"What an unexpected game!" Dagestino murmured.
The camera gave a close-up of the electronic scoreboard at the Roma Rader Stadium, which faithfully displayed the current score: 0: 3!
According to international practice, the home team, Zaragoza, was in front, while the away team, Sporting de Gijón, was behind.
At the end of the first half of the game, Sporting de Gijón was leading Zaragoza by 3: 0.
In fact, after the score of 3: 0, the whole Zaragoza team was in chaos. Sporting de Gijón launched a fierce attack on Zaragoza's goal. If their upright had not blocked Mata's shot during injury stoppage time in the first half, the score would have been 0: 4.
When the referee blew the whistle to end the first half of the game, Li Ang walked towards the players' corridor. When his back was about to disappear into the players' corridor, people saw the China manager raise three fingers. Then he and his three fingers disappeared into the deep tunnel.
In the stands, the Zaragoza fans who were in a daze saw this scene. The boos in the stadium sounded hoarse, as if they were playing a horrible song!
*****
The Sporting de Gijón players chatted and laughed as they walked towards the players' corridor. They were talking about the first half of the game. Mata's face was a little gloomy. His teammates had scored three goals, but he had not scored. He longed to score. Then he could proudly rush to the side of the field to hug the boss and proudly shout in the boss's ear, "The goal is for you!"
The Zaragoza players' expressions were either dignified or hesitant. They bowed their heads and disappeared into the players' corridor. Their manager, Muñoz, went back to the locker room angrily before the first half of the game was over.
The huge stadium became empty after the players left. Only the dissatisfaction and angry boos of the Zaragoza fans in the stands and the cheers of the Sporting de Gijón fans, who were in the minority.
There was also the ugly caricature in the stands, swaying in the listless night wind.
The commentator, González, glanced at the ugly caricature and said, "Maybe they will regret provoking the Sporting de Gijón manager in such a way …"
*****
La is in the home team's dressing room at the Stadio Roma Breda.
Wails and cries could be heard everywhere.
Real Zaragoza's manager, Muñoz, had a gloomy look on his face. He waited until all the players had entered the locker room before he began his angry roar.
All the players, from the goalkeeper, Luis García, to the center back, Galletti, to the midfielders, to the striker, Villa, and Drulic, who played like a sleepwalker in the first half of the game, were all scolded by him.
Even Savio, who had performed well in the first half of the match, was criticized by Muñoz.
In short, in Muñoz's eyes, all the players' performances were a pile of shit.
"You guys are acting like a pile of shit," he scolded.
The team captain, Savio, did not say a word. He glanced at the furious manager and wanted to say something. He did not want to defend himself or the team. He wanted to remind the manager that scolding people was not a solution. He had to find a solution to the problem. However, when he saw Muñoz, who was spitting freely, Savio shook his head and did not say anything in the end.
However, listening to Muñoz's roar, Savio's heart kept sinking. He looked at his teammates who were either hanging their heads or angry but silent after being scolded. He was not optimistic about the second half of the game.
*****
In the away team's locker room at Roma Breda Stadium.
Manager Li Ang praised his players, from the goalkeeper, Valencia, to the rear defensive line led by Hierro, to the midfield led by Albertini, and then to the forward line led by Dinatale and Milito. He was very satisfied with all of their performances.
After the praise, Li Ang waved his arms and transmitted his passionate voice to everyone. "I am not satisfied with the score of three to zero. It cannot satisfy me."
"It's not just because of my anger." Li Ang paused for a moment and stared at his players. He said, "We need a big victory. We need a big victory that everyone will remember. Guys …"
Everyone looked up at their manager.
"We have suffered a lot of criticism after losing two consecutive games at the start of the league tournament." Li Ang continued, "But I know that you have been working hard and improving. Now, it's time for us to reap the fruits of our victory."
"Use your feet, use your heads, use your legs, use your blood and sweat!" Li Ang waved his arms fiercely. "Use a big victory to tell everyone that we can, we can! Tell them what kind of team Sporting de Gijón is this season! "
"Victory starts with this game!"
"Forward, we will keep moving forward!"
"The glory and glory on the field are at your feet!"
"Starting from today, starting with this game!"
Everyone's eyes seemed to be shining. They clenched their fists and could not wait for the second half of the game to start.
