Chapter 62

The two games of Group D also followed. Before the game, conspiracy theories and tacit ball theory were rampant. Although the Spanish team repeatedly said that they would go all out for honor, the process of the game still frightened the Italians.

If Spain and Croatia finally play a 1:1 result, Italy will have to go home if they fail to win three goals.

The other side is happy, and this side must be sad. At the end of the game, Croatia's most threatening opportunity was resolved by the Spanish goalkeeper Casillas. The Croatian bench lamented, and rock coach Bic slapped his forehead harder, away from the quarterfinals, Croatia The team was once so close and finally so far away.

The strength and fighting spirit of the Croatian team in this European Cup have won the support of many neutral fans, which can make the powerful Spanish team feel a serious crisis at one time, which is enough to reflect that they have really done a good job.

At the last moment, the Croatian team still did not give up, and even the goalkeeper Pletikosa rushed to the front of the Spanish penalty area, but the miracle did not happen, and the grid could only go home after the end of the group stage.

This is also Bilic's farewell match for the Croatian team. At the 2008 European Cup, the rock coach has left a deep memory for fans all over the world.

Blic, a former national football player and later head coach of the national team, is also a master of law and a guitarist in a heavy metal band. On him, it is full of legends. In particular, the Croatian team has performed very well under the leadership of Bilic in two consecutive European Cups. They don't have to be depressed when they leave this time.

The victory of the Spaniards is not convincing. The Croatians are out with their pride.

In another game at the same time, Cassano became the hero of the Italians. For eight years, Cassano waited for eight years. In 2004, Cassano's final goal helped the team beat Bulgaria 2:1, but he waited for the fate of elimination, because one The ecstasy and sadness of completing the final kill in minutes. At that time, Cassano, who was only 22 years old, sat on the turf and cried loudly. For a moment, the rain and tears soaked his face. At this moment, it seemed to be frozen. I don't know how many Italian fans were saddened by this scene. This scene is still regarded as the history of the European Cup. The classic picture on.

Eight years later, history seems to repeat itself again. With the passage of time, the "bad boy" experienced the risk of retirement at the beginning of the year and has become a stable candidate for the Italian front line.

It's embarrassing that Cassano is now facing the same situation as eight years ago. In the last round of the group stage, if Spain and Croatia tacitly match 2:2, Italy will be out.

But Cassano has been very calm this time: "Being able to participate in the European Cup is already a victory for me."

Finally entered the Italian European Cup list, Cassano said that he wanted to thank the Blues coach Prandelli most. After Cassano underwent the operation, Prandelli immediately said that he was willing to wait for Cassano until the last minute. Cassano was also grateful to Prandelli.

Before that serious illness, Cassano was recognized as a "bad boy" in football. Now the behaviors of the national team's front partner "Ba Shen" are just a "cold meal" for Cassano in the past ten years.

"My heart is still as young as a child."

After all this, Cassano still thinks that he is still a child from the bottom of his heart. He can even understand Balotelli: "I am more rebellious at his age. Of course, I have paid a high price and got almost nothing."

Casano believes that Balotoli needs a person who leads him on the right path. Of course, he also needs his own determination. The two interact with each other to mature.

Of course, after recovering from his injury, Cassano gave people a mature feeling: "This disease has greatly changed my view of many things, and I know more about what the most important thing in life is."

Now Cassano has set all his sights on the European Cup champion: "I cherish this European Cup opportunity. In order to help Italy win, I will dedicate everything I have for it."

This European Cup is the third European Cup of Cassano's personal career. Eight years ago, Portugal, Italy was blocked by a tacit ball outside the group. Now Italians are facing similar situations. Cassano seems quite calm about this: "Now I will fully enjoy the game. Italy has experienced two strict games. Cool test, I believe the team can beat any opponent.

Sometimes, God is also fair. Cassano's goal tonight finally helped the Italian team advance.

Cassano scored a header in the first half, helped the team get the lead early, and helped the team defeat Ireland 2-0 in the end, but the wait was also long. After the game, the Italian team did not leave immediately, but waited for the result of the Spanish team's game. When they learned that Spain 1: After defeating the Croatian team, Buffon, who was walking alone in the restricted area, began to run wildly. He danced to vent his emotions. Eight years ago, Cassano, who cried because of 2:2, also hugged Buffon tightly. In the current national team, only Buffon, Pirlo and Cassano experienced 200 The battle in 4 years, so Buffon may be the one who knows Cassano best.

Interestingly, the head coach of the Italian team in 2004 was the current head coach of Ireland, Trapatoni. When the camera caught Trapatoni, the Italian coach smiled awkwardly and obviously had some complicated emotions.

On the one hand, he was helpless for the game, and on the other hand, he was also gratified by the turning point of Cassano's fate. After all, everyone knows that Cassano was Trapatoni's absolute favorite in those years.

Eight years later, Cassano also changed from a boy to a real boy. In the past eight years, he went through the failure of Real Madrid and experienced a process of accumulating strength in the small and medium-sized club Sampdoria, and then encountered a rare heart disease in AC Milan, but none of this defeated him. He still magically recovered before the European Cup and adjusted his state to the best. He has become more brave and mature. In recent years, some negative news about Cassano has almost disappeared, and he has also married and had children and assumed the responsibility of a man. Obviously, such a Casano value It is respected by everyone.

