They beat the weak Macedonia 4: 0 at home and beat Wales 2: 0 away. Coupled with the friendly match against Australia, they won 3: 1. Tony Twain's New England team had played in three international A-level matches and had not lost a single match. It only took three games for Tang En to prove that his title of "Godfather of Champions" was not just for show. His words of "pursuing victory at all times and in all places" were also recognized and accepted by more Englishmen. It looked like he really had some skills, and it was not just empty talk.
But there were also people who did not think so.
Macedonia, Wales and Australia were not strong teams and they only played a friendly match against Australia. The victories in these three matches did not mean anything. To test the true level of a team, it was definitely not to play against a team of this level, but to challenge a stronger opponent. For example, Serbia four days later.
Unlike the previous three opponents, Serbia had always been a force to be reckoned with in European football. As a member of the former Yugoslavia, their football level had always maintained a relatively high level. Just look at the Serbian players who played for the major European teams today:
The center back who played for Manchester United, Vidic was undoubtedly the most famous Serbian star. There was also the defender Ivanovic who played for Chelsea, Stankovic who played for Inter Milan, goalkeeper Stojkovic who played for Sporting Lisbon, defender Stepanov who played for Porto in Portugal, defender Lukovic who played for Udinese, defenders Tošić and Kazar who played for Werder Bremen, striker Lazovic who played for Bayer Leverkusen …
These people were all seasoned veterans with rich experience. They played a vital role in their respective clubs. Having them in Serbia was enough for England to put away their arrogant attitude and deal with them carefully.
The center back who played for Manchester United and was also the captain of the Serbian national team, Vidic, claimed in an interview that he was not afraid of the fierce England team. "I know them very well. I play against them every weekend. I'm not afraid of the England team that has so many star players, because a football game is not won by who is worth more. This is our home game, we have the advantage. "
The captain was full of confidence. As the manager of the Serbian team, Radomir Antić was very low-key. He told the media that England was a great team with many world-renowned star players. At the same time, they had a coach who had just led the Forest team to win the Treble. Serbia was not worth mentioning compared to them, so his goal for this game was to try his best to maintain a draw on his home ground.
Some of the English fans were happy with the opponent's manager's show of weakness, but Tang En did not think that Antik was really afraid of them like the ordinary fans.
"He's a veteran. Do you know what that means, Des? In other words, he was experienced and cunning. Other than the England team, I have only coached two teams — one is Nottingham Forest and the other is the Nottingham Forest youth team. However, that old man Antique has coached six different teams and has experience coaching in powerhouses like Real Madrid and Barcelona. He has experienced success, but he has also experienced terrible failures … In terms of experience, I am no match for him. He said that their goal was Baoping. Could it really be Baoping? Serbia's goal is also to advance to the 2016 Spain Cup, but they just lost to Denmark 2: 3 in an away game in the previous round. What's the point of drawing with us? If this game was our home ground and they were away, I would still believe him if he said he could guarantee a draw, "Tang En said with his mouth twitching. The disbelief on his face was obvious.
Currently, they were on a flight from London to the capital of Serbia, Belgrade. The players were busy with their own things. Some of them were listening to music, some were playing handheld games, some were reading magazines and newspapers, some were watching movies, and some were resting with their eyes closed.
Tang En and Walker sat together and talked about the opponents they were going to face next.
"Their center back combination is very strong. I don't think it's a good idea to let Mitchell start. His body is too weak … So many years have passed, and he has been obsessed with showing off his footwork, but his physical strength has never improved. I think that's all he can do. When he was in the Forest team, he would not perform well when faced with a strong center back. It's the same for this game. "
Walker asked, "So, who are you going to use?"
"A forward with speed. Serbia's center backs are slow and turn slowly. We'll use a forward with speed and dexterity to break through their defense. "Tang En adjusted his sitting posture and signaled for Walker to come closer. The noise in the plane was too loud, and he did not want to shout this out loud.
"We need to make an adjustment. I believe that old man Antique will not think of it," Tang En said mysteriously. "I plan to push Walcott to the front line. He's fast and has flexible techniques. It's perfect to deal with the Serbian center backs."
