Chapter 130: The focus of the battle, attention from all over the world!
The capital of France, Paris.
After watching the video of the match between Spain and Finland, France's head coach Didier Deschamps fell into deep thought.
This game is not very valuable for reference. It can be seen that Finland could not hold on before Spain had even put in much effort.
But he is sure that Spain will show no mercy when facing the French team away.
This is not only because the two teams are the biggest rivals in the group stage, but also because of the grievances between the two teams in the past.
The history of the Spanish team is not as glorious as that of the French team. If they want to create their own dynasty, the best way is to completely defeat the old overlord like France to prove their strength.
The French certainly don't want to let the opponent's trick succeed, they cannot accept the result of losing at their home ground.
Because this is directly related to the group's qualification! In the World Cup qualifiers, only the first place in each group can directly advance, and the remaining nine runners-up will select eight to participate in the play-offs.
Only by winning the play-offs can you qualify for the World Cup! France is currently three points behind Spain. If they fail to win this game, they will lose the initiative to compete for the first place in the group.
There is even only a theoretical chance of being first in the group.
With Spain's solid ability to beat weak teams, it's hard to expect the losers in the group to cause them any trouble.
If Spain wins the subsequent games, then even if France wins all the subsequent games, they can only get second place in the group and go to the play-offs.
If France loses this game, then there will be no hope for them to be first in the group. They can only try to get as many points as possible from other weaker teams and pray to draw a slightly weaker opponent in the play-offs.
However, even if the opponent is slightly weaker, it is not very safe.
There are many examples of such failures in history. An Italian team that won the European Cup but failed to enter the World Cup was very upset!
How can the European champions not enter the World Cup? Therefore, the French team can only accept victory in this game, and cannot even accept a draw.
But how can they beat Spain, the double champion of the World Cup and the European Cup? Deschamps was only worried about pulling his hair. Fortunately, his hairline was relatively safe. Otherwise, with his hair pulling method, it would not take long for his hairline to be similar to that of Bosque.
After thinking for a long time, Deschamps finally decided to give it a try and put Paul Pogba, the young player he recruited from Juventus, into the starting lineup for this game.
He was fed up with the rough midfielders of the French team, who had no creativity at all, leaving the team with a top-notch forward lineup but no one to supply them with ammunition.
Although Pogba is young, having just turned 20, his skills and awareness are unmatched by those rough guys.
Although Pogba is a black player, he is tall and strong, and looks like a typical black and tough player.
But don't be fooled by his appearance, this guy is a technical guy, not a physical guy.
Pogba has balanced left and right feet, can shoot and pass perfectly with both feet, has no weak foot, and has delicate footwork that allows him to complete high-quality passes and shots.
In addition, his excellent physical fitness gives him strong defensive ability and abundant physical strength, making him a very versatile midfielder.
His only disadvantage at the moment is probably his age.
Pogba is too young and lacks a lot of game experience, especially experience in major competitions.
This is also the reason why Deschamps did not dare to use him as a main player before.
But when he thought that there was a young player in the Spanish team, he couldn't help but want to give it a try.
Spain's number 30 is younger than Pogba. If he can do it, why can't Pogba?
…
On March 25, the Spanish national team arrived in the French capital, Paris, by plane.
French fans and media were full of vigilance about the arrival of the Invincible Armada. They gathered near the airport, holding up French team's cheering signs and demonstrating to the Spanish team, telling them that this was the territory of the Gallic roosters and the Spanish would not be tolerated to act so presumptuously.
However, the Spanish players did not care about this at all, and they exuded the confidence and composure of strong men.
This made the French very angry, as they felt that the Spanish were too pretentious.
"Damn the Spaniards, wait for your loss at the Stade de France tomorrow!"
"What a bullshit Invincible Fleet! Tomorrow is your doom!"
…
Before the game even started, fans from both countries started cursing at each other on the Internet.
Spanish fans mocked France as a down-and-out aristocracy. They have been going from bad to worse since winning the World Cup in 1998. They didn't even qualify from the group stage in the last World Cup.
