ball magic

On December 2001, 12, Inter Milan ushered in the newly promoted Chievo at home.

However, it would be impolite to describe the team as newly promoted at this time.

Because Chievo is not only the biggest dark horse in Serie A this season, it can even be said to be the darkest horse in the five major leagues!

This team, founded in 1929, was promoted to Serie A for the first time since its establishment.

Before the start of the season, everyone thought that this team would fall into the second division after just one round, but who would have thought that this small team would achieve such amazing results under the leadership of their head coach Luis Del Neri .

In the current Serie A standings, Inter Milan leads Chievo by 6 points and ranks first.

If Inter Milan loses this game, the point difference with Chievo will be reduced to 3 points, and if they win this game, it will be expanded to 9 points, which will further consolidate their position in the standings.

So this is a game related to 6 precious points, and whether Chievo can get out of the Meazza Stadium, or even win, is also the biggest thing to watch before the game.

But as the date that everyone knows approaches, this game is given more meaning.

Not to mention the neutral fans who don't think it's a big deal to watch the excitement, such as fans of AC Milan and Juventus, they also began to cheer for Chievo.

The reason why the fans of these two teams will cheer for Chievo is not because of the simplicity of "the enemy of the enemy is a friend", but because of the Golden Globe Award.

Although the winners of the Golden Globe Awards have not yet been announced, the Golden Globe Awards are also selected by media practitioners from all continents.

Since they are selected by people, the Uncrowned Kings always have a way to get the news they want from various news channels, and if they aggregate the news from all parties, won't they get the result they want?

In addition to the media showing their abilities, the major gaming companies also have their own news channels, otherwise how would they adjust their odds in a timely manner?

So through various media, various gambling companies, the fans have already predicted the result——

Raphael is very likely to defeat Irving and win the Golden Globe for the third time!

And this time, if you take it again, it will be three times in a row!

There is no doubt that if Rafael can really win the third Ballon d'Or, both his fans and Inter Milan fans will rejoice.

But in the eyes of fans of AC Milan and Juventus, isn't the happiness of the rivals our pain?

It was enough to depress them to see their core winning prizes, but what made them even more depressing was the chain reaction triggered by Rafael getting the cup!

If Raphael wins the cup, he will tie two records and create two more records at the same time——

Tied with Cruyff, Platini and Van Basten's record, becoming the player with the most Ballon d'Or awards.

After becoming Platini, the player who has won the Ballon d'Or for three consecutive years.

Become the youngest player in football history to win three consecutive Ballon d'Ors.

Become the South American player with the most Ballon d'Or awards in football history.

As long as there are enough sets, a bunch of unpopular records can be piled up, but the records related to the Golden Globe Awards, no matter how unpopular they are, make people envy and hate!

Van Basten is an AC Milan legend.

Platini is a Juventus star.

So fans of Milan and Juventus have been particularly depressed recently.

Although they also know that cheering for Chievo will not change the fact that Raphael won the award, but they are not happy. Why should they make Inter Milan fans happy?

So before the start of this 6-point game, they became Chievo fans, hoping that this dark horse in the league can be black to the end!

It was this kind of pre-match atmosphere that made this game that no one cared about at the beginning of the season become a battle of focus.

The battle is currently underway, but not all players are serious about it.

Because it is playing at home, the players just drive to the stadium to assemble.

A certain player didn't come early, and he didn't change his clothes properly when he came to the locker room. Instead, he set his sights on the three Golden Globe candidates.

His eyes flicked over them.

Under the silent gaze of other melon-eating teammates, this player seemed to have made up his mind and walked towards Rafael.

This made many people applaud in their hearts.

That's right, between offending 3 people and offending 1 person, of course you have to choose the latter.

A certain player also swaggered to Raphael at this time. In the anticipation of everyone, he said carelessly: "Have you changed the shin guard? Why is it still so white? It hasn't changed much."

After he said this, everyone except Juan, including the teaching assistants and staff, looked at him like a fool.

Well, everyone.

Raphael's response was also overwhelming.

Because he put away his shin pads almost reflexively, and said with a blank expression: "I can send you other styles, but this one can't."

This made everyone look at the shin guard.

The other players are mostly curious, because Rafael is not stingy, but his care also shows that it is special.

The Argentine internationals who knew the inside story, as well as Juan, looked at the back of a certain player suspiciously.

Does this guy know what's "special" about this shin guard too?

Otherwise, why did you just mention this?

A certain player also showed his white teeth at this time, and proudly said: "I want something more than shin guards. Of course, you can also tell me if you have won the Golden Globe, so I can do it again." I've knocked you a present."

