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Chapter 179 The Premier League Years: The Italian-Spanish War Begins

The Italian national team's hotel in Vienna, Austria, is located on the banks of the Danube, less than a 10-minute drive from the Ernst Happel Stadium, where the quarter-final match against Spain took place.

The morning sun, through the thick glass, casts a blurred color in the room.

Open the window to the south and look at the famous river. The blue Danube passes through the urban area of ​​Vienna quietly, just like the cells of music that are always permeating this ancient city. Where the Danube flows, it seems to be On the pulse of the whole city, there are immortal famous songs played one after another.

A gust of wind blows, refreshing, the cloudy sky outside, the dark clouds are also very low, Vienna, which has been sultry for a few days, is finally filled with thin rain, the rain has not yet fallen, but it seems that the south can From the moist air, I breathed the taste of Johann Strauss Jr.'s famous blue Danube waltz...

*******
The international players of the Italian national team gathered in the hall, waiting for the arrival of the coaching staff. The desire for victory could not be concealed in everyone's eyes.

Xiang Nan rubbed his head, knowing that he was not included in the starting lineup, at first, there was an unconcealable disappointment in his heart, like a cat's paw scratching his heart, but the list could no longer be changed, and Donadoni couldn't find it. Explain any reason to Nan.

However, he has regained his composure now. Xiang Nan's tenacity in his bones made his nerves tense. He didn't know if he would have the chance to play, but he had to keep saying to himself all the time— —
'As long as there is the slightest opportunity, we must seize it! !Absolutely cannot admit defeat! ! ! '

Donadoni's figure appeared at the elevator entrance. The head coach of the Italian national team glanced at his players and nodded at Buffon, so he didn't speak, and started walking towards the hotel entrance, but Xiang Nan didn't pay attention. Seeing that, behind the anxious back, Donadoni's eyes hesitated for a moment on himself, and then returned to normal.

*******
Outside the hotel, too many fans have gathered. The enthusiasm of Italian fans is world-renowned. Countless flags are flying, and everyone is shouting. The heads of the players are in the slightly rainy weather. Swaying, like a paper puppet, only a little more angry.

Seeing the players coming out, the fans became excited. With neat slogans and crazy applause, they played a symphony of farewell and congratulations.

When Xiang Nan heard his name, many fans held up their big No. 15 jerseys and kept raising their arms, hoping to attract Xiang Nan's attention.

Seeing Xiang Nan looking this way, the fans became even more enthusiastic, with noisy voices and cheerful movements.

Xiang Nan noticed that there were some fans among them. They should be international students in Vienna or overseas Chinese. Holding the blue No. 15 jersey in their hands, Xiang Nan's eyes became hot at this moment. He knew that among these people, , have never even watched the ball, or are not fans, but they came, just because of the identity of the Chinese in the south, the feeling of blood, and the heart-to-heart wandering outside...

Xiang Nan became excited, eager to play and score goals, and he knew that today's Ernst-HAPPEL-STADION is not just for himself In addition to his own team and teammates, there is also a group of special supporters. The stage of the Ernst-HAPPEL-STADION is destined not to be a one-act play...

The team's bus slowly left the hotel and headed towards the Ernst-HAPPEL-STADION.On the way, the beautiful scenery of Vienna could no longer attract Xiangnan's attention. He became silent, his blood flow accelerated, and the enthusiasm for fighting was spreading...

The speed of the bus is very slow, and there are fans chasing from time to time along the way. It is getting closer and closer to the Ernst Happel Stadium. You can already see the spectacular appearance of this UEFA 5-star stadium from a distance. Yes, the cheers and noise of the fans are getting stronger and stronger.

The footsteps of the battlefield are getting closer! !
*******
June 2008, 6, Austria, Vienna, Ernst Happel Stadium (Ernst-HAPPEL-STADION).

After a few days of sweltering heat, the sky in Vienna finally began to be pattered with rain, covering this famous European city that began in the Middle Ages in a piece of silver.On the green turf of the Ernst Happel Stadium, a splash of bright color was applied.

Ernst Happel Stadium is a five-star stadium officially registered by UEFA. It is located in Prater, the largest tourist area in Vienna, next to the Danube River, with pleasant scenery.

