Chapter 48 Conflict

Croatia's performance is surprising, followed by another strong dialogue in Group C. The strength of the Spanish team is obviously better, but Italy's strength after the blood change is obviously not measured by its performance in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In the end, after a fierce battle, Italy drew with Spain 1:1. When the game was over, almost all the European mainstream media praised Italian coach Prandelli. After all, with today's Italian team value, tactical maturity and player reputation, it is far less than Spain and can play against Spain. Retiring has been a great achievement.

Although there are also Spanish media trying to erase Italy's record with words such as "ugly" and "intensive defense", the fact is that Italy's fight against Spain does not rely on shrinking defense and defense, not just a way to pile up buses.

Obviously, the key to Italy's ability to draw with the powerful Spain as a mourning soldier lies in the great success of tactics.

Some Spanish media said: "Spain's inability to penetrate Italy's intensive defense reveals that the team is not good at dealing with teams with buses piled up in front of the goal."

However, is Italy really a pile of buses in front of the door?

Maybe not.

Some media always think that the opponent that Spain can't defeat is "negative and ugly turtle defense", but this Italy is definitely not a dense turtle defense.

Compression and shrinkage are only one word apart, but there is a world of difference.

The former is positive and the latter is negative.

Just how different is the two?

In this game, Spain does have an overwhelming advantage over Italy when it comes to passing and controlling the ball.

But what about the attack?

The opportunities obtained by the two teams are actually similar. Although Spain missed several scoring opportunities, Italy also has Mota's header and Ba Shen's single shot. In terms of absolute scoring opportunities, Italy is not a few.

The control of the ball is much worse, but Italy does not have many opportunities for its opponents, and there are many opportunities for itself. On the one hand, it is because the Italian offensive organization is relatively efficient, and on the other hand, the Italian defensive organization is very good.

In the quarter-finals of the European Cup four years ago, Italy drew 0-0 with Spain until 120 minutes, and the final penalty was unfortunately defeated, using a kind of "shrinkage" defense.

Of course, the Italian team also got a lot of scoring opportunities through the fast attack, but in terms of defense, the Italian team still adopted the traditional method of shrinking the penalty area.

There are four or five defenders and six or seven defenders in the penalty area. Even if the opponent has only one attacker, Italy has withdrawn into the penalty area.

However, in the past four years, the teams led by Harvey, Iniesta and others have cooperated more tacitly and penetrated more carefully. In the face of Spain, it is no longer feasible to simply adopt the method of piling buses in front of the door.

When the "tinkage" defense no longer works, changing the thinking and changing the defensive philosophy has become the proposition of the world. How can we play and prevent this group of Western-style transmission and control masters?

Belgians have inspired the world, making Prandelli, who is very familiar with Belgian football and has worked with Belgian's number one star Degan for four years.

After the game, Prandelli also said publicly: "The tactics of this game with the Spanish team were inspired by Belgium and Florence. When I coached in Florence, I often met Barcelona with the same style as the Spanish team at that time. That's what we did, but in today's game, we played more!"

It is precisely because of the experience of leading the team in Florence and Barcelona, so in the 2012 European Cup four years later, Italy is weaker than four years ago. Four years ago, Pirlob von was in his own years, and four years later, they were old. Four years ago, Italy also had a large number of world-class superstars such as Cannavaro and Gattuso. What does Italy think of civilianization after the Spring Festival?

And the opponent is stronger than four years ago. Four years ago, Spain is still a team with no competition experience. Four years later, although this Spain has no honor to set off their strength, there is no doubt that they have been called the king's master in terms of strength.

How should Italy pass this time?

The answer given by Prandelli is two words: forward!

Is the opponent coming? Guard forward pressure! The opponent controls the ball? Grab the whole team!

In a word, the defender does not easily retreat into the penalty area, and the midfielder easily retreats within a small range, but boldly suppresses the fierce battle with Spain, does not retreat, does not withdraw, and does not allow an inch of land!

So why does Italy adopt this kicking method?

Isn't it safer to withdraw all the players into the penalty area and block the gap in the penalty area?

In fact, the Italian defender can "compress" the space after the midfield retreat, and this compression is the space of Spain's attacking midfield.

In the 2008 European Cup final and the semi-final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Belgians actually did this. However, at that time, Belgium's tactics were criticized by countless people as ugly and backward, so few people followed suit.

The advantages of the Spanish team are obvious. The team has a large number of excellent world-class stars such as Silva, Fabregas, Harvey and Iniesta.

