Chapter 558: Battle of Revenge (1)
England VS Portugal
As the war began, English fans went crazy
The game was held at the Schalke Stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Gelsenkirchen is located in the Ruhr area, a heavy industrial base in the northwest corner of Germany. It is a small city with a population of only 270,000.
The processing and manufacturing of coal and steel is the main economic pillar of this city, which is also a common feature of cities in the Ruhr area.
In the past, Gelsenkirchen was called the "City of a Thousand Fires" by Europeans because of its numerous blast furnaces, coke ovens and steel mills. Now that this area is covered by solar energy and is in a leading position in the field of solar energy, Gelsenkirchen's name has changed from "City of a Thousand Fires" to "City of a Thousand Suns".
It is worth mentioning that on the first day of the game, Gelsenkirchen was already filled with crazy influx of English fans, with nearly 80,000 English fans pouring into the entire city.
At the same time, due to the influence of holidays and the World Cup, the population of the entire city of Gelsenkirchen is less than 200,000. With so many English fans, Gelsenkirchen has completely become an English territory.
Sky Sports News also mentioned: "Gelsenkirchen has now become a sea of English fans. Walking in the streets of the city, you only hear English and see English people. This place has been "occupied" by English fans."
As Sky TV said, walking in the streets of Gelsenkirchen, you can see England fans almost everywhere, and all the hotels in the city have already been occupied, and more England fans will choose to spend the night on the streets.
This is also a good option in early August when it is warm.
Media from all over the world that flocked to the city also made a series of reports on this situation. Many Portuguese media continued to protest in their articles because they felt that this was unfair to Portugal.
The World Cup should have fair scores, but 80,000 English fans have made Gelsenkirchen England's home ground, 'which is likely to affect Portugal's performance.'
Unfortunately, FIFA has not imposed any restrictions on fans watching the game. These English players want to get close to the game, which certainly does not violate any regulations.
Is it wrong for a team to have a large number of fans?
This is obviously impossible.
As for this situation, the local police are probably the most troubled.
Almost all England fans are crowded in bars of all sizes in the city, and only 30,000 of the 80,000 England fans have tickets, and the remaining 50,000 or so will watch the game on the public big screen outside the stadium.
This may not seem like a big deal, but not all English fans who come to Germany to watch the game are well behaved. The increase in the number of fans will cause various problems. On the night before the game alone, 13 English fans were arrested by the Gelsenkirchen police. Their crimes were also varied:
A fan was arrested for ticket robbery after he robbed a bar while drinking yesterday.
A Portuguese fan, but he only took the other team's ticket.
When he was arrested, the fan shouted: "I'm going into the stadium to cheer for the team, Alan, come on, England will win!"
Another fan was arrested for urinating outside the city hall after drinking heavily and refusing to pay a fine. The rest of the fans were arrested mainly for drunken disorder.
All of this gave the Gelsenkirchen police a headache. They needed to consider many issues. For example, if England won, then these 80,000 fans would definitely start a carnival in Gelsenkirchen, which would seriously affect the normal life of the people of Gelsenkirchen. On the contrary, if England lost, it would be even more chaotic.
Who knows what disappointed England fans will do in this small town?
On this day, the English and Portuguese media went crazy. They kept using various reports to criticize their opponents while praising their own teams, paving the way for public opinion about the teams before the big battle.
Each side wants to give the team the best support before the game.
Portugal's "News" talked about this game. They believe that the current powerful Portuguese team is definitely not something that England can defeat, but they still reminded the Portuguese players to be careful to prevent any accidents.
In the article, they pointed out: "...since we can reverse history and eliminate Spain, it is very likely that England will suddenly change history like us, and we should avoid this situation."
They also mentioned the reasons for Portugal's success: taking opponents seriously and learning from mistakes.
The current Portuguese team has grown, and more importantly, it has learned lessons from its failures. From conceding two goals in one group match to keeping no goals in two games, head coach Scolari has found Portugal's fighting style and his ideal "permutation and combination".
