Chapter 165 World Cup Final
At 8:30 p.m. on July 11, 2010, the final of the South Africa World Cup officially kicked off between Italy and Spain.
84,490 fans flocked to Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg to witness the final match of this World Cup.
According to the pre-match arrangements, Italy will play as the home team in this game, while Spain will play as the away team.
Because Italy's home jersey is blue, Spain also wore a red home jersey instead of a dark blue away jersey.
Before the players entered the field, the World Cup trophy was brought in and displayed. Amidst the attention of the crowd, Italian legend Paolo Rossi escorted the World Cup trophy into the stadium, eliciting enthusiastic applause and cheers.
The original choice was Cannavaro, who wore the captain's armband for the Italian national team and lifted the World Cup trophy in the previous tournament. However, neither the organizers nor the Italian Football Federation expected that after struggling to advance from the group stage, the Italian team would play better and better, eventually reaching the World Cup final.
Cannavaro could come on at any time in this match, so it would be inappropriate to have him escort the World Cup trophy onto the field at this point.
The Italian Football Federation recommended Paolo Rossi to the World Cup organizers.
Paolo Rossi was Italy's top scorer at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. He helped Italy lift the trophy and was selected for the World Cup All-Star Team, winning the Golden Boot with six goals. It was also at that World Cup that the Golden Ball award was first given out, and Rossi became the world's first recipient of the award.
Rossi's symbolic significance is too strong, and there happens to be a player in the current Italian national team who has the potential to replicate Rossi's achievements at the Spanish World Cup – Fino Cabrini.
In the critical moment of Pirlo's absence, Fino dropped back to take on the responsibility of organizing and orchestrating the attack, dragging Italy into the World Cup knockout stage. He performed brilliantly on both ends of the pitch in the knockout stage, making outstanding contributions to Italy's advancement. His selection for the World Cup All-Star Team is a foregone conclusion, and he is also a strong contender for the World Cup Golden Ball award.
By the semi-finals, Fino had scored 5 goals in this World Cup, equaling that of Villa of Spain, another finalist, and has a strong chance of winning the Golden Boot.
Since the last World Cup in Germany, FIFA has established a Best Young Player award to encourage players aged 21 and under who have performed best in the World Cup finals. Fino, who is under 22, is eligible for the award.
In other words, Fino has a chance to win all the team and individual awards in this World Cup, except for the Golden Glove award.
Of course, this is the most optimistic expectation under ideal conditions. In reality, it also depends on the performance of the Italian national team and Fino himself in the World Cup final, as well as whether FIFA has any tendency to share the spoils.
But in any case, when Paolo Rossi appeared, the Italian Football Federation's ambitions were already obvious.
While the atmosphere inside the stadium was heating up, the players from both sides were waiting to enter the field in the players' tunnel.
Spain's starting lineup for this match was largely comprised of Barcelona players: the Xavi-Bini combination, the central defensive pairing of Pique and Puyol, and the forwards Villa and Pedro, all from Barcelona. Only three Real Madrid players were represented: Casillas, Ramos, and Alonso. The remaining spot was filled by Capdevila from Villarreal.
Fino and Alonso chatted for a few minutes, and the other Spanish players also came up to say hello. They all worked in La Liga and saw each other all the time, so they were all very familiar with each other.
Fino hadn't seen Alonso in a long time.
After the La Liga season officially ended on May 16, the national team's training camp immediately began, and it has now been almost two months. During this time, they can only keep in touch by phone and the internet.
“Well, Fino, I never thought we’d actually made it to the World Cup final. Our promise has been fulfilled.” Alonso put his arm around Fino’s shoulder, his long fingers resting on Fino’s cheek.
Fino took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, and turned to Alonso to say something joking.
"What, you didn't have confidence back then? I was full of confidence. We agreed to face Spain at their peak, how could I miss the final?"
"Are you nervous?" Alonso brushed a strand of hair behind Fino's ear.
Although Fino concealed it well and appeared calm and composed, the observant Alonso noticed Fino's slight abnormality. He was consciously adjusting his breathing rhythm and blinking slightly more frequently than usual, all signs of nervousness.
Fino hesitated for a moment, but still answered the question frankly.
"A little."
This was Fino's first appearance in the finals of a major competition. He wasn't a robot, so how could he not be nervous?
Alonso tilted his head and kissed Fino's forehead, then gently patted Fino's shoulder to comfort him.
"You played superbly. I remember when I played my first Champions League final, I was not even 24 years old and I was a little nervous too. But I got better after the game started."
At first, Fino was somewhat reassured by Alonso, but he quickly realized that Alonso's first Champions League final was the night in Istanbul.
AC Milan is definitely the victim!
Is it really appropriate to talk about this now?
Fino glanced at his Milan teammates and, sure enough, saw Gattuso, who was standing nearby, already glaring at Alonso…
Fino: = =T
Pirlo walked over and pulled Fino out of Alonso's arms, saying expressionlessly, "Fino, get back to the team, it's time to go in."
As the players officially entered the field, the World Cup trophy sat quietly on the sidelines, awaiting the birth of a new champion. It belongs to no one; it merely witnesses the quadrennial clash of titans, inspiring both teams to fight for it.
