Chapter 127: Mighty Belgium, Mighty Digan
Mexico's lineup for this game, Aguirre lined up a 4-3-3 formation with goalkeeper Oscar. Perez, the short goalkeeper with super bounce ability, has an experience in this World Cup, and in the group stage, in the face of the French team's indiscriminate bombardment, his goal was not even lost, and his strength can be seen.
At the back are Osorio, Francisco. Rodriguez, captain Marquis and Salcido, this defense line is not gorgeous, the most famous of which is captain Marquis, but in Barcelona, he has also begun to gradually become a substitute, but in terms of strength, it is definitely the number one, especially the two full-backs pressing assists, which are quite threatening.
Midfielders Juarez, Torrado and Guardado also do not have big stars, but every player is a well-known powerhouse, especially the core of the midfield, Torrado, whose ability is very eye-catching, not only can take care of the Mexican team's attack in an orderly manner, but also has an accurate long-range shot.
On the forward line are Dos Santos, Hernandez and Pautista, in this game Aguirre took Franco from the main lineup, and sent Hernandez, a little pea who has been confirmed to transfer to Manchester United, of course, there is one more person worth noting, that is, Dos Santos, who is currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur, when he debuted in Barcelona, this gentleman was named a little Ronaldinho.
After the start of the game, both sides did not look tentative, and as soon as they came up, Belgium took the lead in attacking, and Digan and Hazard combined to shoot in front of the box was blocked by Mexican goalkeeper Perez on the goal line.
Next, Mexico made a series of chances to almost score, announcing to the world that they are not underdogs, let alone fish belly, first in the eighth minute, Guardado passed, Salcido hit the crossbar with a long-range shot from the left, and the Belgian was in a cold sweat.
Just a minute later, dos Santos dribbled down the flank, broke through Lombartz's defence, and played a direct cross to the middle of the ball, and Guardado, who followed up in the middle, fired a powerful shot that grazed the left post.
In the tenth minute, Torrado, the core of the Mexican midfield, sent a cross in the middle, Hernandez jumped high, turned his back to the goal, and rubbed the back of his head, but fortunately Courtois reacted quickly and took the ball down.
Through these three attacks, it is not difficult to see that although the Mexican team has never shocked the world football in the World Cup before, their strength can definitely compete with any team in the world.
After withstanding the Mexican defense, the Belgian team also began to counterattack, and they could not let the Mexicans continue to be so unscrupulous, if they did not respond, the game was likely to enter the rhythm of the Mexicans, if that case, it would be really dangerous.
In the twelfth minute of the game, the Belgian team launched a quick counterattack, and after Digan won the ball at the edge of the penalty area, he suddenly shot at the same time as turning, which was directly confiscated by Perez, who reacted quickly.
A minute later, Digan headed back a cross from the wing, and Hazard didn't wait for the ball to hit the ground, but he fired straight at goal, which was blocked by Salgado on the goal line.
As soon as the Belgian attack came to an end, the Mexicans resumed their performance, and in the fourteenth minute, Dos Santos suddenly sent a through ball after a dazzling dribble, and Hernandez successfully countered offside and fired a powerful shot just wide.
It can be said that by the time the game got to this point, it was already fair to say that it was not at all what was expected before the game, it was a battle of strength and weakness, and the Mexicans proved with their performance that they are more than qualified to go far on the World Cup stage.
However, it is almost the same as it is now, and Deganco will not allow himself to wait for four years to be ruined by the Mexicans.
In the 26th minute of the game, after Fellaini broke the ball in the middle, the Belgian team counterattacked, and Digan won the ball and drove all the way, although the Mexican defenders tried to stop him, but they couldn't do anything, and the football seemed to grow on Digan's feet.
Seeing the timing, Digan suddenly sent a direct pass, Lukaku rushed over quickly, Mexican goalkeeper Perez chose to attack in time at this critical juncture, quickly fell to the ground, grabbed Lukaku before he got the ball, saved the football from his feet, followed by Digan directly volleyed, the football smashed on the crossbar of the goal, Lukaku who had just climbed up saw this, how could he miss such a good one, and smashed the ball back with his head on the spot, and Perez, who was in a brave state, could only cry out in vain.