Next, the newspaper also predicted Portugal's starting lineup: Carvalho and Andrade are in the central axis of the defense. These two defensive generals will make the whole Portuguese team feel safe; Costinha and Manicci are the winning weapons of the Porto club. The two of them play very well together, and their tacit understanding will be very helpful to Portugal's midfield. Petit's physical strength is more abundant, and the combination of three superstars Figo, Deco and C. Ronaldo is becoming more and more perfect. This triangle combination will penetrate the English defense like three sharp arrows, which is also the key to Portugal's victory.
At the end of the article, the newspaper commented: "This lineup is already a gathering of elite players, but we still have some strength left, that is Costa and Simao. The strength of these two players is beyond doubt, and the striker Gomez is even better. Four years ago, all the performances of the Portuguese team belonged to Gomez, and now he is just as brilliant."
The English media were of course indignant at the self-boasting report by The News, with The Sun being the first to bear the brunt. They conducted a comprehensive analysis of the comparison between England and Portugal, and finally concluded that England had an overall advantage on either front.
first
Speaking of the most outstanding forward line, the combination of Wang Li, Owen and Beckham, its power is unquestionable. Wang Li alone is more efficient than the entire Portuguese forward line.
The combination of Gerrard, Beckham and Joe Cole in midfield can be said to be the best combination in the world. If Wang Li retreats, the center line of Portugal and England will not be on the same level at all.
The English media did not focus on this point. They just emphasized that the strength of Terry, Gary Neville and others is stronger than that of Carvalho, Andrade and other players.
In fact, after Ferdinand was injured and left the team, England's back line was an obvious weak point, and even head coach McClaren admitted this in public.
However, in the reports of the English media, their weaknesses will definitely not be mentioned. The English media symbolically ignores this point. In fact, it is well known that England's midfield and forward line are stronger than Portugal. At least in terms of the team's individual abilities, the England team is stronger.
The "self-congratulatory" reports by The News and The Sun also kicked off a media war between the two sides, and soon all other media followed suit.
"Our goalkeeper is very strong and is great at saving penalties. You will lose to us on penalties." --- Portugal's Luca newspaper
"Our goalkeeper is Chelsea's main force, the world's top talented goalkeeper. Your Rivado is far inferior." --- The Guardian
"The combination of Figo and C. Ronaldo is unstoppable. If Gomez plays, the England team will be beaten into a sieve." ---Portugal's "News and Sports"
"Alan Wang's heavy artillery is unstoppable. He will kick you all off the field and England will advance easily." --- Manchester Athletic
"We have a first-class squad and Scolari's coaching ability is even better." --- Portugal's "News Morning"
"We have top-notch players and our squad is worth £600m." - The Times
"We..." - Portugal's Expresso
"We..." --- London Post
After several rounds of confrontation, the media on both sides consciously shut their mouths. They knew that this method could not determine the winner, so both sides began to prepare for the team's real game, and constantly analyzed the team's advantages and the opponent's advantages, and made suggestions for the team's victory.
As a result, Wang Li and C. Ronaldo became the protagonists of the media debate on both sides.
"Manchester Athletic" interviewed Frank Lampard in the afternoon who came to Gelsenkirchen with an injury to cheer for his teammates. Lampard seemed to be in good spirits. He raised his own problems and said that he was sorry to miss the World Cup. His injury would not be able to recover for at least two months.
When talking about the game, Lampard called on his teammates to seize the opportunity to advance to the semi-finals: "We have Allen, Special, Beckham, Owen and Rooney. We have strong confidence and I believe the team will win.
To achieve the final victory."
