rear number ten

Chapter 180 We Need You, Victor
In the second round of the group stage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the South Korean national team suffered a 2-4 defeat at the feet of the Algerian national team in the last Group H match.Declare the end of this round of the group stage.

And the Portuguese national team where our protagonist Victor belongs to, after the two rounds of the group stage, is different from some "veteran powerful" national teams.And what about the Portuguese national team?

The first game was a 0-4 defeat at the feet of the German national team, and in the second game, almost all football media agreed that this was a game, "Although the first game suffered a disastrous defeat, morale plummeted, and another The Portuguese national team, which has such unfavorable prerequisites as the starting forward and main full-back injured, and the main central defender's red card suspension, should still be able to beat the US national team, which is not as strong as itself. Even the US national team is considered a strong team, of course, That's in North America."

In the second match between the Portuguese national team and the US national team, in the 5th minute after the start of the game, Nani's goal seemed to "confirm" the "correctness" of these ball critics. , In the next game, the Portuguese national team not only did not score any more goals.Instead, the U.S. national team scored two consecutive goals in the second half.

Among them, the second goal of the US national team occurred in the 81st minute of the game.Such a goal at this time seems to tell fans all over the world.The Portuguese national team, which has one of the best players in the world, is about to be eliminated from this World Cup.Still leaving this World Cup in a "shameful" way of losing two consecutive games after the start of the group stage.

As for the Portuguese national team's last game against the Ghana national team, if it ends with such a score, who cares about the next group match between the Portuguese national team and the Ghana national team? What about rounds?Maybe except for the fans of the Portuguese national team.

However, seeing the 4 minutes of stoppage time given by the fourth referee, it may be because of the two goals of the US national team in the second half and both sides used up all their substitutions. Such a long injury time.And just when the stoppage time entered the final moment.

The Virgin Mary did not abandon her people who believed in her.The pass of Victor, the protagonist of our book, is joined by a header from C Ronaldo, captain of the Portuguese national team and one of the best players in the world.In the first two games, C-Ronaldo, who was also repeatedly wasting scoring opportunities in this game, not only completed the "salvation." He also saved the Portuguese national team.

The header broke through the gate of the US national team goalkeeper Howard.The score was tied at 2 to 2. This enabled the Portuguese national team to gain their first points in this World Cup.And it also pulled the Portuguese national team out of the "abyss" of being eliminated from this World Cup.

Even if "death penalty" was changed to "death sentence with reprieve".

Yes, such a point is nothing more than a "respite" for the Portuguese national team.After all, look at the group where the Portuguese national team is now.The German national team has 4 points for one win and one tie, ranking first because of the advantage of goal difference.The U.S. national team also has one win and one tie, but it ranks second because of the disadvantage of goal difference.Next No. 3 is the Ghana national team with one loss, one draw and 1 point, and No. 4 is the Portuguese national team that lost too much goal difference because of the terrible loss in the first game.

In the next third game, the Portuguese national team will face the challenge of the Ghana national team, while the German national team and the US national team, which are now number one and No.2 in the group stage, will be "fighting against each other." And such a game, the Portuguese national team must definitely win. If it is not a victory, but only a draw or even a loss, then the Portuguese national team must bid farewell to this World Cup.

But what if the match between the German national team and the US national team ended in a draw?Whether it's a 0-0 amicable ending between the two sides, or a big-score draw that wowed the neutral fans?Each side gets one point, and both sides accumulate five points.So, even if the Portuguese national team can "beat" the Ghanaian national team by a big score in the last game, it will be useless.

Therefore, the third game of the group stage in front of the Portuguese national team undoubtedly seemed so difficult to judge.Yes, even if the main players of the Portuguese national team are all out, they can win this game against the Ghana national team, even if it is a big score.But once the direct competitors, the German national team and the US national team, which now have four points, play a draw, then the Portuguese national team's game will be "useless."

