From the man behind the football king to the football king.

Chapter 163 Heavy Pressure

Santos told the Portuguese players in front of him very seriously and cautiously: "It is impossible to predict how they will adjust the small details, but we must do two things well."

"First, we must press faster and more fiercely to put pressure on the French team's centre-back. Neither Mangala nor Varane felt much pressure in the first half. We must do this in the second half. It’s been strengthened.”

"Second, we need to be faster when we counterattack, but at the same time, we must also ensure that our entire offensive and defensive system is compact and not disjointed. The latter is the premise and the basis for us not to concede goals. We must do it well."

During the training camp in Portugal, Portugal has been practicing techniques and tactics to ensure that the overall offensive and defensive system is not disjointed. This has always been the focus of Santos' training, and the players also understand that the head coach attaches great importance to this.

"The goal at the end of the first half was precisely because of our speed."

Hearing Santos' words, everyone turned to look at Ronaldo in unison. Pepe and others all smiled, as if to say, you have been praised.

Santos never praises people easily in the locker room. For him to say this is actually a compliment.

After saying this, Santos basically finished explaining what he wanted to explain.

"Everyone, although the midfield score of 1:1 does give us reason to be satisfied, we must not take it lightly. You must know that this is the Stade de France and the home court of the French team."

"You have to know that tonight we are facing the strongest team in Europe. Whether it is a draw or a one-goal lead, it is not enough to ensure that we win, so we must concentrate all our energy and focus. Play every minute of the game."

As the captain, Ronaldo stood up immediately and nodded heavily.

The other players also stood up, nodded, or responded.

………………

The game restarts in the second half.

The French team did not make many changes, the personnel did not adjust, and the tactics basically continued the performance of the first half, but Portugal was obviously different from the first half.

If Portugal's tactics in the first half were to stabilize the defense and familiarize themselves with the French team's game rhythm, then Portugal's tactics in the second half were to adapt to the opponent, seize the opportunity, rush forward, and bite the opponent's throat!

Just one minute into the second half, Portugal began to press forward step by step.

Cabaye fouled Bruno and gave Portugal a free kick opportunity in the frontcourt. Ronaldo directly chose to hit the goal, but was saved by Mandanda, resolving a crisis.

But Portugal's pressing continued, and the game quickly entered Portugal's rhythm. The French team's offense was curbed and it was difficult to open up the situation.

The wings of Griezmann and Valbuena were restrained by Eliseu and Cedric in the first half. This was equivalent to cutting off two arms of the French team, and the attack in the center was blocked by Tia. Intercepted by Go and Gomez.

As for the two full-backs, Sagna is responsible for guarding Ronaldo, while Evra is restrained by Nani.

It can be said that the French team's entire offense was contained by Portugal. It couldn't open up the situation in the first half, and it was even worse in the second half.

………………

Deschamps is obviously also having a headache because the team's offense has been unable to open up the situation. Throughout the second half, he was pacing back and forth in the coaching area, giving the impression of being very nervous and anxious.

Ten minutes later, he finally couldn't wait anymore and took the lead and made the first substitution of the game. Payet replaced Valbuena.

Bruno had a feeling on the court that the ball was still at the feet of the French team, but the game was controlled by Portugal.

The reason why the pass-and-control play can cause the opponent to collapse is that it must create a threat.

If there is no ball possession, but there is no way to create a threat, excessive possession of the ball will be very dangerous, which will change the mentality of the side in possession of the ball.

In particular, the French team is not as good at passing and controlling the ball as Barcelona and Manchester City. In fact, Deschamps' team is originally good at defensive counterattacks. Today, it was just chasing a duck and was forced to play passing and controlling at home.

Since the start of the second half, the two sides played very stalemate, neither of them could create chances, but the atmosphere of the game became more and more oppressive.

Bruno knows that this is a test for both sides. Whoever can't bear it or makes a mistake first will lose!

The Portuguese side still unswervingly implemented the coach's tactics because it worked.

………………

In the 65th minute, the French team made its second substitution adjustment of the game.

Bruno was on the court and saw the fourth official on the sideline calling the substitution sign. He didn't even need to see who was replacing whom. He concluded that the French team was already anxious and Deschamps was in complete chaos because Portugal had failed once in a row. No substitutions have been made yet!

Substitutions have only one purpose, which is to change the situation of the game.

Similar to Deschamps' two consecutive substitutions, the opponent did not respond once. Everyone can see that Portugal has an advantage both tactically and psychologically.