How can such a team compare with the double champions of the World Cup and the European Cup? French fans were not to be outdone and mocked the Spanish team for playing hypnotic football and sissy football.
They believed that under the impact of the French players, the Spanish team would be torn into pieces.
That's what people say, but the handicap published by the bookmakers before the game did not favor the French team.
The European bookmakers gave the result that the visiting team will be given a half-goal handicap, and are cautiously optimistic about Spain.
The bookmakers in Asia are more radical and directly give the result that the away team will be given a one-goal handicap, obviously believing that Spain will win away from home.
The fans of the French team were very dissatisfied:
"Damn, what do these rubbish bookmakers know about football? Guys, just listen to me and bet on the French team. The sooner you buy, the sooner you'll make a fortune!"
A blogger who supports the French team called on French fans to buy their team to win online.
However, not many French fans responded to his call. Instead, a group of Spanish fans came to inquire and started team building in his comment section:
"I am Spanish, and I prove that the Spanish team is rubbish and will never be able to beat the French team!"
"That's right, Spain's midfielders are all so weak. How can they compete with the African team? No, how can they compete with the French team? The French team only needs to play to their strengths. They will definitely win this match!"
"Well said, I am Spanish, I have proved with my actions that I am optimistic about the French team, look, this is the evidence that I bet on the French team!"
A Spanish fan posted a screenshot of his bet.
But careful fans discovered that this guy bet on the French team to lose.
Now, fans from other countries who were watching the game couldn't stand it anymore.
"Don't be fooled, French fans. The Spanish are trying to trick you into placing bets in order to increase the prize pool so they can win more prizes!"
A German fan made a rational and objective analysis.
Ordinary people are not as professional as bookmakers. The data analysis experts of bookmakers have made such analysis and judgment based on the status of the two teams and the strength of the players. They must have their reasons.
As an ordinary fan, why should you use your hobby to challenge the other party's professional job? However, not long after his comment was posted, it sank because it received too many criticisms.
"Damn it, someone has exposed our conspiracy. Brothers, hurry up and step on him. Don't let the French see it!"
The united Spanish fans collectively stepped on the ball to prevent the German guy from ruining their good opportunity to make money.
…
The media reported extensively on the team's dire qualifying situation and the powerful opponents, and many people on the Internet called on French fans to go to the scene to support their team.
These factors combined to inspire the patriotic enthusiasm of the French.
Therefore, those who could buy tickets went to the scene to cheer.
Those who failed to buy tickets ran to nearby bars or even the square outside the stadium to watch important games. The worst case scenario was to stay at home and watch TV and cheer on the team.
The Stade de France, which can accommodate 80,000 spectators, was packed on match day.
French fans, who usually don't support their national team very much because of the skin color of the team, all came out to watch the game this time.
This game is very crucial and interesting, so they naturally don't want to miss such a game.
Of course, it would be even better if you could see the team you support win the game.
The match between France and Spain will be held at 8 pm on March 26. Before that, the other matches in this round of qualifiers have almost ended.
In the just-concluded Group F match, Portugal led by Cristiano Ronaldo defeated Azerbaijan 2:0 and got three points, and the situation for qualifying is very good.
After the game, the Portuguese team returned to the hotel. When passing by the hotel lobby, they happened to see the live broadcast of the match between Spain and France on TV.
Most of the Portuguese players just took a casual look and didn't pay much attention to it, and prepared to return to their rooms to rest.
But when Ronaldo saw the player wearing the No. 30 jersey, he paused.
Read the error-free version on 6Ⅹ9Ⅹ bookⅩ bar! 6Ⅹ9 book bar first publishes a novel.
It's him!? He remembered that this was the man he had met once at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, and the superstar that Florentino had hinted to him about wanting to recruit as his assistant.
Thinking of this, Ronaldo stopped.
Everyone says that you are strong, but I want to see how strong you are.
…
In a hotel room in South America.
Messi walked out of the bathroom in slippers, glanced at the clock on the wall, picked up the remote control and turned on the TV.
The live footage on TV happened to be the match between France and Spain.
Messi looked a little haggard and seemed to be in a bad mood.