在谈了谈自己对队友的看法，以及对球队的信心之后，兰帕德表示，如果英格兰这次还是输给葡萄牙，球队将没有任何的借口了。
“......4年后，世界杯就将在南非举行，那里的温度更高，英格兰还可能进入一个死亡之组，所以这一次机会是最好的。”
“我们距离世界杯决赛仅有两场比赛，我们一定能够在这两场比赛中取胜，这支英格兰队有信心和能力击败所有对手。我们应该打出自己的风格，那就是快节奏的进攻足球。”
在谈到葡萄队的时候，兰帕德觉得最有威胁的是葡萄牙左前卫C.罗纳尔多，他说道：“小小罗两只脚都会踢球，后卫面对他这样的前卫最大的麻烦就是，也许你可以在89分钟里一直防守他，但他仍然能够在第90分钟创造一个梦幻时刻。但是，英格兰的后卫有能力和决心防守住小小罗，这也将是我们的后防线经受考验的时候了。”
而这个时候，葡萄牙队的C.罗纳尔多却缺席了本队的训练。
于是，很多媒体其大腿伤势是否好转以及会不会出现在对阵英格兰的1/4决赛中。
小小罗是在葡荷之战的上半场受伤被替换下场的，据说经过几天的休养，其伤势有所好转，原本有望在周六的英葡之战中上场。
这时，葡方发言人迈罗对外宣称，“这几天，小小罗一直都在单独训练，但如果到时他的伤势没有完全恢复，我们不会冒险让他上场。”
另外，迈罗还强调说：“如果C.罗没有100％的恢复，斯科拉里绝对不会派他首发出场，一切还应该以球员的身体为主。”但大多英国媒体对此表示，“这肯定是斯科拉里赛前放的烟幕弹，或许是故意不让小小罗出现在训练场的。”
这些消息显然影响不了兰帕德的判断，他笑着说‘葡萄牙队就喜欢故弄玄虚’，并称小小罗纳尔多一定会在比赛中出场：“在英超联赛中，我和他一直是对手，那个小子整天喜欢‘装模作样’，不得不说，他的演技非常高超，这一点或许也影响到了葡萄牙队......”
根本不用兰帕德解释，包括葡萄牙媒体在内所有媒体都知道兰帕德指得是什么，小小罗的假摔可是世界闻名的，现在很多执法英超联赛的裁判，都对小小罗的摔倒视而不见，因为他们被欺骗了太多次了。
他们的同情心已经被深深的刺伤了。
不过，兰帕德并没有对这一点多说什么，他只是强调着C.罗的实力：“......与小小罗对阵是件非常困难的事，他属于那种全能型的前锋，他的素质、速度和技术都非常出色，你必须在他刚启动时就死死地看住他，不然什么结果
都有可能发生。”
“小小罗属于那种球员：整场比赛，前89分钟你都能把他看得好好的，但第90分钟，他却突然摆脱了你的防守，制造出可怕的杀机。只有当你走下球场，没有让他进球的时候，你才能够真正放松，否则任何时候你都有可能遭到致命打击。你千万不要以为你可以很好地防守他，象他这样的杰出球员有能力把任何时刻变成精彩瞬间他的勇气和信仰令人折服，但我们也拥有同样坚定的意志。”
“对英格兰队的防守队员来说，小小罗是个巨大的考验。我们将在四分之一决赛中面对一支伟大的球队。这场比赛之后，人们将知道英格兰队究竟表现如何了。葡萄牙队是迄今为止我们遇到的最大考验。”
兰帕德突如其来对C.罗的夸赞，甚至让葡萄牙媒体感到不好意思，于是他们马上转而为葡萄牙队担忧起来，为什么？
葡萄牙有C.罗当然是亮点，可是相比英格兰队的艾伦.王，C.罗又算得了什么呢？
“我们一定要警醒起来”
下午的葡萄他《快报》世界杯加刊就是以这句话为标题，首页文章就提醒斯科拉里以及所有的葡萄牙球员一定要小心英格兰的21号艾伦.王。
“这个黑发小子的实力，绝不比C.罗差，当他有所发挥的时候，葡萄牙的球门就总是处在危险中，我们一定要重视他，随时随刻盯住他，这样才能保证葡萄牙的球门不失。”
“斯科拉里应该重点防守艾伦.王，如果不这样做的话，葡萄牙想要获胜是极为艰难的。比起C.罗，艾伦更具威胁性，我们应该看到两者的差距。”
谈到王利的问题，不管葡萄牙哪一家媒体，全都不吹捧自己的超级球星C.罗了，因为和王利相比，C.罗真的没什么拿的出手的。
比进球？
毫无可比性。
比对球队贡献？
仍然毫无可比性。
即使比一些其他的东西，比如名气、薪水等等，两人全都是毫无可比性，如果说C.罗在曼联的表现已经震惊了整个欧洲的话，王利已经威震整个世界，没有任何一支球队在和英格兰踢球的时候，敢于无视掉王利，那几乎就表示了输球。
在和厄瓜多尔的比赛中，王利一个人三次看起来很平常的远射，让所有人再次见识了这种极端效率的射门能力，有这样一名球员在英格兰队，对葡萄牙来说绝对是极大的危机。
于是，在谈到王利之后，葡萄牙媒体全都偃旗息鼓了，他们憋着一股劲想要等球队在赛场上战胜英格兰队以后，再来冒头出来以事实来说明葡萄牙队的强势。
两年前，在王利上场的欧洲杯比赛中，葡萄牙获得了胜利，而现在
他们觉得自己一方仍然很可能获胜
毕竟胜利已经有了前科。
而这个时候，作为焦点人物的王利和C.罗在干什么呢？
C.罗已经藏起来了......
