Zanetti suddenly dribbled the ball forward, which was indeed beyond the expectations of the Barcelona players.
Yayaturay was interfering on one side, while Marcos was waiting for an opportunity to make a move on the other side. Yayaturay was not afraid of Zanetti's long shots. Not to mention that Zanetti was not good at long shots. As long as Zanetti raised his foot to shoot, it would be a good time for them to intercept the ball. So, as long as they stuck close to Zanetti and waited for an opportunity to intercept the ball, the Inter Milan Team's attack would come to an end. Not only that, Zanetti was currently playing in the defensive midfielder position. If they could intercept Zanetti's ball, Barcelona could take the opportunity to launch a counterattack and even catch Inter Milan off guard.
Zanetti was still dribbling the ball.
At this time, in front, Mata and Arshavin were running to provide support. They ran to the two sides respectively and pulled the middle out.
Abidal and Zambrotta could only run to follow the two players. However, they saw that Zanetti was jointly defended by Yayaturay and Marcos, so they were not worried that Zanetti would be a threat in the middle. Instead, they had to be careful of Zanetti's flanks.
In the middle, Adriano was running in the air, ready to assist Zanetti. Gabriel Milito, who had returned, quickly ran to mark Adriano. The Brazilian was a big threat.
*****
Zanetti still had no intention of passing the ball. He continued to dribble the ball forward. In the process of running, he kept tangling with Yayaturay and Marcos to prevent the football at his feet from being intercepted by them.
Although Inter Milan's old captain was already 34 years old, he usually lived a very disciplined life. He did not smoke or drink, had a standard diet, and trained seriously. Whether it was his physical condition or his competitive state, he maintained very well. Therefore, even though it was a little difficult for him to dribble the ball under the double team of two players, he did not give Yayaturay and Marcos a chance to intercept the ball.
Yayaturay was a little surprised. He did not expect the Argentinian veteran to be so tenacious. At this time, Zanetti suddenly sped up again. Yayaturay subconsciously looked up in front of him, and then the Ivorian star turned pale with fright. It was the forbidden zone in front of him! They had actually fought all the way to the edge of the forbidden zone!
Oh no!
Yayaturay was shocked. He knew that he had been tricked. Zanetti's sudden move this time was not for a long shot, nor was it for a pass. It was a direct attack.
Although Yayaturay also knew Zanetti and knew that he was not a player who could "ride alone for thousands of miles," in any case, if Zanetti dribbled the ball into the forbidden zone, it would be a threat, a big threat!
If something happened in the forbidden zone, it would be too late for regrets!
*****
Zanetti dribbled the ball very well. Yayaturay knew that it would not be easy to intercept the ball. Otherwise, the ball would have been intercepted long ago. At this time, his only choice was to foul …
Yayaturay was shocked. He knew that he had to decisively foul. The forbidden zone was in front of him. If he did not foul now, it would be too late!
Yayaturay no longer hesitated. He leaned back and shoveled out with his right foot. Almost at the same time, Marcos also realized the crisis and knew that he had to foul. Marcos decisively pushed Zanetti from behind.
Zanetti had just suddenly accelerated. The experienced Inter Milan Team captain had obviously guessed that Yayaturay would recklessly commit a tactical foul at this time. Therefore, almost at the same time that Yayaturay shoveled down, Zanetti poked the football forward. He leaned forward and suddenly sped up again.
It was this poke and acceleration that Yayaturay's shovel from the side behind could not be solidly shoveled. It only grazed Zanetti's ankle.
The thirty-four-year-old veteran dribbled the ball for such a long distance in a two-man pincer situation. Zanetti's physical strength was at its limit. Originally, Zanetti might have fallen to the ground with Yayaturay's shovel. However, almost at the same time, Marcos pushed from behind, which formed a thrust that caused Zanetti's body to leap forward …
In an almost impossible situation, the Inter Milan Team captain actually escaped the fouls of the two defenders who had been entangled. He entered the forbidden zone!
