Chapter 130 The Focus Battle, Attention From All over the World!

The capital of France, Paris.

After watching the video of Spain's match against Finland, France's head coach Deschamps fell into deep thought.

The reference value of this game is not great. It can be seen that Finland has been unable to hold on even before Spain exerted much strength.

But he can be sure that Spain will never show mercy when facing the French team away from home.

This is not only because the two teams are the biggest competitors in the group stage, but also because of the past grudges between the two teams.

The history of the Spanish team is not as glorious as that of the French team. If they want to create a dynasty of their own, the best way is to completely overthrow old hegemons like France to prove their strength.

The French certainly don't want to let the opponent's tricks succeed, and they cannot accept the result of losing at their home court.

Because this is directly related to the qualifying quota of the group!

In each group of the world preliminaries, only the group leader can advance directly, and the remaining nine group second place players will select eight to participate in the play-offs.

Only by winning the play-offs can you qualify for the World Cup!

The French team is currently three points behind Spain. If they cannot win this game, they will lose the initiative to compete for first place in the group.

There was even only a theoretical first chance in the group.

With Spain's steady ability to abuse food, it is difficult to expect those stinky fish and shrimps in the group to cause them trouble.

If Spain wins the next games, even if the French team wins all the subsequent games, they can only finish second in the group and go to the play-offs.

If the French team loses this game, there will be no hope of being ranked first in the group. They can only score points as much as possible on other weak teams and pray for a weaker opponent in the play-offs.

However, even a weaker opponent is not very safe.

There are many examples of such overturning in history. A certain Italian team from later generations who won the European Cup but failed to enter the World Cup expressed regret!

The majestic European champions can't make it to the World Cup. Where can you explain it?

Therefore, the French team can only accept victory in this game, not even a draw.

But how can we win against Spain, the double champion of the World Cup and European Cup?

Deschamps only pulled his hair in worry. Fortunately, his hairline was relatively safe. Otherwise, with his hair-pulling method, it wouldn't take long before it would be almost like Del Bosque's hairline.

After thinking for a long time, Deschamps finally decided to give it a go and put Paul Pogba, the young player he recruited from Juventus, into the starting lineup for this game.

He was fed up with the rough midfielders in the French team, who had no creativity at all, leaving the team with a top-notch forward lineup but no one to deliver cannonballs to them.

Although Pogba is young and has just turned 20, his skills and awareness are not comparable to those rough guys.

Although Pogba is a black player, tall and muscular, he seems to be a typical black and tough player.

But don't be deceived by his appearance. This guy is a technical player, not a physical player.

Pogba has a balanced left and right foot, and can shoot and pass perfectly with both feet without any backfoot. Moreover, he also has delicate footwork that allows him to complete high-quality passes and shots.

In addition, his excellent physical fitness gives him strong defensive ability and abundant physical fitness, making him a very versatile midfielder.

His only disadvantage currently is probably his age.

Pogba is too young and lacks a lot of game experience, especially in big competitions.

This is also the reason why Deschamps did not dare to use him as the main force before.

But when he thought that there was a young player in the Spanish team, he couldn't help but want to try it.

Spain's No. 30 is younger than Pogba. If he can do it, why can't Pogba do it?

…

On March 25, the Spanish national team arrived in Paris, the capital of France, by plane.

French fans and media were wary of the arrival of the Armada. They gathered near the airport, holding up support signs for the French team, and demonstrated to the Spanish team, telling them that this was the territory of the Gallic Roosters and that the Spaniards would not be tolerated.

However, the Spanish players didn't care about this and showed the confidence and calmness of a strong man.

This made the French very angry. They felt that the Spaniards were too pretentious.

"Damn Spaniards, wait until tomorrow to lose at the Stade de France!"

"What a bullshit Armada, tomorrow will be the end of you!"

…

Before the game even started, fans from the two countries started to criticize it on the Internet.

Spanish fans mock France as a down-and-out aristocracy. They have been deteriorating since winning the World Cup in 1998. They didn't even qualify for the group stage in the last World Cup.

