"It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter! Just follow our previous tactics!"
While the English players were cheering to celebrate the goal, the Chinese coach Qin Lin of the Chinese team was standing on the sidelines, shouting at the players on the field, and repeating the "hold on" gesture to ask the players not to panic.
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Next to him, Jorge Dillon made the same movements and shouted the same words.
After losing the ball, they reacted quickly and gave the players reassurance.
After doing all this, the two of them did not return to the coaching bench, but stood on the sidelines and stared at the court.
"England's scoring firepower is too scattered, which makes our defense more difficult..." Qin Lin covered his mouth and told Dillon what he observed.
Dillon also covered his mouth: "This is the characteristic of England. They don't have an offensive core. Everyone can score. That's why they scored 11 goals in the group stage."
He had expected this and was not surprised.
England scored 11 goals in the group stage, of which main forward Marvin Stones scored three goals, the most goals in the team.
The second-highest scorer on the team is Jay Adams, who scored two goals.
One of the next six goals was an own goal scored by a South Korean player. Except for this own goal, the remaining five goals were scored by five different players. They are:
Carl Gregg, Pete Williams, Scott Wilson, William Sutton, Alan Morley.
Of course now Carl Gregg has also scored two goals.
In addition to the goalkeeper, everyone from the forward, to the midfielder, to the defender scored goals.
A total of seven players scored for England.
The most goals scored in this World Cup.
In comparison, only three players from the Chinese team scored. Three of them scored six goals.
Hu Lai scored four goals alone, while Zhou Zijing and Wang Guangwei each scored one goal.
Precisely because there are so many players in the England team who have scored goals and can score goals, it is very difficult for opponents to defend them because they cannot focus on one player.
Just like Carl Gregg who scored this goal.
His Liverpool United team is not a wealthy team in the Premier League, but only ranks in the middle of the pack.
Such a player is not a well-known top star, but he scored two goals in this World Cup.
What does this mean?
Did Greg's level suddenly improve?
of course not.
It's England's tactics that give more opportunities to non-star players like Greg.
Pete Williams is a qualified and excellent "server" in England's midfield. He is responsible for passing the football to threatening places, rather than passing the ball to one or two star players.
England's offensive tactics only have a playmaker - that is, Pete Williams - but no attacking core.
Marvin Stones, who has scored the most goals on the team, also needs to create opportunities for other teammates.
Therefore, although he is a center, he often pulls the ball and provides assists to his teammates.
For example, this ball just now.
It was Stones who pulled the ball to the left rib, attracted the attention of the Chinese team's defense, and then passed the football to the middle of the field, giving Carl Gregg, who was diagonally inserted, a chance to shoot unmarked.
So why was the unknown Carl Gregg able to score two goals in this World Cup?
Because he appeared where he was needed.
Even if it's not him, under England's tactical system, it could be someone else, such as Pete Williams, Jay Adams, or Brad Pitt. They all have the ability to appear in that space at that time.
Ability and possibility.
"Ryan Jackson has something." Dillon continued to cover his mouth and said. "He abandoned some more famous players and chose players that are more suitable for his tactics. This England team is not that strong in star quality and has strong strength.
But stronger."
"How should we respond?" Qin Lin asked.
Dillon said: "Of course we will continue to play like this. England's defense also has problems. As long as we continue to attack, we will still have a chance. This is only one goal and it is still the first half. There is no need to worry."
After hearing this, Qin Lin stopped talking and stood with Dillon on the sidelines watching the game.
On-field play has resumed.
He was not observing the performance of the Chinese team, but carefully watching the players' running and passing during the England game.
He feels that the England team's style of play, where anyone can be a scorer, is very interesting and can give him some inspiration.
After returning to the South China Tiger, he wanted to try to learn from it and perhaps make the South China Tiger's performance even better.
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After England took the lead, the game resumed.
The Chinese team players do not have time to be as sad, painful and angry as the fans.
They must get into the game right away.
The opponent will not give them time to adjust their mentality. If they cannot stabilize their morale, they may concede another goal in a short period of time.
That would be really hard to bear.
"careful!"
As the commentator He Feng exclaimed.
Carl Gregg made a pass from the wing, and Stones headed the ball in front of the goal to complete the attack.
Fortunately, Lin Zhiyuan's position was very good and he took Stones' header into his arms without moving at all.
Of course, this is also because when Stones headed the ball, Liu Yan was so entangled with him that Stones was not able to fully exert his strength when heading the ball and had no time to care about the header.
Accuracy, being able to hit the ball before Liu Yan is already very good.
Lin Zhiyuan hugged the football and rushed towards the edge of the penalty area. Then when he was about to rush out of the penalty area, he threw the football in his hand.
Just like throwing a javelin, the football was thrown directly over the center line by him!
After Zhou Zijing in front caught the ball, he used his body to protect the football.
Then it was passed back to Zhang Qinghuan who penetrated forward.
Before Zhang Qinghuan caught the ball, he looked in the direction of Chen Xingyi and found that Johnson Lao was following him.
So he decided to pass the football to the right and give it to Cui Zexu.
