Chapter 208: The Difference
At the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, Austria, where the Euro 2008 final was held, fans from both teams were ready for the final moments, and the last game against Turkey was as red as it could be.
The Spaniards were waving their red capes, the Belgians were dressed up as the Red Devils and the fans sang as their side reached the final of the European Championship.
With 24 years of waiting and 28 years of anticipation, the Spaniard is looking forward to lifting the Delaunay Cup again after 44 years, while the Belgian is looking forward to the Red Devils coming to Europe for the first time.
In the safe passage, the players of both teams are making final preparations, Digan is standing at the front of the Belgian team, he can feel that many eyes are focused on him, the Spaniards are looking forward to revenge, the game three years ago, many players in the Spanish team have experienced it, Casillas, Puyol, Xavi, of course, Cesc Fabregas, Iniesta and Torres, but in that game, they watched their national team be blocked from the World Cup finals from the bench.
When it was time to enter, the stands erupted in cheers as the final feast of Euro 2008 was about to begin.
In the battle for possession, the captains of the two teams, Digan and Casillas, did not engage in a verbal exchange as expected, neither of them spoke, not even eye contact.
Lost?
Deegan looked at the coin in the referee's hand, a little depressed, which was not a good sign.
The frustration was only a flash, and Deegan turned away from the center circle, gathered his teammates together, and told him again, Deegan could imagine that the competition for this game would not only take place on the court, but other factors must also be taken into account.
"When defending, we can't move too much, and we must not be caught by the referee in our pigtails, understand?"
There is nothing that everyone doesn't understand, they have already learned in the previous semi-finals, and everyone can feel that there is a force that does not want them to have the last laugh.
"Concentrate, such an opportunity may only come once in a lifetime for us, don't go home with regrets!"
In the previous World Cup, Degan had no choice but to accept a defeat because of injury, watching the Italians lift the Hercules Cup high, and now the final has become the European Cup, this time, Degan will never allow the same situation to happen again.
With the referee's whistle, the game officially began, the Spanish team did not seem to be in a hurry to attack, the players in the midfield were skillfully backwards, patiently looking for opportunities, this is their best tactic, using a small range of passes to catch the ball, pull the opponent's defense, look for gaps, and then launch a fatal blow.
Degan certainly couldn't let them get their way, and when the ball was passed to Iniesta's feet, Degan lunged forward, while Bolaite and Dembele also pressed on the Spanish team according to the pre-match tactics.
Seeing that Belgium seemed to be unable to hold their breath, the players of the Spanish team couldn't help but secretly rejoice, but soon, this joy disappeared, and what puzzled them was that the Belgian frontcourt players began to press, but the three backs didn't even move, as if they were watching a play, and they didn't come up to help at all.
Of course, this is also set before the game, the zone defense, no one can move until they enter their territory, and they must firmly hold their own defense.
Seeing that he couldn't find a gap in the middle, when Xavi received the ball again, he kicked the ball to the left side, and Iniesta quickly pressed it, which is also a common routine in Spain, combining the side and the middle, this move, Digan has long played badly in Fiorentina.
And Spain has a fatal flaw compared to Fiorentina, this kind of wing attack has a fatal flaw, Torres is not the kind of strong center forward, in the face of Vermaelen and Kompany's defense, he wants to fight for the header, it is simply impossible.
Therefore, the Belgian team formulated a strategy of defending Spain's wing attack before the game, the two full-backs only defend the Spanish wide attacking players to cut inside, and if they cross, they will hand over to Kompany and Vermaelen, and the other three midfielders must protect the front of the penalty area to prevent the Spanish team from crossing, or seize the second point and shoot from outside the penalty area.
Sure enough, Iniesta saw that he had no chance to cut inside, and was forced to near the bottom line by Van Bitten, and could only cross in a hurry, although Torres grabbed the position, but unfortunately in the face of Kompany, the air lord, Torres had no chance at all.
After the ball was pushed out by Kompany, the second point was easily won by Belgium, Fellaini stopped the ball, glanced ahead, and kicked the ball directly to the side of the front.
In the half of the game, the first time to play the ball after taking the ball, this is also what Antienes repeatedly emphasized before the game, in order to fear that Spain would seize the opportunity and spread the wall.
