Before the start of the Anglo-Italian war.

England's legends are optimistic.

In fact, they were just as optimistic until Xiao Wen decided to come to Brazil.

Joe Cole was the craziest of them, saying in an interview with Sky Sports that he believes the fearless Three Lions under Roy Hodgson are capable of winning the World Cup in Brazil.

'I really think we can win the title and the results below the last eight are disappointing in terms of the quality of the squad and what I know about the inside.

'I've watched three warm-up games in England and I'm satisfied, don't dwell on the two draws, the whole team is doing well, Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley all look sharp, the only regret is that Oxlade-Chamberlain is injured.

'I think England have a good chance of winning trophies, everyone looks fearless, Gerrard is ready for a long time, so I'm optimistic about the future of the team.

Just don't mention Xiao asked.

Beckham's suggestion was for Hodgson to be bold and bring in new recruits, and in fact, this time, Hodgson brought in 19-year-old Sterling, 20-year-old Barkley and 18-year-old Luke Shaw, as well as 18-year-old Shaw.

Despite his lack of international experience, David Beckham believes England will gain a lot if Hodgson can give them full credit.

'A lot of people are skeptical that we're bringing in so many young players and that they're not ready, but I don't think so. These players play in the best leagues, play against the best players, and they are big players, like Xiao Wen, so age is not an issue,"

It is worth mentioning that in the 1998 World Cup in France, the then 23-year-old Beckham participated in the World Cup for the first time and scored a free kick in the group stage against Colombia.

And that year, there was also a boy chasing the wind.

At the press conference before the game, Hodgson said that Xiao Wen's timely arrival was the greatest encouragement to the team!

At Euro 2012, England met Italy in the quarter-finals, but were unable to contain their opponents at that time and were eliminated.

The two teams have been divided into groups in this World Cup, and they will meet in the first game. Huo Taigong believes that the Three Lions are more prepared this time.

"How are we going to deal with Andrea Pirlo's Italy this time? First of all, we have to do better, we will play more actively and passionately, we are a young team, the first game, so we will play more compactly".

"In the last meeting, we had some problems, the team was not attacking enough, the game was mainly focused on defense, and the Italian team had too many chances to get the ball. This time, the Italians will be aware of our attacking play, and my plan is to press down the opponent with more attacks, and we will play with the attacking power of Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard." Hodgson stressed.

Except for Hodgson's tough statement at the press conference.

Wilshere, the team's small threat, seems to be more expressive of the team's anti-Shaw attitude towards the league: "Even with a scruffy beard and sleepy eyes, the 35-year-old Italian Andrea Pirlo is still the most feared player in our first game. But we're ready to challenge Andrea Pirlo and that will be the key to winning the first fight. ”

Yes, in the quarter-finals of the European Championship two years ago, Andrea Pirlo faced England and made more passes than all four of his midfielders combined.

In that game, Andrea Pirlo led an in-form Italian side, which made the Three Lions suffer and were eliminated in a "routine" penalty shoot-out.

"Xiao asked if you can't go into battle? No, no, no, we are one. We don't have an impact on the absence of a player. We're going to keep playing at our pace! ”

That's their answer - without Xiao asking, we're still a strong team.

……

June 15th.

Amazon Stadium in Manaus.

The stadium was full of people celebrating the World Cup, stimulated by alcohol, and England fans were talking loudly and shouting at people they didn't know.

No plot, no story.

It is said that life, or the green field, is originally composed of countless grievances.

When Xiao Wen sat in the stands, wearing sunglasses and sweeping his eyes to the players of both sides who were warming up on the field, he thought of the interview with Wilshere that he saw in the morning, and he thought so in his heart.

He hummed softly to the song I hadn't been a big brother for years, and chatted softly to Ether Heather next to him, and there seemed to be no anger at all, because he didn't care what the England players were thinking.

On the contrary, Ether Shishi has received a lot of endorsement advertisements these days, which makes her very happy. There is no doubt that Xiao Wen's fame has also made countless headlines with Ether Shisch.

Both of them seem to be on the rise in their emotions and careers.

With this rich joy, Xiao Wen always had a smile on his face.

In a short time, the players of both sides warmed up

Taking advantage of the time for them to return to the locker room to prepare, Xiao Wen once again refreshed the Sky Sports news.

They even gave quite a few interesting statistics about this game.

Wayne Rooney played a total of 594 minutes for England at the World Cup finals but failed to score.

A leading shooter has such data, Xiao Wen can only shake his head.

