The King of Football
Last warm-up match
On 1 June 2002, at the Sapporo Dome in Japan, the Argentine team delivered their final warm-up match before the World Cup.
Leon Weir made his first start on behalf of the national team today, and Bielsa still set him up to play as an attacking midfielder.
“Leon! Come on, don't be nervous, there's me.” In the player tunnel, Aimar patted his sister's shoulder carefully and said.
Today, Argentina's opponent is Russia.
The list of Argentina's main players is as follows.
Goalkeeper: Boggs.
Left back: Sorin.
Left centre-back: Ayala (field captain)
Right centre-back: Samuel.
Right back: Zanetti.
Managers: Veron.
Managers: Simeone.
Front waist: Leon Weir.
Left midfielder: Ortega.
Right midfielder: Aimar.
From: Barty.
The Russian team's players are as follows.
Goalkeeper: Nigmatulin.
Left back: Coffton.
Left centre-back: Nikiforov.
Right centre back: Smeding.
Right back: Solo Martin.
Midfielder: Victor Onopko (field captain).
Midfielder: Karpin.
Front waist: Titov.
Left winger: Vladimir Beshaschenko.
Right winger: Dmitry Alenikov.
Front: Kirklov.
Both teams played their last warm-up match before the World Cup, so both coaches and fans paid special attention to this match.
After all, the World Cups in Korea and Japan will start in three days, the state of the team is undoubtedly the one that worries the fans the most.
As a champion favorite, Argentina is certainly the object of attention of everyone.
Argentina's group stage opponents Nigeria, England and Sweden all sent their own 'scouts' to inquire about intelligence, hoping to get news of the Argentina team.
As the first starter on behalf of the national team, Leon who wore the number 15 back was also very nervous!
However, his spirit is very good, as following Ortega lately has improved his abilities a little, plus he has worked hard to open a time training room at night, and now Leon has a top professional player at the top of the eighth level...
Playing against the favourites to win the championship, the Russian team will look a lot easier.After all, their goal was to qualify for the group stage, but the Argentine team had a heavy responsibility to win the championship.
So when the game started, the Russian team performed very well, which also made many Japanese fans worried, as their group stage opponents Russia were in good shape ...
...
“Hey, son, you play as an attacking midfielder. Will you play attacking midfielder? If you can't manage the attack, give it back to me!” As Argentina's vice-captain, Veron also became vice-captain of Argentina's attack in the opening game Taking advantage of dead-ball odds, he called Leon aside and said.
“I said, Juan, Leon plays an attacking midfielder, but you, the boss set you up to play in midfield today, don't keep losing your position.” Ortega is obviously very upset with Veron's education for Leon. Kick the front waist, so he also walked over and said.
Aimar also came to help Leon speak: "Juan, Leon is still a newcomer, nervousness is inevitable, give him time."
'Depends on! Is Lao Tzu still the vice-captain of the team? Do you have anything to say about disciplining a beginner? ' Veron's heart was a little displeased: "I'm his senior! And I just taught him how to play as a front midfielder!"
“OK, Juan, let's continue the game and focus on the game.” At this moment, Captain Ayala also came and said.
This makes Veron's heart even more unhappy, he feels that his vice-captain has no rights at all...
Just as Veron was walking back angrily, Barty, the god of war, also held him back, "Juan, don't be too competitive with Leon, he's just a newcomer."
For Batty, Veron still respects: "But, Gabriel, the World Cup is coming soon. Where do we have so much time for him to exercise? Our goal is to win the World Cup!"
Barty nodded: "It is precisely because he is a rookie that the coach Bielsa will let him play in the warm-up game, and let him play as an attacking midfielder, don't worry Juan, when the World Cup, he said, You will still be the core of our attack. . ”
After being comforted by Batty, Bellon's heart was slightly relieved.
However, this time, Leon was given the ball by another midfielder, Simeone. Once he gets the ball, Veron likes to move forward with his big feet, basically ignoring Leon, the player responsible for setting up the attack. .
“Belsa, it seems that vice-captain Veron is not very convincing.” Bielsa's assistant told Bielsa on the sidelines.
Why Bielsa does not know that Veron is unpopular, but unlikely, Veron is a very important part of his offensive tactics, and Veron is also the vice-captain candidate he personally decided on ...
In fact, Bielsa has his own considerations for playing Leon as an attacking midfielder. First, he also wanted to know if Leon could play this position. Second, he also wants to see Leon's performance in a different position. Third, he hopes Leon can play in that position.able to play some more positions so that the choice is greater.
On the pitch, after a slow start, the Argentine attack began.
Leon, Ortega, and Aimar form a golden triangle of riverbeds to feed Barty again and again.In the 19th minute of the first half, Leon delivers a breakthrough ball in midfield, and Barty, the god of war, scoring after offside. The game is deadlocked!
"Good follower, son." The god of war Batty also gave a thumbs up to Leon. For Batty, he didn't care which team Leon came from. The biggest difference between him and Veron is that Barty is desperate to win - she hopes the Argentina national team can be united before the big match!
Leon is a little embarrassed after being praised by War God His eldest brother Ortega and senior brother Aimar all come to pat his ass: "Good work!"