If they are given enough space, they will be able to decide the game, so Italy learns the Belgian method and improves it, takes the premise of the defense line and withdraws the midfield, so as to completely compress the 30-meter area. In the local area, Italy has six or more players to attack, so Xiban These masters are struggling.

Take Iniesta as an example. Xiaobai used to be beautiful and wandered freely in the competition, but in this game, he really lived like a year. Wherever he went, two or three people beat him fiercely one after the other. He wanted to bring a ball, and immediately four or five thick legs drowned him, so Yi Nesta was very depressed in the battle. Most of the time, he fell down as soon as he was touched, and then sat on the ground sulked.

Of course, this "compressed" space kicking method is not only used for defense, but also for offensive purposes.

In this game, the goal scored by the Italian team was actually put into this attack. There were only five players who beat the half, while in the same region, the Spanish team participated in the defense of eight people.

However, the Italian team adopts the method of compressing space, and all six people are locked in a small area from each other, so there are many routines to cooperate in a small range.

At the end of this counterattack, the Italian team has formed an advantage of 4 to 5 in the local area. Due to the Italian team's compressed space and formation of a military advantage in the local area, Spain is naturally difficult to prevent.

Of course, many times, Italy's defense is carried out directly in the opponent's half. During the game, Marco, as a full-back, has already forced the opponent to rob the opponent's half. After stealing the ball, he does not pass back, but directly attacks, and always wants to launch a counterattack on the spot. This kind of extremely aggressive and oppressive Forced robbery really shows the strong courage of the Italian team. May I ask, how can this kind of defense be called the defense of the "bus in front of the door"?

Today's Italian kicking method is neither a crude kicking method of "cutting wood" and "invading people", nor a passive defense of "constricting" and "stacking buses".

On the contrary, Italy, the defending master, adopts two words: forward!

In the past, Italy defended in the penalty area, but now it is outside the penalty area. In the past, Italy defended in the backcourt, but now it is in the front court. In the past, Italy's practice in the defense process was to make concessions and retreat, and now it is forward.

This is a huge change in football tactics in this era. In the utilitarian era of football, every team will pay special importance to defense when it embarks on the game, especially the European powers.

However, compared with around 2004, the world's popular contraction of defense is different. The mainstream idea of defensive football now is to defend against the enemy outside the national goal, which is to build the defense line as far away from the goal as possible. First, it is also more convenient to block Iniesta, a "middlefield striker swinger". The local organization counterattacked the quick attack.

Therefore, if people still say that this Italy will pile up buses in front of the door, there will be a negative defense, which is unreasonable. Defense can also be positive. Defending this Spain is not only a way to pile up buses, but also more brave and more aggressive.

Generally speaking, although this game is very fierce, it still feels a little dull because of the lack of enough goals, but it doesn't matter. There will always be people who add a little comedy elements to the game.

Before the start of this European Cup, it was said that the starting lineup of the Blues was 9 ordinary youth + 1 literary youth + 1 2B youth. There is no doubt that the last youth with a second middle school must be Balotelly.

In the whole game, Balotelli is by no means the best player, and he can even win the "shuus" of the worst player, but this does not prevent people's attention from him. At least Super Mario has added a comedy to the tense game. Whether in Manchester City or the Italian national team, he has always been a child. Son, refuse to grow up.

More than one person compared Baloteli to Peter Pan on the football field. In fact, it's not that Ba Shen doesn't want to grow up, but his world can never be equated with real life, so he always makes people feel so special.

As Italian coach Prandelli said, it was a great risk to recruit Balotelly in the European Cup, and in the first match against Spain in the group stage, Prandelli finally decided to continue to take risks and put Baloelli on the starting list and Cassano.

Spanish players are all veteran actors, so they take turns to provoke Baloteli in various ways. From the second half of the first half, Ba Shen has been impatient and got a yellow card.

After the intermission was adjusted, Baloteli's impetuous mentality seemed to have improved. At this time, a huge opportunity came to him.

In the 53rd minute of the game, Ramos's Toda gave Balotelly a chance to break the ball. Facing Casillas in the penalty area, Ba Shen could have become an Italian hero.

However, at that moment, Ba Shen suddenly froze, did not shoot, did not pass, and was in place, but the ball was interrupted by Ramos who rushed behind him. Prandelli on the coach's bench was immediately desperate. Three minutes later, Baloteli was replaced by Di Natale.

Baloteli, who walked off the field, chattered on the bench, as if explaining why he was short-circuited in an instant. After the game, the media joked: "Barotelly seems to have been waiting for light years."

