The Banana Shot That Silenced Athens

England's goal fell like a bucket of cold water, dampening the spirits of the Greek supporters at the Athens stadium. In this nation where democracy was founded, the Greeks, passionate about their national team, could sense the dark turn of events.

The atmosphere in the stadium became tense, and despite the efforts of the traveling English fans, who had come to support the Three Lions, they couldn't reverse the mood. They continued to jump and cheer in the stands, celebrating the goal, while the heavy air lingered over the pitch.

Yes, this was just the fourth match of the World Cup qualifiers, out of eight, but if Greece lost this game, they would only have one point. Their chance to qualify with a perfect record in the next four matches, reaching 13 points to vie for a playoff spot, was not impossible, but would Finland, Germany, and England give them that opportunity?

This was Greece's first decisive battle for World Cup qualification. A win would keep their hopes alive, but a loss... goodbye.

After celebrating his goal, Aldrich made a gesture to his players, signaling them to stay focused. Greece would surely be forced into a do-or-die battle from here on out.

Unlike his earlier subtle hints to Butt, Aldrich couldn't just shout from the sidelines or use body language to instruct him. But he could make gestures that the entire team would understand, without worrying whether they would catch the meaning.

Around four thousand English fans in the stands were grinning ear to ear, eagerly discussing the goal they had just witnessed.

"McManaman's dribble was sheer magic. The defender stood there, frozen, as though enchanted by some curse."

"Ah, if only he hadn't left Liverpool. He could have partnered with Owen. Maybe Liverpool would have had a shot at the Premier League title."

"Liverpool? Don't even think about it. Look at Manchester United and Millwall's squad, Liverpool's still a level behind."

"Hey, Liverpool? It's not just about player strength. Think about it—Millwall has Hall, and that's the biggest difference! Hall's been in charge for just half a year, and look at how England's playing. Solid defense, well-organized attack. McCar's only come back to life under Hall; Hoddle and Keegan never made the most of him."

"It's a shame. If Hall had taken over the national team a year ago, we wouldn't have been embarrassed in the group stage of the European Championship. It still pisses me off to think about it!"

"Stop complaining. It's got nothing to do with Hall. He's the owner of Millwall—do you think the FA would have let him take over a year ago?"

"Hmph. The FA's full of parasites..."

When the score was tied, both teams felt the weight of the match. Failure was too heavy to bear, but now that one side had conceded a goal, they no longer had a way out. Greece had no choice but to fight until their last breath. If not, their World Cup dreams would be no different from the past few editions—nothing more than a spectator!

Aldrich, who had been nervous at the start of the game, finally felt at ease.

It wasn't just because of the lead—1:0 was still far from a guaranteed victory, two more goals were needed to secure it. In football, it wasn't rare for a two-goal lead to be canceled out. However, a three-goal lead was generally considered safe, unless the game was approaching its final minutes. With ten minutes left, a two-goal difference could indeed seal the deal.

Aldrich's confidence in victory was rooted in one thing: the situation!

Greece had to attack. If they didn't, they were doomed!

And for England's current tactics, this was perfect. If the opponent attacked, they'd expose more weaknesses!

Standing calmly on the sideline, Aldrich occasionally signaled for passes or runs to players near him. He had the full view of the game and could read the situation faster than the players on the pitch. He knew where the gaps were, where runs would create the most danger. However, he couldn't direct every player; his focus was on the left side, where Beckham and Neville were.

This moment was caught by the live broadcast cameras, and the English commentator found it both amusing and ironic.

Manchester United and Millwall had been fierce rivals in the Premier League, but now, the manager of Millwall was directing Manchester United's players to storm the Greek defense.

Was this a ridiculous scene, or would it become a legendary story for future generations?

For the honor of England, were Manchester United and Millwall teaming up?

The game still had a long way to go. Greece's counterattack was there, but it wasn't desperate. They remained composed.

The first half came to an end with a gasp from the crowd in Athens.

Lampard's long shot from outside the box grazed the crossbar and flew out for a goal kick. Before he could express his regret, the referee blew the whistle.

Both teams returned to their dressing rooms, with England leading by a goal.

Inside the locker room, Aldrich's expression remained calm. Just as he had said before the match: beating Greece was just a normal performance.

After all, the final result hadn't been decided yet, so there was no need to get too excited. The players shouldn't be complacent just because they were ahead.

In the locker room, he emphasized the tactics again without making any adjustments. Instead, he made sure that Butt, Beckham, and Lampard understood the core of the three midfielders system—attacking when necessary, and Butt had to cover more ground to provide support during the attack, helping his teammates keep the defense secure.

The national team is now thriving, with a harmonious internal atmosphere and a united squad, all determined to prove themselves through results.

No one wants to wear the national team jersey only to be blasted by domestic fans.

Perhaps not all the players have a lofty sense of awareness, but there's at least some sense of mission and responsibility that comes with wearing this jersey.

When Aldrich spoke, everyone listened attentively, with many nodding in understanding.

