My name is Fernando Hierro.
I'm thirty-six years old this year.
I was born in Palmpu, a small town next to Barcelona, but I'm a Real Madrid player. My jersey is white, my blood is white. The temple of my heart, the great Bernabéu, is where my soul rests!
I look down at the captain's armband on my arm now. I still feel like it was only yesterday, and I'm the captain of Real Madrid!
My white battle jersey!
My captain's armband!
Unfortunately, I'm wearing a red and white jersey now!
Oh, I finally realize that I'm a Sporting de Gijón player. I'm the captain of Sporting de Gijón.
And … I'm old!
I know I'm old.
I can't run anymore.
My breathing is rapid.
My footsteps are heavy.
But at this moment, I have to run. I run with all my might. I meet that young guy named Eto 'o!
I feel like I'm going to collapse from exhaustion. Immediately.
I have to fight!
Because my opponent is Barcelona!
*****
The camera was fixed on the field, on the two men.
In order to get rid of Albertini, Eto 'o made a slightly bigger pass.
Hierro, the thirty-six-year-old veteran who had persisted in the high-intensity game for nearly forty-five minutes, went up without hesitation!
Both men chased after the rolling football at high speed, like two meteors about to collide, with a dazzling flame trailing behind them.
At this moment, the boos, cheers, noise, and curses in the huge Camp Nou all disappeared. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the two men.
Hierro knew that he was old. Whether it was speed or explosive power, he was no match for Eto 'o.
So, he decided to make the first move to gain the upper hand.
When there was still some distance to the football, he estimated the distance in his mind and did not hesitate to go down to the ground to make a tackle.
The thirty-six-year-old veteran was very experienced. Although it was a tackle, it was not a foul. He was completely aiming for the football. Even if he brought Eto 'o down in passing, the referee would not easily call for a foul in a situation where neither of them had full control of the football, even if this was Barcelona's home ground, even if the referee favored the home team.
"Old man, you've been fooled!" Eto 'o's face showed a smile of success. He had seen through Hierro's plan long ago. He was very confident in his speed. He had successfully demonstrated the terror of speed and explosive power. In an almost impossible situation, Eto' o accelerated again.... Just as when you think you've reached the limit of speed, the rocket booster to ignite again, the Cameroonian man's body, his body, to's body, his right foot. to the football!
Hierro's goal!
"The second one! Eto 'o's beautiful breakthrough! Hierro's goal's goal! "
"beautiful! Eto 'o broke through Hierro! "
"Only the goalkeeper is left! This is Barcelona's best chance to score! "
*****
Hierro slid on the ground. He looked up and saw the Cameroonian, who hated Real Madrid, pass over him. As far as he could see, this shadow blocked everything.
F * * k …
The old veteran only felt that the depths of his heart were being bitten by countless insects. It was uncomfortable and, at the same time, deeply helpless!
No, he absolutely could not give up!
The thirty-six-year-old veteran, when he was almost exhausted, seemed to be ten years older. He gritted his teeth and got up from the ground.
Eto 'o was not in the mood to look back at the loser he had broken through. In his mind, breaking through an old guy was nothing more than that. Of course, if there was any extra pleasure, it would be the strong mark of Real Madrid on this man. This made Eto 'o, who hated Real Madrid, feel better.
Eto 'o was now only one step away from scoring a goal!
Why was he still one step away?!
This was because he had forced himself to accelerate and poke the ball again under very difficult circumstances. The football bounced on the turf, which made Eto 'o have to first control the football and make adjustments before Sporting de Gijón's goalkeeper, Valencia, attacked in position. Then, he had to consider shooting directly or passing the goalkeeper and sending the football into the empty goal!
When Real Madrid began to play this counterattack, Valencia was on high alert. He was ready to attack at any time.
And when Hierro was bypassed, Valencia attacked decisively.
His attack was so decisive and fast that Eto 'o was a little surprised.
At this time, Eto 'o had just caught up with the football and was just about to make adjustments. Then, when he considered his next move, Valencia had already rushed over.
*****
The camera was fixed on this area. This kind of direct confrontation between the striker and the goalkeeper was always the most exciting!
Valencia attacked decisively, which made Eto 'o feel a certain amount of pressure. He did not have time to continue to adjust the football under his feet. Eto' o decisively made a move to break through in a straight line. Valencia was not fooled. He was waiting for Cameroon's next move. Sure enough, Eto 'o pulled the football horizontally and went to the middle, intending to directly shoot.
Valencia was sure that his opponent was going to shoot. He immediately made a pounce. He fell towards the football, opened his arms, and tried to increase the length as much as possible, intending to stop Eto 'o's next shot.
However, after making the pounce, Valencia's expression was full of horror and despair. He was fooled. The opponent did not shoot. It was still a feint!