And the fans also began to use their imagination. Ba Shen is thinking about where to set off fireworks tonight. What is he thinking about to celebrate the coolest action? Or pass through Casillas? This is a problem. Just a minute later, Dinatalai, who appeared as a substitute, taught Baloteli a vivid lesson.

The same single knife, the latter calmly pushed and shot through the goal, the shooter and the naughty boy. At this moment, they seemed to be in two different dimensions. Baloteli sat on the bench and watched his teammates celebrate, and this scene was supposed to be the hero in his design.

Baroteli, who refused to grow up, obviously didn't make his debut in the European Cup. Fortunately, he didn't lose, and he didn't get a red card. It doesn't look like everything is bad.

When will this time bomb in the Italian array detonate?

It is still doubtful whether it exploded in his locker room or ignited in the opponent's gate.

In addition to ridiculing, should we also treat Balotelly with a tolerant attitude?

As the Italian media said: "He is always worrying, but he has also brought surprises, hasn't he?"

So in future games, Balotheli still has a chance. The European Cup has become the emerging stage for the post-90s, and how can all this be without Balotheli?

However, if Baloteli really wants to be the protagonist, he'd better learn from his big brother Di Natale and what kind of attitude he should treat the game.

In this game, Di Natale, a substitute veteran, can knock on the door of the Spanish team by touching the ball for the first time. The 34-year-old veteran is indeed awe-inspiring.

In the 61st minute of the game, Pirlo's midfielder suddenly accelerated to shake off the defense, and then he sent a subtle straight ball. Dinatale inserted into the penalty area and faced Casillas directly, but he was not as hesitant as Baloelli. In the process of running, Dinatalai had adjusted his position, and then he was cold. Quietly shot in the lower right corner of the goal and scored, Casillas, who was out of reach, could only see the ball into the net.

Without fancy movements and no surly personality, the simple Di Natale told Balotelly what the real killer is.

Like Baloly, Dinatali also had Cassano's response on the other side. Like Balogli, he also chose to ignore Cassano, but unlike Baloelli, Di Natale shot and broke through Casillas' ten fingers with a wonderful shot.

Dinatale himself was very happy about this goal: "Pirlo sent me a great pass, and I also seized this opportunity, which makes me very happy."

Although he is only a substitute, Di Natale is more concerned about the interests of the team: "What I have to do is try my best to seize the opportunity when the head coach decides who to start."

In the 2008 European Cup, Italy was eliminated by Spain's penalty kick in the quarter-finals. Di Natale, who lost the penalty at that time, was also one of the culprits of the team's elimination. Today, he finally completed self-redemption: "I still remember the penalty missed by Spain, so today is a non- At a special moment, Spain has many world-class champion players, but we are not inferior. This is an exciting game.

This goal is also obviously helpful for Dinatale to compete for the main position. At present, in the Italian front line, Cassano has firmly locked the main force. Although Baloteli got the starting line today, his performance is disappointing. Moreover, no one can guess whether it is a demon after Ba Shen's appearance.

Therefore, instead of sending Balotelly, who doesn't know whether he will hurt others or himself, Prandelli would choose to trust Di Natale. This little god front will never disappoint people. The old dostler also hopes that he can write some miracles in international competitions in his twilight years.

Pirlo, who sent an assist for Dinatale, also proved to everyone in this game that Harvey is not the best person to pass the ball in world football, and so is he.

Although there are not many opportunities for the two to fight directly in the game, it can be seen from the number of threatening balls sent that there is obviously still a lot to learn from the more old-fashioned Pirlo.

After two games in Group C, it is surprising that Croatia ranked first in the group. Although Spain or Italy can let him take the lead at any time in the next round, at least now, the Croats can look down on those once high authorities.

Spain and Italy have tied, and this result is indeed a little surprising. Of course, it is reasonable that a battle between spears and shields is the fairest for either side.

The only suffering is Ireland. After experiencing the misfortune two years ago, this time, under the leadership of the gold medal leader Trapatoni, they came to the stage of the international competition. Originally, they wanted to show it well, but the result was obviously very surprised by their idea.

Although there was only one round of the group stage, it is basically certain that the Irish are really here to play soy sauce this time. It is also the soy sauce party before the game. Now they can basically only watch the Croats fight for the group to appear, and they have to participate in it.

Although this is the current form, I believe that after watching the game between Spain and Italy, people should be more optimistic about Spain and Italy.

Although the Croats are admirable, they can only stand aside in the face of their strength.