The football went straight through the midfield and landed on the right side, Digan stepped forward to stop the ball and rushed towards Capdevilla, Iniesta has not yet returned, and the Spanish team's midfield defense has not yet been formed, and was hit directly behind by a long ball from Belgium.
Cesc Fabregas rushed towards Digan, while Degan's teammate Marchena in Fiorentina was also moving in the direction of Degan, and Capdevilla did not rush up, but kept retreating, trying to form a three-man trap for Degan.
The Spanish player's wishful thinking, how could Digan not see it, just as Cesc Fabregas was about to post it, Digan directly crossed the ball, handed the ball to Dembele, and then continued to rush along the side.
The football reached the feet of Dembele, and by his side was Senna, and Dembele did not dare to show off his skills at this time, and wanted to pass the ball to Bolaite.
But Puyol was already on guard, suddenly grabbed and broke the ball, but he couldn't hold the ball steady, and was broken back by Boleit, but even if the ball was successful, he now has no chance to shoot, Ramos has blocked in front of him, Bolaite is characterized by fast speed and strong explosiveness, but the ability to challenge defenders head-on one-on-one is almost worse, not to mention that Puyol is still on his side.
"Here!"
Degan saw that Bolaite was a little sticky, obviously hesitated, and quickly shouted, Bolait heard Degan's shout, it was like seeing a savior, and quickly kicked the ball back to the side, and at the same time suddenly stepped forward and squeezed into the Spanish penalty area.
Digan stopped the ball steadily, and the cross was obviously not good, Bolaite had Puyol and Ramos by his side, and even if he passed the ball, it would be difficult for Bolaite to grab it.
Then there is only ~~~~~~~
With a slight knock on the arch of his foot, the ball went right between Capdevilla's legs, and Deegan immediately turned around and cut inward!
Marchena has arrived, the two were teammates when they were in Florence, but now they are their own masters, Marchena has no mercy at all, he knows very well that it will be difficult to keep Digan, so he directly stumbles.
Unexpectedly, Digan was already on guard, gently poked the ball, and at the same time jumped up, jumped over Marchena's horizontal leg, and after stopping the ball, he already had an angle and volleyed directly.
The ball flew towards the far corner of the Spanish goal with the wind howling like a detonated bomb, and Casillas, although concentrated, did not expect Digan to suddenly shoot from that position, quickly moved towards the far post, and then jumped high, leaning back, trying to save the ball.
But Degan's kick was so fast that it flew straight above Casillas's finger, much to Casillas' surprise.
But~~~~~
Boom!
Fortunately, the goalpost helped the Spanish team at this time.
But Belgium's attack was not over yet, and Bolaite took advantage of the Spanish player's stunned moment, suddenly stepped forward, met the flying back football, and directly headed the ball.
Casillas showed the ability of a super goalkeeper at this time, and the person was still sitting on the ground, seeing that Bolaite's supplementary shot had arrived, the whole person suddenly bounced up, and held it with one hand, and the football flew out of the bottom line by grazing the crossbar.
Call~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spain up and down, breathing a sigh of relief, fortunately God is on the side of the Spanish team, otherwise it would be really dangerous.
Calagones looked at the court, the old coach's brows furrowed, the development of the situation now is completely different from what he expected!
Belgium obviously had very perfect preparations before the game, when the Spanish team was attacking just now, every step was in the calculation of the Belgian team, and when Belgium attacked, a blow hit Spain's soft underbelly.
Don't fight the midfield at all, play directly behind the Spanish team's defense, although this attack was resolved, but if the Belgians grasp the weakness like this and beat it hard, it's not a way!
Immediately afterwards, the Belgian team took a corner, Dembele's corner kick directly down the back post, and Digan was already standing there, despite having Puyol in front of him, but Dugan did not take the Spanish vice-captain in his eyes at all.
The arc of this kick was very large, Casillas did not dare to rush out to pick it up, seeing the ball flying over, Degan jumped up in advance, to the surprise of everyone on the scene, Degan's terrifying ability to stay in the air.
If you have this ability, you don't play basketball and mess around on the football field!
Puyol fought for the top, but was completely suppressed by Digan, with a flick of his head, the football flew towards the Spanish goal, this time Casillas's position had some problems, seeing that the football was about to fly into the goal, but the crossbar of the goal helped Spain again, the ball hit the lower edge of the goal, and Casillas, who reacted quickly, pressed on the goal line.
Depend on!
It's a little bit worse again!