On the first day of December, Millwall trained as usual in the morning.
Players arriving at the club in different models of cars follow the procedure step by step. Ronaldinho will chat with the doorman for a few minutes. Nedved goes to the team doctor to read his physical examination report last month. Henry sits in the locker room and listens to music to relax. Pirlo
While playing around on the court, Gattuso would look for the right moment to prank Pirlo, while Alonso would hold a bookmark in one hand and a book in the other, leaning against the goalpost and reading in the bright sunshine...
In the small world of the club, you can still get a glimpse of all kinds of life.
Over the past year or so, Aldrich has developed the habit of driving to the club, parking his car, and getting out of the car with a cup of takeaway coffee in hand.
Although my work and rest time have been properly planned recently according to the instructions in the article, habits are hard to break.
Before training, he would chat with everyone in the coaching staff's studio. When the time was almost up, he would go to the training ground to gather. By then, most of the players were also present.
The atmosphere today is a bit special, and the players seem absent-minded.
Head coach, coach, players, in fact, no one is thinking about training.
After the warm-up, Aldridge did not conduct ball training and directly asked the players to practice their physical fitness. After half an hour passed, many players were sweating profusely, and Aldridge gave the order.
"Let's go and watch the World Cup group draws together."
The players cheered and followed the coaches in small groups to the office building of the training base. They were sitting in the room where they usually held pre-game preparation meetings. The live draw of the Korea-Japan World Cup was already playing on the big TV screen.
"Boss, is this girl a player in the Asian women's football team? Asian women play football so beautifully?"
Ronaldinho moved a chair and sat in front of Aldrich, which was probably the first row. He pointed at a lottery ambassador on the big screen and asked curiously.
Teammates around him immediately started blowing whistles.
Aldrich couldn't laugh or cry, and said: "That's a Korean female star. She's not a football player."
What Ronaldinho is pointing to is Korean movie star Song Hye Kyo, who is one of the 13 ambassadors drawn this time. Speaking of women playing football, among these 13 ambassadors is China's Sun Wen.
Some Asian faces are unknown to the players. For example, South Korea's Jung Mong-jun, Hong Myungpo, Japan's Masami Ihara, etc., but others such as Pele, Cruyff, and Platini are familiar to everyone in European football circles.
Old faces that are no longer familiar.
Ronaldinho turned around and asked: "Boss, the England team you led had such a good record in the past year, why isn't it a seeded team?"
"Because the World Cup is held in Asia, Japan and South Korea account for two seeding teams. Without them, England and Portugal can enter the seeding team."
After Aldridge finished speaking, he pushed Ronaldinho's head forward and said: "Watch quietly and don't make trouble."
In fact, whether England has been assigned to a seeding team or not. Aldridge feels that there is not much difference.
Being the weakest in the first bracket, the probability of being assigned to the death group is very high.
Even if you are placed with a strong seeded team in the second pot, there is a high probability that you will get a spot in the second pot.
It just depends on luck, because the World Cup is a group stage. Except for European teams, teams from other continents have an avoidance principle in the group stage.
Since Japan and South Korea occupy the seeding spots, there are as many as 11 teams in the second pot. In other words, there are 3 teams in the second pot that have not been drawn. They will enter the third pot. Unlucky
If it goes well, the seeded team and the two second-tier teams will be divided into one group, and this will give birth to the group of death.
Among the teams in the third tier, Aldrich saw a name: China.
When I experienced this period of history in my previous life, I didn’t think much about it, but when I look at it now, I think it’s very strange.
It is not surprising to say that Senegal, Tunisia, South Africa, and Cameroon are placed in the fourth tier, but the United States and Nigeria are placed in the fourth tier. This is somewhat inconsistent, especially in the United States. Although football is among the most competitive sports in the United States.
The ranking is not high, but they have participated in and hosted the World Cup in recent years. The Chinese team entered the World Cup for the first time and was placed in the third tier.
The results in the past two years have been amazing? Have you gained FIFA points?
Aldrich didn't remember and didn't bother to think about it.
The players in the meeting room began to whisper. In fact, the actual drawing of lots will not take too long, but the drawing ceremony will have to go through a formality. The flag bearers of the participating teams will enter, the national flags of various countries will be displayed, the cultural performances arranged by South Korean officials, and the American women.
Star Anastasia sang the theme song "Leap", followed by a promotional video introducing the participating teams.
In England's team promotional video, the players are naturally dominated by the two most famous stars, Beckham and Owen, but it is rare that among the 32 representative team promotional videos, only England's promotional video was given to the coach.
More than 20 seconds of close-up moments of this character...
When the lottery started, the conference room became quiet, and everyone was waiting for the results of the lottery.
When the result of England being drawn into Argentina's group came out, there were exclamations at the draw, and the coaching staff around Aldridge also showed various expressions.
Klinsmann gasped, and Janson slapped his thigh and covered his head in frustration.
We only had one fight in 1998, and four years later, we are dating again!
Aldrich's expression remained normal as he watched the draws of all the teams in the second round, and then he frowned.
"Holy crap! Why Argentina?"
Jensen couldn't help but curse.
When people talk about this World Cup ten years later, what will Argentina be remembered for?
