road to victory

Chapter 158 League Cup Final

After a short while of silence, some smart players have already reflected, "We have not achieved an undefeated record." The first one to say is Papan, Vincent likes when veterans say what they say traits.

"Yes, that group of people on the opposite side ruined our efforts for a season. Originally, we had no chance to take revenge this season. But I didn't expect God to give us another chance. What will you do?"

"revenge!"

"Very well, I don't need you guys to fight with them, just remember, don't give them any chance, I mean anything!"

"Understood!" The voice was loud, and it seemed that the fighting spirit had been almost activated.

"Play!" Fan Shang ordered, and the players walked out of the locker room one by one, waiting for the start of the game.Fan Shang still stood at the door, high-fiving every player, "Don't give them a chance!"

"Hi everyone, welcome to the final of the 1996-1997 French League Cup. Now we are at the Parc des Princes in Paris. This game is jointly explained by Charles Pideau and Mr. Platini." c** ***Of course, such an important game is going to be broadcast live, and they still sent a combination of Charbido and Platini.

"Hello everyone," Platini's words have not been much.

"Just now I got the live broadcast plan for the next week. It's really interesting." Sherbito said with a smile, "We will broadcast three consecutive games in this position, and the most incredible thing is that all three games It's a Bordeaux game!"

"I feel the same way. The two teams are obviously defensive counterattacks today, especially Strasbourg. The game of Ke 04 will be the same." Sherbito prayed.

"Yeah." Platini also sighed. It seemed that he was very tired from that game. "Let's take a look at Bordeaux's lineup. Throughout this season, the other positions are relatively stable. The only one is the position of right back, I counted, Vincent has already used five or six starting positions.”

"Hehe, I saw it too, we can finally settle in one place for a while." Platini responded.

After listening to the starting lineups of the two teams, Platini began to comment, "From the perspective of the starting lineups of the two teams, this game should be very dull. One will send out five defenders, and the other will be defensive counterattacks regardless of the formation. One side makes a mistake first, otherwise the two teams will break the other's goal and wait for a penalty shootout."

Although the two teams are both defensive counterattacks, the forwards of the two teams are ranked first in the scorer list in Ligue [-]. Papin is now second only to Jivas in the scorer list, and the gap is only two goals. The ball, and Staley of Strasbourg is also tied for fourth in the Ligue [-] scorer list. The number of goals between him and Papin is three.The other two Bordeaux forwards Shevchenko and Wiltord, one is because they are always fouled in the penalty area, and the other is because of the suspension in the middle, so they did not appear on the scorer list, but their goals are also are approaching the double-digit mark.Therefore, the offensive power of the two teams cannot be denied just because of their defensive counterattack tactics.

"Today Bordeaux still has its own traditional 442 formation, goalkeeper Chilavert, four defenders, Lizarazu, Song, Gamara and Sagnol, midfielder Pires, Dacourt, Makelele and Ned Wade, striker Vincent sent veterans Papin and Shevchenko today."

"Now it's the kick-off. Strasbourg kicks off first. They pass back to the backcourt. Michel's drive is the same as you predicted. This game is to see whose defense is more solid."

"Huh?" Charles Biduo began to look for the information in his hand, "Indeed, it seems that Fan Shang is a little dissatisfied with the candidate for this position. The young player Sagnol who played today was recruited by Fan Shang from Saint-Etienne in winter. Yes, it is said that it didn’t cost much, but today’s daring to use him in the League Cup final also shows the strength of this young player.”

"Well, that's right, well, the players from both sides have come out of his player tunnel, let's take a look at the starting lineups of the two teams today." Charles Biduo picked up a piece of paper, "Strasbourg has a lineup today. The formation of 532, the goalkeeper is Slovak Wenser, the five defenders from left to right are Laschke, Ismail, Dogon, Suhoparek and Okpala, and the three midfielders Mazrich , Batikle and Cawley, and the two strikers are Norma and Staley."

In the 8th minute, Bordeaux launched a counterattack from the left wing. After Pires passed through the midfield smoothly, he was blocked by the Nigerian full-back Okpala. The Nigerian international followed Pires. Following Pires, although Pires was still dribbling the ball forward, out of the corner of his eye he caught Lizarazu who was going forward and sent the ball forward decisively.At this time, Lizarazu was facing Ismail to replace him. Ismail's huge body almost covered Lizarazu, but his slow turning became his lifeline. Lizarazu used a crotch-piercing Humiliated him with extraordinary success.It's just that when he entered the penalty area to shoot, he was blocked from the bottom line by his former teammate Duo Gang.

As the two said, none of the two teams went to attack today. After getting the ball, they are now running non-stop in the middle and backcourt, and then see the opportunity to quickly make a long pass to find their own forward.

Duo Gang is a very good central defender, with height, body, and good consciousness. Fan Shang actually didn't want to let him go last year, but thinking of his 32-year-old age, he still reluctantly gave up.Vincent realized that the veteran's defense today would cause huge troubles for Bordeaux.

The two teams come and go, although there are opportunities, but most of them end at the back line, and only occasionally let the goalkeeper move.

Bordeaux's most threatening shot in the first half came in the 35th minute. When Shevchenko was taking the ball outside the penalty area, he was knocked down by Batikler from the side. Chilavert stepped forward and took the free kick. It turned quickly, but just when the audience thought they were going to score a goal, the ball accidentally hit the intersection of the post and the crossbar.

After missing this opportunity, Strasbourg was not willing to be lonely. In the 43rd minute, he got a corner kick. It was Dogon who jumped high in the crowd and scored a header. Chilavert touched the ball with his fingertips. Then there was a "dang" sound, the ball hit the crossbar heavily, and after bouncing back into the field, it was destroyed by Sagnol's big foot standing next to the goal post.

(End of this chapter)