Oh, it turned out to be laying the groundwork for this. Everyone looked at Raphael in a second.

But under the watchful eyes of everyone, Raphael shook his head at someone and said, "I don't know, at least not yet."

He hasn't been notified yet?

This made everyone in the locker room look at Figo and Irving.

The former just smiled slightly, while the latter spread his hands generously, obviously they didn't know about it either.

Well, everyone thought gloomily, at worst, wait a little longer.

At this time, Lao Tuo also came over, encouraging everyone, and there was only one meaning in his words——

The whole world knows that we are the most successful team with the best players. If we lose to a team that was still relegated last season, where will we put our face?

Are we going to be willing to be with Milan and Juventus?

These words are extremely poisonous, and the effect is also extremely explosive.

How can the players be unhappy when the head coach thinks they are a notch above their rivals?

Raphael looked at Lao Tuo at the moment with novelty and amazement, because he didn't expect Lao Tuo to be so good at critical moments.

Can play so much that it reminds him of Robson.

The atmosphere in the locker room was very warm, and Toshack also breathed a sigh of relief.

As the dates of the Golden Globe Awards and the World Player of the Year awards approached, he also felt more and more deeply what is called "happiness distress".

And his troubles are still in three parts.

However, what bothered Lao Tuo the most was not the harassment from the media, but the mentality of his three players.

He was also a top player when he played, and he played for Liverpool coached by two famous coaches, Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly. Of course, he knew the extreme thirst of top players for honor.

However, there is only one cup, how do the three people divide it?

It is destined that only one of them can become a winner, and the other two can only become losers.

How would he handle such a complicated situation?

He... has no experience...

At this time, he found his EX.

Because compared to him, his predecessor has too much experience.

As a result, his ex said to him like this: "Actually, I haven't taken care of this issue. I will praise him in private for the one who won the trophy. If I didn't get it, I will send him a text message to comfort him, or find When the time is right, give him a hug and chat with him.

By the way, your teammate Dalglish has won 3 Champions Leagues, but he can only run for Platini, I think this is also a good consolation material..."

Well, his ex would be a perfect ex without that last sentence.

What is "your teammate Dalglish didn't get it"!

Isn't this mocking me?

After all, I am not as good as Dalglish!

Of course, complaints belong to complaints, but since the predecessor pointed out the direction, Lao Tuo let go of his heart.

Isn't it just coaxing?

I coax the whole team together!

Seeing that the locker room is doing well now, Lao Tuo feels relieved.

But when the game just started, his heart was completely chilled.

It's cooler than a cold rainy night at Anfield!

They gave gifts at the beginning, and now they are one goal behind!

Chievo obviously came prepared. After the opening, he took advantage of Ashley Cole's clearance error and volleyed the goal vigorously. At this time, it was less than 10 seconds before the kick-off. This is also the fastest goal in the history of Serie A. one.

In less than 10 seconds, the fans on both sides may not have sat down, and the ball just went in!

Toldo was very depressed after losing the ball, but Toshack on the sidelines was even more depressed.

After all, when he was in the locker room, he didn't expect the game to unfold in this way.

After taking the lead by accident, Chievo's coach Del Neri told the players very pragmatically, defend, defend firmly!

If they can defend until the last moment, that is, if they get 6 points, they can tie Inter Milan in the standings, and even hope to enjoy the top spot in Serie A when the winter break comes.

What, what if you get caught?

Fans and friends, our Chievo was still playing in Serie B last season. Playing a team like Inter Milan, it is also profitable if you draw, and isn’t it normal to lose?

Del Neri's command was very decisive, and Chievo's players were obviously very convinced of him, and they executed very resolutely on the tactics he ordered.

This also caused some troubles for Inter Milan.

Although Inter Milan played every game of the league, they basically played in the iron bucket formation, and they were very experienced in this area, but they were as fierce as a tiger in one pass, and the results...

In the first 15 minutes of the first half, Inter Milan had 3 shot opportunities.

But first Owen shot from a small angle in the penalty area and missed the post, then Vieri's shot was blocked by defender Alberto Savino, and finally Raphael's long-range shot went over the crossbar.

The tridents in the frontcourt waste one chance per player, which is such a tacit understanding.

Of course Toshack knew that football was like this sometimes, but he still shook his head and smiled.

But they are behind and have no slack capital. The game is still going on, and their offense is also going on.

Yet the bad luck continued.

