Chapter 192 European Cup debut

Chapter 192 European Cup debut

The Turkish team eliminated Croatia with a penalty kick and has advanced to the semi-finals of the European Cup first. So who will be the opponent of the Star and Moon Army in the semi-finals?

Is it Belgium, which was defeated in the group stage, or the three-time European Cup winner Germany?

In more than a day, Loew will lead the German team to face the challenge of Belgium. Before the game, in an interview with Loew, Loew was not as confident as the outside world. He believed that both sides had a 50-50 chance of winning. %, and he also expects the two teams to play a beautiful confrontation.

Loew was not very satisfied with the performance in the group stage. He said: "We did not play well in the group stage, especially in the last two games, we failed to show our true strength."

After defeating Poland 2-0 in the first match, the German team lost to Croatia 1-2, and then defeated Austria, which is recognized as the weakest in this European Cup, with a difficult 1-0.

"We played very badly against Croatia, so in the next life-and-death battle against Austria, we also had a lot of pressure on us. The game in Vienna once put us in trouble, but fortunately in the end We still achieved a valuable victory, and it can be said that such a result is lucky for us."

Next, the German team will usher in the quarter-finals with Belgium. Loew also knows that facing the team led by Digan, their task is not easy.

"I have watched a lot of Digan's games. During the World Cup in Germany and Belgium's games, I have been studying them for the past two days. They are used to pressing more in the game. I believe they will definitely do the same in the next game. So dare, it is not easy for us, Belgium will bring us more offensive than Croatia and Austria. As for the final result, I have no way to predict now, I can only hope that both teams can Playing good attacking football and we think the chances will be 50 to 50 in the end."

In addition, Loew also praised Belgium's performance in the group stage: "I believe anyone who has watched these three games in Belgium can feel that Belgium not only has excellent stars like Digan, but also other outstanding players. For example, Fellaini, Dembele are very important players, but we believe in our own quality and we have the ability to reach the semi-finals."

As the third place in the 2006 World Cup, the German team was generally considered to be one of the biggest favorites to win the championship before this European competition. However, after the three group games, the performance of the Germans seems not to be worthy of the expectations placed on them. They ended up finishing second in their group to the knockout round behind Croatia.

As a famous striker in the history of the German team, Bierhoff once scored a golden goal in the final of the 1996 European Cup, beating the Czech team and helping the German team win that European Cup.

Now, Bierhoff is already the leader of the German national team. For this game, he believes that the more critical the German tank is, the better it will be able to perform at the highest level.

"We should be happy with the way the game has gone so far, because we have achieved our initial goal, which was to get into the knockout rounds, and we played the first game like hell and didn't give Poland any chances, however. In the second game, our performance was disappointing, but in the most critical third game, we won this game and secured ourselves a place in the quarterfinals, although we did not play 100% strength."

Belgium was once the runner-up of the World Cup in Germany, but Bierhoff does not seem to be worried about the final result of this game: "Belgium is not the Belgian team in the World Cup in Germany two years ago. They have improved a lot in terms of personnel composition. Big changes, now they are younger and more impactful, but they are too young, facing this kind of game that decides the outcome, they lack enough experience, this will be our opportunity."

Bierhoff is also happy about the general optimism of the outside world: "The outside world lists us as the favorites to win the championship. I think this will become our motivation. Although we did not perform well in the group stage, we will fight against adversity." It is the tradition of German football. The more this kind of moment, the better we will perform. In tomorrow's game, we will focus on marking some of their key players, and will not let them comfortably control the ball and play what they like. Rhythm, I firmly believe that after tomorrow's game, the team that will enter the semi-finals will be our German team."

Bierhoff's self-confidence may bring enough confidence to his juniors, but the weakness of the striker has been a problem that has plagued Germany since the start of the European Championship. Gomez has failed Loew's trust several times. Kuranyi There are too few opportunities, and the state is unpredictable. The elderly striker Neuville can only support half of the game.

