to pick the ball. Hierro chose the kick-off right at the beginning, and he got it.

Anyway, for the Spanish team who are not familiar with this place, it doesn't matter which side they choose, and the right to kick-off is more affordable.

After talking to Enrique, Hierro retreated to his own half.

Enrique, who was standing in the middle circle, gestured to his teammates, telling them to keep a good eye on their positions and not relax.

Guti stood in the half of the England team, neither far nor close to the center circle. He glanced at the opposing midfielder Ince from time to time, and he was not careless.

Although Ince has not been in good form for the past six months, who knows whether he will explode in the cup match. In the last game, England led by Ince beat the Netherlands 4-1, and the attack power can be said to be considerable. Strong, of course, the strength of Gascoigne and Shearer is also very important.

As soon as the whistle sounded, the game began.

Enrique touches the ball lightly and passes it back to Donato, who doesn't stop and passes it back.

After the midfielder poured the ball back and forth a few times, Enrique suddenly ran two steps and sent the ball directly with a long pass.

The Spanish players started to run and rushed towards the England half.

Guti chased the ball, but just after taking a few steps, he collided with his opponent head-on.

Seeing the opponent intercepting the ball, Guti who fell to the ground stretched his legs and touched the ball with his toes to push the ball aside. Pizzi turned around and ran away immediately after receiving the ball.

McManaman didn't chase either, but just pulled Guti up.

Glancing at England's main left midfielder, Guti tilted his head. In fact, this very capable left midfielder has always been a bit of a neglected player in the England team. Although he is British, it is a pity that he is a delicate player with excellent skills. , It doesn't match the style of his own team's wide-open play. He always plays awkwardly. Later, he moved to Real Madrid. Unfortunately, Real Madrid didn't give him too many opportunities at that time. Said he should be very suitable for Real Madrid.

Pizzie failed to force his way through the barrier, and was intercepted by the England defender outside the penalty area. The football flew up in the air and landed near the midfield. Players from the two teams were trying their best to catch up.

Guti also ran away.

England's Gascoigne got the ball, he was running, like a galloping horse, in high spirits.

Many people in the football industry in later generations said that if Gascoigne can maintain his professionalism and not drink or touch drugs, causing him to drink and break his body and spirit, then he can definitely make England football have a better quality. What an honor, even Beckenbauer and Basile said that he is the only genius who can be compared with Maradona. He is the most imaginative genius in the history of English football, not one of them.

It's a pity that when a player was at his best between the ages of 20 and 28, he spent almost four years on and off in a sickbed due to alcohol, drugs and weird behavior, which ruined his career.

But now, when he is in good spirits, he runs on the court with all his strength, letting fans all over the world see his excellence.

Although the goal was not scored, all the fans applauded him. This slightly fat man smiled and waved to the audience.

"He's really good right now."

Guti muttered to himself.

The Spanish goalkeeper threw a long ball and Donato chested the ball and dribbled forward.

England midfielder Redknapp forced his way in from the side and blocked his dribbling route, forcing Donato to step back and pass the ball.

Instead of chasing the ball, Redknapp blocked Donato so that he could no longer cooperate with his teammates. Guerrero, who was holding the ball, hesitated and had to pass the ball diagonally to the other side.

As a result, Neville took the first step to touch the ball, and the ball bounced off the touchline.

Guti, who was trying to rush over to meet him, stopped in disappointment.

This tough England midfielder is also good. Many people may not know him very well, but if Liverpool is mentioned in the UK during this period of time, people will definitely think of him. He is the captain of Liverpool, Redknapp. A typical Liverpool tough captain with a traditional English style of play, but he was unlucky. He missed the 94 World Cup due to injuries, and he failed to catch up with the 98 World Cup. The bad luck is his.

Enrique came over and asked Donato about the situation.

Donato spread his hands, "We can't rely on confrontation, we can only play with technology."

"The opponent's skills are also good."

"Just a few of them."

Donato waved his hand, "I was careless, I won't be blocked by him so easily next time."

"Be careful not to get hurt."

Enrique made a gesture to Guti, telling him to use more technical breakthroughs and not to make physical confrontations with his opponents.

Guti nodded and ran back to his place.

The game continues.

The author has something to say: (*) homosexual, the official term for homosexuality in English, GAY is the popular abbreviation now, the word Gay can also be translated into the meaning of happiness in the past, but because it is now commonly used as the same- It is a synonym for sex-love, and very few people interpret this word as the meaning of "happiness".

(*) I always remember that Shearer was the captain of the national team this year, but when I checked the information, I found that although Shearer became the captain of the England national team in 1996, it was only brought during the European preliminaries of the World Cup in October of that year The captain's armband, he should be regarded as the deputy team in the European Cup, not the first captain.

PS: It seems that I have started to be wordy again~~