After scoring the goal, Gu Ran celebrated by chopping the wind with one palm to add the third level of buff, while taking the opportunity to concentrate his mind to pick up the emotional bubbles that fell on the field.
After upgrading to Class A, the 30-meter pickup range is much more convenient, and the dropped skills are obviously a level higher than Class B.
Although the pickup progress is still locked at 10 times per day, it is better than nothing.
There was one last chance to pick up something today. After a quick check, Gu Ran selected a blue skill bubble: Corner Kick: Precision Guidance +1.
This skill is obviously Whittingham's star skill.
This is also a very practical skill that can further broaden Gu Ran's ball path.
After Gu Ran picked up the items remotely, today's 10 pick-up progress was completed.
Lallana excitedly chased after Gu Ran, "Gu! You owe me three assists! Don't forget it!"
Then Lallana smiled and said: "If you don't pay off the loan for five consecutive games, you will have to pay an extra interest. Given your ability, I think this is not too much to ask, right?"
Damn, Lallana is the Merchant of Venice! You're charging me interest for just playing football?
Before Gu Ran could complain, Chamberlain also ran up and said, "Gu, this ball should be considered my assist, right? It should be considered, right?"
Damn, you still have the nerve to mention Chamberlain?
You're running around randomly, making the whole middle road a mess, Northwest Shanxi, do you know you're a left-wing player? Left-wing player, you don't stay on the left, you keep running to the middle road - well, okay, I'm also a left-wing player, but! How can you compare with me? Besides , I scored directly from a free kick! You have an assist from a feather duster? Gu Ran immediately cleared his throat, "You two, get out of here as far as you can."
Lallana was not angry after being scolded. Instead, he hugged Gu Ran's shoulders with a more playful smile, "Okay Gu Ran, don't be angry. We will talk about the interest later."
Chamberlain was annoyed. "Gu, we obviously cooperated so well. It would be unreasonable if your free kick was not counted as my assist!"
Gu Ran: ...
I really want to strangle both of you to death with one hand each, and then dig a hole and bury you!
At this time, Lambert rushed up and hugged Gu Ran's shoulders, "Gu! That scimitar kick you just made was so explosive! It is definitely the most exciting free kick in the history of the Southampton team!"
Walton also ran up and hugged Gu Ran, "Haha! Gu! Congratulations! You are awesome! You jumped the 40-meter full moon, you really deserve it! After the competition, we will open a bottle of champagne and celebrate with you!"
Gu Ran said quickly: "Thank you brothers, but it's not time for us to really celebrate yet. We have to make a concerted effort to confuse Cardiff!"
"Okay! Keep going!"
The morale of the entire Southampton team was boosted!
Southampton fans were also jumping and cheering wildly in the stands, and the entire St. Mary's Stadium was filled with excitement.
Gu Ran's 40-meter-long, super-dominant crescent-shaped scimitar not only changed the stalemate on the field, but also changed the mentality of the two teams! The game continues.
As time went on, the pressure was clearly on Cardiff City.
Cardiff City's physical strength began to fail, and many of the passes that should have been made turned into mistakes.
Teams that use short passing tactics are afraid of high-intensity confrontations.
The same is true for more advanced passing and controlling flows and passing and cutting flows.
Take Real Madrid and Barcelona as an analogy. Why is Real Madrid so fierce when playing against Barcelona? Not only because the two clubs are mortal enemies in La Liga and even in the world, but also because from a tactical point of view, any team of the same level playing against Barcelona will have to face high-intensity physical confrontation.
As we all know, Barcelona's tactical style has been passing and controlling since the Cruyff coaching era. After the Black Swan Rijkaard and Guardiola's Dream II and Dream III dynasties, the passing and controlling style of play has become Barcelona's bloodline inheritance.
The style of Real Madrid is quite special. Although it is also a Spanish team, Real Madrid does not pursue the passing and controlling tactical thinking. Although it does not pursue it, if Real Madrid really plays passing and controlling, it will be quite aggressive.
