Chapter 52: Bruno Needs to Step Up

Chapter 52: Bruno Needs to Step Up

Veretout stands in the right corner area, gently positioning the ball before stepping back. Portugal's coach, Ramos, watches intently from the sidelines, continually urging his players to stay alert. Bruno is left up front, ready to launch a counter-attack at any moment. The pre-match materials provided by Portugal's coaching staff emphasized the importance of defending set-pieces, noting the French team's significant threat from these situations.

France's most threatening player is undoubtedly their tall striker Sanogo, with defenders Sarr and Zouma also posing significant aerial threats. As the team's forward point for counters, Bruno has little to do but to keep a close watch on the unfolding action.

When Veretout quickly takes the corner kick, the penalty area instantly becomes chaotic. The French players struggle to shake off the close marking of the Portuguese, particularly focusing on the likes of Sanogo, Zouma, and Sarr, the key aerial threats. Amidst the disorder, a blue figure suddenly emerges, leaping high from the middle. Veretout's corner finds him perfectly, and with a close-range header, he directs the ball swiftly towards the left side of the goal. The Portuguese goalkeeper, José Sa, is caught off-guard, unable to reach the ball.

"GOOOOOOALLLLL!!!!!!" The crowd erupts.

"In the 15th minute, France takes the lead against Portugal!"

"It's a header from Pogba! What a moment! This was France's first threatening move of the match, and their second shot breaks through Portugal's defenses."

"It's always the set-pieces! With the tall players at their disposal, set-pieces are a crucial scoring weapon for France."

"Let's review that goal. Veretout's corner confused many players, with Portugal's attention fixed on tall players like Sanogo, Sarr, and Zouma, but they neglected Pogba."

"This was a significant oversight because Pogba is also known for his excellent jumping ability and heading skills, but Portugal clearly missed marking him."

"With this head-to-head, the French midfielder has scored first, putting his team in the lead!"

"Things now look challenging for Portugal; Bruno needs to step up!"

After the goal, Pogba turns and sprints off the field, running wildly along the pitch before striking his iconic goal celebration pose in the corner area, soaking up the cheers from the fans and teammates. Bruno, visibly frustrated, wipes his face. Only fifteen minutes into the game, and although Portugal had been the more aggressive side, they conceded first.

And it was Pogba who broke through, which was particularly disheartening for him. The goal wasn't his fault since his role was to stay forward and wait for a chance to counter, and no one would blame him for the conceded goal. Yet, he couldn't help feeling irritated.

He felt that while Portugal had a solid overall team, their defense was like a ticking time bomb, unpredictable and potentially disastrous. Facing a well-rounded team like France, conceding early was a severe test and challenge for Portugal.

Of course, finding excuses wouldn't do; the team's set-piece defense was indeed lacking.

Ramos, too, is visibly upset on the sidelines, quickly making adjustments, especially to the defense. He knows that the French team excels at capitalizing on their momentum, and if they see an opportunity, they will press it relentlessly until the opponent is completely overwhelmed.

After the celebrations, Pogba rejoins the match amid cheers. As play resumes, France opts to keep the pressure on, with Pogba appearing especially energized. After scoring, he soon takes the ball on the left flank against three Portuguese defenders. Despite the pressure, he manages to create a shooting opportunity for himself, taking a low shot from twenty-six meters out.

Soon after, Sanogo moves to the right flank, targeting the space behind Portuguese defender Mica Pinto and crossing into the box. Pogba attempts another header, but this time goalkeeper José Sa catches it, posing no threat.

Just two minutes later, France's midfield attempts another breakthrough with a shot from the edge of the box blocked out for a corner. Veretout takes the corner from the right side again, but this time Portugal is prepared, with Tiago Ilori clearing the ball with a header.

The ball remains with France, who quickly reorganize. Florian Thauvin crosses from the right, and Pogba attempts a spectacular volley from twelve meters, but it flies past the goal.

The French team, unstoppable on the field, forces Portugal to retreat into a defensive stance. While Portugal's defense has been unreliable, they perform well today, except for a minor issue with left-back Mica Pinto. France finds it hard to exploit any advantage from the Portuguese defense.

The midfield is tightly secured, the forwards start getting opportunities. First, Bruno crosses from the right, and Bruma heads the ball at the back post, but Areola saves it. Then Bruno delivers a direct pass from the left, allowing João Mário to break into the box and shoot just wide.

In the 28th minute, Bruno faces Digne one-on-one and tries to dribble past, but the more experienced Digne brings him down, earning a yellow card from the referee Çakir. Digne helps Bruno up and pats his shoulder before retreating quickly.

Portugal then takes a free kick from Bruno; Aladje heads it, but it's too high.

Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.