Chapter 293 The Beginning of Victory【1】
June 12.
BJ time 0:00, Austria local time 18:00.
The mountain city of Salzburg is bathed in the golden glow of the sunset. The slightly sultry temperature during the day is gradually decreasing. The distant wind from the Alps blows slowly from the foothills, bringing bursts of freshness. The whole Salzburg looks magnificent under the golden sunset, like the solemn palace of the Alps gods.
Although the first match of the Three Lions in the 2008 European Cup will officially start at the Ers-Siezenheim Stadium in three hours, the football atmosphere before the game has already made every native of Salzburg feel the enthusiasm of the European Cup.
The smoke has begun to spread!
The war is about to start!
According to statistics from the Salzburg Tourism Management Department, as of the early morning of the 12th local time, as many as 100,000 crazy English fans have poured into this beautiful tourist mountain city. This terrifying number is two-thirds of the total population of Salzburg. In addition to the large number of Greek fans who came from afar, the population of Salzburg doubled on this day.
All this is because of football!
This is the charm of football. Even the huge earth seems to have chosen to stop turning at this moment because of the existence of a small football!
Since the afternoon of the 12th, the fanatical English fans who poured into the streets have turned this beautiful Alpine foothills town into an active volcano that can erupt at any time-
St. George's Cross flags can be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys...
The melodious tune of "God Save the Queen" floats over the city...
The burly man with the British flag painted on his face with rapeseed shouting "Long Live Her Majesty the Queen"...
The blonde beauty wearing the national team's pure white No. 7 or No. 10 jersey, holding the portraits of David Beckham and Michael Owen in her hands to express her love crazily...
All of this is, unabashedly venting the passion and confidence of English fans for the 2008 European Cup!
Although the major European bookmakers did not list England as the top seed to win this tournament, although Spain's striker David Villa has surpassed Michael Owen in the scorer odds, and although England, known as the originator of modern football, has not achieved convincing results in international competitions for many years, but...
The past has long become history, and this pale history has become meaningless in front of one person-
This person is Crazy Lee!
England's bandaged god of war!
A man known as the "God on the football field"!
Because of the existence of this man who came from mythology with mysterious glory, the British Isles have more hope for the 2008 European Cup than ever before, so fans in the UK and Salzburg are holding up portraits of Lee Tong-Bum with his middle finger raised high, cheering like the emperor's most loyal guards...
Salzburg, Austria, on June 12, has become England's home!
God's home!
...
16:00 on the 12th.
The sunset in the sky fell a little lower, and the golden light had turned into a fiery red halo.
The famous Duke Simonsis Manor in the suburbs of Salzburg!
The bus with the St. George's Cross flag has stopped in front of the lobby of the Manor Hotel.
The staff of the England team are busy packing the players' luggage into the bottom compartment of the bus. In less than half an hour, the team will set off to the Ers-Sitzenheim Stadium to show the strength and invincibility of the Three Lions to fans all over the world.
In the lobby of the hotel!
The English media who are fortunate enough to be qualified to interview with the team are surrounding Li Tongfan and assistant coach Venables for the last interview before the first game.
The players of the team are sitting in the soft sofas in the lobby in twos and threes, listening to music with headphones, or leisurely flipping through the magazines in their hands. Except for a few young players with little experience such as Sturridge who are sitting there a little overwhelmed, other players who have experienced many national team competitions are deliberately adjusting their mood and state before the war in the way they are best at.
…
“Don’t be nervous…relax!”
Team captain David Beckham appeared behind Sturridge, patted the little guy’s shoulder with his iconic smile that swept thousands of girls, and pointed to the back of Li Tongfan who was being interviewed by reporters in the distance: “With the boss here, everything will become very simple!”
Sturridge cracked an ugly smile with a slightly dry mouth. It was his first time to represent England in the national team. It would be a lie to say that he was not nervous.
“Hey, Daniel, you really don’t need to be nervous…” Joe Hart, who was sitting next to him, stretched out his fist and punched Sturridge in the chest: “Because you don’t have a chance to play today!”
Sturridge: “…Fuck you!”
However, Sturridge was not so nervous after being disturbed by the rough Joe Hart.