Seeing Leon and Weir getting better, Veron is getting upset. His dissatisfaction towards Leon was also reflected in his feed. He had not passed the ball to Leon since the start of the game. I like to take the ball first, then go straight to the front court with a long pass.
This makes Argentina have several opportunities that were delayed by Veron.
And in defence, Veron, who is a defensive midfielder, often misses those in defence, which makes Simeone, who replaces him, a little offended.
The opportunity was not used by Argentina to enlarge the advantage, while Russia took advantage of the opportunity to teach lessons to Argentina.
A sharp and quick counter-attack from the Russian was launched from the left, and their midfield brain, Karpin, aimed the ball at left-winger Vladimir Beshaschenko!
Beshaschenko is very fast. He left Zanetti and made a cross. Samuel and Ayala were in the middle of a huff. Russian outflanking striker Kokerov scored a header!
Russia equalize!
On the sidelines, Bielsa frowned, because this time the Argentine defense was penetrated, it seemed like the Argentine defense was careless, but in fact Veron lost his defensive position!
In attack, Veron always likes to snatch the ball, so this time he did not reply after providing an assist, giving Russia the chance to counter-attack.
Quickly and succinctly, the Russian counter-attack taught Argentina to never underestimate their opponents at the World Cup.
At this moment, Veron, who had lost his position, had absolutely no intention of blaming himself. Instead, he went to Leonville: "Hey, son, kick your lower back, let me kick your front waist, and look at you. . Organized violation! Too bad."
Facing Veron's absurd annoyance, Leon was also a little angry, but Batty held him back. After the war god Batty communicates with Leon with his eyes, Batty whispers to Leon: "The national team is the most important, Leon holds the head high."
Leon nodded, then ran into the midfield position to partner up with Simeone. Atletico Madrid's iron waist was also very happy when it saw Veron finally leave. At least he doesn't need to fill Veron's position anymore.
Nima! The person who used Bielsa the most wrongly in his previous life was Veron. This man's organisation made the Argentine team's initial delayed attack irresistible. Veron's situation is in a stage of decline. The Argentine national team must use Ai Marr, Ortega, and others...
And Veron is a famous person since in Argentina, why would Maradona want to use Veron at the World Cup in South Africa? The reason is not simple, Veron is the younger brother of the former Maradona, and often plays around with Maradona...
Well, Leon really isn't qualified to teach Veron at the moment, because he also likes to play around.
But the most important point of Veron is that he is not convincing!
In this Argentina national team, Ortega, Simeone, Ayala, Zanetti and others are not under him in terms of prestige.
At previous World Cups in Korea and Japan, after captain Ayala was injured, it was not impossible for Veron to be captain, but he did not have the style of captain Ayala.
Veron's performance at the 2002 World Cup was not as good as his performance in qualifying, and the defeat in England damaged the Wizards' confidence.
In the 2002 World Cup, the reason for Argentina's offense and defence being less than good was Veron. In the 2006 World Cup, why did Pekelman choose to use Riquelme and not take Veron for various reasons? The reason is simple, Pekerman knows that if Argentina wants to go further, all it needs is a leader...
In the 2002 World Cup, Argentina had too many leaders, but none really had the authority of an old horse.
However, the Argentine team Pekerman still fell at the foot of the German train.Actually it is not entirely Pekerman's fault, because the Argentine team actually played very well, because the Argentine team actually played very well, but their leader Riquelme was still not enough to challenge the heavens like an old horse...
And at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Veron, the Maradona crony, who 'fell' at a critical moment, caused the Argentine team to go awry before facing Germany...
Of course, Veron is just an indirect reason.The essence of the actual Argentine team is that they have many superstars and many leaders, but no one can have absolute prestige like an old horse.
There is no problem with Messi's strength, but his character is flawed, making him less domineering.
Therefore, the reason why Veron was not happy watching Leon today was not because of Veron, but because of the lack of a true leader in this very champion Argentina team!
In the first half, after Veron and Leon swapped positions, the Argentine defence was much more stable.
Even Ayala and Samuel preferred Leon Weir, who was more willing to contribute in defence, and Simeone kept patting Leon on the shoulder, "Good work, man."
In the first half, Argentina and Russia became one-to-one.For the Argentina fans, this was definitely not what they wanted.
Leonwell's organization was initially fine, but after changing Veron, the mismatch between Veron and Aimar and Ortega became apparent.
Aimar and Ortega are small and fast, they prefer the 'Barcelona' style passing method Leon Weir, while Veron has been used to long passes and long shots after spending a year in the Premier League, he has always found a way to coexist with Ortega and Aimar.
During the break, Bielsa also made adjustments, he changed the line-up to the 352 he played in the qualifying round!
In the second half, Cambiasso and Crespo also played.
What about Leon? Bielsa asked him to try to play as a left-back!
Argentina's second-half line-up: goalkeeper Boggs, three centre-backs: Ayala, Samuel, Placent, double midfielders: Simeone, Cambiasso, Veron's front midfielder, left midfielder Leon Weir, Aimar's right-back, and, middle Crespo, Barty!
In the second round, after 352 Bielsa appeared again, the entire Sapporo Dome in Japan also cheered enthusiastically!
“This is Argentina we want to see! In World Cup qualifying, they used their attack to kill Argentina!” said Varidek, Argentinian Digital Satellite TV commentator!