And here, Ronaldo's goal at the last moment of the first half is the key. Without that goal, the French team would not be in a hurry at all.

Deschamps replaced Cabaye with Giannik this time.

Replacing the midfielder with a forward is definitely a desperate move!

Santos also had to make adjustments, with Thiago forced to sit back to better protect the defense.

Portugal still has no substitutions!

………………

After the substitution, the French team intended to launch a fierce attack, but in the end they still could not find an effective way to break through the Portuguese defense. Instead, their own hidden dangers were finally exposed.

<divclass="contentadv">In the 70th minute, French center back Varane was forced to pass back to the goalkeeper under Danny's pressure.

"Beep!"

With a crisp whistle, the referee quickly ran towards the French team's penalty area.

This sudden whistle stunned the players on both sides of the court.

Bruno was about to run back after seeing Varane pass back, because he thought Mandanda might take a big shot.

Only center Danny of Portugal continued to put pressure on the French team. But at this time, Danny had a look of surprise on his face. He spread his hands with a smile and made faces at his Portuguese teammates.

what happened?

"Oh my gosh, that's a mistake from Mandanda!"

"Under Danny's pressure, Varane passed back to the penalty area with his right foot, and Danny immediately put pressure on Mandanda. The French goalkeeper directly picked up the ball with his hands. This was a return pass. Mistake.”

"A very low-level mistake, from Mandanda!"

………………

The live TV footage was also shown to the head coach's bench on the sidelines. Deschamps seemed very wronged.

"Deschamps should be very depressed now. He didn't expect that this originally was not a dangerous pass, but the result was that the team gave the opponent an indirect free kick in the penalty area. This is a very bad situation. "

"Of course, we must also see that the French team was under great pressure under Portugal's tenacious pressing. Varane's return pass was not strong enough. Mandanda was forced to step forward to respond, but Danny was The pressing pressure put a lot of pressure on him, so he obviously forgot the rules at the first moment and just picked up the ball with his hands."

The entire Stade de France also booed, obviously dissatisfied with the team's stupid mistake.

Mandanda also hung his head, looking very depressed.

"The referee awarded an indirect free kick in the penalty area. This is a great opportunity for Portugal."

"Of course, the French team does not have no chance, because this is a position on the right side of the penalty area, almost perpendicular to the edge of the small penalty area, and on the same level as the penalty spot. It is slightly away from the goal, so it is still a bit difficult to shoot."

"According to the rules, an indirect free kick in the penalty area must be touched by two players at least twice."

………………

Everyone in Portugal was full of surprises, and they all gathered in the French team's penalty area.

The referee placed the ball and began to signal that the French team could place a wall in front of the small penalty area.

This position is on the right side and is definitely within shooting range. If it is handled well, it can help Portugal win another victory and reverse the opponent. This will be a painful blow to the French team.But it is still very difficult to score this goal.

"This position is difficult to deal with." Nani looked at it and said with a frown.

"It's on the right side, and the human wall is relatively close. If you want to open the door directly, you must go in an arc. You can't go around both sides of the human wall. You can only go over your head. This is quite demanding. Danny said, scratching his chin.

Ronaldo nodded and said: "The most important thing is this angle. If a right-footed player is playing, he can only hit the near corner. If you look at Mandanda's position, it is obviously aimed at our near corner. If he really plays like this, ten Eighty-nine of them were thrown out."

"Ronaldo is right, only left-footed players can play." Pepe also agreed with it.

Indirect free kicks in the penalty area may seem very threatening, but in fact they may not be, and they are equally difficult.

"Bruno, what do you think?" Ronaldo found that Bruno had not made a sound and was always observing the wall of people.

"It's nothing, I think I can still give it a try." Bruno said with a smile.

When Portuguese player Bruno said this, everyone's eyes lit up.

"Nani, are you okay?" Bruno walked over and asked with a smile.

The number one free kick taker in Portugal is Cristiano Ronaldo, but what he is good at is elevator kicks which are not suitable for him, so someone else can only take it.

After Nani looked at it, he shook his head and said: "If I were to fight, I would probably have to go to the front of the penalty area, otherwise I wouldn't be sure to get around the wall."

They are all professional players. After playing football for so many years, they all know what level of football they can play.

After everyone heard this, they all looked at Bruno.

Everyone knows that he is proficient in both left and right feet, almost turning his left foot into a right foot.