Bosque's aggressive opening and closing, Mourinho's defensive counterattack, and later Ancelotti's passing and controlling counterattack, and Zidane's emphasis on transfer on both wings, these are all Real Madrid's tactical ideas.
If Barcelona's style of play relies on the system to pursue the ultimate passing and control, then Real Madrid pursues the ultimate pragmatism.
The core of Real Madrid's skills and tactics is actually high-intensity confrontation, and then using simple and effective defensive prescriptions and width in the field, relying on the abilities of the Galacticos superstars, especially the ability to advance in the midfield, to repeatedly pull the center of gravity of the opponent's defense. After several pulls, the opponent's defense will inevitably have loopholes. At this time, equipped with efficient goal-scoring machines such as Ronaldo and C Ronaldo, Real Madrid can control the game at will.
There is a saying circulating in the football tactical world: If you can make the defensive player's head swing back and forth 90 degrees more than three times within half a minute, then the opponent's defensive system will inevitably have loopholes.
The reason why the game between Real Madrid and Barcelona is really exciting is not only because they each represent the highest level of La Liga teams and even European clubs, but also because the tactics of the two teams are actually a competition between extreme pragmatism and extreme passing and controlling tactics.
Any fan, even if they are not fans of Real Madrid and Barcelona, will not miss these two tactical confrontations that can lead the world's football style.
There are thousands and thousands of football tactics in this world, and they are modified again and again, but the core essence is the confrontation between pragmatism and extreme programming.
Southampton's current style of play is more inclined towards Real Madrid's pragmatism.
Especially after having Gu Ran, the big treasure, defensive counterattacks, large-scale lateral transfers, and repeated pulling, it was simply a blast.
On the other hand, Cardiff City's overall strength is certainly stronger than Southampton. Many of their players are star-level, and most of their main players are international players from various countries who have participated in the World Cup. Even the substitutes on the bench are international players.
However, after four consecutive high-intensity battles, Cardiff City's physical fitness for this game was not at full capacity. Coach Dave Jones thought that he could rely on his familiarity with Southampton's style and set up tactics that could crush Southampton. As a result, Dave Jones' tactics have been completely destroyed by Gu Ran alone.
Therefore, a team with strong strength and good statistics will not necessarily beat a team with relatively weak strength and relatively poor statistics.
There are too many variables to refer to, many accidental variables, and many games where the weak defeat the strong.
And this is also what makes football games so interesting - because miracles can really be created through real reversals.
The game was in the 57th minute.
Bellamy actively retreated to the midfield in order to get the ball.
After receiving the pass from Stephen McPhail, Bellamy dribbled the ball straight to the right side of the penalty area.
Southampton's right flank was missing a player! Another striker, Chopra, also rushed into the penalty area to assist.
Walton very experiencedly cut off the passing connection between the two players, and Richardson and Jaidi chased and double-teamed Bellamy from the left and right.
Both of them used all their strength to suck their breasts to intercept the double-team.
But Bellamy is not only fast enough and has strong physical impact, but also has a lot of experience in confrontation.
Even with the combined efforts of Richardson and Jaidi, they were unable to stop Bellamy.
After Bellamy dribbled the ball into the penalty area, he kicked the ball directly into the near corner of the goal without waiting for other defensive players of the Southampton team to rush up to intercept!
This kick was very fierce!
Fast, powerful, and unexpected!
Fortunately, goalkeeper Davis reacted very quickly and quickly lay down on the ground to block the ball out of the goal line.
Bellamy's face was immediately filled with annoyance.
In this ball, his dribbling, breaking through and shooting all showed the qualities of a Champions League star. However, due to the double pressure from two defensive players, he only used 70% of his shooting ability.
The passing and shooting in these three situations are completely different: without confrontation, with confrontation, and with high-intensity confrontation.
Therefore, physical confrontation in the game is really, really, really important.
If a player doesn't even have basic physical confrontation skills, then all the techniques can be regarded as fancy.