In the 22 minutes of the first half, if Toldo hadn't learned the lesson of the opening game and was always focused, he successfully blocked Chevanton's shot, and now Inter Milan would have fallen behind by two points.

It was also this save that made Toshack's face black.

Toldo didn't dare to delay on the court. He quickly threw the ball, and the ball accurately found Simeone who retreated to respond.

Without waiting for Condicchio to grab it, Simeone transferred the ball to Redondo's feet, and then Redondo passed it into the penalty area with a straight kick.

It turned out that Raphael and Vieri attracted two defensive players respectively, and Owen took away the remaining full-back Balleri. Jaminia, who inserted into the penalty area, found that no one was marking him at this moment!

In the anticipation of Lao Tuo, I saw Brazil's bald head kicked up easily, and played with the goalkeeper Chimenti with a lob shot.

The moment the ball flew into the net, the entire San Siro erupted into cheers.

Obviously all the fans are relieved at the moment, they finally scored!

More important than this, of course, is that they bid farewell to bad luck.

In stoppage time in the first half, Simeone scored a long shot from the front of the penalty area to help the team take the lead.

After Simeone scored the goal, Jaminha was the first to rush up to the Argentine midfielder to celebrate.

Don't get me wrong, his purpose is not to take the opportunity to repair the relationship with Simeone, but purely to "disgusting" the three soft-legged shrimps in front.

Hey, who is the daddy on the court today?

At this moment, Vieri, Raphael, and Owen Qi looked at this guy, their cold eyes were like pasting and copying.

Toshack, who had put down the boulder in his heart, laughed haha, turned around and said to Figo: "Luis, warm up at halftime, you can play in the second half."

Del Neri not far away: "..."

They tried their best and still couldn't hold it, but the other side actually wanted to play another king bomb?

People are more popular than dead people!

Although Rafael and his two partners worked hard to score a goal, it turned out that they really didn't score a goal today.

75 minutes into the second half, Rafael and Owen were both replaced, replaced by Ibrahimovic and Saviola.

As a result, just as they sat down, they saw Ibrahimovic put on a big——

It was actually just an ordinary return pass, and after receiving a pass from Simeone, Ibrahimovic directly shot a long shot, and the ball hung straight to the upper right corner of the goal like a shell fired.

Yes, the goal was not only scored, but also scored beautifully, even if the opposite goalkeeper Yassin possessed himself, he might not be able to save it!

Faced with such a fairy ball, Chievo's coach could only shake his head depressingly.

If it was usually teammates who scored such a beautiful goal, Rafael and Irving would definitely say something, after all, they are not stingy.

But today is clearly different.

I saw the two Golden Globe candidates sitting on the bench. At this moment, they clapped their hands blankly and put them down.

It's like saying to someone——

Well, the shot was good, but unfortunately it wasn't me.

And such a scene also gave commentators from various countries a chance to play, and everyone severely ridiculed the two candidates.

In the end, the score of this game was fixed at 3 to 1. Inter Milan won the game worth 6 points and continued to lead the standings.

The game was over, and disaster struck for Rafael.

Before he walked into the player tunnel, he saw Jaminia and Simeone holding hands and rushing over together.

Before Raphael could adapt to such a scene, he found that Jaminia and Simeone surrounded him and Owen, and then the two sang together and started bragging in front of them.

That's right, they are here to brag!

If it was normal, Raphael would have cleaned them up long ago.

But today's situation is different. First of all, these two are the big contributors to the win, second, they are just showing off, and finally...

he!yes!Team!long!

wipe!

Why should he suffer such idleness even though he is the captain?

But this is reality!

So facing Owen's gaze of "why don't you do it yet", he can only return helpless eyes.

But he can't help these two guys, someone can, such as Lao Tuo.

But what left Rafael speechless was that the old man deliberately pretended not to see it. After shaking hands with the head coach and the fourth official, he walked into the player tunnel with them.

Squeeze!

But their popularity is still good, Zanetti and Juan rescued them together.

Owen was moved: "Pupi is a good person, a super nice person!"

Raphael nodded.

He's glad the guy realized that half a year after his move.

"Juan is a little angel! The real thing!"

Raphael: →_→

Do you remember your name, idiot?

Please don't bring me in when you're laughing at yourself.

When they came to the locker room, the large team had already stripped off their clothes and got into the bathroom, and the Italians were screaming and howling in the bathroom.

Even though he has joined for half a year, Owen still sighs every time he hears their singing voices comparable to magic voices, and this time is no exception.

After seeing someone around him roll his eyes, Owen couldn't help asking: "What are they singing today? I don't sound the same as before?"

