Chapter 936 Volume 7: Heart of the Lion King
They won the underdog Macedonia 4:0 at home, and Wales 2:0 away. Coupled with the friendly match with Australia, they won 3:1. Tony Twain's New England team has played three international A-level matches and has yet to lose. In only three games, Twain proved that his title of "Godfather of Champions" was not for nothing, and his statement of "pursuing victory no matter when and where" was also accepted by more English people. What he knows and accepts - it seems that he does have two brushes, not just talking about it.
But others disagree.
Macedonia, Wales and Australia are not considered strong teams, and they played a friendly match against Australia. The victories in these three games can't explain any problems. To test the true level of a team, it is definitely not to play against a team of this level, but to challenge a stronger enemy. Like Serbia four days later.
Unlike the previous three opponents, Serbia has always been a force to be reckoned with in European football. As a member of the former Yugoslavia, their football level has always been maintained at a high level, just look at the Serbian players who are playing for major European teams today:
Playing for Manchester United centre-back Nemanja Vidic is undoubtedly the most famous Serbian star. Also defender Ivanovic for Chelsea, Stankovic for Inter Milan, goalkeeper Stojkovic for Sporting Lisbon, defender Stepanov for Portuguese giants Porto , Defender Lukovic who played for Udinese, Defenders Tosic and Katsal who played for Werder Bremen, striker Lazovic who played for Leverkusen...
These men are seasoned and seasoned veterans who have played vital roles at their respective clubs. Having them in Serbia is enough for England to put away their arrogance and deal with it carefully.
Vidic, the central defender who played for Manchester United and the captain of the Serbian national team, said in an interview with reporters that he is not afraid of the menacing England team: "I know them very well. Play them all weekend. I'm not afraid of an England team with so many stars because football is not about whoever has the most money. It's our home game and we have the advantage."
The captain was full of confidence, while Radomir Antić, the head coach of the Serbian team, kept a low profile. He told the media that England is a great team, they have many world-renowned stars, and there is also a champion coach who has just led the Forest team to win the Triple Crown. Serbia is not worth mentioning compared to them, so his goal in this game is to try his best to keep a draw at his home court.
Some England fans were happy with the enemy coach's weak words, but Twain would not think that Antić was really afraid of them like ordinary fans.
"He's a veteran. Do you know what that means, Des? It means he's experienced and cunning. I've only managed two teams other than England - Nottingham Forest and Nottingham Forest youth team. But the old man Antić has coached six different teams, and has coaching experience in giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona. His. He said that their goal is to keep the tie. Is it really a tie? Serbia’s goal is also to enter Spain in 2016, but they just lost to Denmark 2:3 in the last round. What’s the point of a tie with us? ? If this game was our home game and they were away, I would still believe him when he said he would keep the draw." Tang En said with his lips curled up, his disbelief clearly showing on his face.
Today they are sitting on a flight from London to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. The players were busy with their own affairs, some were listening to music, some were playing handheld game consoles, some were reading magazines and newspapers, some were watching movies, and some were resting with their eyes closed.
Dunn and Walker sat together and chatted about the opponent they would face next.
"Their central defenders are strong and strong. I don't think it's a good idea to start Mitchell. His body is too thin... After many years, he is obsessed with showing off his feet, but his physical strength has never been gained. Enhanced. I think that's it for him, when he played against a strong central defender at Forest, he would not play well. It will be the same in this game."
Walker asked, "So who are you going to use?"
"Fast forwards. Serbia's central defenders are slow and slow to turn around. We will use speedy and dexterous forwards to break through their defense." Having said this, Tang En adjusted his sitting posture and signaled Walker to come closer. The noise in the plane was too loud, and he didn't want to shout out these words hoarsely.
"We have to make an adjustment. I believe that old man Antiche will never think of it." Tang En said mysteriously, "I plan to push Walcott up the front line. His speed and skill are flexible, so he can be used to deal with it." Serbian defenders."