How can a team like this compare to the World Cup and European Cup double champions?

Not to be outdone, French fans mocked the Spaniards for playing hypnotic football and sissy football.

They believed that under the impact of French players, the Spanish team would be shattered into pieces.

That's what it was said to be, but the handicap announced by the betting company before the game was not very optimistic about the French team.

Gambling companies on the European side gave the result of a half-half handicap to the visiting team, and were cautiously optimistic about Spain.

The betting companies on the Asian side were even more aggressive and directly gave the away team a one-goal result, obviously believing that Spain would win away from home.

Fans of the French team are very unconvinced:

"Damn, rubbish spinach, what do they know about football?

Brothers, listen to me this time and just buy the French team. Take advantage of the high odds now and buy early to get rich! "

A blogger who supports the French team called on French fans online to buy their own team to win.

However, not many French fans responded to his call. Instead, a group of Spanish fans came to inquire and started team building in his comment area:

"I am Spanish, and I prove that the Spanish team is rubbish and will definitely not be able to beat the French team!"

"That's right, Spain's midfielders are all weak. How can they compare with the African team, no, how can they compare with the French team? The French team only needs to show its black and tough characteristics. In this game, the French team is stable. win!"

"Well said, I am a Spaniard, and I have used practical actions to prove that I am optimistic about the French team. Look, this is the evidence that I am betting on the French team!"

A Spanish fan posted a screenshot of his own betting.

But careful fans discovered that this guy bought the French team to lose.

Now, the fans from other countries who were watching the excitement couldn’t stand it anymore.

"France fans, don't be fooled. The Spaniards are trying to trick you into betting in order to increase the prize pool so they can win more prizes!"

A German fan analyzed rationally and objectively.

Ordinary people are not as professional as a betting company. The data analysis experts of the betting company made such an analysis and judgment based on the status of the two teams and the strength of the players. They must have their reasons.

Why do you, an ordinary fan, use your hobby to challenge the opponent's professional job?

But not long after his comment was posted, it sank because it received too many hits.

"Damn, someone exposed our conspiracy, brothers, step on him quickly, don't let the French see it!"

The united Spanish fans collectively clicked and downvoted, not letting this German guy ruin their good opportunity to make a fortune.

…

The media reported extensively, the team's severe qualifying situation, and its powerful opponents, plus many people on the Internet called on French fans to go to the scene to support their team.

The combination of these factors inspired the French people's patriotic enthusiasm.

So, those who could afford the tickets went to the venue to cheer.

Those who didn’t buy a ticket would go to nearby bars or even the square outside the stadium for key matches. The worst would be at home, watching the TV and cheering in front of the TV screen.

The Stade de France, which can accommodate 80,000 spectators, was full on match day.

Those French fans who usually don't support their national team very much because of the team's skin color actually came out to watch the game this time.

This game is very crucial and interesting, and they naturally don't want to miss such a game.

Of course, it would be even better if you can see the team you support winning the game.

The match between France and Spain will be held at 8 o'clock in the evening on March 26. Before that, the other matches in this round of qualifiers are almost over.

In the just-concluded Group F group match, Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, defeated Azerbaijan with a score of 2:0 and scored three points. The qualifying situation is excellent.

After the game, the Portuguese team returned to the hotel. When passing by the hotel lobby, they happened to see the match between Spain and France being broadcast live on TV.

Most of the Portuguese players just glanced at it casually and didn't pay much attention, preparing to return to their rooms to rest.

But when Ronaldo saw the player wearing jersey No. 30, his steps paused.

It's him! ?

He remembered that this was the person who had met him once at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony, and was also the super starlet that Florentino had hinted to him that he wanted to poach him to be his deputy.

Thinking of this, Ronaldo stopped.

The world says you are very strong, but I want to see how strong you really are.

…

South America, in a hotel room.

Messi walked out of the bathroom wearing slippers, glanced at the clock on the wall, picked up the remote control with his hand, and turned on the TV.

The live picture that appeared on TV happened to be the match between France and Spain.

Messi's face looked a little haggard, and he seemed to be in a bad mood.