*****
"Touré shoveled! Marcos! It's over! "Ferrari suddenly roared with an incredulous expression and tone." It's in! It's in the forbidden zone! Zanetti! Zanetti! Zanetti! "
Rossi also widened his eyes. He even got up from the commentator's seat and growled, "Zanetti! Zanetti! What did I see? It's like I saw Zanetti when he first came to Inter Milan! The young and inexperienced Argentine general Zanetti! "
The referee, Stark, had already put the whistle in his mouth. However, seeing that Zanetti did not fall, he was naturally happy not to blow the whistle. Anyway, it was advantageous to attack. This was allowed by the rules. Inter Milan's players could not say anything.
Despite breaking into the forbidden zone, Zanetti's physical strength was at its limit. Moreover, because of the previous fouls by the two players, his body's center of gravity was unstable. He staggered a little and seemed to be on the verge of collapse.
If the camera zoomed in, one could see the expression of the thirty-four-year-old veteran. He gritted his teeth with a ferocious expression. It seemed that he was going to use the last of his strength to continue forward!
Forward!
His goal was the goal in front of him!
Perhaps, at this moment, this extremely tired veteran had no other thoughts in his mind. He only wanted to continue forward and get closer!
*****
"A little closer! A little closer! " Zanetti's eyes were bloodshot. In the beginning, he did not make up his mind to dribble the ball directly into the enemy's den. This was not his strength. However, he had already advanced to this point. All he could think about was shooting and scoring. Shooting was not his strength. He wanted to get closer to the goal and then fight for a chance to shoot!
He was almost on the verge of collapsing. However, Javier Zanetti swayed like this and finally did not fall to the ground. He knew that as long as he fell, he would lose control of the football!
Valdés was stunned. He did not expect that the old Argentine man would stagger all the way and dribble the ball all the way into the penalty area!
Valdés was hesitating at this time. He was hesitating whether to attack, or to block the angle, or to hope that Zanetti did not have the strength to fall to the ground.
Valdés finally decided to attack. He did not dare to gamble.
Just as Valdés finally decided to attack and just as he rushed out of the goal … Zanetti took the last step!
The thirty-four-year-old veteran took the last step and caught up with the football. Although he staggered and could fall at any time, this did not prevent him from lifting his leg to shoot …
His right foot suddenly lashed out at the football!
This was a shot that used up the last of his strength!
After the shot, the veteran even turned half way and collapsed to the ground!
*****
This was a shot that used up all of his strength. The football suddenly shot up and flew past Valdés who was attacking.
Barcelona's goalkeeper subconsciously waved his hand. However, the speed of the ball was too fast and he did not touch the football at all. His waving seemed to be bidding farewell to the football, to Barcelona's hope of a comeback!
Then, Valdés heard a "bang" sound!
He was overjoyed!
He turned his head to look!
He was horrified to see the football hit the inside of the goalpost and bounce into the net!
Then, as if all of his thoughts and strength had been sucked out, Valdés' eyes were filled with despair. He turned his head and looked into the eyes of the exhausted old man who was still lying on the ground.
What a pair of eyes. There was weakness, exhaustion, unwillingness, hope, and desire. At this moment, they all converged into one emotion: satisfaction!
He even suspected that he heard the veteran sigh in satisfaction before turning over and lying in front of the goal.
*****
April 24, 2008, Barcelona, Camp Nou.
22: 21 p.m. local time in Spain, the 76th minute of the game.
The thirty-four-year-old Javier Zanetti scored.
The thirty-four-year-old veteran lay in front of Barcelona's goal. He opened his eyes and saw the stars in Camp Nou.
Then, he saw the frenzied and excited faces of his teammates …
They shouted in his ear, "Captain!"
"Captain!"
Captain!
The captain of the team!
The soul of the team!
It's for the captain!
PS: Second update, begging for a monthly ticket, begging for a tip.
I put a lot of effort into writing this chapter.
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