Walker thought about it and felt that the plan was feasible, so he nodded. However, he was still a little worried. "Walcott played most of the time in Arsenal as a winger …"
"That's not a problem. He's also played as a forward before. Also, I won't restrict him from taking the ball on the right side in this game. He'll have more freedom. "
After saying that, Tang En smiled. "I know that the people in Forest have such thoughts in the current England team. I used to be Forest's manager, so I'll take extra care of them. They're not the only ones who think that way. The other players more or less have the same thoughts. Ever since I stripped Terry and Gerrard of the captain's armbands and chose George Wood, such thoughts have existed. This game is a good opportunity to tell them that no one can enjoy special treatment with me. Even George relied on his stable performance and obedience to tactical instructions to obtain the treatment he has today. "
"I thought you'd already obtained control of the team on your 46th birthday."
"I haven't completely controlled it yet." Tang En opened his right palm and clenched it again. "There are still people who have doubts about me, but they're following the crowd and not showing it. If I want them to risk their lives for me, I can't let them doubt me. Also … there's one thing that's very annoying, Des. The members of the national team are not as fixed as the clubs. During every training session, there will always be some people who were not there the previous time. I have to remodel my image in front of them … "
"It's rare for me to see you so tired as a manager, Tony."
"It'll be better in the future. The media will help me with publicity." Tang En rested his head on the back of the seat and murmured, "I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up when we arrive, Des."
"Alright."
※ ※ ※
It was already 8.30 p.m. when the England team's flight arrived at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport. The team did not receive much harassment from the media at the airport. They took the bus directly to the hotel they were staying at. As it was night time, they were unable to catch a glimpse of the "crossroads between the Western and Eastern worlds."
The next day, the team appeared at Serbia's home ground, the Maracana Stadium, to undergo warm-up training to adapt to the venue. This was why they were so sought after by the media.
There were even young Serbian fans who held English Premier League jerseys to ask for autographs from the players. Due to the huge influence of the English Premier League, the England national team never lacked in celebrity status despite their mediocre results.
After Wood gave an autograph to a young fan who looked to be less than ten years old, he walked down. Tang En crossed his arms and joked with him. "Tomorrow night's match, can you imagine him giving you the middle finger from the stands, George?"
Wood ignored him and walked straight back to the locker room.
"How boring!" Tang En grumbled behind him.
The press conference was just as boring. This time, he attended at the same time as the opposing team's manager, Antik. When faced with the reporters, Antik complimented Tang En with all his might, almost touting him as the number one manager in the world of football. It was so mushy that even the English reporters could not help but shiver.
"… Tony Twain is a very, very outstanding manager. What's unbelievable is that he's only forty-six years old … He's so young, and such a manager makes the whole of Europe fearful. To be honest, I'm a loyal fan of his. If I were the club chairman, I would definitely keep him at all costs … England is also a very strong team, and we have to be careful on our home ground … "
Such words made Twain want to yawn in public without giving him any face.
If I were to be praised to the skies by such idiotic words, then I'd be an even more idiotic idiot than him.
Tang En thought to himself.
However, Tang En did not show his thoughts on his face. He cooperated with Antik in talking about his own team and barely mentioned Serbia. He only commented out of politeness when asked that they were a team that needed to be dealt with seriously. When the reporters asked him to comment on how they needed to be dealt with seriously, he would only say "Vidic" and "Ivanovic", as if he did not know who else in Serbia was outside of the English Premier League.
His behavior made the Serbian reporters very unhappy. This arrogant Englishman! This is not the eighteenth or nineteenth century where the sun never sets and the empire dominated the world! Just wait and see, arrogant bastard!
However, Antik still had a smile on his face. He was not dissatisfied with being looked down upon by Tang En. From his point of view, even if Tang En had been coaching for eleven years, he was still too young at the age of forty-six. He had obtained so many honors at such a young age, and had even become England's savior, leading the team to three consecutive victories. It was impossible for him not to be proud. As a successful person, he must have thought that there was nothing in this world that he could not do, and that there was no opponent that he could not defeat. How could he take a team like Serbia, which was content to be in a corner of Eastern Europe, seriously?