Both sides are determined to win the World Cup trophy.
For Italy, who have already won four World Cup titles, the World Cup trophy on the sidelines symbolizes that past glory has become history, and a new record is just around the corner. If Italy can win this match, then Italy will equal Brazil and become the country with the most World Cup titles in history.
For Spain, who have never won the World Cup, the opportunity to fill this void is right in front of them.
After pre-match photos, exchanging team flags, singing national anthems, and players shaking hands, the match finally began with the whistle of the British referee, Webb.
As Lippi predicted, Spain quickly took control of the game after the start of the match using short passing combinations, and their possession rate increased sharply, making it difficult for Italian players to get a chance to touch the ball.
This was an expected development, so the Italian players were not flustered. Instead, they followed Lippi's instructions and solidified their defense.
The four midfielders and four defenders were firmly stationed in their own half, and even Fino, who was responsible for attacking breakthroughs, roamed to the vicinity of the midfield line, occasionally cooperating with Gattuso and the others to strangle the enemy in midfield.
Spain only had Di Natale waiting for a counter-attack in their half, and Di Natale was also some distance from Spain's goal.
Against Italy's solid defense, Spain could only futilely increase their possession and passing accuracy, finding it difficult to create effective attacks.
Spain didn't get a good scoring opportunity until the 8th minute.
Iniesta was brought down by De Rossi about 28 meters from the goal, and the referee awarded a free kick.
Xavi took the free kick, precisely lobbing the ball into the Italian penalty area. Ramos burst forward, got to the ball, and headed it directly into the goal.
Nesta leaped to block the ball's path, the ball struck Nesta's chest, then slid down onto the grass, where Marchetti caught it with both hands.
Italy's counterattack then began.
Marchetti passed the ball to Zambrotta on the right, who passed it to De Rossi before Pedro could intercept it, and De Rossi then passed it to Pirlo.
After receiving the ball, Pirlo, under Gattuso's protection, launched his signature long diagonal pass, sending the ball to the left flank of the attacking third.
The moment Marchetti covered the ball, Fino had already made a high-speed run into the Spanish penalty area from the left flank, and Pirlo was about to pass the ball to Fino.
As Fino moved forward, he glanced back at the situation in the Italian half to adjust his position accordingly. After Pirlo delivered the ball, he became even more focused, observing the trajectory of the ball and quickly closing in on its landing point.
The equally astute Di Natale had already returned to the Spanish penalty area, waiting for Fino's pass.
Italy's counter-attack was too fast. From Marchetti's pass to Pirlo's long diagonal pass, only a few seconds had passed. Most of the Spanish players were stuck in Italy's half during the attacking opportunity and hadn't had time to retreat.
At this moment, apart from Casillas in front of the goal, Spain's backfield only had Pique and Puyol as center-backs, while Alonso and Capdevila were rushing back.
Pique, under Casillas's direction, moved to the left side of the penalty area to contest the ball with Fino, while Puyol remained inside the penalty area to mark Di Natale.
Having spent a year in La Liga, Fino has some understanding of Pique's defensive habits. Pique's defense relies heavily on anticipation and positioning. He makes a lot of small, dirty tackles, but he's not considered a very clean center-back.
Fino likes this kind of opponent. Although the opponent always throws around the ball, at least he doesn't have to be on edge, fearing that a kick will end his career.
In the aerial duel, Pique was closer to the ball's landing point, and with his height and size, he jumped first and stopped the ball with his chest.
"Pique has won the aerial duel! Spain has possession!" the Spanish commentator shouted.
But before he could continue to get excited, possession of the ball changed hands again.
The instant the ball hit the ground, a nimble foot reached out and snatched it away from Pique before he could even react.
By the time Pique finally reacted, Fino had already created distance between him and passed the ball into the penalty area.
At this moment, Di Natale had already shaken off Puyol and retreated a few steps away from the goal, where he received a pass from Fino.
Di Natale received the ball and immediately took a shot, sending it towards the top left corner of the goal.
The ball passed near Puyol's right shoulder, and Puyol was powerless to stop it, but a world-class goalkeeper was standing in front of Spain's goal.
Casillas made his move.
He suddenly lunged to the upper right, intending to punch the ball away, but out of the corner of his eye he saw that Fino had already slipped past Pique and entered the penalty area.
Casillas immediately changed his mind, flicking the ball downwards as his fingers touched it, then diving to the ground to shield it firmly beneath him, denying Fino a chance for a follow-up shot.
Italy's attack ended in failure.
"Casillas has done it! Look how reliable our goalkeeper is! One Casillas is worth the entire Italian defense..." The Spanish commentator cheered again.
This time, Lippi and he seemed to be on the same wavelength.
Lippi turned around and looked at the substitutes' bench, giving Buffon a fierce glare.
Why is it that Spain's goalkeeper can dominate the field, while Italy's goalkeeper can only sit on the bench—and has to stand up and hold his back every now and then!
Buffon: ? ? ?
Why are you glaring at me?
-----------------------
Author's Note: My darlings, thank you for waiting! [kissing emoji]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