Finally, Aldrich's expression turned cold as he spoke in a deep voice: "I told you all half a year ago, our style of play is not afraid of the opponent's offense. In fact, it's because of their offense that we have more opportunities. Remember this: controlling the ball in a positional game is not our strength. When the opponent sets up a tight defense, we don't have many ways to break through. What we need to seize are the gaps during their transition between attack and defense! As long as we keep playing like this, we will win the match!"

"Of course, we'll win!" Southgate stood up and said firmly.

"Come on, lads, let's score a few more in the second half!" Beckham also stood, rallying the team's spirits.

In the three-and-a-half games they've played, Aldrich has already begun instilling confidence in them, with the entire team united by the belief that they are on the right path.

The football field is ever-changing, with countless ways to win. But in the end, as long as you win, that's the right way.

As they walked back to the sidelines for the second half, Aldrich's expression remained serious.

This match was crucial. Or rather, because of the disadvantages from England's two World Cup qualification games, every match in the qualifiers was incredibly important.

England not only needed to qualify but also needed to secure first place in the group to directly enter the final tournament. The playoffs were too dangerous. Any second-place team from other groups would present tough, unpredictable battles. After all, the stakes were too high. Whether or not they advanced could even impact a nation's short-term economic trends. For England, the economic losses from missing the 2008 European Championship were conservatively estimated at over 2 billion pounds, not counting the direct losses from national team sponsors and the FA's contracts. The key factor affecting this was the "feel-good" mentality of the British people, which directly influenced productivity.

So Aldrich wasn't just taking over a demoralized and underperforming national team, but facing the challenge of climbing up step by step, defeating each opponent in the group!

Greece was the first target. This match was a do-or-die battle for both teams. England had to kick one competitor out, and yes, Greece was still considered a competitor in the standings. England was third, and Greece was fourth, just 3 points behind.

"As the second half begins, Greece launches a fast attack. Their players are clearly more motivated, it seems like Greece has reached the point where they must fight hard! England's defense is layered well, Southgate presses forward to intercept but is passed behind, Ashley Cole fills in and successfully breaks up the ball, great play! Greece comes up empty."

The Greek players seemed to turn into wild beasts on the field, running tirelessly and using both their hands and feet to foul in defense, trying to limit England's fast breaks right from the back.

Aldrich watched with calm detachment as Greece launched an overwhelming assault. The scene was all too familiar—only recently, in the Champions League, AC Milan had thrown everything at them after going a goal down at Lion King Stadium. It was as if they had unleashed their primal fury. But Millwall, in the end, had played the role of the tamer, withstanding the pressure and launching a successful counterattack that left their opponents helpless.

Greece's strong offensive lasted for about 6 or 7 minutes, but when they needed a breather, England started to unleash their might.

Greece's attack could only hover outside England's penalty area, and any attempt to organize patiently was met with high pressure leading to turnovers. Their through balls couldn't reach the forwards accurately, while England's offense pushed forward from midfield with every move posing a clear threat.

McManaman zigzagged left and right, leaving the Greek defense completely disoriented. Scholes seamlessly linked up the attack without hesitation, while Owen's movement up front stretched the opposition's backline, forcing them to stay alert. The Greeks could only compensate for their lack of individual defensive strength by crowding the box with more bodies.

England had pushed forward three times without finding the net, and Aldrich signaled McManaman with a gesture, urging him to use depth to pull the Greek defense toward the sideline.

McManaman nodded and swiftly took the ball down the flank, determined to drive to the byline. The Greek defenders were forced to retreat, tightening up the key areas.

As a result, Greece's counterattacks were pushed further back, their attacking players were forced to drop deeper for support, and the distance they needed to cover increased. Most importantly, the distance between their attacks and defensive recoveries grew, making it harder for them to keep pace.

Six minutes later, after another failed Greek attack, their defensive transition slowed significantly. Their lines were stretched too far, and the midfield was left exposed.

McManaman raced down the wing, dragging the defense toward their own goal. As he reached the edge of the pitch, he abruptly stopped and played a precise cutback. Ashley Cole, arriving in perfect timing, sent a pinpoint cross to the opposite side of the field.

Beckham, completely unmarked, stepped up. He stopped the ball, adjusted his footing, and took his shot. It looked almost rehearsed—like a free kick, with no one blocking his path and the defenders lined up like a wall. His left arm swung in rhythm as his body tilted, and his golden right foot powered through.

The ball lifted off with a ferocious spin, tracing a breathtaking arc in the air. The sheer speed and elegance of the strike mesmerized the crowd, a perfect fusion of beauty and force.

The Greek goalkeeper didn't move.

Like most, he was convinced the ball was going wide.

From its mid-air trajectory, the ball seemed destined to sail wide, no question about it.

Yet, under the force of its rapid spin, it curved dramatically into a banana-shaped arc, as though guided by an unseen hand, swinging back from the outside and bending toward the goal.

A small part of the ball brushed the inside of the upright before bouncing into the net.

An absolute stunner. The goalkeeper was powerless, frozen in place. Against a strike like that, luck is the only hope—and today, luck wasn't on his side.

The Athens stadium fell silent.

Beckham's lips curled into a slight smile, as mesmerizing as the goal he'd just scored, leaving the crowd utterly captivated.