Why did the New Zealand team experience a talent spurt around 2018, with young players able to play in European leagues?
Rely on passing and controlling the ball? Rely on technology? No, they rely on absorbing the template of South American football, attaching importance to physical confrontation from the root, and absorbing the tactical system of the European continent.
Yes, passing and controlling the ball is not a technique, but a tactical system, a tactical system that requires every player in the team to match.
——Bellamy's shot earned Cardiff City a corner kick.
After Whittingham took a corner kick, the ball was headed by center back Giepesse at first, but due to the physical interference of Jaidi who was eager to atone for his sins, the ball went over the crossbar.
Southampton's defensive strategy is actually very obvious - you, Cardiff City, have many stars and international players, I allow you to shoot, I allow you to have a high ball possession rate, but I will never let you pass and shoot easily.
The game was in the 64th minute.
Stephen McPhail made a mistake in passing the ball under the combined pressure of Lambert and Hammond. Gu Ran immediately sprinted out, stole the ball from Chris Booker, and then ran all the way with the ball.
Southampton quickly responded.
Cardiff City quickly retreated.
Gu Ran almost rushed to the edge of Cardiff City's penalty area in one breath. After attracting at least five defensive players to press him, Gu Ran half turned around to protect the ball and passed it to Chamberlain who was on the side.
Chamberlain was unguarded! Although Chamberlain's last catch was not very good, and he was a little too eager to show off, Chamberlain's speed was indeed good, and his receiving position was also good.
It can be said that Chamberlain is almost the only player in the Southampton team who can connect with Gu Ran in terms of speed.
So even though Chamberlain's magical operation with the ball last time stunned the entire audience, Gu Ran still chose to give the ball to Chamberlain.
After Chamberlain got the ball, he wanted to cut to the middle.
Coach Adkins yelled at the top of his lungs in the technical area on the sidelines: "Chamberlain, if you mess around again, I'll replace you!"
The troublesome Chamberlain immediately learned his lesson, made a fake move, and then dribbled the ball down the floor obediently.
Saints fans breathed a sigh of relief.
Watching Chamberlain play football is so thrilling, and the emotions are stretched to the extreme.
Seeing this, Cardiff City could only send two players to block Chamberlain to prevent him from cutting in directly from the end line.
Chamberlain made a sudden stop and change of direction, creating a channel for a cross, and then kicked a half-high cross.
Gully rushed up and headed the ball! This ball was passed very well! Chamberlain is indeed one of Southampton's rising stars.
Unfortunately, Guli's header didn't hit the right spot, and it went off the target and flew out of the end line.
This was really a great counterattack opportunity to expand the score. Gu Ran's sprint with the ball and attracting firepower to pass the ball had completely broken through Cardiff City's defense. Chamberlain's performance at the bottom was also very good. Unfortunately, Gu Li's finishing ability was still a little lacking.
However, such smooth coordination is still very pleasing to the eye.
After lamenting, Southampton fans applauded Gu Ran and others.
Chamberlain knelt on the grass with a look of annoyance on his face: Is it so difficult to get an assist? Next time, I still have to cut in myself!
After this wonderful attack and defense, Cardiff City's physical strength further declined, and Southampton took the opportunity to launch an offensive without hesitation.
Gu Ran penetrated the left side and attracted most of Cardiff City's defensive players. Then he immediately stepped back and turned, making a long diagonal pass with his left foot.
Gully, Lallana, Schneiderlin and Chamberlain made crazy rushes and flew to both wings.
Southampton's attack came wave after wave, and although several long passes failed to score a goal, Cardiff City's tactics had been completely crushed.
Looking at the almost one-sided situation, Coach Dave Jones' mouth curved into a downward arc.
Coach Dave Jones saw it clearly that they had no chance of winning unless they could limit Gu Ran.
But I understand the principle, but the question is, how can I restrict Gu Ran?
Coach Dave Jones couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
In the 71st minute, Cardiff City players began to retch. Their physical strength was close to the limit under Southampton's high pressure and long passes.