In the 1994-95 season, the final of the UEFA Champions League between AC Milan and Ajax was held here. This can also be said to be the most glorious mark of the Ernst Happel Stadium before.

The Ernst-HAPPEL-STADION in Vienna, which can accommodate 51718 people, was packed, of which about 3 fans were from the Iberian Peninsula, and fans from the Apennines got less than 2 tickets. ticket.

The stadium has long been half blue ocean, half fiery magma, the blue ocean is the sea blue of Italy, and the fiery magma is the hot red of Spain...

The atmosphere in the stadium can only be described as crazy, everyone is roaring almost hysterically, cheering for their team.

The game is about to start. On the big screen at the Ernst Happel Stadium, the starting lineups of both sides were displayed first.

Spain (4-4-2):
Goalkeeper: 1- Casillas;
Defense: 15-Ramos, 5-Puyol, 4-Marchena, 11-Capdevila;
Midfielder: 6-Iniesta, 19-Sena, 8-Xavi, 21-Silva;
Forwards: 7-Villa, 9-Torres

Italy (4-3-1-2):
Goalkeeper: 1-Buffon;

Defense: 19- Zambrotta, 2- Panucci, 4- Chiellini, 3- Grosso

;

Midfielder: 22-Aquilani, 10-De Rossi, 13-Ambrosini/20-Perotta;
Forwards: 18-Cassano, 9-Tony
"Donadoni put Andre on the bench, God only knows if his head is burned out." Tomasi's dissatisfaction erupted before the game even started.

If Xiangnan has the most die-hard believers in this stadium, Mr. Tomasi must be counted as one, and the other one is Thomasy's partner Justin.

"Except for the suspended Pirlo who was replaced by Aquilani and Perotta who came back, Donadoni used the same lineup as in the victory over France."

With the whistle of the referee, the focus of the battle between Italy and Spain kicked off.

*******
Spain kicked off the ball first, and the matadors in the Iberian Peninsula used their skillful cooperation. After five or six kicks, the ball reached Iniesta's feet, and the Catalan took the ball a few steps later. , found that facing the Italians' iron-clad defense line, there was really no chance, so they had to choose to transfer the ball...

After the Spaniard's first tentative attack, the scene entered a stalemate. The matadors found that facing the Mediterranean octopus, which hides all its tentacles, there is really no place to start...

This is the portrayal of the next game, the Spaniard is doing his best to attack, and the Italian's defensive concept makes the Spaniard hate it, and there is nothing he can do.

Xiang Nan sat silently on the bench, and the thin raindrops hit the ceiling of the bench, making a rustling sound.

Ever since he learned that he was not able to start, Xiang Nan's restless mood calmed down, but only Xiang Nan knew that this repressed and refrigerated fiery heart would wait for a more violent moment of beating! !
Spain was more mature and stable than the Italians imagined. Facing the situation of being unable to attack for a long time, under Harvey's command and dispatch, the entire offensive system did not fall into the irritable state that Spain had before.

Xavi is the actual leader of the Spanish midfielder. His position is relatively erratic, and he often changes positions with Iniesta. The cooperation between the two Barcelona players is very tacit, which makes it very difficult for Ambrosini to defend in the middle. .

And Silva's running position is also very smart, changing his position from time to time, which makes Perotta dare not let go of the attack, and puts a lot of energy on the defense.

In fact, Perotta is not a suitable No. 9 and a half. He does not have the skills of Baggio, and he does not contribute enough to the team's mobilization and command in offense. On the contrary, he performed well in defense, but I don't know. Is this Donadoni's tactical arrangement! !

In the 19th minute of the game, Harvey was in possession of the ball in the midfield. Facing Ambrosini's marking, the Barcelona midfielder made several clean and beautiful coherent movements without the slightest sloppiness, shaking Ambrosini away, and then With a cross, the ball reaches Iniesta's feet.

The darling of Catalonia didn't wait for the ball to stop, and directly rubbed the instep with a half-high ball. The ball reached Silva's feet, and the Valencia midfielder didn't wait for the ball to land. At the front of the restricted area——
"It's dangerous!!!" Tomasi's terrified roar resounded at the Ernst Happel Stadium! !

A red figure, like a swift leopard, appeared on the goal line of the ball...
(End of this chapter)