Chapter 68 This is Life

Gaskoin's tears, Southgate's helplessness, Beckham's frustration, and the penalty nightmare once again fell on the English on the field of the last quarter knockout match of the European Cup.

The Three Lions used to be the ultimate example of losing at every point. Counting the loss to Italy, England won 1 and 6 losses in penalty shootout in previous competitions, 1990 World Cup, 1996 European Cup, 1998 World Cup, 2004 European Cup, 2006 World Cup, England They all lost in the penalty shootout, and this time they fell to 12 yards, which may really be a kind of fate.

In the 1990 World Cup semi-final, England faced West Germany, and the two teams played 1:1 in regular time. This was the first penalty shootout in England's history and the most important one, because in the eyes of many people, it was this defeat that made the English start to fear the penalty shootout, Pierce and Wade England missed the World Cup final as a result of losing key penalties.

In the 1996 European Cup quarter-finals, England faced Spain, and the two teams played 0-0 in regular time. This was England's only victory in the penalty shootout, David. Seaman saved the penalties of Yero and Nadal in a row, while Pierce, the "sinner" who missed the penalty in the 1990 World Cup, completed his salvation six years later. He scored a goal for England, and Pratt, Gascoigne and Hiller scored three other penalties.

But after eliminating Spain, England and Germany met again in a penalty shootout. The English people's luck seemed to have been used up in the face of Spain, and the Germans with strong willpower still laughed to the end.

German goalkeeper Copk bravely saved Southgate's penalty, and then Andreas. Mueller hit the winning penalty, the Germans advanced to the finals, and England missed the best chance to win the European Cup at home.

In the eighth final of the 1998 World Cup, England faced Argentina. It was an unparalleled match. Argentines' wonderful free kick cooperation, Beckham's red card, and Owen's long-distance attack. The two sides drew 2:2 in 90 minutes. In the penalty shootout, Batty and Ins were double penalties. After losing the penalty, England hated the penalty shootout again.

In the 2004 European Cup quarter-finals, England faced Portugal, and the English once again went to the penalty point. After Germany, Portugal also became England's biggest sufferer in the penalty shootout.

This is a classic match in the history of the European Cup. The two sides won 1:1 in 90 minutes and scored one goal in overtime. In the final penalty shootout, Beckham kicked the penalty as soon as he came up. The grass at the penalty point of the Bright Field harmed the English captain at this moment, and Vasel's penalty was hit by the Portuguese god. Strange goalkeeper Ricado sealed it with his bare hands, and then Riccicardo personally hit the penalty, blocking England from the top four of the European Cup.

In the 2006 World Cup quarterfinals, England met Portugal again, which did not have much wonderful performance in the regular time. Only Rooney's red card against Carvalho brought some waves to the game.

England wanted to avenge the defeat two years ago in the penalty shootout, but Lampard, Gerrard and Carragher all lost penalties one after another. Then Kim Reros scored the winning goal, and England lost the penalty shootout again with a score of 1:3.

England and Italy met in the last quarter-finals of the 2012 European Cup, which was also the first 0:0 and the first penalty shootout.

Both sides missed many scoring opportunities in 120 minutes, and finally had to rely on a penalty to tell the winner. Montolivo's penalty shot originally gave England the lead, but then Ashley. Young and Ashley. Cole's penalty kick from the Ashley brothers was blocked by the beam and Buffon, and then Diamanti steadily scored the ball, and England once again tragically fell on the penalty spot.

The Englanders' penalty nightmare may continue, but as a loser, no one wants to pay attention to them. People's eyes are on one person, that is, the biggest highlight of this game is still Balotel.

Few people thought that when the penalty shootout began, the first person to stand in front of the penalty spot was Balotry. Balotry, who walked to the penalty spot, smiled relaxedly and saw his Manchester City teammate so relaxed. Joe, the goalkeeper of the England team. Hart obviously couldn't let go. Although the referee persuaded him to go to the goal line, Hart did not return to the goal, but smiled at Balotle and walked back to the goal line step by step.

