Chapter 121 Shame and Glory

Chapter 121 Shame and Glory

The third round of Group F of the World Cup started the next day. Slovakia and Paraguay successfully appeared in the group. However, the winners of the two games did not attract much attention. On the contrary, the two eliminated teams attracted more attention.

One with shame and the other with glory!

Italy lost 2:3 to Slovakia, with only two points, the bottom of the group, and became the fourth defending champion in history to be eliminated from the group. This result may not have been expected before the game.

In the last match of the group stage, Lippi finally chose to fight to the death with his veterans. In the game, Italy was completely suppressed by Slovakia in terms of sharpness of offense and proportion of ball possession.

When a group of Italian engineering players couldn't create any chances on the court, Lippi could only replace Pirlo, hoping that he could save Italy and himself.

Lippi on the court has completely lost the calmness of Silver Fox. He anxiously watched the situation on the court and kept pacing around the court. Throughout the game, Lippi hardly sat on a chair, even if he sat on it calmly. One minute.

Lippi's anxiety was similar to the UEFA Champions League final he experienced in Manchester in the 2002/2003 season. However, although Lippi was also very nervous in that game, he just kept smoking on the sidelines. If we say that night, Lippi Just nervous, today Lippi seems more at a loss.

Before the 2002 World Cup match against South Korea, Trapattoni had such a bewildering experience in the game. He kept stroking the cross in his pocket, hoping that God would help him.

Today's Lippi even clasped his hands together and closed his eyes in the game and prayed devoutly. Perhaps at that moment, Silver Fox knew very well that relying on the strength of the team can no longer advance, and only God can help Italy.

It's a pity that in the end, God's nationality is not Italian.

Look at Lippi's starting trident. Lippi pinned his hope of scoring on Iaquinta in the last game, perhaps because Gilardino disappointed him too much.

Lippi experimented with Gilardino and Paccini in two games, but the result was nothing. Perhaps at this time, Lippi should sigh why he chose Gilardino instead of Borriello in the final choice.

If Borriello is on the 23-man list, Lippi may miss him especially at this time because of his combat effectiveness in the penalty area, scoring ability, and ability to hold the ball with his back.

Cassano, the most familiar name to Italian fans, almost every time Italy performed poorly, the Italian media and fans would question Lippi why he did not choose Cassano, but Lippi is so firm that his Pepe is the best. OK

Pepe may be quite competitive, because he has already performed at a super level in these three group matches. This stiff player is not a stable main force in Udinese now, and don't forget that Pepe's performance in the World Cup qualifiers is very average. In the Confederations Cup, he played less than one game in total, and Italy lost in both games.

Speaking of which, in the World Cup, Pepe did not live up to Lippi's trust. He performed very hard, but after all, his ability was limited. He didn't score in three games. The only so-called assist was because he took a corner kick The Paraguayan goalkeeper made a mistake, but think about it, what would happen if Cassano played in this position?

After the match against Paraguay, Cassano once said in an interview with the Italian media: "What is the conflict between Lippi and me? In fact, I don't know. I have never even met him. If you have to say Something, I think maybe he doesn't like me as a person."

Cassano's words reflected the fact that Lippi's reason for rejecting Cassano was probably not valid at all. In Lippi's eyes, Cassano was a different kind, but Lippi's definition of Cassano was completely the same as the original one. Impressions at the club.

In fact, Cassano was one of the best players in the national team, whether it was Euro 2004 or Euro 2008, and in those two cups, Cassano almost became Italy's savior.

In other words, Lippi's rejection of Cassano was just an assumption from the beginning, and later, it was more like the result of a rivalry with the Italian media and Italian fans.

On the other side, Lippi was obsessed with Iaquinta before, but after two games, Lippi found that Iaquinta was not a very good weapon to create deep breakthrough opportunities. In the last game, Lippi began to send Looking at Di Natale, the Udinese striker's skills are very good, but he has not been able to meet Lippi's expectations.

As for why only Montolivo and Pacini were selected for the Fiorentina gang, it is already a cliché, so there is no need to mention it repeatedly.

What about Totti?

Cassano told the Italian media: "This Italian team played very mediocre, without any bright spots, because they did not have Totti and Del Piero."

In fact, Totti's performance this season has been good, and Lippi has been giving Totti hints, but when Totti was really ready to accept the invitation, Lippi coldly rejected him.

Look at this game, when Lippi can only use Montolivo as the playmaker of the three midfielders, but has no performance, should Lippi think why he doesn't bring Totti.

In the midfield, Lippi gave two precious places to Palumbo and Gattuso. The former didn't get a minute chance, while Gattuso, who was about to be purged in AC Milan, got a 45-minute chance. The object of Gattuso's squeeze is precisely Ambrosini, who performed well in AC Milan.

Also, let's not forget Rossi, the wonder boy who was the best player in Italy in the Confederations Cup, but in the final selection Lippi dropped Rossi, no Rossi, no Cassano, no Barlow Terry, Lippi's frontcourt player, has no real depth breakthrough ability at all. After crossing from both wings, he grabs a spot in the middle?

What will happen to Italy with this simple style of play, we have seen today.

In fact, when Lippi chose the lineup, he didn't want to update the team, but hoped to continue the skeleton of the team when he won the championship in 2006. Lippi actually used the old people as the core of the three lines. skeleton.

In this case, Lippi piled some sappers around them, but the result?

