Chapter 109 Chaos and Clarity 4
The two games of Group F also started the next day. Due to the two draws in the first round, the four teams were on the same line. In the second round, the battle between Slovakia and Paraguay took the lead. In the end, the traditional South American strong team defeated the new team of the World Cup 2-0. This defeat also made Slovakia's group The prospect of qualifying has become bleak.
Hamsik, the core of the team's attack and defense, who plays for the European overlord Florence, failed to continue the state of the first game, and the sluggish performance also surprised Slovak fans.
The match with Paraguay is crucial for Slovakia, because they were tied by the generally unpopular New Zealand at the last minute of the first round, and the opponent in the last round was the powerful defending champion Italy.
To take the initiative to qualify, Slovakia must win the game against Paraguay, but the result is that Slovakia lost, and the team's core Hamsik's poor performance is also an important reason for Slovakia's loss.
In the first game, Hamsik handed over a perfect answer with a goal. At the same time, the midfield he took care of provided a lot of support to the front court, but in the end Slovakia was forced to draw by New Zealand and lost a good start advantage.
After a few days of rest, when people were expecting the 23-year-old midfielder to continue to perform perfectly and help the team get out of trouble, the midfielder, known as a genius by the Slovaks, was disappointing.
In the attack, Hamsik did not make much contributions, but saw him again and again in vain. In defense, the all-round midfielder could not share the pressure on the defense of the defense. In the end, the team could only accept the bitter result of 0:2 defeat.
Look at the data handed over by Hamsik in this game, which can better reflect the poor performance of the so-called Slovak midfielder.
Hamsik, who played the whole field, did not shoot once, which is really embarrassing. In terms of the number of passes, Hamsik is even more pitiful only once, which makes the Slovakia's striker almost become a decoration in the penalty area, and it is not surprising that the whole team has only six shots.
Hamsik's successful pass times in this game is also very small, which is too different from the midfield organizer. It is no exaggeration to say that Hamsik's game was completely sleepwalking.
This performance is obviously difficult to make people think of him as the talented teenager in the Fiorentina team. In Florence, Hamsik was able to squeeze Montolivo to the bench and become the absolute main force of Florence in this season, but the talented Hamsik in this game, While the sleepwalking state is surprising, it also makes people re-examine the pressure of young players in the World Cup.
Especially at a young age, he became the core of the team, which made the team members a lot more burdened, and Hamsik was the same. The reason why he did not perform well and was under too much pressure was indispensable. After all, he was only 23 years old and appeared on the stage of the World Cup for the first time, and his abnormal performance was inevitable. .
Now after two rounds, Slovakia only has one poor point. They now only have theoretical hope of qualifying, and the last round of the match against Italy will be the last opportunity for Hamsik to prove his strength in this World Cup, even if he can't lead the team to create miracles, the most At least Hamsik should be in a good state.
Slovakia lost because the core Hamsik did not perform well, while the Paraguayans laughed to the end because of their veteran Santa Cruz.
In the first game in Italy, the Paraguayan media repeatedly questioned why Valdes started. Dortmund's striker self-resolved himself as a "strength faction". The second-duty Santa Cruz started the game. Although he did not open the goal account, it shows that the "strength faction" and "idol faction" are the media and the main force with his all-round performance of being able to run, grab, pass and shoot. Handsome favorite.
Paraguayan coach Martino has "happy troubles". Before the first battle, Italy admitted that "12 people compete for 11 positions" and "four famous catchers" are available to everyone, but the reputation of the defending champion made Martino pragmatically choose conservative tactics, so Santa Cruz had to go to the bench.
The performance of Santa Cruz, who appeared as a substitute, made the media simply not rate the former Bayern striker. Santa Cruz had no objection. Obviously, he also knew that his performance was completely unqualified.
In this game, Paraguay and Slovakia had a direct dialogue, which can be called a "decisive battle". Martino, who intended to score points, sent Santa Cruz to form a strong trident as the Paraguayan media wanted.
Santa Cruz, who made his debut, did not disappoint Martino, who trusted him. The first time came very early. Manchester City striker made a long shot with his right foot in front of the penalty area in the third minute, with good curvature and strength. The Slovak goalkeeper saved the ball out of the bottom line with all his strength.
Then Santa Cruz had another good opportunity to score. Manchester City striker single-handedly broke into the penalty area and shot the far corner with his right foot, but unfortunately was blocked by the Slovak goalkeeper's right toe again.
Although there was no goal, in the 27th minute, Santa Cruz made a cross pass in the penalty area and assisted Bella to score a goal, which was also perfect. His pass drilled directly through the seam of two defenders in Paraguay. All Bella needed to do was a gentle push.
Martino's conservative thoughts at halftime recurred, causing the flag to be wave and the city gate to be closed. Santa Cruz retreated to the left wing to assist in defense. Manchester City's striker is not in a fixed position and still has a wonderful performance, especially an accurate cross pass on the left rib, which makes people can't help but be alas. Unfortunately, Bella's header rushed slightly out of the top.
However, at the end of the game, Santa Cruz once again made the Paraguayan fans at the scene stand up and applaud. After breaking through the side road, he made a cross. Leviros, who was ambushed at the back point, jumped high and headed the ball, expanding the score to 2:0.
Two games, four points, the overall strength of this group is weak, but the defending champion's poor performance, Paraguay's qualifying situation can be said to be very good.
And Italy, the defending champion who appeared later, also used his performance to make Paraguay's qualifying situation more favorable. Facing New Zealand, one of the weakest opponents in the group, they actually tied with their opponents 90 minutes later.
What's more unacceptable is that if it weren't for a penalty, they might even fall at the feet of the New Zealanders.