Cui Zexu plays for Hedong Thunder in China and is a versatile player.
He was originally positioned as a wing substitute in this team, serving as a backup player for Chen Xingyi and Luo Kai. Unexpectedly, Luo Kai played a complete World Cup game and was injured halfway through the second game.
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So now he has become the Chinese team's starting choice at this position.
However, it can still be seen that there is a huge gap in strength between him and Luo Kai.
After all, Luo Kai is a player who has already established himself in a wealthy Premier League club, albeit a down-and-out wealthy one, while he only plays the main role in the domestic Chinese Super League.
Cui Zexu also knew his position very well, so he had no unnecessary thoughts during the last game and diligently completed the tasks assigned to him by the head coach.
If you let him defend, defend; if you let him attack, attack.
Because he knows that his abilities are limited, when the football is at his feet, he will not try to make himself stand out, but will pass the football to his teammates immediately.
Although it is difficult to create opportunities after football develops on his side, at least it is safe and he will not suddenly lose the ball, causing the whole team to become passive.
This time Cui Zexu did the same thing after receiving the ball from Zhang Qinghuan.
After catching the ball, he looked up again and found that there was no good opportunity to pass forward. At the same time, England's Greg was quickly approaching him.
So he didn't wait for Zhang Qinghuan to make a gesture and immediately passed the football back to the opponent.
Zhang Qinghuan had already expected that Cui Zexu would pass the football to him. He already knew his teammate's playing logic - safety, safety, safety. Don't seek merit, but seek no faults.
So after passing the football to Cui Zexu and seeing Greg rushing towards him, he was ready to receive the pass - he quickly turned his head to observe the situation behind him.
Seeing Jay Adams running towards him, he turned his head and looked to his left side. Connor Kirk was staying in the midfielder position and did not move.
Going forward, Zhou Zijing and Hu Lai were both a little far away from me.
Although Hu Lai had already circled around and ran back to meet him, he didn't have enough time.
He then turned to look to his right, which was the Chinese team's half.
There is space there.
At this time, the football came over. Zhang Qinghuan had already observed it in advance and thought about where to pass the ball, so he turned around and passed it back without hesitation.
Gave it to Ou Yangjin.
While passing the ball, Zhang Qinghuan also shouted to Ou Yangjin: "Give it to Xiaoyu!"
When he was observing just now, he had already seen Xia Xiaoyu inserting himself into the space behind Jay Adams, and knew that this was a point that could be exploited.
Ou Yangjin obediently passed the football.
Because Xia Xiaoyu ran into the open space to catch the ball, there were no England players around him when he picked up the ball.
He can handle the ball calmly.
When the football passed by Ou Yangjin and passed to Xia Xiaoyu's feet, Zhang Qinghuan had already moved to the new receiving point and made a gesture to Xia Xiaoyu asking for the ball.
Xia Xiaoyu passed the football to Zhang Qinghuan.
But Zhang Qinghuan did not catch the ball, but directly passed the football under his crotch.
He missed it to Hu Lai, who came out to help him just now!
At the same time, he also shook Connor Kirk who was pressing!
"nice shot!"
After receiving the ball, Hu Lai laterally moved the football to the left wing, into the space diagonally behind him!
"pretty!"
Chen Xingyi and Johnson Law are competing for speed there.
This time, because it was a cut and run, Chen Xingyi did not have to dribble the ball, so he could accelerate unscrupulously.
He caught Johnson Lau behind him in two steps, and at the same time caught up with Hu Lai's diagonal pass.
He carried Johnson Law's body and collided with him, took the football one step forward, and then made a pass!
Zhou Zijing, who was in the middle, jumped up and competed with England center back George Birx for the top position.
The experienced Birx got stuck in his position and headed the ball out.
However, this did not make England fans feel safe, because in the direction of the football flying out, Hu Lai, who had just pulled out of the penalty area, had already swung his legs!
"Hu Lai!! Direct...volley——!!"
England center back Scott Wilson in the penalty area reflexively stretched out his feet and turned his back.
His toe touched the football!
The football changed its line slightly and then hit the goal post!
There was a crisp sound, which was drowned in the huge exclamation of the scene!
"Wow! What a risk!" Matthew Cox exclaimed. "Fortunately, Wilson made a key defense! He blocked Hu's shot at the last moment! Otherwise, the ball would definitely have flown into the goal!"
Hu Lai, who hit the goalpost, held his head in his hands with regret, and then looked up to the sky and roared. Not far in front of him, Connor Kirk was high-fiving Scott Wilson, thanking him for what he had just done.
Key defense.
Not long after England scored, the Chinese team responded with a threatening shot.
This kick made the goalposts shake, and also made the England fans' minds wander, because they all knew how powerful Hu Lai's shooting skills were.
If it weren't for Scott Wilson's extreme interception, which allowed the football to hit the goal frame, it's hard to say whether goalkeeper Tom Walker could have saved it...
Although no goal was scored, the cheers and applause of Chinese fans still rang out in the stands.
They saw hope from the Chinese team's attack - the Chinese team is capable of competing with the English team!
