Chapter 360: The Final
The final will be played between France and Italy, who eliminated Portugal with a golden goal in extra time.
Italy also played with the host Netherlands for 120 minutes, and in the end there was no winner and entered a penalty shootout. Italy, which has basically no wins in penalty shootouts in the past, has a patron saint, Santoldo, because of his magical play, the Netherlands only scored one penalty in four rounds of penalty shootouts, and in regular time Santoldo also saved two penalties from the Dutch team, six penalties in a game, and only one was lost.
Italy is undoubtedly lucky, originally Toldo was only Buffon's substitute, but due to Buffon's injury before the European Cup, he missed the European Cup, and Italian coach Zoff had no choice but to use Toldo, maybe even Zoff did not expect that Toldo could be canonized and sent Italy to the final by himself.
It is predicted that the final will be a dull match, and there is a good chance that the two teams will go to extra time and then go into the big game, when Santo will once again be in the spotlight of Europe.
Fan Shang is actually not afraid of Toldo, just kidding, one over-the-top performance is enough, it is impossible to play beyond the norm in every game. According to Vincent's understanding of Toldo, the Italian goalkeeper is best at making difficult saves, and in terms of stability, he is obviously not as stable as several of his predecessors Peruzzi, Pagliuca and others, and there is no way to compare with Buffon, who is absent due to injury.
But the outside world is so rumored that the two teams are going to play a dull game, which makes Fan Shang's brows furrow, is it really necessary to compromise with Italy to the final penalty shootout as the outside world said? Obviously, this is not what Vincent wants to see, Italy does not attack because the risk is weak, but France has something to do with Vincent's personal style, and Vincent is now struggling with whether he wants to change it?
Italy must still defend and counterattack, this Zoff has no choice, except for one Totti in the frontcourt, the others will... , but Fan Shang is also surprised that Piero, who is in the prime of Juventus, can't play in the national team.
The final was played at the Feinnord Stadium in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, which is the home of Feinord FC and has a capacity of 51,000 people.
Dear President Jacques Chirac was undoubtedly in the stands again, he has an absolute love for French football, and he will be there almost always when it comes to the crucial matches.
Before today, he really talked to Fan Shang, and Fan Shang was also shocked when he received a call from Chirac, he had only spoken to Chirac at the award ceremony or some event, and this call was the first time.
Chirac asked Fan Shang again if he had confidence, and Fan Shang shook his head and told Chirac with a smile, "If you are not afraid of losing and being embarrassed, then you can go to the scene to see it." ”
This is the third time Chirac has heard Vincent say such things, and after listening to it, Chirac laughed and then said that he would be waiting for Vincent on the rostrum after the game.
Because it was the final, the atmosphere in the French dressing room before the game was a bit heavy, no matter who the opponent was, no one was weak to get to this point, so the players did not have much confidence.
When Fan Shang saw it, he felt that he should say something, "Are you afraid of Italy?" Fan Shang asked in the locker room without a clue.
No one spoke, but a few people looked up at Fan Shang, "If you don't answer, it seems that you are acquiescing, since you are afraid, then we can abstain directly, Jacques, can we be sentenced to a 0:2 loss if we abstain now?" ”
"It's not 2:0, it's 3:0, are you sure, Fan Shang, if we abstain now, we will be an unprecedented joke in international football." Santini was loud when he said the big joke again.
"Guys, you're about to become a joke that no one has ever seen before in football. Go ahead, with these world champions being treated as a joke by me, then I don't care, right? Vincent smiled and looked at the French players.
"Chief, of course we're not afraid of Italy." It was the captain Deschamps who spoke, and he should indeed speak on behalf of the players at this time, "We just didn't react so fast, how can we be afraid, we are world champions!" ”
"Very well said", Fan Shang first nodded in affirmation, and then changed the conversation, "But why are you slow to react, it is because you hesitate, you are not confident in your hearts!" ”
It's really like this, it's all in the finals, and no one can have absolute confidence, but even if it's like this, Fan Shang has to stimulate them, at least to set off the blood of these people.
The French players listened to Vincent's words, and then thought about themselves, there was really no confidence, almost everyone looked at Vincent, and was looking at their Vincent.
"Italy will only defend and not attack, even if we keep reversing the ball at the back today, I think they will be a turtle with a shrunken head, and you have to have the courage to break the turtle shell, and you look at you now, in the face of a turtle are so hesitant, are you not even as good as a turtle?" Fan Shang had almost belittled the players at this time.
"We're not afraid!" A voice sounded from among the players, and then people kept joining, and slowly the voice became more and more neat and louder, "We are not afraid!" ”
Fan Shang felt that this was almost the same, and pressed his hand down, "Don't just shout, now take your ambition and go to show me on the field, show the fans, and show the whole Europe and the world!" Now stand up and get out on the field! ”
Vincent opened the door to the locker room, and then the French players walked in front of Vincent one by one, walking towards the players' tunnel, waiting for the ceremony to enter the field.
"I hope this breath doesn't dissipate too quickly," Fan Shang prayed in his heart.
However, after playing the national anthems of both sides, and then choosing sides, Fan Shang looked at the expressions of the players again, and the ferocity just now had slowly begun to subside, "Hurry up and start, attack one and give Italy a dismount." ”
However, it backfired, Italy kicked off first in this game, and when France got the ball, then this tone was really one out of ten.
"Loot!" Fan Shang shouted from the sidelines at the beginning.
There is no one in these ten, and Deschamps successfully grabbed the ball from Fiore's feet after 2 minutes, and then passed directly to Zidane, Zidane took advantage of Italy's opening foothold and used his skillful skills to continuously turn and change speed, and dribble the ball to the top of Italy's penalty area. Then he calmly got up and shot in front of the three central defenders.