Raphael said with a blank expression: ""No Sleep Tonight". It seems that Princess Christina doesn't want to sleep tonight."

Owen: "..."

Forgive him for not understanding what this is, but if someone is asked to continue explaining, someone might even mock him.

But he guessed that "Christina" should refer to Vieri.

Because of the terrible singing, Owen didn't plan to go to the bathroom to take a shower now, anyway, he was close to home, so he wasn't in a hurry.

Just then he found that Raphael had turned on the phone.

That's not smart, Owen thought, as long as the phone is turned on, there must be a bunch of mocking text messages.

But since someone turned on the phone, of course he wanted to watch his wonderful expression.

At this moment, he noticed that Raphael's eyebrows were raised.

At this moment, driven by intuition, Owen asked a sentence——

"You won the Golden Globe?"

This made Raphael look at him suddenly, as if he didn't expect him to ask this question.

Owen pointed to the mobile phone in his hand: "You look a little surprised. I think the content that surprised you must have nothing to do with today's game."

"A reasonable guess," Raphael said, looking at him, "yes, I just got a text from the editor-in-chief of France Football."

Despite the subtleties of timing and location, it's true.

He neither wanted to deceive Owen nor felt the need to.

Although he had a premonition, Owen didn't know how he felt at the moment when he heard that the most important award in his life just passed him by.

After glancing at Raphael twice, he also regained his sanity.

Seems like he should say congrats to the guy.

But before saying this--

"What does this mean?" Raphael asked, looking at the hand he extended to himself.

"Let me see that text message. It's not that I can't afford to lose, but I just want to enjoy your good luck." Owen said.

Yesterday was his birthday. He neither scored a goal nor won the Ballon d'Or as his birthday present. Is it luck?

After Rafael simply handed him the phone, he declared war: "My table is half a year older than yours, just wait, maybe I can get mine next year."

Rafael knew he was hinting at beating Argentina in next year's World Cup, or even winning it.

And this also made Raphael frowned.

At this moment Owen had finished reading the text message, and after seeing his mocking and mocking smile, he glared at him, and then generously said: "Congratulations! I think you have a chance to surpass them."

This "they" obviously refers to Cruyff, Platini, Van Basten and others.

I have to say that Irving is indeed very generous, and he even wished him the fourth place.

After getting back the phone, Rafael also deepened his smile, "Compared to that, I hope to beat you next year."

This is his tribute.

After saying this, the two of them looked at each other, and then retracted their gaze tacitly.

It's time to end this topic.

Owen packed up his things first, while Raphael sent a group text message.

It was a group post, but it was actually sent to his sister who was far away across the ocean, his father and adoptive father in the British Isles, and his football father Robson.

As well as Toshak who may be in the pre-match press conference now, Aimar who is preparing for tonight's game, and of course his stupid brother.

At this moment, he most wanted to share his glory and happiness with them.

When the howling Princess Christian came out, he and Owen walked into the bathroom one after the other.

Seeing this, Vieri said to his teammates: "These two guys must not know how to appreciate my beautiful singing voice!"

When BOBO was ridiculed by his opponents, Owen turned on the shower.

With the spray of hot water, Owen felt that his heart, which seemed to be soaked in liquid nitrogen, was recovering a little bit, which also made him breathe a sigh of relief.

This is May 2001, 12.

It is the day he is closest to the Golden Globes.

After Owen took a shower, he found that only he, Rafael and Juan were left in the bathroom.

Raphael is drying his hair, and Juan is obviously waiting for him.

The advantages of short hair can be reflected at this time.

Owen finished drying his hair in two or three strokes. He waved at Juan and was about to walk to the parking lot when he heard movement behind him.

When he turned around, he saw Juan running towards him with a smile, and then he opened his arms and gave him a hug.

Owen froze for a moment, then deepened the hug.

He has envied Raphael, such as height, such as wealth, such as personality, but it does not include the scope of friendship.

Because he has his friends, and his friends love him, and he is very confident in this.

But there were a few moments, well, a lot of moments, when he wanted to take Juan away from him.

At this time, Raphael also packed up. He glanced at Juan and asked, "Is there anything you want to eat? I treat you."

Although they didn't score, they still won the game.

Now that they're in the heart of the city and he's won a third Ballon d'Or, it's not too much to treat yourself, right?

Juan snapped: "Spanish food! I'm feeling homesick! Shall we celebrate with Javier and Ida?"

Raphael nodded.

Of course, he wants to share the joy with his family.