England have lost just two of their last 16 World Cup finals matches, drawing seven and losing seven of their remaining 14 matches, including two penalty shoot-outs.

Looks so tight. But looking at the games that should have been won, almost never won.

England and Italy have won the World Cup five times, with the Azzurri at the top four times, in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006. The Three Lions, on the other hand, reached the top in 1966.

What's the difference between this and 'Kobe and I combined for 83 points'?

Balotelli has scored 12 goals in 30 appearances for the Italian national team, and has scored goals efficiently. This past season, he scored 18 goals in 41 appearances for AC Milan.

When Xiao Wen saw this name, he couldn't help but want to laugh. However, if Balotelli comes on the pitch with his brains, England is in danger.

Frank Lampard was the player with the most shots since the 1966 World Cup, completing 39 shots without a single goal.

Hiss. Goalline, goalline tragedy, Neuer, Neuer great fishing!

Xiao Wen wanted to pull down, but Ether Shishi next to him kissed him: "The game is about to start." ”

Xiao Wen looked down the stands, and the players from both sides entered!

"What do you think England's tactics will be? Conservative or offensive? Ether Shish asked in a whisper, she liked to ask Xiao like this, and she liked the way he answered slowly but always seriously.

However, this time Xiao Wen was stunned for a moment.

Tactics?

Speaking of this, Xiao Wen almost wanted to laugh out loud.

Before the game,

The Daily Mail didn't know which ghost it was through to expose the mobilization tactics board in the locker room before England went to Brazil.

The coaching staff conveyed nine instructions to the players, and the result was more and more speechless, and the British fans called it all nonsense.

1. It could have been handled better when there was the ball (referring to the warm-up against Honduras in this game);

2. No one was injured;

3. We created a good opportunity to score;

4. Be pleased with your positive efforts;

5. A similar situation may be encountered in the World Cup in Brazil (referring to the ferocious play style of the Honduran team);

6. We show a calm mind;

7. We're ready to play Italy!! Don't talk about Italy to the media;

8. Looking forward to going to Rio, I want to move seriously;

9. Don't answer any questions about the Falk Islands!! (The Falk Islands are also known as the Falklands)

The first six of the nine instructions were for the game against Honduras, where the Three Lions drew 0-0 but the FA were pleased with the performance. and even "find ways to find words" to praise the team members.

For example, in Articles 3 and 4, England had just three shots on goal against Honduras in the whole game, but the coaching staff was satisfied with the performance of the players. Objectively speaking, there seems to be nothing wrong with the morale-boosting approach mentioned above, but with the big game just around the corner, it seems even more important to make the players aware of the problems in the team. You must know that England are in the group of death, the same group as Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica, and the Three Lions may be eliminated from the group if they are not careful.

The last three directives are obviously more speechless, not only did not convey any substantive content, but also added some unbelievable orders to the players. For example, in Article 7, the first half of the sentence is nonsense, and the second half of the sentence is incomprehensible. You must know that before the focus battle, there is always saliva flying. Another example is Article 9, football has always been strictly separated from ZZ, and players naturally know that in a top sports arena like the World Cup, you can't talk about ZZ.

Because of this, British fans and netizens have commented that this tactical board is full of nonsense.

"Should. It's a defensive counterattack. ”

Xiao Wen also kissed Ether Shisch. At this moment, the two seem to be a couple who are on vacation in Brazil to watch the world competition.

After the start of the game, the two sides began to test each other.

Xiao Wen didn't expect England to play well, of course, it may be because this Italy team is also playing badly

The whole rookie pecks at each other.

In the 5th minute, Henderson volleyed with his right foot from 20 yards out, and Sirigu flew to the side to knock the ball out.

In the 8th minute, when Pirlo broke through with the ball in the middle of the penalty area, the ball hit Johnson's close arm, the Italian team asked for a penalty, the Dutch referee ignored it, and Chiellini's long-range shot from the outside was missed.

In the 11th minute, Welbeck fired a powerful right-footed volley from the top of the penalty area, and the ball was slightly off the left post.

In the 23rd minute, Marchisio broke through the ball, and Balotelli turned and volleyed with his right foot 25 meters from goal, and the ball was slightly high.

In the 35th minute, Italy's tactical corner kick was opened, Verratti's wonderful pass to Pirlo leaked, Marchisio fired a powerful right-footed shot from 22 meters away from the goal, and the ball flew into the bottom left corner of the goal! 1-0, Italy leads!

