After the halftime break, Aston Villa's players were in very good spirits when they came out. As long as they hold on for 45 minutes in the second half, they will win the championship trophy.
Millwall's players took the field to prepare for kick-off, and Aldridge called Materazzi to his side after he had finished warming up.
"Boss, what are you going to ask me to do?"
Materazzi said loudly with his head held high, a bit like a soldier expressing his determination.
Aldridge turned to look at him and asked softly: "In the 45th minute of the first half, did you notice how the opponent's defensive formation was arranged?"
Materazzi looked stunned for a moment, then expressed his opinion.
Generally speaking, there was no problem. Aldridge asked him to stand next to him, took out his notebook from his suit pocket, and drew a simple formation for him, which was Aston Villa's defensive system.
With three midfielders, one in front and two behind, four defenders in parallel plus a deep-lying central defender, the defensive system is very layered.
To see whether a team can defend, it does not depend on the number of defenders and aggressiveness. The most important thing is the level of the defensive system and the connection between the players. Many stars break through the opponent's entire defense line with one breakthrough or pass the ball with a master.
To penetrate the entire defense line, sometimes it is not because they are highly skilled, but because the opponent simply does not understand what team defense is. The defense line swarms up to grab a player. It seems fierce and tenacious, but in fact it is full of loopholes.
Aston Villa's defensive system was very good today, and because it was the final, the players' tactical execution and concentration on the game were very high. Just looking at defense, it is commendable.
They will not swarm to press the opponent, but slow down the opponent's offensive rhythm and compress the space. When it is time to grab, there is always a defensive player to grab, forcing the opponent to either play the ball or break through, while there are teammates around them.
Waiting for the opportunity to make the next interception, the efficiency is extremely high, which limits Millwall's offense very well.
The second half of the game started. Millwall's offensive routine did not change. They used the side and center combination to use the width of the field to create opportunities. However, several threatening passes into the penalty area were easily cleared by the opponent's Simeca.
During the first five or six minutes of the second half, Aldridge kept explaining to Materazzi the defensive routines in the opponent's penalty area. Materazzi listened very seriously and nodded frequently.
After Aldrich was sure that Materazzi understood, he turned to him and said solemnly: "Marco, your task after coming on the field is this. When defending, you harass the opponent's midfielders and wide players to play the ball. If
If you can't stop it, then stay in the frontcourt. The important thing is that when attacking, you have to be at the front, entangle the opponent's Simeka, be inseparable, and shoot when you have the chance. If he doesn't guard you, that's better, you can
Cover for Henrik and David, got it?"
Materazzi is tall and is a good header. The most important thing is that his shooting skills are not outrageous. If it is a penalty kick, he simply does not look like a central defender.
He nodded to show his understanding, and Aldrich patted him on the back to indicate that he was ready to play.
Taking advantage of a dead ball, the fourth official signaled for substitution.
Neil exits, Materza enters.
"What are Millwall doing? They are behind now! But Aldridge replaced him with a central defender! The youngster Neal performed well today. His assist role in the frontcourt was very obvious, but Aldridge replaced him
It’s really puzzling to change it.”
Millwall fans also looked at each other and discussed this substitution.
Three centre-backs on the field?
Don’t want to win?
Even Aston Villa manager Brian Little was confused.
He had predicted what Millwall's substitutions would be like, strengthening the midfield and replacing Vieira or Ballack, strengthening the forward line and replacing Solskjaer. No matter who he replaced, it would not be for a central defender, but
Aldrich just changed it openly!
After Materazzi came on the field, the game continued, and he rushed into Aston Villa's penalty area. Millwall's formation also changed at the same time.
Thuram stayed firmly in the back line, forming a double central defender with Stam. Southgate stepped up to form a double midfielder with Makelele. Nedved moved forward and became an attacking midfielder. On both sides of him, Pioneer
Lei and Schneider leaned toward the center, a bit like a three-front midfielder parallel posture.
The most surprising thing is the forward line. Trezeguet and Larsson are on both sides, and the one at the front is actually Materazzi!
The commentator interpreted Millwall's changes from the full-field footage, opening his mouth and not knowing where to start.
What kind of formation is this?
The location is 2233.
However, when defending, Aston Villa repeated its old trick with a long pass to find Yorke who was swimming to the left. Schneider was the first to pursue and defend Yorke. After successfully intercepting the ball, the ball was passed to Southgate.
At his feet, Southgate passed the ball to Pires who was retreating to receive the ball.
In Millwall's defense, Pires and Schneider retreated very deep. They were more like full-attack wing players in 352, but in attack, they gave up the wing and stayed close to the center.
Makelele moved forward to harass and fulfilled his supporting role well. The pressure on Nedvěd became less and his performance began to improve.
When Pires takes the ball, he does not cover the side or cut into the penalty area. He and Schneider complete long-range shots or 45-degree crosses near the top corner of the penalty area, suddenly compressing the attack in the middle.
Aston Villa found it difficult to adapt because their two full-backs were at a loss.