Perhaps when it comes time to play against Belgium, the German team can only try the curve saving plan, instead of diverting the midfield support with an inefficient striker combination, but resorting to a single arrow Klose.

Although Klose's state in the first two games is far from his usual level, but if there is a choice, people are more willing to believe in this experienced and psychologically mature veteran.

In addition to the need to rely heavily on the veteran Klose on the front line, in the midfield, as Ballack, who regained his fame with a goal in the game against Austria, gradually recovered, he will also become a key player for the German team to win in this game. The key factor.

This game is also of special significance to Ballack, the core midfielder of the German team. The Chelsea club he played for had previously lost to Viola Fiorentina led by Digan in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals this season. Disgracefully won the twelfth runner-up in his career and became a veritable "runner-up king". Although this time it was not the final, Ballack expressed that he never wanted to lose again. On the one hand, he wanted to take revenge on his "old enemy" Digan On the one hand, the core of the German team still wants to continue on the road to winning the championship.

Germany's "Bild" published such an interesting picture in the newspaper one day before the start of the game, next to Ballack's menacing photo, the accompanying text read: "Deegan, how dare you look into his eyes Is it?"

Obviously, although it was just media speculation, Barack's eagerness for revenge was palpable.

After scoring a crucial direct free kick, which made the German team out of the embarrassing situation in the group stage, Ballack's name began to be constantly mentioned by people, because everyone knows the temper of the German team. It is slow, but there is absolutely no lack of determination and self-confidence to go on.

Before the start of the game, Ballack couldn't help standing up and shouting: "We must work hard! Anyone must know that once the German team is eliminated in the quarter-finals, what serious consequences will there be?"

Obviously, qualifying for the group stage is only a goal set by the German Football Association. For Ballack, he wants to achieve far more than these. He wants to go further, until the day of the final.

In Degan's previous life, the German team did this. After qualifying in the group, they eliminated Portugal, Turkey, and Spain in the final. Unfortunately, they lost 0:1 to the Matador in the final battle.

However, this time, facing the challenge of Belgium led by Digan, the journey of the German chariot may not be so long.

Basel, Switzerland, the venue for the decisive battle between Belgium and Germany.

In the locker room, Degan couldn't wait. This was his first appearance in the European Cup. He had suppressed this game for too long.

In the three games of the group stage, Degan could only stay in the stands because of the suspension, watching his teammates anxiously, fighting hard, but fortunately he came back, and he got the chance to play.

Antiiennis announced the main list of the game before arriving at the stadium. The goalkeeper is still Bailey. His performance in the three group matches is very stable and trustworthy enough.

The defense line is still Lombards, Kompany, Vermaelen and Van Buyten. This line of defense is not the strongest in this European Cup, but in Degan's view, it is good enough.

In the midfield, Antiiennis once again sent three midfielders in this game. Veteran Gul partnered with Fellaini and Nainggolan. Nainggolan has now fully adapted to his new position and is in this position. He performed very well. In the last game of the group stage against the Swiss team, he and Fellaini's partner made people's eyes shine. Coupled with the assistance of veteran Gur, it was enough to deal with the impact of the Germans.

The front midfielder is still Dembele. This player has proven his ability in the group stage. He will become a very reliable offensive point behind Degan.

On the forward line, Antiiennis finally chose Degan and Bratt. Naturally, there is nothing to say about Degan's main position. It is really surprising that he chose Bratt instead of Miralas.

At this moment, the Belgian team has also got the starting XI of the German team. The goalkeeper is Lehmann. No one can shake the position of the team.

The defense line is Ram, Metzelder, Mertesacker and Friedrich. This line of defense has been criticized in the group stage, but for the Germans, they really have no more options , and every player in this line of defense is very capable. Perhaps when it comes to the knockout rounds, their state will also recover.

In the midfield, Schweinsteiger, who ended the suspension, partnered with Ballack, Rolfers, Hitzelsperger, and the forward line was Klose and Podolski, but Podolski will definitely More appeared on the wing.

Both sides have made full preparations, and the war is about to break out.