Walker thought about it and felt that the plan was feasible, so he nodded. But he is still a little worried: "Walcott played the most at Arsenal or the side..."
"That's not a problem, he has also played as a striker. And in this game, I will not restrict him from getting the ball on the right wing, he is more free."
After speaking, Tang En laughed: "I know that in the current England team, those people in the Forest team have such thoughts-I was the head coach of the Forest team before, so I will take extra care of them. It's not just them who think so , other players have this idea more or less. Ever since I took off the captain's armband of Terry and Gerrard and chose George Wood, this idea has existed. This game is a good opportunity, Tell them no one can enjoy privileges with me. Even George, he relied on his steady performance and obedience to tactical orders to get the treatment he has today."
"I thought on your forty-sixth birthday, you already had control of the team."
"It hasn't been fully controlled yet." Tang En opened his right palm and clenched it again. "There are people who have doubts about me, but they go with the crowd and don't show it. I want them to work for me, I can't let them doubt me. And ... it's annoying, Des. The national team is not as good as the club. Fixed, every training camp there will always be some people who were not there last time, I have to reshape my image in front of them..."
"It's rare for me to be so tired of being a coach, Tony."
"It will be fine in the future, and the media will help me promote it." Tang En rested his head on the back of the seat and muttered, "I'll take a nap, call me when I arrive, Des."
"OK."
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It was already half past eight in the evening when the England team's flight arrived at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. The team did not receive much harassment from the media at the airport, and took the bus directly to the hotel where they stayed. Since it was night, they could not get a glimpse of the "crossroads between the Western world and the Eastern world".
The next day, the team collectively appeared at Maracana Stadium, Serbia's home stadium, for warm-up training to adapt to the venue, which was sought after by many media.
There are even young Serbian fans looking for players to sign Premier League club jerseys. Due to the huge influence of the Premier League, although the England national team has always been mediocre, it has never lacked star flavor.
When Wood signed an autograph for a young fan who didn't seem to be ten years old, he walked down, and Tang En folded his hands on his chest to watch his joke: "Tomorrow night's game, can you imagine him giving you the middle finger in the stands?" , George?"
Wood ignored him and walked straight back to the locker room.
"It's really boring!" Tang En complained behind his back.
Press conferences are equally uninteresting. This time he and the opponent's head coach Antić attended at the same time. When facing the reporters, Antić complimented Twain vigorously, almost touting him as the number one football coach in the world today. The English reporters couldn't help but call him so disgusting. cold war.
"...Tony Twain is a very, very good coach. It is unbelievable that he is just forty-six years old... so young, such a head coach has made the whole of Europe feel scared. To be honest I'm a big fan of him and if I were president I would do whatever it takes to keep him...England is also a very strong team and we have to be careful at home...'
Hearing such words, Tang En really wanted to yawn shamelessly in public.
If I'd be blown away by being so idiotic, I'd be an even more idiotic idiot than him.
Tang En thought so in his heart.
However, Twain did not show his thoughts on his face. He cooperated with Antić in talking about his team, and hardly mentioned Serbia. He only commented that this is a team out of politeness when asked. A team that takes it seriously. A reporter asked him to comment on what kind of method needs to be dealt with seriously, and he was full of "Vidic" and "Ivanovic", as if he no longer knew who else was in Serbia after leaving the Premier League. .
His performance made the Serbian reporters very upset, this arrogant Englishman! This is no longer the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when the empire on which the sun never sets ruled the world! Just wait and see, megalomaniac!
But Antiche always had a smile on his face, and he was not dissatisfied because he was underestimated by Tang En. In his opinion, even though Twain has been coaching for eleven years, he is still too young at the age of forty-six. He has won so many honors at such a young age, and has become the savior of England. He led the team to win three games in a row. It is absolutely impossible not to be proud. As a proud and successful person, he must think that there is nothing in the world that he can't do, and there is no opponent he can't beat. How could he pay attention to a team like Serbia that is so peacefully located in Eastern Europe?
I am sixty-five years old, and I have traveled more bridges than you, and I have seen many such people.