Xiao Wen shook his head. Swiped my phone and found that the World Cup information was updated in real time - "This is Italy's 16th consecutive World Cup goal, and in the past 18 World Cup goals of the Italian team, as many as 8 goals have been scored through corner kicks." ”

That's it, Hodgson still doesn't pay attention? Where are the preparations before the game?

Unexpectedly, England, who were behind the score, quickly counterattacked.

In the 37th minute, Rooney broke through on the left and crossed, and Sturridge scored with a right-footed push at the back point! 1-1, England ties!

The England fans roared with joy. However, among the Englishmen who were celebrating, there was an accident when an England team doctor broke a bone while celebrating a goal and was taken off on a stretcher.

Xiao Wen wanted to laugh, but he had to hold back

"Does England still need Xiao to ask?"

Joe Cole immediately fired on Twitter, but there were quite a few people who supported him.

Xiao Wen only smiled when he saw it.

At half-time, the two sides drew 1-1 and looked evenly divided.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the second half began, Ba Shen rushed to England's goal with his brain!

In the 50th minute, Candreva broke through the kickback on the right side of the front field and crossed, and Balotelli scored with a header from 3 meters from the goal! 2-1, Italy exceeded again!

England, who had fallen behind, were overwhelmed by Pirlo's long pass.

Raheem Sterling actually cramped in the 68th minute!

In the 62nd minute, Baines made a direct pass, and Rooney got rid of the defense from the offside position at the penalty spot and volleyed hard, but the ball was deflected off the left post.

It was England's closest second-half chance to score.

After this header, some England fans began to raise questions online: "If this game Xiao Wen is on the field"

In the 76th minute, Sturridge also suffered cramps.

At this time, the fans who were already a little supportive of Xiao Wen couldn't help it at all, "Damn, professional players, they have cramps after playing for less than 80 minutes!" I'll be on it, too! I'm going to have cramps too! ”

"Laughing, do you still need Xiao to ask one by one? Do you need it? Need it now? @乔 Cole! ”

"When you are drunk, you are really worth 50 million and 500,000 in performance. Go to League One and train Raheem Sterling! ”

The final result of the game was that the old and spicy Italy gave the England youth army a dull stick, 2:1!

England's 18:12 shot ratio was the result in exchange. It is unacceptable to many people.

In the post-game press conference, Hodgson blushed and said that in the next game, "Xiao Wen will be on the bench." ”

Now, the England fans who traveled thousands of miles to Brazil to watch the game are gone.

"Let Xiao Wen stay on the bench?"

"Substitutes for Sterling, Sturridge, Welbeck and the like?"

"I seem to see Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo at their peak as substitutes for Oscar, Fred and Hulk."

"Hodgson is out of class!"

"I want to see Xiao ask!"

Xiao Wen is slow and reasonable, he has been much better these days, and every time he runs hard, he feels that there is no big problem.

He was a little snickering.

These bastards aren't going to be tough now

But in fact, the situation is not much better, on the training ground, except for a few people such as Rooney, the other young boys are like Xiao Wen has soaked all their chicks.

"I don't want to take any chances, Xiao asked. Let's see the situation first, and if this situation is not right, I will let you play right away. ”

Hodgson originally thought that it would be safer to arrange Xiao Wen to play in the last game.

But the situation now is that if they lose the next game against Uruguay, then there will be no third game, and this World Cup will be over.

……

June 20th.

São Paulo Arena.

Compared to the jubilation of the first game, before this game, England fans were much quieter and more low-key.

Uruguay is not an underdog.

In the 2011 Copa America in Argentina, they even beat Brazil and Argentina to win the championship!

Looking at the starting list before the game, Xiao Wen felt that these big yin emperor stars in England were estimated to be worth the opponent, but they were also completely destroyed by the opponent on the field.

A 4-4-2 formation:

The goalkeeper is Muslera

Defenders 4: Cáceres, Diego Godin, Jimenez, Álvaro Pereira

The four midfielders are Gonzalez, Arévalo, Lodeiro and Rodriguez

The striker is the biggest name among the big names——- Suarez partners Cavani!

Xiao Wen warmed up like an outsider, went back to the locker room, and followed the substitute player to the bench.

The main forces of both sides entered

The game begins.

And Xiao asked,

Opened the system in Naiko.

After the Champions League final, the system seemed to ding, and Xiao Wen only had time to see 'Congratulations.', and then was pressed forward by Royce.

He has been waiting for a suitable time to open this blind box

that

Right now.

What could it be?

(End of chapter)