就好像葡萄牙新闻发言人披露的那样，C.罗似乎真的是受伤了在接受治疗，并在自己单独训练，至少他没有参加最近葡萄队的比赛，即使出现在球场上，也没有任何一个记者能采访到他。
看起来，斯科拉里对C.罗‘保护’的很严密。
而王利则一直在跟随球队正常训练，在来到盖尔森基兴之后，王利就一直在努力训练，在休息时间，他也找机会做做简单的训练，让自己的状态随时达到巅峰。
俗话说，临阵磨枪不快也光。
王利很相信自己的实力，可还是要多训练一下，才能更好的完成自己的复仇。两年前的失败，就是他职业生涯里唯一的一个污点，他觉得自己必须要强势把这个污点抹去，才能让自己的职业生涯达到完美。
从这一点来看，王利也算是个完美主义者了。
这场比赛对王利来说至关重要，他必须要让球队取得胜利，这不仅仅是为了英格兰队在世界杯上前进，更多的是为了自己的复仇，以及让自己更能够去触碰那座世界最顶级的足球荣耀---大力神杯
在这样的形式中，时间很快已经走到了第二天晚上六点钟，两支球队早已经来到了球场，进入了紧张的最后备战中。
比赛是晚上八点钟开始。
而这时，来到盖尔森基兴的球迷们已经开始入场了，不过看起来大半儿全都是英格兰球迷，他们都集体穿着英格兰的主场球衣，手里拿着英格兰的队旗，很多人脸上还画着英格兰的国旗标志。
1,2个球迷这样做并没什么影响，但是当进入球场的大部分英格兰球迷全都这么做的时候，这就成为了一道球迷中靓丽的风景线。
于是，来自世界各地的记者纷纷走进英格兰球迷之中，近距离采访球迷的感受的心情。
他们马上感受到英格兰球迷那种对胜利极度渴望的心情。
英格兰队在淘汰赛已经遭遇了太多的伤痛，每一次的伤痛都像是在英格兰球迷的伤口上撒了把盐，现在英格兰队积攒的伤痛已经快要让球迷们爆发了，他们都急需要一场真正的复仇，来挥洒掉过去的一切，让英格兰队重新迎来光明。
而现在这支英格兰队的实力强大无疑，没有任何一方媒体否认这一点，所以英格兰球迷全都抱着胜利希望来到的德国，他们需要的只有胜利
当观众席上的球迷进场结束之后，只见整个球场四周的看台上，百分之60全都是英格兰球迷，葡萄牙的球迷只
有大概1万多人，这和英格兰的3万余人差距实在太大了。
在进场完毕之后，虽然两支球队的球员还没有进场，但这些球迷已经开始一起唱起了英格兰这次征战世界杯的队歌，他们希望用这种方式，来给球队加油，唤起英格兰球员们争胜的斗志。
十分钟过后，在主裁判的示意下，两支球队终于从球员通道里走了出来。
Then, the cheers of the fans in the stadium reached their first peak, and every fan was cheering for the team they supported. When Wang Li followed the team and walked out of the player tunnel step by step, he saw the crazy English fans around the stadium, and his heart became a little excited.
In Germany, a land that does not belong to them, there are so many English fans coming to the stadium. This also shows the English fans' desire for victory.
When the opponent became Portugal, it was no longer just Wang Li's revenge, it had completely escalated into the revenge of the entire English football team.
Then, let me be the messenger of revenge.
Wang Li thought excitedly, and he suddenly felt that before he married the little princess of England, it would be a very good idea to give the English fans a hearty revenge battle as a gift.