The tense atmosphere and emotions in the entire stadium reached a peak at this moment. In the commentator's box, the commentator, Dagestino, almost shouted again. His butt almost left his seat. Facing the microphone, he opened his mouth and shouted, "Beautiful! Eto 'o spiked the ball! He's fooled Valencia! Eto 'o … This is an empty goal! This is an empty goal! He raised his leg to shoot!!!! "
On the sidelines, Li Ang gritted his teeth and was ready to accept the result of conceding a goal!
In the stands of Camp Nou, among the Sporting de Gijón fans, some covered their faces with their hands. Some did not dare to look, and some looked angry. Conceding a goal was unavoidable.
The Barcelona fans finally began to burst into loud cheers. Some people had already stood up and raised their arms, ready to celebrate the goal and to vent the grievances of this half of the game!
This goal came at the right time before the end of the first half of the game. It was too satisfying!
At this moment, a red figure with an unusually lonely and solemn aura suddenly rushed into everyone's field of vision.
*****
A goal?!
Did you ask me?!
What about me?!
There's still me!
There's still me!
I haven't fallen yet!
Hierro ran at high speed. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the ball shot by Eto 'o: Eto' o had spiked the ball and fooled the goalkeeper, Valencia. Then, he followed up with a shot. He chose to push and shoot gently. He liked this way of shooting, passing the opponent's defender, passing the goalkeeper, and gently shooting into the empty goal. Watching the football slowly roll across the goal line, he could even feel the despair in the eyes of the opponent's goalkeeper. Eto 'o enjoyed the process, enjoyed the pleasure!
However, this time, Eto 'o's choice gave Hierro a final chance!
The 36-year-old veteran threw his entire body out. He fell to the ground and slid. His eyes were fixed on the slowly rolling football!
He wanted to make sure when his right foot swept out to block the football and not knock it into the goal.
Eto 'o finished his shot. He stood up and was ready to open his arms to celebrate the goal.
Then, the Cameroonian cheetah saw the man who was chasing back frantically slide to the ground and saw the pair of ferocious red eyes!
Oh no!
Eto 'o was shocked!
He turned his head to look inside the goal.
*****
"Bang!"
Hierro slid to the side. His right foot was almost parallel to the football. When it was almost parallel to the goal line, he suddenly swept out like a leg sweep. He used almost all of his strength. The football was kicked and then bounced out fiercely. It hit the calf of Eto 'o, who was standing in a daze and did not move. It bounced back again and flew out of the end line just like that!
"Hierro! Hierro! Unbelievable … Unbelievable! It's unbelievable! He saved the team! "Dagestino had completely stood up from his seat. He held the microphone in his hand and his spittle flew everywhere. "A perfect defense! It was a great rescue! "
In the stands of Camp Nou, countless Barcelona people, who were ready to cheer the goal, held their heads in frustration.
The desperate Sporting de Gijón people's eyes were full of disbelief. Then, they were pleasantly surprised. They jumped and jumped wildly.
"Hierro! Hierro! Hierro! "They shouted the captain's surname.
On the sidelines, Li Ang held his head in his hands. His eyes were full of disbelief. He was so surprised that he did not know what to say or do.
*****
On the field, Hierro, who had completed all this, seemed to have been drained of all his strength.
However, he did not lie on the ground.
He told himself to get up. Get up.
Fernando!
Get up!
Get up!
You are a hero!
This is Camp Nou!
You have to stand. You have to stand up and welcome the boos of the Barcelona people! This is the greatest reward for you!
Thirty-six-year-old Fernando Hierro staggered to his feet.
He stood in front of the goal.
He held his head high.
He raised his right arm.
In an instant, Camp Nou, which could accommodate nearly 100,000 people, broke out in huge, crazy, unprecedented boos. Crazy boos, boos that almost suffocated people to death!
The Barcelona people were angry. They were not happy. They were furious!
It was not only because Barcelona's goal was blocked, but also because of this person, because of the identity of this person called Fernando Hierro!
This Real Madrid man!
This Real Madrid man!
This Real Madrid man!
Although Hierro was wearing the Sporting de Gijón jersey at this time, all the Barcelona people saw the white uniform on him. They saw the Real Madrid captain's armband! They saw the 15-year mark of Real Madrid on him!
*****
November 27, 2004, night, Camp Nou.
Amid the hysterical boos and curses of nearly 100,000 Barcelona people, the 36-year-old Hierro stood there. He looked over with deep eyes. The boos and curses in the stands were so familiar and so intimate. He seemed to see his own shadow. For 15 years, he had led Real Madrid to visit Camp Nou countless times. The captain's armband on his arm was so heavy and heavy. The jersey on his body was so deeply loved.
He was the captain, he was the leader, he was the legend, he was Fernando Hierro.
Hi, Camp Nou, long time no see!
You guys:
How are you?
PS: First update. Comrades, if you're having a good time, give me a monthly ticket. Comrades, Little Seven is writing seriously. Your satisfaction is my greatest pursuit.
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