I'm already sixty-five years old, and I've crossed more bridges than you've crossed. I've seen many people like him.
His analysis of Tang En was half right. Tony Twain was indeed a proud person, and he was indeed arrogant. However, he was not an idiot with an IQ of -250.
After the press conference ended, Tang En gave Pierce Brosnan a call. He wanted to hear what the media had to say about his performance at the press conference today.
"How was it, Mr. 007? Do you think I'm an arrogant, arrogant, and typical Japanese narrow-minded person? "
"To be honest, Tony. When I saw your performance, I was a little confused. How could you only mention Vidic and Ivanovic, the two players who played in the English Premier League? But then I understood … Well, if I didn't know you well enough, I admit that I would have fallen for your trick. "
Brosnan's answer satisfied Tang En. "That's good. I'll wait to bear the wrath of the Serbian media. Hey! "
※ ※ ※
The Serbian newspapers published the next day all criticized the English's arrogance. Antić must have been secretly laughing at the newspapers.
However, the match at night was completely out of his expectations.
Before the match, Tang En told Mitchell in front of all the players that he would not be starting for the match. This decision undoubtedly poured a bucket of cold water on Mitchell, and it also surprised the entire team. Mitchell's performance in the last few matches was quite eye-catching, and he had basically secured the position of England's main center forward. However, in a match against a strong team like Serbia, Tang En did not arrange for him to play. Why was that?
Tang En's explanation was that Mitchell's technical characteristics did not fit the team's overall tactics for the match, so he needed to rest.
At the same time, he also used this adjustment to tell all the players what he had always wanted to say — the Forest players would also be suddenly removed from the starting list like Gerrard. No one on my team can enjoy any special privileges. There has never been any special privileges for my team. The criteria for deciding who to start and who not to start are your conditions, as well as my tactical needs.
After arranging the tactics, Tang En changed his arrogance at the press conference and warned his players with a serious expression that this match was a test. The Serbs had the home ground, and they would not let them off easily. They had to be careful of Serbia's counterattack in this match, and at the same time, put more pressure on their offense, so that they would not have time to counterattack. In addition, they had to strengthen their interception and close defense in the midfield. They must not allow the Serbs to freely control the ball in the midfield.
After doing all these, it would depend on which side played better in the match.
※ ※ ※
England played better in the first half.
Antić did not expect England to not underestimate their opponent, but to be very aggressive in the midfield, and Serbia was not used to it. They wanted England to attack, but they did not want England's midfielders to tirelessly fight for the ball under their feet.
From the start of the match, the Serbs were flustered by England's interception, and they did not know how to play.
England did not waste any opportunities. Walcott scored a goal and an assist, and helped the team to take a 2: 0 lead in the first half.
Tang En's adjustment this time was beyond Antique's expectations. Walcott and Mitchell were completely different types of players. Their tactics were originally meant to target Mitchell, but they did not expect Tang En to bring along a nimble and speedy forward. He moved from the flanks to the middle, constantly disrupting Serbia's defense. The thirty-three-year-old Vidic was defeated by him and Rooney's repeated attacks.
In the second half, Serbia made adjustments, and they specifically defended against England's fast forward line. Their counterattack also picked up, and they pulled back a goal ten minutes into the second half.
But before the cheers in the Maracana Stadium stopped, England returned the favor. This time, the goal was scored by the center-back, Terry. He grabbed an opportunity from a corner kick, and he scored with a header. 3: 1.
Scoring and conceding so quickly greatly affected the Serbs' morale. While they were in chaos, England scored another goal – 4: 1, and almost sealed the victory.
In the final stage of the match, Serbia used a free kick to knock open the goal guarded by Joe Hart, but it was to no avail.
England relied on their unexpected tough attitude and aggressive tactics to take down their first strong opponent in the group with a 4: 2 score.
The team's morale was high with three consecutive victories, and they scored ten goals. Tang En seemed to want to use continuous victories to prove that even if it was his first time coaching the national team, he was completely fine.
When Antić shook hands with Tang En after the match, he looked helpless.
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