However, if the Portuguese national team sends most of the substitute players up to "feel" the atmosphere of the World Cup regardless of the outcome.If the German national team wins, or if the US national team wins.So wouldn't these two teams have a team that still has four points.In this case, the players and coaches of the Portuguese national team will die of regret in their hearts.But there is no regret medicine in the world.

And it makes all the players and coaches of the Portuguese national team, especially the head coach of the Portuguese national team Paul Bento, feel that it is very difficult to make a decision for the next game against the Ghana national team.It is still the last game of the group stage. The kick-off times of the Portuguese national team and the Ghana national team, as well as the German national team and the US national team, are exactly the same.

Therefore, even if you want to see the opponent's outcome before making a decision, it has become impossible.However, the players and coaches of the Portuguese national team, have they forgotten that they will face the Ghana national team in the next game, and now they have one loss, one draw and one point.Moreover, their goal difference is still superior to the Portuguese national team.And even if the results of African football cannot be compared with those of Europe, most of the players of this Ghanaian national team also play in major European football leagues.

Just ignore it, but this may be good, at least it shows that even the Portuguese national team has not won a game yet.But they are still full of confidence in themselves.If you don't even have the confidence to win, then it will be even more difficult to win the game.

However, the Portuguese national team must now find a way to solve the first problem.That is the choice of the Portuguese national team's center forward among the 4-3-3 three forwards in the starting lineup of the Portuguese national team against the Ghana national team.After all, among the centers of the Portuguese national team, Almeida and Postiga, who can score goals, have already "entered" the injury list.Even they failed to score.However, at least whether it is Almeida Stiga or not, the threat to the opponent's defense players is much greater than the threat to other players in this position on the squad list of other Portuguese national teams.For example, in these two games, Edel was replaced many times.

Therefore, after the training of the following day, after Victor and C-Ronaldo, and only these two, practiced for a while.The two chatted casually while packing up the footballs that had been kicked everywhere by themselves.

And suddenly, C-Ronaldo immediately opened his mouth and said to Victor:
"Vito, can you play center for the next game?"

"Center?" Victor didn't realize it at first, and asked in a puzzled tone.Then, Victor seemed to remember something immediately, stopped packing his things, and then looked at C-Ronaldo who was looking at him.Then he opened his mouth and asked in an unbelievable tone:
"Chris, do you want me to play the center of the three forwards in the 4-3-3?" After Victor finished asking, he laughed involuntarily, and then said:
"No way, I must have misheard. You're kidding me, Chris."

"No, Vito, I'm not joking." C-Ronaldo also stopped his hands, then looked at Victor seriously, and then said:
"I discussed it with Mr. Bento. The next game is our life and death battle. You know, neither Hugo (Almeida) nor Elder (Postiga) can play in the next game. And the other players," said C-Ronaldo subconsciously shrugged.Made a "you understand" expression, and then went on to say:

"Other players, I am not saying that they are not capable enough, at least, they cannot grasp the hard-won scoring opportunities like Hugo or Elder."

Then, speaking of this, C-Ronaldo's eyes looked at Victor, and Victor seemed to feel the gaze in these eyes, as if he was "placed" by C-Ronaldo like a heavy trust.

As expected, what C-Ronaldo said to Victor next was:

"And Victor, do you still remember that when you were at Juventus, as a striker, you attacked the city, ignored the opponent's defenders and goalkeepers, and then kept scoring goals, and then ran on the pitch, feeling Are you watching the cheers of the fans? And now, you have this ability, not only for yourself to score goals, but more importantly, for our team and for Portugal."

Of course, Victor is not that fledgling young player, the "big brother" in his team, the captain's blood is hot as soon as he says a word, and he directly takes over the task without hesitation.And Victor then looked at C-Ronaldo.And C-Ronaldo seemed to understand the meaning of Victor's gaze, and then said with a smile:
"Vito, I know what you mean, you just want to ask me why I take on the role of the center forward." No need for Victor to say, nodding can already represent Victor.And then, C-Ronaldo immediately put his hand on Victor's shoulder, and then said:

"It's very simple Vito, because your scoring ability is currently the best in the Portuguese national team. So, please, we need you."

(End of this chapter)