3 The last warm-up match

3 The last warm-up match

On June 1, 2002, at the Sapporo Dome Stadium in Japan, the Argentine team ushered in their last warm-up match before the start of the World Cup.

Leonwell made his first appearance on behalf of the national team today, but Bielsa still arranged for him to play the midfielder position.

"Leon! Come on, don't be nervous, I'm here." In the player tunnel, Aimar said caringly, patting his junior brother on the shoulder.

Today, Argentina's opponent is the Russian team.

Argentina's starting line-up is as follows.

Goalkeeper: Boggs.

Left back: Thorin.

Left centre-back: Ayala. (field captain)

Right centre-back: Samuel.

Right back: Zanetti.

Midfielder: Veron.

Midfielder: Simeone.

Front midfielder: Lionwell.

Left midfielder: Ortega.

Right midfielder: Aimar.

Center: Batty.

The starting lineup for the Russian team is as follows.

Goalkeeper: Nigmatulin.

Left back: Kofton.

Left centre-back: Nikiforov.

Right centre-back: Smeding.

Right back: Thoro Martin.

Midfielder: Victor Onopko. (field captain)

Midfielder: Karpin.

Front midfielder: Titov.

Left winger: Vladimir Beshaschenko.

Right winger: Dmitry Aleinikoff.

Forward: Koklov.

The two teams are the last warm-up match before the start of the World Cup, so the coaches and fans of the two teams attach great importance to this game.

After all, the Korea-Japan World Cup will kick off in three days, and the status of the team is undoubtedly what fans care most about.

As the favorite to win the championship, Argentina is naturally the object of everyone's concern.

Argentina's group match opponents Nigeria, England and Sweden all sent their own 'scouts' to scout for information, hoping to get some news about the Argentine team.

As the first start on behalf of the national team, Leon, wearing the No. 15 jersey, is also very nervous!

But his spirit is very good, because fooling around with Ortega these days has increased his ability a little bit, and he has worked hard to open the time training room at night, and now Leon has the peak of the eighth level of a top professional player Level up...

Playing against the favorites to win the championship, the Russian team will look a lot easier. After all, their goal is to qualify for the group stage, and the Argentine team is carrying the heavy responsibility of winning the championship.

So when the game started, it was the Russian team that performed impressively, which also worried many Japanese fans, because their group match opponent Russia was in a good state...

...

"Hey, boy, you play the attacking midfielder, do you know how to play the attacking midfielder? If you can't organize the attack, pass it back to me!" As Argentina's vice-captain, because Argentina's offensive was unfavorable at the beginning, Veron also Taking advantage of a dead ball opportunity, he called Leon aside and said.

"I said, Juan, Leon played as a midfielder, but you, the boss arranged for you to play as a midfielder today. Don't keep missing your position." Ortega was obviously very upset with Veron teaching Leon what to do. He kicked the front midfielder, so he also walked over and said.

Aimar also came to help Leon speak: "Juan, Leon is still a rookie, nervousness is inevitable, give him some time."

'Depend on! Is Lao Tzu still the vice captain of the team? Do you have something to say about disciplining a newcomer? Veron felt a little upset: "I'm his senior! And I just taught him how to play the midfielder!"

"Okay, Juan, let's continue the game and focus on the game." At this time, the captain Ayala also came over and said.

This made Veron even more upset. He felt that he, the vice-captain, had no rights at all...

Just as Veron walked back angrily, Batty, the god of war, also stopped him, "Juan, don't compete with Leon too much, he is just a newcomer."

For Batty, Veron still has great respect: "But, Gabriel, the World Cup is coming soon. How can we have so much time for him to exercise? Our goal is the World Cup champion!"

Batty nodded: "It is precisely because he is a rookie that Coach Bielsa will let him play in the warm-up match, and let him play as a midfielder. Don't worry Juan, you will still be our offensive core after the World Cup ."

After receiving Batty's comfort, Veron felt a little relieved.

As for Leon, with the encouragement of Aimar and Ortega, he also started to organize several good offenses.

However, these times, it was another midfielder Simeone who gave the ball to Leon. Veron likes to move forward with his big foot as soon as he gets the ball, basically ignoring Leon, the player who is responsible for organizing the attack. .

"Belsa, it seems that the vice captain Veron is not very convincing." Bielsa's assistant said to Bielsa on the sidelines.

How could Bielsa know that Veron is unpopular, but there is no way, Veron is a very important part of his offensive tactics, and Veron is also the candidate for the vice-captain he personally decides...

In fact, Bielsa has his own considerations for using Leon as the midfielder. First, he also wants to know whether Leon can play in this position. Second, he also wants to examine Leon's performance in different positions. Third, he hopes Leon can play a few more positions, so that his options will be greater.

On the court, after a slow start, Argentina's offensive started.

Leon, Ortega, and Aimar formed the Golden Triangle of the River Plate to feed Batty again and again. In the 19th minute of the first half, Leon offered a through ball in the midfield. Batty, the God of War, turned offside and scored a heavy shot for the Argentine team. Opened the deadlock of the game!

"Good pass, kid." Batty, the god of war, also gave Leon a thumbs up. For Batty, he doesn't care which team Leon is from. The biggest difference between him and Veron That is, Batty is a player who is eager for the championship. He hopes that the Argentine national team can unite before the big game!

After being praised by God of War, Leon was also a little embarrassed. His eldest brother Ortega and senior brother Aimar all came over and patted his ass: "Good job!"