…
Not far away.
Michael Owen sat quietly on the purple and gold velvet sofa, his eyes resting on the white and golden light of the Alps in the distance through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel.
Since he was seriously injured in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and retired, this will be the first time in two years that Michael Owen, the young man who once roamed the green field, will once again appear on the stage of a national competition... Think about the game that will start in less than three hours. , Owen was full of emotions: It has been two years, and I thought I had bid farewell to the opportunity to win honors, but...
European Cup, Michael Owen is finally back!
I will make everyone enchanted by my performance!
…
Among the 23 English players, only one is the most leisurely -
Wayne Rooney!
Rooney was suspended for an additional five games by UEFA because he punched a Russian player in an away game against Russia in the qualifiers to defend his teammates. Therefore, at least the Three Lions' fat man will not be able to play in the group stage.
In fact, many people in England were quite critical of Lee Tong-bum's insistence on bringing such a forward who might not be able to play at all, but Lee Tong-bum still resolutely put on Rooney. A competitive player like Rooney needs him in the knockout rounds. !
What's more, Rooney punched to protect his teammates. This is destined to mean that even if Rooney is suspended for 100 games, Lao Li will waste a spot and bring the little fat man to Austria.
And Lao Li's decision obviously made the little fat man regard Lao Li as his reborn parent, and he was grateful.
At this moment, the Manchester United ace is helping the staff carry luggage to the bus!
…
"Okay, guys, let's go!"
After accepting the reporter's interview, Li Tongfan turned around, waved his hand, and was the first to walk out of the hotel lobby.
Three minutes later.
When the bus started and drove slowly to the gate of the Duke of Simonses Manor, bursts of cheers exploded like thunder, and the white sea of tens of thousands of England fans waiting here instantly set off an angry wave. , for these fans who have not bought tickets, this will be the last battle for them to send off their heroes on the battlefield.
Semensis Manor is less than 8 kilometers away from the Sitzenheim Stadium. The bus drove steadily along the gentle road. Along the way, the streets were surrounded by England fans waving cross flags. The Lions marched toward the "battlefield" of honor amid never-ending cheers and shouts!
…
Sitzenheim Stadium!
This stadium, which looks like a silver-white square matchbox, has long been immersed in a fanatical atmosphere. The white England fan camp and the sky-blue Greek fan camp in the stands that can accommodate 30,000 people are clearly distinguishable, and the noise is like surging waves. The same atmosphere has already unveiled the climax of the game in advance!
"...The game only starts in more than an hour, but the stadium is already full, and the England team will face the Greek national team, the 2004 European Cup champions, here!" The famous British national TV reporter Sester came to the scene without any doubt. Commentator, his partner is Gary Lineker.
"This game will be the last game of the first round of the European Cup group stage, and it will also be the first appearance of Crazy Lee's Three Lions in this tournament... At this time, with the England team in D The other two teams in the group, Spain and Norway, have already competed at the New Tivoli Stadium in Innsbruck... Hey, Gary, let me introduce the score to you!"
Lineker took over Sester's words with a natural smile:
"It is not unreasonable for the Spanish team to be listed as the favorite to win this competition. In the 75th minute of the second half of Innsbruck's game, Matador forward David Villa has already scored the first hat of this competition. Magic... There is no doubt that Spain will be Madman Li’s biggest opponent in the group stage!”
The two commentators looked extremely relaxed and clearly had no doubts about the victory of this game.
At this moment, the cheers in the stadium suddenly increased!
It turned out that the players from the England and Greece teams had already begun to warm up on the court.
…
"The first appearance of players from both teams set off the atmosphere at the Sitzenheim Stadium. Unfortunately, we have not found Li Tongfan yet..."
Not far from the British commentary booth is the commentary team from China CCTV Channel 5. Duan Xuan's melancholy and magnetic baritone appeared through satellite broadcasts in the ears of every fan who stayed up late to watch football in China's 9.6 million square kilometers.
At this time, it was already past midnight in China, and a dark night enveloped the vast land of China. However, the words "Li Tongfan" in Duan Xuan's words were like a magic spell, jolting the spirits of every sleepy fan waiting in front of the TV or computer.