In the 75th minute, Cardiff City began to make substitutions.
Nigerian international Seyi Olofinyana, No. 20, replaced the depressed-looking Henry Jay Thomas Jr.
Jay's performance in this game can be described as a "disaster".
His offensive ability was completely blocked by Gu Ran, and on the defensive end, he was also outmaneuvered by Gu Ran. Apart from using his hands to pull him down and trip him, Jay had no other way to limit Gu Ran.
Immediately afterwards, No. 11 Chris Booker was also replaced by No. 19 Welsh international Jason Koumas.
Chris Booker's performance in this game was not good, especially when he and Jay played double team defense on Gu Ran.
Dave Jones' purpose of replacing two midfielders in a row was very obvious, which was to use the substitutes' physical strength to re-support the midfield's running and passing.
Seeing Cardiff City make a substitution, Coach Adkins also made a substitution.
Walton, who could no longer run, was replaced by the young man Martin.
Hammond, who performed mediocrely in this game, was replaced by Ryan Dixon.
Southampton's formation also changed from 442 to 4231.
Guli will be in the front, Lallana will retreat to the midfield as a front midfielder, Chamberlain and Schneiderlin will move up to the wing forwards, and Gu Ran will exchange positions with Dixon and play as a defensive midfielder with Lambert.
Of course, on the surface Gu Ran is a defensive midfielder, but in fact Gu Ran is a forward.
This change also means that Gu Ran can give full play to his free man style of play, and Southampton's defensive counterattack tactics have thus transitioned to active offensive tactics.
However, the opponent has star players Bellamy and Chopra, so Gu Ran's mentality for the game is still mainly defensive.
Coach Adkins keenly judged that Cardiff City's physical strength was already at the end of its strength, so at this time Southampton did not need to save their energy, but instead had to use both wings to make crazy rushes and lobs.
In the 79th minute, Gu Ran made a death sliding tackle in the backcourt, accurately intercepted the ball, and then made a long diagonal pass to the front of Cardiff City's penalty area.
Lallana, who was in front, stopped the ball completely and took a long shot from outside the penalty area.
Unfortunately, the ball hit the crossbar and bounced into the stands.
Under Southampton's fierce attack, Cardiff City didn't have much time left.
Despite their lack of physical strength, Cardiff City had no choice but to grit their teeth and play against Southampton, because only if they scored one more goal to equalize the score would they have a chance to drag the game into overtime - although their physical strength would be at a greater disadvantage after entering overtime, it was still better than losing the knockout match directly.
This is also the cruelty of the knockout stage.
Coach Dave Jones kept giving impromptu running instructions on the sidelines.
But Cardiff City's coordination still made many mistakes.
In the 84th minute of the game, No. 20 Nigerian international Seyi Olofinyana, who had just come on the field, forced a breakthrough with the ball to the middle. Gu Ran immediately used his sprint speed to intercept him. Olofinyana was unable to get rid of Gu Ran's physical confrontation and his speed slowed down immediately.
Olofiniana could only force the pass, but Gu Ran quickly blocked it with his foot, and the ball was picked up by Lambert who came up to double-team him.
Olofinyana lost the ball! Olofinyana quickly counterattacked Lambert on the spot, and Lambert directly knocked the ball back to Gu Ran.
Gu Ran immediately dribbled the ball forward, and the violent aesthetic sprint reappeared!
When the game was about to end, Gu Ran was still able to demonstrate such powerful acceleration and sprinting ability!
All the Southampton fans were standing in the stands and cheering with their blood boiling!
From the beginning of the game, they sat for a while during the half-time break, and for the rest of the game, Southampton fans almost stood and watched the whole time.
Faced with Gu Ran's violent aesthetic sprint, the Cardiff City players could only bite the bullet and desperately return to defense to intercept.
Gu Ran dribbled the ball to the left, and after using Matthews' shoulder drop, fried meatballs, and Marseille turn to tease Cardiff City's entire midfield line, he immediately knocked the ball across to Lallana who was unguarded in the middle.