Seeing Leonwell getting better, Veron was even more upset. His displeasure with Leon was also reflected in his passing. He hadn't passed the ball to Leon once since the start of the game. Veron always I like to take the ball first, and then make a long pass directly to the frontcourt.

This caused Argentina to have several opportunities that were delayed by Veron.

Moreover, in the defense, Veron, who acts as a midfielder, often misses people in defense, which makes Simeone, who is filling in for him, a little annoyed.

The Argentines did not seize the opportunity to expand their lead, while the Russians seized the opportunity to teach Argentina a lesson.

The Russians launched a sharp and quick counterattack from the left, and their midfield brain Karpin stuffed the ball to the left winger Vladimir Beshaschenko!

Beshashchenko was extremely fast. He left Zanetti behind and made a pass from the bottom. Samuel and Ayala in the middle were caught off guard. Russian striker Kokrov scored with a header!

The Russians equalized the score!

On the sidelines, Bielsa frowned, because this time Argentina's defense line was penetrated, which seemed to be the carelessness of Argentina's defense line. In fact, Veron lost his defensive position!

Veron always likes to snatch the ball in offense, so that this time he went up to assist and did not come back to give the Russians a chance to counterattack.

Quick and concise, the Russian counterattack let the Argentine team know not to underestimate any World Cup opponent.

At this time, Veron, who lost his position, didn't mean to blame himself at all. Instead, he walked towards Leonwell: "Hey, kid, you go kick your back midfielder, let me kick the front midfielder, and see what you organize." Attack! Too bad."

Faced with Veron's unreasonable troubles, Leon was also a little angry, but Batty held him back. After Batty, the God of War, communicated with Leon with his eyes, Batty whispered to Leon: "The national team is the most important thing, Leon. hold head high."

Leon nodded, and then ran to the midfielder position to partner with Simeone. The Atletico Madrid iron waist felt a lot happier after seeing Veron finally leave, at least he didn't have to fill in for Veron.

Nima! In the previous life, Bielsa really used Veron the most wrongly. This guy's organization made the Argentine team's aggressive offensive slow down. Veron's state has already been in decline. This Argentine national team should use Aimar, Ortega and others...

And Veron was a notorious person as early as when he was in Argentina. Why did Maradona use Veron in the World Cup in South Africa? The reason is not simple. Veron was the younger brother of Maradona, and he often fooled around with Maradona...

Well, Leon is really not qualified to teach Veron a lesson on this point, because he also loves fooling around.

But the most important thing about Veron is that he is unconvincing!

In this Argentine national team, in terms of prestige, Ortega, Simeone, Ayala, Zanetti and others are not inferior to him.

In the previous Korea-Japan World Cup, after the captain Ayala was injured, it is not impossible for Veron to be the captain, but he does not have the captain's demeanor like Ayala.

Veron's state in the 2002 World Cup was completely inferior to his state in the qualifiers. The failure in England seriously hit the wizard's self-confidence.

In the 2002 World Cup, the reason why Argentina was unfavorable in offense and defense was Veron. In the 2006 World Cup, why did Pekerman choose to use Riquelme instead of Veron for various reasons? The reason is simple, Pekerman knows that Argentina needs only one leader if it is to go far...

In the 2002 World Cup, there were too many leaders in Argentina, but none of them really had the authority of the old horse.

However, Pekerman's Argentina team still fell at the feet of the German chariot. In fact, it is not entirely Pekerman's fault, because the Argentine team actually played very well, but their leader Riquelme is not enough. The old horse back then was against the sky...

In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, it was Veron, Maradona's confidant, who "turned the horse" at a critical moment, causing the Argentine team to be in a state of confusion before facing Germany...

Of course, Veron is only an indirect reason. The real crux of the Argentine team is that they have many superstars and leaders, but none of them has the absolute prestige like the old horse.

There is no problem with Messi's strength, but his character is flawed, which makes him not domineering enough.

Therefore, the reason why Veron is not happy watching Leon today is not because of Veron, but because this very champion-looking Argentine team lacks a real leader!

In the first half of the game, after Veron and Leon exchanged positions, Argentina's defense was much stronger.

Even Ayala and Samuel prefer Leonwell who is more willing to contribute defensively, and Simeone keeps patting Leon on the shoulder, "Good job, buddy."

In the first half of the game, Argentina and Russia fought one to one. For Argentine fans, this is obviously not what they want.

Lionwell's organization at the beginning was okay, but after replacing Veron, the incompatible side of Veron, Aimar and Ortega emerged.

Aimar and Ortega are quick spirits, they prefer Leonwell's 'Barcelona' style of passing, and Veron has become accustomed to long passes and long shots after staying in the Premier League for a year... and As for him, he was always unable to find a way to coexist with Ortega and Aimar.

During the intermission, Bielsa also made adjustments. He changed the team's lineup to the 352 he played in the qualifiers!

In the second half, Cambiasso and Crespo also played.

Where is Leon? Bielsa asked him to try playing left midfielder!

Argentina's lineup in the second half: Goalkeeper Boggs, three central defenders: Ayala, Samuel, Placente, double midfielders: Simeone, Cambiasso, midfielder Veron, left midfielder Lionwell, right forward Aimar, center Crespo, Batty!

And after Bielsa's 352 appeared again in the second half of the game, the entire Sapporo Dome Stadium in Japan also burst into enthusiastic cheers!

"This is the Argentina we want to see! The Argentina that used its offense to kill the Quartet in the World Cup qualifiers!" Said the commentator of the Argentine digital satellite TV station Validek!

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