"Dedication everything I have to help Italy win."

Italian veteran Cassano's performance before the game, but in fact, the Italian media still had endless doubts about him before the game, but Prandelli knew Cassano's strength and gave him comprehensive trust, which finally proved that this kind of trust was rewarded. After the Italian main front line goal, Cassano has become Italy's best scorer in the European Cup finals.

Although some media believe that Cassano did not perform much after scoring, in fact, scoring is not Cassano's only contribution to the whole game. His efforts on the court are not inferior to anyone else, and he has passed the wonderful ball with strong penetration many times in the game.

Don't forget that Cassano is a master of assists. Last season, Cassano only made 16 appearances in the league for AC Milan due to heart disease, but he contributed incredible 10 assists. If it weren't for heart disease, the title of the season's assist king should definitely belong to Cassano instead of Pi Erlo.

The match with Ireland is a life-and-death battle for Italians. The pressure is conceivable for the Italian team that needs victory to advance to the top eight and is still thinking about the score of another game in the same group. However, even under such circumstances, Italy still played the most beautiful game in 32 years.

In today's game, Prandelli did not insist on the 3-5-2 formation of the first two games, but chose 4-3-1-2, which is also eye-catching for the Italian team.

From the first minute, the Italian team played a smooth cooperation. The Italian team's first attack was in the first minute of the game. At that time, after Abat cut the ball in the backcourt, the ball passed through two passes by Marchisio and Cassano. Di Natale completed the cross, and the ball fell outside the penalty area to follow up. De Rossi volleyed in the air. Although the ball missed, it set the tone for the Italian team's attack in this game: beautiful football.

Every attack of the Italian team will be organized through the midfield, and it is by no longer a big foot in people's impression, three passes and two passes to the door.

Not only that, but Italy's attack is also full of layers. For example, the first goal of this game is a model.

In the 34th minute, Pirlo's pass to the right. After Di Natale went offside, he shook the attack near the penalty area. Although the angle was small, he still hit the goal. The defender destroyed the ball out of the penalty area. Cassano took the ball in the middle and shot a high-quality long shot. The undetermined Gibvin received the ball and the ball came out. At the bottom line, it was using this corner kick that the Italian team scored.

If efficient passing and dazzling cooperation are to attack the opponent from space, then the layered and high-density attack will psychologically disintegrate the opponent.

And the goal at the last moment of Balotelidi's game is the icing on the cake for the Sky Blue team.

It is difficult to imagine such a beautiful game in the previous Italian team, but in fact, the first game of Italy's change has begun.

Although the first game was against a powerful Spain, which did not have an advantage in ball control, Italy was still refreshing. It was no longer the ugly Italy, but competed with Spain for 90 minutes through fast and simple passes.

In the first half of Croatia, Italy's performance and field performance were also excellent. Only in the final stage was equalized by Croatia due to the failure of Prandelli's on-site adjustment, and the two consecutive draws made Italy stand on the same cliff eight years ago, which also made Ignoring the new changes in Italy this year.

What is valuable is that in today's game, the Italian team played such a beautiful game while worrying that they might be defeated by the Spanish and Croatian teams and having to win the Irish team.

After this game, captain Buffon said: "We know that we have to do our best. The team's performance is very positive. We are a little luckier than the previous European Cup. The team is in good condition and full of firepower."

Cassano said: "The Italian team is about to start a new European Cup, and we are confident that we will go to the end and finally win the championship."

Maybe the star atmosphere of the Italian team in front of us is not strong enough and the team has not fully formed, but the Italian Football Association has made it clear that no matter what the results of this European Cup are, Prandelli will remain in office. There is reason to believe that in time, Prandelli's Italian team will definitely regain its former glory.

In this game, it was the Barry Boys who won the victory for the Italians on the court, and it was Prandelli who directly directed the wonderful victory.

Before the start of the European Cup, few people were optimistic about this civilian Italy, but Prand used his magical vocational ability to finally present a brand-new Italy in front of people.

As we all know, when Prandelli was in Florence, he always pursued the neutralization of beautiful football and practical football. However, without a super player like Degan in Italy, Prandelli was forced to make some adjustments to make Italy closer to his former Florence.

The final result of the game also made Prandelli a little easier. Although there is still a big gap between Italy and Florence, which swept the whole of Europe, I believe that under Prandelli's **, the Italian team's next path will go smoother and smoother.

Abert, president of the Italian Football Association, also announced later that regardless of Italy's performance in this European Cup, the current coach Prandelli will still be the head coach of the Italian national team in the next two years.

Although Italy has stlibbled since the start of the European Cup and finally defeated Ireland in the last round after two consecutive draws, and qualified for the second place in the group, Abett said that the results of the European Cup will not affect Prandelli's future in Italy.

In the interview, Abett said: "No matter what results Italy will achieve in this year's European Cup, Prandelli and his team will continue to play for Italian football for two years. At this moment, we don't need to guess what Italy will eventually achieve. Even if it is eliminated, it doesn't matter. The team is there. The difficulty is also over there, and we should focus on how to overcome it.