Hart's smile was completely provoking and putting pressure on Balotry. Seeing Hart putting pressure on himself, Balotry did not avoid the eyes of the English goalkeeper, but stared straight at Hart with the same strange smile.

The penalty shootout between Italy and England, or Balotelly and Joe. The direct dialogue between Hart began ahead of schedule.

Baroteli walked to the free throw point and slowly laid the ball. At this time, Baloteli was still looking at Hart with a smile, but Hart had begun to shake restlessly on the goal line, and put his hands on his knees, lowered his center of gravity, and waited for Baloteli.

At this time, Balotry began to run and kicked out of the football. The football obediently rushed into the lower left corner of the goal. Although Hart judged the right direction, Balotlely's penalty was not only fast, but also the angle was too tricky, making Hart powerless.

Watching the penalty kick he shot, Balothely waved his arms excitedly. With a roar, his anger, which had been holding for more than two hours, also vented.

Baroteli, who returned to his team's camp, looked even more domineering. He sat upright and sat cross-legged on the court, with the posture that everything in the world had been clear to me. In the next few minutes, he witnessed his team defeat England and reached the top four of the European Cup.

In Italy, the first penalty player has always been Pirlo, but today, even Pirlo gave the first penalty to Balotli, and he chose the third penalty.

In fact, not to mention the first penalty, Balotheli's ability to stand in front of the penalty point is an extraordinary courage. Balotheli, born in 1990, is one of the youngest members of the Italian team.

In the first match against Spain in the group stage, he wasted an excellent single-knife opportunity and was nicknamed "thinking about life", while Di Natale, who replaced him, scored as soon as he came out.

The psychological shadow did not retreat until the last game of the group stage. In the game against Ireland, he scored a wonderful side volley.

Today, Baloteli bravely stood in front of the penalty point. Ba Shen was like this, sometimes angry, sometimes crazy, whether angry or crazy, no one can stop him.

I just don't know whether Ba Shen will be angry or crazy in the next game against Germany.

Through the penalty shootout, the Italians defeated England and entered the semi-finals of the European Cup. After the game, Prandelli said that his team deserved to be promoted: "We played a very great game. We deserved to win. The whole team was very patient and created many opportunities. We did play very well. I We showed faith and confidence in the game. I want to praise the spirit of the whole team. Not only did they play well, but they also did a good job in limiting England's counterattack. In the end, England can only attack with long passes, which is much easier for us.

Speaking of Italy's next opponent, Germany, Prandelli said: "Germany is definitely the favorite to win the championship, but let's enjoy the joy now, and then we will start thinking about Germany's game."

Pirlo, the core of the Italian team, also said in an interview: "We have known that we can control the game. England is a very defensive team. We have seen their performance in the group stage. We just regret that it took so long to beat them. We I could have solved the battle in 90 minutes!"

Speaking of the semi-finals, Pirlo said: "Of course, we have begun to want to play against Germany, because we have known for a long time that if we advance, they will be our next opponent. Now we must prepare for the next game and move on until the championship, of course! That's why we came here."

Italians celebrate victory, while Englishmen have to taste the bitter fruit of defeat on their way home.

England's coach Hodgson also seemed very helpless about the penalty defeat: "We fell on the penalty spot again, which may be really fate. We performed very well in the game, but it's a pity that luck is not on our side today."

Gerard, the captain of the England team, is also full of sadness about this result. This is likely to be the last international competition he participated in on behalf of England: "We did not exert all our strength in the game. This is a sad result. We should have gone further, but fell again. At the penalty point, I don't believe in fate, but today, we are really unlucky!"

Gerard doesn't believe in fate, but this is already an unavoidable topic. Italy used to have a bit of a nightmare, but now this nightmare has been passed on to the English.

The English want to go further, but they have to end the journey of this European Cup in this way. Everything is fate!