Even veterans like Hierro and Albertini felt their blood boiling at this time. They were used to big scenes and had experienced countless famous managers. However, the manager now was special. He was so young and so passionate. His enthusiasm inspired everyone. His ability had also been recognized by these two star players …
At this moment, the former Real Madrid captain and the former AC Milan vice-captain had a feeling that perhaps, in the twilight years of their careers, coming to such a team, such a young team, with such a young manager might really be the right decision.
They had a feeling that in their twilight years, they would witness a great history and the rise of a great team.
*****
Only a minute into the second half of the game, Mata dribbled the ball on the flank. He cut inside horizontally and Genrero, the Zaragoza defensive midfielder, who felt that he could not stop the 16-year-old kid, chose to foul.
Li Ang protested angrily on the sidelines because the referee, Julio, only verbally warned Genrero and did not show a yellow card.
Sporting de Gijón was awarded a free kick about twenty-seven or twenty-eight meters away from the goal.
The specific number shown on the television screen was twenty-seven meters.
After coming to Sporting de Gijón, Albertini was the team's first penalty taker for place kicks.
He ran to the penalty spot.
"Albertini is running up. He should be the one to take this place kick." The commentator shouted excitedly. In the first half of the game, Sporting de Gijón was awarded two close free kicks. Albertini's one slightly deviated from the column, and the other was almost close to the crossbar and out of the end line. Both were extremely dangerous.
The former AC Milan star player was a famous place kick master in the football world. His falling ball was the highlight of the San Siro stadium. It could be said that his name shook the football world.
Now, Albertini was in the La Liga stadium. If he could make his iconic falling ball appear here, it would also be a good story.
*****
"Five people to form a human wall!" After seeing that it was Albertini who would take the free kick, Zaragoza's goalkeeper, Luis García, shouted loudly. The opponent was a place kick master. The two attempts in the first half of the game made the goalkeeper break out in a cold sweat.
As the former Real Madrid star player, Savio, who had played against AC Milan many times, naturally knew how good Albertini was. He even personally ran over to direct his teammates to form a human wall.
Albertini ran over, picked up the football, and carefully placed it on the turf.
The Zaragoza players were still forming a human wall. Albertini did not rush them. He quietly watched the opponent busy himself.
He looked up at the night sky. The stars were shining brightly. He took a deep breath. The air had the smell of the ocean, which reminded him that this was not San Siro. This was Spain.
He looked down at the jersey on his body. It was a red and white jersey. It was no longer the red and black striped shirt he loved so much.
The thirty-three-year-old Demetrio Albertini suddenly felt something and looked to the sidelines. He saw the young manager standing there, smiling and giving him a thumbs up.
Albertini took a deep breath.
I, Demetrio Albertini, am not old yet!
The jersey I love so much is not on me.
The football I love so much is still at my feet.
From the Apennine Peninsula to the Iberian Peninsula.
The red and black memories are buried in the bottom of my heart.
The red and white jersey is still on me.
The past can only be recalled …
*****
Zaragoza's human wall was finally formed.
The referee, Julio, retreated from the penalty area.
"Toot —" The whistle sounded.
Albertini ran up. He raised his leg and shot!
The football went straight over the human wall. It went straight to the sky. It looked like it was going to fly out of the stadium and into the stands where the Zaragoza fans gathered.
But that was just an illusion for the naked eye.
The football spun in the air. Just as it was about to reach the goal, it began to change.
In the eyes of the Zaragoza goalkeeper, Luis García, the arc was so magnificent and so terrifying. He panicked. He struggled to jump up. He wanted to touch the football.
He did not touch the football …
The football skimmed over his fingertips.
Was it going to go out of bounds?
No, this was a free kick shot by Demetrio Albertini. It was Demetrio's famous falling leaf ball arc!
After the football skimmed over Luis García's fingertips, it suddenly changed direction and plummeted!
The ball floated down like a leaf, brushing the lower edge of the crossbar and falling into the net.
Albertini looked at the arc he kicked and watched the football fall into the net like a falling leaf.
He opened his arms and closed his eyes with a smile on his face. There was sadness, sadness, and happiness in his smile.
His teammates surged toward him like a tide …
PS: First update. I still need thirty to forty monthly votes to catch up with the front. Asking for a few monthly votes to assist me.
Thank you, everyone.
Xiao Qi, who was trying to repair his character, set up a bowl for help.
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