Without the pressure on the wing, they naturally shrink into the penalty area. The penalty area is crowded with people. Millwall's offense is more intuitive. It radiates from the parallel lines of the penalty area. Pires takes a long shot, Schneider crosses, and Ned
Wade's long shots or forward drives compressed the space in the penalty area to the minimum, and Makelele came up to complete the long shot.
After the substitutions, Millwall's offensive went higher and higher. The ball went in, bounced out, went in, and bounced back. The attack kept Aston Villa in a panic.
The biggest headache is Simeca. He has been very relaxed in the first half. He has no specific marking tasks. Ehiogu and Wright are marking Larsson and Trezeguet, even if their personal abilities are at a disadvantage.
At a disadvantage, Simeca will lie in wait in the dark and wait for opportunities to successfully resolve the crisis in the penalty area.
Whether it's a missed ball or a missed person, Simeca can solve it head-on.
But since Materazzi came on the field, the tall Italian man has stuck to him like a dog-skin plaster, blocking his vision, distracting him from the opponent's presence, and preventing him from calmly judging the development of the opponent's offensive path.
What's even more terrible is that Simeca and Materazzi did not have an absolute advantage in the physical confrontation. When Schneider and Pires passed the ball from 45 degrees, Materazzi's two top battles were both over.
It made Simeka break out in a cold sweat. Once he missed the header, and once the ball slipped over the heads of two people.
Aldridge watched from the sidelines. What he wanted to strengthen was not ball control. That would make no sense. Millwall was originally controlling the midfield. Although it seemed that the opponent had more people, if Millwall was determined to start the game,
By controlling the midfield through passing, they can produce a record number of passes, but the game will only go into overtime and then penalties.
What Millwall needs is deep attack power. Crosses from the bottom are not a big threat, because the opponent will stand in a good position to defend the high ball head-on. Pires and Schneider's crosses from 45 degrees close to the center are more intuitive.
Materazzi, Trezeguet, and Larsson are all good headerers. In fact, this is a tactical confrontation.
Simeca had Wright and Ehiogu as defensive cover, and Materazzi formed a pair to cover Larsson and Trezeguet.
When Millwall gave up the wing, Aldridge knew that this was a risk, because once Aston Villa counterattacked from the wing, the threat would increase sharply, but no tactical change is guaranteed to win. The key is, Brian -
Do you dare to take the risk?
Brian Little stood up and walked to the sidelines, his brows furrowed and worried. In just fifteen minutes, Millwall completed more than ten shots, and four of them were on target.
The three midfield barriers could not prevent the four players of Schneider - Pires - Nedved - Makelele in turn, especially when Materazzi attracted the attention of West Meca, Millwall came on
The short pass penetration that can't open up the situation in the half also has power, especially when Nedvěd breaks into the penalty area.
Aston Villa's defensive rhythm was disrupted. The origin was their two full-backs. Nelson and Staunton did not counterattack and provide assists, but defended honestly.
But when they also shrunk into the penalty area, they caused trouble for their teammates' defense. They retreated to defend from the wing. Millwall's players faced the goal head-on. In terms of impact, it was difficult for them to contain Millwall.
His offense will cause doubts among his teammates in man-marking.
Can you guard against it or not?
Take precautions, leave it to you, don't make any mistakes.
If you can't prevent it, don't cause trouble.
Makelele took the ball and passed it diagonally to Schneider in the right front midfielder position. Facing Cosic's defense, Schneider dribbled the ball to the right. There was a big space on the right side. Cosic thought he was going to go down.
So he turned around to block the space, but Schneider easily completed the pass after pass.
The ball flew into the penalty area and flew towards the dangerous area in front of the goal very quickly. Materazzi, who was at the forefront, ran weirdly to the side and grabbed the ball before Simeca headed the ball towards the goal.
Simeca's heart felt cold. His hand was still pushing Materazzi's back, but his head had been turned back to look behind him.
The restricted area was filled with people and horses, and a shadow entered the restricted area and jumped up high.
That blond hair shines brightly under the light!
Nedved!
Nelson, who was in the penalty area, harassed from the side, but could not prevent Nedved from completing the header.
Nedved wanted to head the ball at an angle, but due to interference, the ball flew straight towards the center of the goal.
Goalkeeper Oaks reflexively blocked the ball with his hand, and his body was in panic as he lowered himself.
The ball bounced in front of him, and he rushed out to hug the ball, but a leg from the crowd came into view, and he stabbed the ball hard with his toe. Oaks' eyes widened and he watched in disbelief as the ball passed from his arm.
The bottom rolled behind him.
At least three people fell in the penalty area, but the ball rolled into the Aston Villa goal.
The referee blew his whistle to indicate that the goal was valid and placed his finger in the circle.
Aldrich closed his eyes, made a fist with his right hand and waved it up and down in front of him.
The coaches and players behind him rushed out to celebrate wildly.
Larson climbed up from the door, ignoring Aston Villa captain Ehiogu who was kneeling behind him and looking uncomfortable, and ran to the outside in excitement.
ps: Thanks to "I'm calling Pianpian" for the reward!