In addition to live commentary, CCTV will host a four-hour European talk show "Chinese European Cup" every night after midnight in the domestic studio hall, hosted by ace sports commentator Zhang Bing. The focus of the report is of course England team led by Lee Tong-beom.
Prior to this, Sohu.com held a fan survey called "The Team I Support Most in the European Cup". The result was that because of the presence of Li Tongfan, the Three Lions undoubtedly surpassed popular teams such as Spain and Germany by 8%. Nineteen votes topped the list.
"...Although I am an avid Torres fan, I hope the England team can win this European Cup...the reason? Of course it is because of Lee Tong-bum!"
This netizen’s message best represents the aspirations of all Chinese fans. When the domestic mid-level league has become a smelly black quagmire, the existence of Madman Li is more like a sweet spring, like a pink lotus emerging from the sludge but not stained, nourishing and fragrant Chinese fans That heart of true love that yearns endlessly for football!
…
"In less than half an hour, this concern of hundreds of millions of Chinese compatriots is about to begin. Li Tongfan's first opponent is the one who created the dark horse miracle in the last European Cup and the Kaiserslautern miracle in the Bundesliga. [Emperor Otto] Rehagel..."
In the studio hall of CCTV's "Chinese European Cup", the fat host Zhang Bing talked eloquently: "Facing this most outstanding head coach in German history who also created incredible miracles, as a senior fan, I wish him all the best. Good luck!”
…
Sitzenheim Stadium!
England dressing room.
"...In the next ninety minutes, our only goal is to win, to show our strength in front of fans all over the world, so that any opponent who faces us can't help but tremble, fear, and legs. Be soft and beg for mercy..."
"No problem, boss!"
Faced with Li Tongfan's request, more than twenty mouths gave a firm answer in unison and with great momentum.
…
Greece locker room!
"... Crazy Li's tactics are better because of their weirdness and surprise. They are as elusive as those mysterious military strategists in ancient China... However, as long as the right method is found, Crazy Li is not invincible... There is a Chinese idiom It’s called [Using the Right to Defeat the Strange], so what we have to do is to remain unchanged in response to all changes..."
Miracle coach Ray Hagel is setting up the Greek team's tactics.
The 70-year-old man who created the Kaiserslao Shenhua and the 2004 European Miracle always has a calm and unhurried expression on his face. Although the skin on his face has become wrinkled and old due to the ruthless carvings of the years, there is something in his sky-blue eyes. The mesmerizing rays of light that flashed from time to time still clearly told everyone——
Emperor Otto is not old yet!
Although the myth of Madman Lee's victory is popular in Europe, in Greece, in the football world of this mythical country that gave birth to the Olympic spirit, Rehagel is the God King Zeus who perches high on the sacred mountain of Olympia overlooking the human beings. The only true god of the Greek team.
"...Compared with the creativity and offensive strength of the midfield offensive players, the England team is not as good as Spain...but compared with the defensive ability...it is not even as good as us! So as long as we don't be led by the Chinese's strange tactics, we can win The hope of three points is very high. Let’s go, the game is about to begin!”
Rehagel doesn't even need to use any slogans or passionate words to inspire his disciples, because in the minds of the Greek team players, any words from this old man are golden words of wisdom to defeat the enemy, and any words are enough to make them win. Their fighting spirit is burning!
…
Ten minutes later!
Snap-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop!
More than twenty huge lights on the roof of the Sitzenheim Stadium were instantly turned on at the same time, making the slightly dark stadium suddenly as bright as day!
The cheers that erupted from the stands were like thunder for nine days!
Push~~~
The whistle sounds!
The center circle of the stadium!
Under the gaze of hundreds of millions of eyes eager for victory, the Three Lions' starting forward Michael Owen gently knocked the football under his feet to Frank Lampard behind him...
The competition has officially begun!
——
Thank you Jiantian Bamo for your continued rewards!
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Looking forward to your enthusiastic support from dear swordsmen!
Xiao Knife promises that this game will end today.
Finally, I would like to recommend a basketball competition book "NBA Hunters", ISBN 1654174.