In China's second World Cup campaign, they still had not adapted to this stage.
There were many experts here. Even if they were not the world's top traditional strong team, they also had their own characteristics and strong technical and tactical strength.
In contrast, the China team was like a child who had not yet grown up, naively fantasizing that they could rely on some illusory factors to defeat their opponents.
Qin Xiong would find it difficult to get the ball unless he returned to the middle and backfield to provide support.
If he waited in the front field for his teammates in the middle and backfield to pass, then the question was: Could his teammates accurately send the ball to his feet?
It was difficult!
And if he retreated to the middle and backfield to provide support, the problem was clear at a glance.
He played the role of the organizer. Li Jinyu, Shao Jiayi, and Zhang Pengfei would find it difficult to break through and create difficulties for the opponent.
If he played the role of the attacker, he would face the opponent's tight encirclement, which would inevitably slow down his speed and have a high risk of losing the ball.
And if he rushed directly to the front line, there would be no problem because it would be futile. The attack would not be able to advance to the front line at all!
Organization, advance, and end.
Three different tasks. In Qin Xiong's past two years at Arsenal, he had gone from the initial role of organizer to frequently switching between the three roles. In the games where he had a wonderful performance, he was often able to play two roles.
Organization and advance.
Or advance and end!
But in the China team, it was impossible for him to switch back and forth between these roles. It was even difficult to take care of both.
Because the China team did not have Fàbregas, Henry, or Pires, who had the attributes of an attacking midfielder.
An overall technical and tactical change was based on the characteristics of each player in the team.
The China team's operation was actually very smooth, but it was not a threat in the front line. Within the 30-yard zone in front of the goal, it was difficult to form an efficient shot.
Qin Xiong tried a long shot and flew out of the stands. He sent the cannonball to Zhao Junzhe. Zhao Junzhe did not dare to break into the penalty area and only dared to shoot long shots from the periphery. It was not a test for the Mexican goalkeeper at all.
On the other hand, the Mexican team frequently used quick surprise attacks from the flanks after the switch between offense and defense to create opportunities for the frontline to attack.
The Mexican team's two wingers, Pineda and Pérez, were both quick and agile players. They were less than 1.7 meters tall, but their bodies were not thin and weak. Their footwork was very fast, and they were very agile.
After they rushed forward from the flank, they used the pass as a means to create opportunities for the two strikers, who were both over 1.8 meters tall. If China's defensive line only relied on Li Weifeng and Zheng Zhi, it would be difficult to contain the opponent's two strikers. More often than not, Liu Yi would retreat back to the defensive line to increase the number of defenders. Coupled with his own physical advantage and tall stature, it would be difficult to defend against the opponent's two strikers.
Just when all the spectators thought that the game was going to be a stalemate, the Mexican team once again launched a routine attack in the 34th minute of the game.
Perez shook off Shao Jiayi on the right flank and headed for the end line. China's rear defensive line immediately retreated, afraid that Perez would pass a 45-degree cross from the flank. If that happened, it would give the striker space to rush forward, which would be more conducive for the striker to head the ball and break the goal.
When Perez came to the edge of the penalty area, he did not challenge Sun Xiang. Instead, he directly passed the ball across!
This pass surprised the China team's defense. Perhaps they had been hit by the opponent's high-altitude passes too many times and were used to it. The Mexican team suddenly used a rolling ball to pass the ball across the ground, which was a little uncomfortable.
The attacking midfielder, Fonseca, was actually a big man of more than 1.8 meters. After he squeezed past Zhao Junzhe, he first stopped the ball on the penalty area line and adjusted. Then, he suddenly blasted a shot in a more relaxed environment!
The football rolled diagonally into the penalty area and passed through the gap between Liu Yi and Zheng Zhi. Liu Yunfei immediately moved to the right side of the goal and then made a flying save. He reached out to block the football rolling towards the goal, but he was too slow. Or it could be said that the angle of Fonseca's shot was too tricky.
The football rolled into the goal from the bottom right corner of the goal!
The Mexican players saw the team score and ran wildly to celebrate. The China players felt so much pressure that they could not breathe!
They lost the ball!
"The Mexican team is the first to break the goal! The 26-year-old Fonseca received Perez's cross from the side and scored a low shot at the far corner of the goal. The China team did not protect the goal in front of the penalty area well. Zhao Junzhe was also not decisive enough in filling in the position. He did not use foul means to curb Fonseca's rush. In the pre-match analysis, many media outlets had emphasized that Fonseca, one of the few players in the Mexican team who was more than 1.8 meters tall, had a strong awareness of snatching the ball in front of the goal.
Now the China team is in a predicament. If they lose to Mexico, it will be extremely difficult to advance from the group. Our next opponent is Portugal, and Mexico's opponent is Angola. "
Many China fans in the stands seemed to have suffered a huge blow.
Perhaps because Mexico was not from South America or Europe, the football fans did not know much about the Mexican team. Naturally, they did not think that Mexico's strength was very strong.
In fact, that was the case. Looking at the whole Grassi world, what level was the Mexican team?
But the core of the problem was not how strong Mexico was. As long as Mexico as a whole was obviously stronger than the China team, that was enough!
Looking at the Mexican team, the most famous player was Marcos.
And looking at the China team?
Other than Qin Xiong, who else could make the opponent extremely vigilant?
There was no one.
The China team suddenly became frightened after losing the ball. The players were afraid of losing the ball one after another, so they took the initiative to shrink the formation to strengthen the defense.
The Mexican team did not lose their minds after the morale was greatly boosted.
They might have a higher awareness than the China team. They had more experience in the competition and naturally had a clear goal.
To advance from the group, the biggest difficulty was not the Portuguese team, but to defeat the China team and the Angola team!
The first half of the game was over. Qin Xiong's World Cup journey ended 45 minutes ago.
He looked dignified as he walked to the players' tunnel.
The cruelty of the World Cup made him realize that it was far more stressful than the league tournament and the Champions League.
It was no exaggeration to say that today was a life-and-death battle!
And the Mexican team's technical and tactical restrictions were very successful.
The overall strength of the China team was not as good as the other team. Other than Qin Xiong's one-on-one advantage, there was no other point that could threaten the Mexican team.
After containing Qin Xiong, the China team, which had become dependent on Qin Xiong, naturally could not create a threatening offense from the whole or part of the team.
It was only the first game, and the China team's situation had become extremely difficult.
Back in the locker room, Arihan immediately began to adjust his offensive thinking.
Of course, he had to attack!
Defense had no meaning.
He discovered a cruel fact in the 45-minute game.
The China team did not have a striker who could threaten the Mexican team!
Marcos alone in the rear defensive line made Li Jinyu live in his shadow. Even Zhang Pengfei's cut inside and Shao Jiayi's side delivery repeatedly ended at the feet of Marcos.
There was only one person in the China team who could threaten the opponent: Qin Xiong!
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