In the just-concluded South American qualifiers, Argentina, led by him, was tied 1:1 by Bolivia in an away game.

Messi missed many opportunities in this game and failed to help the team win.

This has caused him to be criticized and even questioned by the outside world. After the defeat in the World Cup in South Africa, many people began to doubt Messi and whether he could lead Argentina to achieve good results.

There are even some people who doubt his professional attitude and think that he did not give his best in the national team competition.

Otherwise, how to explain that he was making great progress in the club but failed in the national team?

Faced with these doubts and criticisms, Messi did not stand up and make any explanation.

Explanations are futile. Only by fighting back with better performances on the field can these people be silenced.

In order to become stronger, Messi has been studying Lin Quan's games recently, hoping to learn from the opponent's performance on the field and find out his own shortcomings.

Lin Quan is like a mirror to Messi, helping him find his own strengths and weaknesses and correct them.

This is much more effective than slowly looking for your own mistakes!

The game had just started, and Messi was sitting in front of the TV attentively, looking forward to what kind of inspiration Lin Quan could bring to him!

…

England, Manchester, Carrington training base.

As usual, Ferguson was sitting in his office, comfortably sipping old wine on the back of his chair while admiring the focus of the battle between France and Spain.

Although the game between England and Montenegro was also broadcast live at the same time, Sir Alex Ferguson had no interest in this game.

Montenegro is nothing more than a fish belly and will not pose much of a threat to England.

Compared with that boring game, the focus of the battle between France and Spain is even more eye-catching.

Especially in this game, there is a young player that he is very optimistic about. Ferguson is looking forward to what kind of wonderful performance the opponent can bring to him in this game!

…

France, France ball.

Guardiola, who has officially signed a contract with Bayern and is about to become Bayern's head coach, appeared in the box of the Stade de France.

In this game, he not only came to cheer for the Spanish national team as an ordinary fan, but also came to inspect Lin Quan's game status as Bayern's head coach.

It's strange to say that he has watched Lin Quan's many games, but he has never thought about how to use Lin Quan as a head coach like now.

It stands to reason that the styles of Lin Quan and Messi are so similar, and he is the best coach in the world who uses Messi.

He should know how to use Lin Quan.

However, each team's staffing and tactics are different. Bayern is not Barcelona. It does not have Barcelona's midfield configuration and the awareness of passing and controlling football that has been instilled since childhood.

Therefore, because Lin Quan is very similar to Messi, he can't just copy Barcelona's method and directly use it at Bayern.

Bayern and Barcelona have completely different tactics. He needs to find a balance between the two, which not only retains Bayern's traditional advantages, but also brings over some advanced concepts that he believes belong to the future development of football to achieve both. The perfect blend.

And this is not a simple matter.

When he thought of this, Guardiola couldn't resist the urge to experiment deep in his heart.

…

In the player tunnel, Lin Quan stood among the Spanish team with a calm face, waiting to play.

Similar to Lin Quan's state, most of the Spanish players are not very nervous.

On the contrary, on the home team, several young players who were starting for the team for the first time looked particularly nervous, and even kept crossing themselves on their chests.

Lin Quan glanced at the other party, and the other party also looked at him.

With that cool hairstyle, you can tell he is Paul Pogba at a glance.

Pogba's eyes showed envy and longing. He envied Lin Quan very much. He was so young and had already secured his position as the starting lineup of the Spanish national team.

And he has just joined the national team, and he still doesn’t know what his future will be like.

Thinking about this game again, I felt like I was pushed out of the game and faced Spain's championship-level midfielder directly.

Pogba is a little worried. If he doesn't play well in this game, will he not have a place in the national team in the future?

The young Pogba is indeed relatively green, but Lin Quan does not doubt his strength.

He remembers clearly that this guy will return to Manchester United with the world's largest transfer fee of 105 million euros in the future.

Of course, whether Manchester United's money spent is worth it or not is a matter of debate.

Teams entering the rebuilding period always spend a lot of money on buying people, but they often seem to make mistakes.

This was true for Manchester United after Ferguson, and it was also true for Barcelona later.