It is also because of this penalty that the Italians can at least get something after this game, because Italy has not lost nine consecutive games in the World Cup since losing to South Korea in the 1/8 final in 2002.
Although Yaquinta's thrilling draw with New Zealand and kept Italy's unbeaten record in two World Cups, in front of New Zealand, the defending champion has completely fallen into the team's humiliation trough. It can be said that Italy has never stopped going backwards in four years.
Four years ago, in the German World Cup, Apennine, who had just experienced the "telephone door", was full of gloomy expectations for Italy's World Cup prospects, but the Blue Army led by Lippi won the fourth championship trophy in history without being favored, but this A shining climb to the top seems to be more like a flash of lightning in the night sky. The world of the Italian national team is once again dark.
After the World Cup, Lippi retreated and Donadoni took over. With the aftermath of the World Cup, Italy hoped to take back the European Cup, which was lost at the last moment of 2000. However, two years later, in the European Cup, Italy was defeated by the Netherlands by three goals in the first game, and was eventually tied by Romania, although He defeated France and won the second place in the group, but after qualifying in the group, he met Spain and was eliminated with a penalty kick.
Donadoni's record was not good, and no one could use the Italian Football Association. Finally, he had to invite Lippi out of the mountain again, but Silver Fox did not completely change the appearance of the team. From then on, he pushed the team back two years and returned to 2006.
In 2009, as a preview of the World Cup in South Africa, the world champion Italy competed with the champions of all continents. In the opening match, Italy defeated the later runner-up United States, which once saw Lippi's transformation of the team, but then lost 0:1 to African champion Egypt, the last game. At 0:3 in the half, he was humiliated by Dunga's practical samba and was finally out of the group.
From Lippi to Donadoni, and then back to Lippi. Originally, on the basis of the world championship, Italy could have ushered in the best time for innovation, but due to the excessive pursuit of competition results and excessive dependence on veterans, the core lineup in the Italian lineup has remained Buffon, Cannavaro and Pirlo in the past four years. Wait, but the wrinkles carved on them after four years of wind and frost are clearly visible. Cannavaro returned to Juventus from Real Madrid and now can only go to West Asia to search for gold. Buffon is subject to the chaos of Juventus. Gatuso and Camorane's fat is growing, and Pirlo is still fighting against injuries. .
The four-year World Cup was originally a cycle of recuperation and renewal. In Germany, Brazil suffered a crushing defeat, but after Dunga's screening and **, it has become a favorite to win the World Cup in South Africa. However, as a defending champion, four years later, Italy's head coach is still Lippi, but since 2006 The World Cup champion stopped in the top 8 of the 2008 European Cup and did not qualify for the group stage of the 2009 Confederations Cup. Now it is in South Africa. Lippi's team has now been forced into a desperate situation. If it wants to qualify smoothly, it must defeat Slovakia, but it is still possible to face the Oranges Netherlands in 16-8. Judging from the two games, it is doubtful whether Italy can defeat Slovakia, and the gap with the Netherlands, which has become ugly, is even worse.
Lippi bears a great responsibility for Italy's performance. It is undeniable that Juventus has always been the pillar of the Italian national team, and Juventus has always been the most stable and powerful team in Italy, but it is also undeniable that now this Juventus, after experiencing the "telephone door", It is no longer the familiar Juventus. Maybe one day they will be able to return to that strong, but at least not now. The current Juventus, in this season, only ranks seventh in Serie A at the end of this season, and still needs to play play play-offs to enter the UEFA Cup, but it is such a team. Lippi selected six players.
Among the six players, Buffon and Chiellini's selection is not a problem, but Camoranesi, who has been injured for a season, already has a small belly and is in poor health, but Lippi still chose the latter between the six champion Fiorentina Ledesma and him. , which shows Lippi's preference for the Juventus.
Malcioripi chose and regretted it. The field was replaced and was still reprimanded in training. Quinta played two main games. In addition to one penalty kick, it was dedicated to people with frequent mistakes. The worst was Cannavaro, a superstar four years ago, who left two humiliating mistakes this time, resulting in two People can't think of any reason for losing the ball. Cannavaro, who is in such a state, has to play with the national team in the World Cup.
What's more ironic is that Italy's two goals were made by Roma players who ranked second in Serie A this season. One is De Rossi's goal, and the second is also a penalty shot made by De Rossi. Unfortunately, Cassetti and Totti, who have the strength to be selected for the national team, have not been called by Lippi. In the main lineup of the two games, the best performer is not De Rossi, but Zambrotta from AC Milan, but you should know that 33-year-old Zambrotta is a substitute for Abart even in AC Milan.
As a result, there is now such a situation. In the starting lineup of the Italian team, four players of Juventus are looking forward to Pirlo from AC Milan's comeback as the savior in the last game of the group stage.
In AC Milan's lineup, in addition to Pirlo, Lippi chose Gattuso and Zambrotta, who are currently unable to play the main players of AC Milan, while Ambrosini, Antonini and other players who have the ability to be selected into the national team were excluded from the national team for various reasons.
The coach of any national team should rely on status rather than superstition and empiricism to choose players. Lippi can be said that there is a lack of Italian players in the main lineup of the league champion Fiorentina, but Roma and AC Milan, which ranked second and third in the league, were doomed at the moment when only four players were selected. The Dali team's poor combat effectiveness.
Now after two rounds, although there is still a great chance of qualifying for the defending champion group, Lippi's desire to continue his magic on the stage of the World Cup may only exist in the fantasy stage.
And New Zealand, which drew the defending champion in this round, is still difficult to escape the fate, but with such a draw and two goals so far, they can completely raise their heads and leave South Africa.