Lallana immediately drove forward with the ball, Guli ran to the right side of the penalty area to support him, and Gu Ran took the opportunity to run to the left side of the penalty area.
Southampton's attack looked very smooth! Cardiff City's two central defenders, Mark Hudson and Gabor Giepez, could only defend Lallana.
Guli took the opportunity to get into the empty space in the penalty area! Lallana faked a move, hooked and pushed the ball with his left foot, and the ball passed through Mark Hudson's crotch!
pretty!
Southampton fans cheered excitedly! Guli quickly moved to get the pass, made a simple adjustment, and then shot hard into the upper left corner!
David Marshall predicted the route of Gu Li's shot and reacted very quickly, jumping up and blocking with both arms! The football hit David Marshall's goalkeeper gloves!
The kick was extremely powerful, and to be on the safe side, David Marshall used his palm to lift the ball over the crossbar!
"wooooow!"
Southampton fans held their heads in disbelief!
This kick, from Gu Ran's interception of the ball to the Cardiff City defense, to Lallana's left-footed hook and push, to Gu Li's agile run and powerful shot, almost achieved the ultimate offensive level that Southampton can achieve now! However, Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall's performance was really too heroic! Although he was "blinded" by Gu Ran's magical kick at the beginning, and Gu Ran scored a super domineering crescent moon scimitar from 40 meters away - if there was no David Marshall, with Cardiff City's current physical state, they would have been shot into a sieve by Gu Ran.
David Marshall, who blocked the sure goal, was immediately pulled up. He stood up and yelled at Gu Ran, Lallana, and Gu Li while standing in a horse stance with his fists clenched!
The other defensive players of Cardiff City also ran over to high-five and chest-bump David Marshall!
Cardiff City's morale has been significantly improved! The team's star player Lallana picked up the ball with a depressed look on his face and walked towards the left corner flag area.
Gu Ran ran up to catch up with Lallana and said bluntly: "Lallana, let me kick the ball."
Lallana was stunned, "You want a corner kick too?"
Gu Ran said: "Yes."
Lallana happily handed the ball to Gu Ran: "Okay, Gu! This ball is for you to play - it would be even better if you can pass it to me."
Gu Ran smiled and said, "Stand forward a little."
Lallana immediately understood, "Gu, you are so nice to me! Don't worry, just watch my performance! This time we must make David Marshall cry!"
Gu Ran gave Lallana a look that was full of real determination.
Lallana then ran to the front of the left side of the penalty area.
After Gu Ran ran to the left corner flag area, he waved to his teammates and shouted, "Stand forward! Everyone, stand forward!"
Lallana: ...Watfuck! Scumbag!
Southampton's tall players, including central defenders, all rushed to the front point. Only Schneiderlin was at the middle point to support the second point, and there was no one at the back point.
Seeing this, Cardiff City players also gathered forward, and both sides had to run and defend desperately in a small area.
David Marshall also stood next to the left goal post, ready to block the shot.
…
Sorry, today's chapter is really a bit boring.
I have been having fevers recently. I thought I would be fine after taking antipyretics in two days, but it has been four days and I am still having fevers of over 39 degrees. My mind is dizzy when I am typing.
I wanted to revise it after writing it, but my mind is a mess, so I'll just leave it as it is for now.
This period of time was really very strenuous. First, the two children fell ill, and then I was infected too. Fortunately, the children are almost recovered now, and I should be able to recover soon too.
In fact, I used to be in very good health, but since I was infected with the first wave of the virus at the beginning of the year, my physical condition has been poor and I have not recovered well.
This book started when the first wave of the virus broke out after the release of the policy. At that time, my editor advised me to wait, but I said that I had already endured for two months, and I was afraid that if I didn’t publish the book, I would… lose the passion to write.
Oh, it’s too difficult.
But we still have to keep moving forward.
Okay, there won’t be so many personal complaints in the next chapter.
(End of this chapter)