His analysis of Tang En was half right. Tony Twain was indeed a proud person, and he was also arrogant. But he is not an idiot with a negative IQ of 250.
After the press conference was over, Dunn called Piers Bruce. He wanted to hear what the news media had to say about his performance at the conference today.
"How about it, Mr. 007. Do you think I'm a typical island-nation narrow-minded nuisance who is arrogant and arrogant?"
"Honestly, Tony. When I saw you start to perform, I was a little confused. How could you only mention Vidic and Ivanovic, two players who played in the Premier League? But then I understood... Uh, if I didn't know you well enough, I admit that I should also be fooled by you."
Bruce's answer satisfied Dunn: "That's good, I'll wait to bear the wrath of the Serbian media. Hey!"
※ ※ ※
The Serbian newspapers that were published the next day criticized the arrogance of the English, and Antić must have had fun with these newspapers.
But the game tonight was completely beyond his expectations.
Before the game, Twain told Mitchell that he would not start the game in front of all the players. This decision undoubtedly poured cold water on Mitchell and surprised the whole team. You must know that Mitchell's performance in recent games has been quite eye-catching, and he has basically secured his position as England's main center forward. But when playing against a strong team like Serbia, Tang En didn't arrange for him to play. Why?
Tang En's explanation was that Mitchell's technical characteristics did not conform to the team's overall tactics in this game, so he needed to rest.
At the same time, he also told the whole pair of players what he had always wanted to say through this adjustment-the players of the Forest team will be suddenly removed from the starting list like Gerrard, and no one here can enjoy any privileges. There was never a franchise on my team either. The criteria for deciding who will start and who will not start is your state and 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 game was a test. The Serbs occupy the home court and will not let them go easily. In this game, we must be careful about Serbia's counterattack, and at the same time put more pressure on the opponent on offense, forcing them to have no time to counterattack. In addition, strengthen the interception and close defense in the midfield, and the Serbs must not be allowed to freely control the ball in the midfield.
After doing all this, it depends on which side of the game performed better.
※ ※ ※
England played better in the first half.
Antić did not expect that England did not underestimate the enemy. Instead, they pressed fiercely in the midfield. Serbia was not used to it. They want England to come up, but they don't want England's midfielders tirelessly pressing down on the ball at their feet.
From the beginning of the game, the Serbian was robbed by England and didn't know how to play.
The England team didn't waste any chances either. Walcott scored a goal and assisted, helping the team lead 2-0 in the first half.
Twain's adjustment was beyond Antiche's expectations. Walcott and Mitchell are completely different types of players. Their tactics were originally aimed at Mitchell, but Twain did not expect that Twain would use a different type of player. The flexible and fast striker, from the wing to the center, kept disturbing the Serbian defense. The thirty-three-year-old Vidic was defeated before he and Rooney took turns to attack.
Serbia made adjustments in the second half, defending against England's fast forwards. They also improved on the counter-attack, pulling a goal back ten minutes into the second half.
But before the cheers on the Maracana Stadium stopped, England fought back. The man who scored this time was central defender Terry, who grabbed a corner kick and scored with a header. 3:1.
Scoring goals so quickly and conceding goals so quickly has greatly affected the morale of the Serbs. While they were in chaos, England made another victory-4:1, almost securing the victory.
In the final stage of the game, Serbia used a free kick to knock on the goal guarded by Joe Hart, but that did not help.
Relying on their unexpected tough attitude and proactive tactics, England won the first strong opponent in the group 4:2 in the away game.
Three consecutive victories in the qualifiers, scoring ten goals, and the team's morale is high. Twain seemed to want to use his continuous victories to prove that even if it was his first time coaching the national team, there was no problem at all.
When Antiche shook hands with Twain after the game, he looked helpless.
After Dunn shook hands with him, he patted his shoulder again without saying anything. However, he believed that Antiche had already understood the meaning, and he should have understood it from the beginning of the game - he was fooled by Tang En, and was played by others.