1:0!
The deadlock on the field was broken, and now the Mexican team was sad!
"Degan once again proved to people that at the critical moment, he can do everything alone, although this goal was scored by Lukaku, but I believe anyone can see that the biggest contributor to this goal is Degan!"
"The Mexican team may feel very disappointed, they performed very well in the previous period, but they forgot that there is a person in the Belgian team who can decide the outcome of the game at any time, this person is Degan, although the captain of the Mexican team Marquis said before the game that he will defend Degan strictly in the game, but now it seems that their defense of Degan is still a little lax, and if you want to completely control an opponent like Degan, I am afraid that the only way to tie him up is to use a rope!"
Degan, who should have been tied up by the rope, helped the team take the lead with a sudden force, and I am afraid that everyone must admit now that football is a collective sport, but Deegan is an exception.
Although it is a pity that he could not continue to break his goal record on the world stage, Degan's performance still announced to the world that he is the best one on the football field.
After the restart, Mexico did not seem to lose confidence by conceding a goal, they continued to attack, and the attack became more intense.
However, the gap in strength between the two sides gradually became apparent at this time, and after getting used to the Mexican team's style of play, the Belgian team began to gradually take over the game.
Although Belgium were not seeded before the World Cup, their strength is obvious to all, and under the leadership of Degan, this team can burst out with the greatest energy.
When the game reached the 33rd minute, the Belgian team extended its lead, Osorio took the ball in front of the penalty area, but under the pressure of Degan, there was a passing error, Degan broke the ball first, and then directly broke into the penalty area with the ball, shook the Mexican goalkeeper Perez, and shot the ball into the empty goal, which was his seventh goal in this World Cup, and it was also the 22nd goal he scored since the World Cup.
The big screen at the scene immediately typed a line of words: Digan! 22!
Announcing to the world that a new record was born, after the goal, Deegan did not show much excitement, just high-fived and celebrated with his teammates, in Degan's opinion, although this goal is significant, but it is not the most beautiful goal in Degan's career, nor is it the most critical one, just the icing on the cake!
But the Belgian fans in the stands were not as calm as him, cheering one by one, celebrating Degan's record.
Park Ji-yeon also hugged her sisters around her at the moment of Digan's goal, and she only felt full of pride when she looked at Digan on the court.
After falling behind by two goals, Mexico's players on the field couldn't help but be a little distracted, they did a good enough, and the continuous onslaught after the opening made the Belgian team a little scrambling, and of course, the Mexican team miscalculated the situation.
The advantage in the opening stage made the Mexican team forget the difference in quality between the two teams, and they probably thought they could score first, so they attacked more aggressively.
After conceding the first goal, instead of stabilizing the formation a little, he launched a more fierce attack, which directly led to the second goal conceded.
Because of the big attack, when Osorio got the ball, there was no player around to answer, and Digan easily broke the ball and scored again.
Conceding two goals in a row, leaving the Mexican team a little overwhelmed, Aguirre once again made the wrong decision at this time and continued to attack.
Mexico's onslaught did have some effect, and in the 34th minute, Guardado passed the ball and Salcido's long-range shot was saved by Courtois.
A minute later, Hernandez passed the ball and Guardado's shot in front of the box was blocked by Kompany with his body.
In the 37th minute, Dos Santos passed the ball, Hernandez's shot from the left side of the box was saved, and Guardado turned and blocked the shot.
In the 42nd minute, Torado crossed from the right, and the unguarded Hernandez headed wide from the edge of the small penalty area.
Then Marquis's long-range shot was received by Courtois, and the continuous strong attack failed, which made the players of the Mexican team more and more impatient, and at half-time, there was even a clash when individual players from both sides left the field.
"The Mexican team is too impatient, if they can stabilize the formation and control the pace of the game when they concede the first goal, they may not be hopeless, but the impatience makes them pay the price!"
Aguirre was clearly aware of his mistake and left the court with a look of remorse on his face.
But at this time, regret is useless, he should think more, what to do in the second half?
The momentum of the Mexican players has changed, and if they can't find a way to change it, all that awaits Mexico is a slow death.