In the just-concluded South American qualifiers, the Argentina led by him was tied 1:1 by Bolivia away from home.
Messi missed a lot of opportunities in this game and failed to help the team win.
This has led to him being criticized and even questioned by the outside world. After the defeat in the South Africa World Cup, many people began to doubt Messi and whether he could lead Argentina to achieve good results.
Some even doubted his professional attitude, thinking that he did not try his best in the national team games.
Otherwise, how do we explain his rapid progress in the club but his total failure in the national team?
Faced with these doubts and criticisms, Messi did not come out to make any explanation.
Explanations are futile. Only by fighting back against them with better performance on the field can we shut these people up.
In order to become stronger, Messi has recently been studying Lin Quan's games, hoping to learn from the opponent's performance on the field and find out his own shortcomings.
Lin Quan is like a mirror to Messi, helping him find his strengths and weaknesses and correct them.
This is much more effective than slowly looking for your own mistakes!
The game just started, Messi sat in front of the TV with full concentration, looking forward to what kind of inspiration Lin Quan could bring him! …
Carrington training base, Manchester, UK.
Ferguson, as usual, sat in his office, enjoying the aged wine on the back of the chair while appreciating the focus battle between France and Spain.
Although the match between England and Montenegro was also broadcast live at the same time, Sir Alex had no interest in the game.
Montenegro is just a weak team and will not pose much threat to England.
Compared to that boring game, the focus match between France and Spain is more eye-catching.
Especially in this game, there is a young player that he is very optimistic about. Ferguson is looking forward to what kind of wonderful performance the other party can bring him in this game! …
France, Franceball.
Guardiola, who has officially signed a contract with Bayern and is about to become the head coach of Bayern, appeared in the box of the Stade de France.
In this game, he came to cheer for the Spanish national team as an ordinary fan, and also came to observe Lin Quan's game status as the head coach of Bayern.
It’s strange to say, he has watched many of Lin Quan’s games, but he has never thought about how to use Lin Quan as a head coach like he does now.
It stands to reason that Lin Quan's style is so similar to Messi's, and he is the best coach in the world to use Messi's style.
He should know how to use Lin Quan.
However, each team has different personnel configurations and tactical play. Bayern is not Barcelona. It does not have Barcelona's midfield configuration and the awareness of passing and controlling football that has been instilled in them since childhood.
Therefore, he cannot simply copy Barcelona's tactics and use them at Bayern just because Lin Quan looks like Messi.
Bayern and Barcelona have completely different tactical playing styles. He needs to find a balance between the two, retaining Bayern's traditional advantages while bringing in some advanced concepts that he believes belong to the future development of football, to achieve a perfect fusion of the two.
And this is not a simple thing.
When he thought of this, Guardiola couldn't help but suppress the urge in his heart to conduct experiments.
…
In the player tunnel, Lin Quan stood calmly among the Spanish team, waiting to play.
Similar to Lin Quan’s condition, most of the Spanish players were not very nervous.
On the contrary, on the home team side, several young players who started for the team for the first time seemed particularly nervous and even kept making the sign of the cross on their chests.
Lin Quan glanced at the other person, and the other person happened to be looking at him.
From that cool hairstyle, you can tell at first glance that the other person is Paul Pogba.
Pogba's eyes revealed envy and longing. He envied Lin Quan, who was so young but had already secured his position as a starting main player in the Spanish national team.
I have just joined the national team and I don’t know what the future holds.
Thinking about this game again, I felt like I was pushed out like a duck to a tree, facing directly the championship-level midfield of Spain.
Pogba was a little worried. If he didn't play well in this game, would he not have a place in the national team in the future? The young Pogba was indeed immature, but Lin Quan did not doubt his ability.
He remembers very clearly that this guy will return to Manchester United in the future with the world's highest transfer fee of 105 million euros.
Of course, whether Manchester United's money is worth spending is another matter.
Teams entering a rebuilding phase always spend lavishly on buying players, but they often seem to make mistakes.
This was the case with Manchester United after Ferguson, and later with Barcelona.
(End of this chapter)