No. 566: The World Cup does not believe in tears!
The world was in an uproar with Germany's four-goal win over Argentina, both of whom hold World Cup titles and both teams boast plenty of young talent.
These young talents are all the biggest names in Europe's major leagues, Messi, Higuain, Milito, Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil......
Argentina had the envy of the world's attack, but they failed to break the Germans' goal and lost by four goals.
"The World Cup doesn't believe in tears!"
The French team used this headline: Strong offense and weak defense are Argentina's most fatal weakness, and this luxurious division triumphed all the way before meeting Germany, indomitable, momentum like a rainbow, and invincible.
But the Germans used their strong and young bodies to block the Pampas Eagles' ferocious attacks again and again, and broke the opponent's goal again and again.
At the end of the game, the Argentine fans and players burst into tears, but tears could not wash away the fiasco.
The World Cup does not believe in tears, Italy is gone, France is gone, England is gone, Brazil is gone, and now Argentina is gone......
The World Cup is about strength, but also about mentality and tactics.
Maradona's side were on the attack, but their backline was terrible, giving the Germans chances time and time again.
Messi dreams of breaking the green dot stadium, and he can only wait four years to prove himself at the World Cup in Brazil.
If there is a surprise and discovery in this World Cup, it is the Dutch teenager Chen, a young man who is about to turn 20 years old and shocked the whole world in this World Cup.
Nine goals in four games set a new record for the fastest goal in the World Cup, and a goal was scored in the first round of the knockout rounds ahead of seven Slovakian players......
At that moment, the whole world worshipped, and at that moment the whole world stopped thinking......
Chen is making this World Cup his own legend!
Today's world football is no longer a situation where Messi and Ronaldo compete for hegemony, Chen has risen with an unstoppable momentum, and he has brought a breath of fresh air to world football.
His speed is the deadliest weapon, and no one can keep up with him.
After Brazil was eliminated by the Netherlands, Brazilian coach Dunga said helplessly, "Some players are inexplicable, such as Ronaldo, in the 02 World Cup final, didn't the German team know his threat? But didn't he score the same two goals in the final? ”
Although this is talking about Ronaldo, it is actually saying that Chen is incomprehensible.
Ronaldo left, Rooney left, Kaka left, and now Messi is gone, but Chen is still there.
As long as he is still on the field of the World Cup, it will bring us a higher visual enjoyment!
……
After the end of the Great War between Germany and Argentina, attention turned to Spain.
As Euro 08 champions, Spain are star-studded and their powerful midfield is their winning weapon.
Throughout this World Cup, Spain's start was not wonderful, and they lost 0-1 to Switzerland in the first game, which surprised countless people.
In the ensuing matches, as Xavi recovered, the matadors began to exert their strength, beating Honduras and Chile before coming out on top to advance to the knockout rounds as group winners.
In the first round of the knockout round, they met Portugal led by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Matadors did not disappoint his supporters, winning by a narrow goal to advance to the quarterfinals.
Although Spain is not as dazzling in attack as the Netherlands, Germany, Argentina and other strong teams, they are remarkable in defence, conceding only two goals, tied with the Netherlands for the fewest goals conceded by any team.
This Spanish team is very similar to the French team in '98, both have a strong central midfield.
Their current opponent is Paraguay.
Paraguay are in a group that hosts defending champions Italy, but Paraguay top the group with one win and two draws.
They met Asian powerhouse Japan in the first round of the knockout round, where they were tied 0-0 in the 90-minute draw and failed to score in extra time and had to go to a brutal penalty shootout.
Paraguay had the last laugh, knocking out Japan to advance to the quarterfinals.
In terms of strength, there is still a certain gap between them and Spain, but anything can happen in the World Cup.
At half past eight o'clock in the evening of July 3, at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, the match between Spain and Paraguay began.
Spain had reached the quarterfinals four times before, finishing fourth in history in 1950, but there were no semi-finals at the time, but a four-team group stage was used to determine the position.
Spain have lost only two of their last 52 games, a 2-0 defeat to the United States in last year's Confederations Cup and a 0-1 defeat to Switzerland in the first round of the group stage. Bosque did not change the starting line-up, and Torres, who has not yet scored in this Cup, is still trusted.
Paraguay qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time, having lost to European sides in their previous three knockout rounds.
With just three goals, Paraguay is the fewest in the quarter-finals since England in 1990, and the strikers are even more scoreless, with Santa Cruz, who have been out of goal drought for 799 minutes at the World Cup, unable to start.
Rafael Benitez and Barrios also faded out of the starting line-up, with Cardoso and Valdés switching to the attacking pairing.
There was also a lot of rotation in midfield, with suspended midfielder Victor Cáceres replacing Ortigosa, midfielders Barreto and Santana getting the chance to play, and Dario Verón coming in for Bonet at right-back. Paraguay thus set a record for the number of players in rotation for two knockout matches in World Cup history – six!
As soon as the match began, Paraguay began to attack Spain.
Forty-eight seconds into the opening game, Morel threw the ball into the sideline on the left side, Cardoso's header was ferried, Barreto passed through the middle, and Santana's low shot from 17 meters in front of the goal was saved by Casillas to the left!
After the game restarted, Spain began to control the pace of the game with their strong midfield strength, and in the seventh minute, Villa passed back, and Alonso volleyed from 25 meters in front of the goal!
The ball hits the defender and misses the right post!
In the ensuing game, Spain continued to control the tempo of the game, not rushing to send the ball into the opposition penalty area, but instead looked for a lethal chance by reversing the ball.
Paraguay focused on defence, forming a solid defensive line in front of goal, not giving Spain a lethal chance at all.
Both sides could only end the first half with a score of 0-0.
At the start of the second half, Spain continued to find the back of the net, with Bosque replacing Torres with Cesc Fabregas, who failed to play the full game in 12 consecutive international games.
In the twelfth minute of the second half, the situation on the field changed abruptly!
Paraguay got a corner kick opportunity, Barreto took a corner kick from the left, Cardoso ran to the back point to meet the landing point, and was dragged to the ground by Pique's arm!
"Tick! ……”
Referee Butres decisively pointed to the penalty spot and warned Pique with a yellow card!
Penalty kick!
Paraguay had their best chance to score!
Cardo asked for his own penalty, and he placed the ball on the penalty spot before taking a few steps back.