Those old people no longer have the ability to win the championship, and the engineers newly selected to serve them do not have the ability to save the world. Now, it can only be said that Lippi's stubbornness and crazy selection have ruined Italy and himself.

Italy lost 2:3 to Slovakia. After the referee blew three whistles at the end of the game, the Slovakian players hugged and celebrated. The Italian players were crying. Lippi hurried back without even saying hello to the opposing coach. into the locker room.

The farewell match of the national team of several veterans seemed particularly bitter.

In the last game, as long as Italy can beat Slovakia and achieve two goal difference, they can even appear as the first in the group, but when the opportunity is in front of them, the Italians missed it.

Slovakia's victory was convincing, not even an upset, because Slovakia always took the initiative on the field throughout the game.

It was their number one star Hamsik who brought victory to Slovakia.

In the first game of the World Cup, Hamsik scored a goal for New Zealand, and then faced Paraguay, Hamsik's poor performance made it almost impossible for the team to qualify.

The media are also reporting that the huge pressure has completely prevented Hamsik from displaying his true strength.

But through this match against Italy, people once again saw the majestic cockscomb head in Serie A and in the Champions League.

In the direct dialogue with Montolivo, the two are competitors for the same position in Florence. In today's game, Hamsik continued his victory at the club, and Slovakia also won a victory under his leadership.

With one goal and two assists, Hamsik's performance is surprising, but this performance is reasonable. As a representative of the new generation of players in the European arena, Hamsik's ability will not have anyone doubts.

If Hamsik only played at a normal level in the first game, and in the second game, because of the huge psychological pressure, he played abnormally, then in today's game, Hamsik's performance is enough to blind everyone Eyeballs, he really exploded 200%.

Especially the goal that opened the door to victory for Slovakia, a long shot from outside the penalty area, made Buffon, the world's number one goalkeeper, helpless.

Facing the score being equalized by the Italians and time was running out, it was Hamsik again. His dribbling breakthrough in the middle made Gattuso show his old age, and that through ball made Gattuso even more. People were amazed, and then it was time for the Slovaks to celebrate.

Italy's disgraceful exit was surprising, while New Zealand's undefeated exit was shocking. 28 years ago, the New Zealand team defeated the Chinese team 2:1 in the Singapore play-off and stepped on the shoulders of the Chinese team to enter the World Cup.

After 28 years, New Zealand once again reached the World Cup finals. Although they were eliminated this time, they remained unbeaten in the group stage with three draws and three draws.

As the least optimistic team in this World Cup, it is impossible to escape the fate of being out of the group in time, but the boys from Oceania can already leave with their heads held high, because they have made history.

The performance of the New Zealand national team in this World Cup is indeed enough to make the media around the world take off their hats, because there are only 25 professional football players in New Zealand. In this World Cup, the head coach Herbert even selected four amateur players. Among them, Andy Barron, a bank clerk, appeared as a substitute in the game against Paraguay. In terms of personnel composition, New Zealand is undoubtedly the weakest team in this World Cup.

Before the start of the World Cup, New Zealand was undisputedly underwhelming in all media predictions.

But now?

The New Zealand team has three draws and three draws, and has scored two goals.

Among them, he scored a goal in the final stage of the game against Slovakia, showing his tenacious fighting spirit. In the game against Italy, he scored a goal at the beginning. In the end, Italy only relied on a controversial penalty to equalize the score. , After the 1:1 draw with Italy, the amateur player Baron once said: "This is a special moment, we are making history."

With this kind of strength, he can play this kind of performance, what Baron said is no exaggeration.

Another phenomenon that the New Zealanders are proud of is that after the group stage, New Zealand overwhelmed Italy and ranked third in the group stage.

It is a pity to be out, but the defending champion is at the bottom, and the New Zealanders have no regrets. In this regard, the head coach Herbert said proudly: "Many people think that we should not appear in the World Cup. They say that our team is all Amateur players, they can't take on big games like this, but I have to say that I'm proud of our players, they didn't lose a single group game, but unfortunately, we ended up getting knocked out."

Before the start of the World Cup, in the eyes of many people, this team's World Cup trip is likely to be like watching flowers on horseback. After three games, they will go home.

But when the Group F match started, the New Zealand boys relied on their tenacious spirit to equalize Slovakia at the last moment, and took the lead in the second game of the group stage, blocking the powerful defending champion Italy. For the team with points, three draws, although it is difficult to save the team's fate of being eliminated, but New Zealand's performance in South Africa is still worthy of everyone's affirmation.

In fact, everyone knows that New Zealand's strength is the worst among the top 32 teams, and the total value of the players in the team can't even match the value of an Italian star, but this is such a team. Even beat the defending champion by one point and ranked third in the group. Who can say that this is not a miracle created by the New Zealanders?

After the three rounds of group f, Paraguay ranked first in the group. They will face Japan in the 1/8 knockout round. Regarding the Japanese who shouted the championship declaration, I don't know how the Paraguayan stars will feel.

Slovakia, ranked second in the group, will face the Netherlands, the No. 1 in Group E. It can be said that this is a contest of uneven strength, but the Slovaks, who have already created miracles in the group stage, have no reason to fall down because of fear. in front of the Dutch.

When learning that Slovakia will face the Netherlands next, Slovakia's young captain Hamsik looked very calm: "We know that we are creating one history after another. Facing the Netherlands, we will not We were afraid of their strength before the game, but during the game, we will still fight for the dignity and honor of Slovakia, as for the result of the game, that is not important anymore!"