What people remember is the five-star Brazil!
But, before the World Cup, Brazil?
Brazil and Argentina are not teams on the same level at all!
In the South American qualifiers, Brazil was in danger of being eliminated until the last round. In the penultimate round, it lost 1:3 to Bolivia, which almost made the Brazilian people despair. Fortunately, in the last round, they defeated Venezuela 3:0 at home and narrowly defeated Venezuela.
They finished third with a goal difference advantage. The fourth place had the same points as them. The fifth and sixth places both had 27 points. They were only 3 points away from Brazil. You will know how well Brazil performed in the qualifying rounds.
It was thrilling.
What about Argentina?
"Vilas, what's going on in Argentina these days?"
Jenson turned to ask Boas.
There is a draw today. Naturally, Boas will also do some simple intelligence preparations.
Before Jenson asked, he opened the thick book and found the information about Argentina. He said in a deep voice: "In the South American qualifiers, Argentina had 13 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss. It qualified as the first place with 43 points. It scored the most goals and the number of goals scored.
Brazil, which has the second most, has 11 more goals. It has conceded 2 more goals than Uruguay, which has the fifth best defense. It is first in offense, second in defense, and has the largest goal difference. The only defeat was at Brazil's home court, but they
Returned to the home court and successfully took revenge.”
It is no exaggeration to say that before the World Cup started, the strongest team in South America was none other than Argentina!
This is not empty talk, but is based on record, stable, strong offensive firepower, and solid defense. This is the impression Argentina gives to the outside world.
After Boas finished speaking, everyone turned their attention to Aldrich, who heard Aldrich thoughtfully saying: "We have a 75% probability of entering the death group."
At this time, the coaching staff all looked at the big TV screen in unison.
In the World Cup group stage, the top two teams advance and the bottom two teams go home.
Argentina and England are divided into the same group. Then, if they are assigned to a weaker third-tier team, such as the Chinese team, plus a fourth-tier team.
Well, this pick is actually very good. If you earn 6 points on a weak player, you will definitely qualify.
But when everyone looked at the big screen, they understood what Aldrich meant.
There are three European teams in the second pot that have been classified into the third pot. Although there is no avoidance principle for European teams in the group stage, there is an upper limit. That is, a group can only have a maximum of two European teams.
.
Therefore, these three teams can only be divided into the group containing Brazil, Argentina, Japan, and South Korea.
Among the seeded teams, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany have all drawn a European team in the same group.
When England is drawn into Argentina's group, the probability of the death group appearing is very high.
I'm very unlucky. It can be said that as long as I'm not drawn into the group of Brazil and Argentina, and put into a group with South Korea, Japan, or the other four European seed teams, then the probability of avoiding the group of death is very high. But, first of all,
There is a 25% probability of winning the bid, and then it depends on whether the 75% probability can be avoided.
After the results of the group where the third team was drawn into Argentina and England were announced, there was another exclamation at the draw site.
In the conference room, Larson lowered his head and smiled bitterly.
Sweden entered this group.
The Death Group was, without a doubt, born.
Aldrich also smiled bitterly, how come I, a butterfly, have no effect on this draw?
After the draw results for the fourth pot teams were announced, the England delegation and Fleet Street media representatives present all had faces as dark as carbon.
African Super Eagle Nigeria.
Argentina, England, Sweden, Nigeria.
Damn your grandma FIFA!
Aldrich raised his eyebrows after watching the lottery ceremony.
The group of death is the group of death, and it is not without good information.
At least if England is in Group F, if they can break out of the tight encirclement, then the group stage and the knockout rounds will be held in the Japanese side of the competition, without South Korea and Japan having to run in both directions.
The players are also talking about it, and some players have good fortunes in their respective national teams.
Just like Henry's France, Denmark, Uruguay, Senegal, Pirlo and Italy were assigned, and their opponents were Ecuador, Croatia, Mexico, and even Klose and Schneider's Germany were assigned.
A relatively weak group, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Cameroon.
After counting, England is the worst!
Of course, Aldrich didn't think it was too tragic, and he was mentally prepared for it.
After the training, reporters were already surrounded outside the Leo training base.
Fleet Street football reporters swarmed in to ask Aldridge what he thought of the draw.
"Mr. Hall, England and its old enemy Argentina are in the same group. Are you mentally prepared for this revenge battle?"
"What do we know about Nigeria? Will such an opponent cause us trouble?"
"And Sweden, we haven't beaten Sweden in 33 years! Do you have the confidence to lead England to break through the group of death?"
Aldrich was dumbfounded by the question.
England in the Marler Desert.
We know that we have not beaten Germany for 30 years, and we don’t think there is anything wrong with it. Germany is just strong.
But why did a team like Sweden suddenly appear that had not beaten Sweden for 33 years?
Aldrich, who was sitting in the car with a dumbfounded expression on his face, was photographed by reporters.
Everyone thought that the young marshal couldn't handle the pressure because England was drawn into the group of death!
Aldridge is really confused by England's modern football history.
As the England coach, it seems that he has to go back and review history.
Otherwise, don’t beat Germany for 30 years today, not beat Sweden for 33 years tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow for N years without beating so and so... England, who did you beat?
Just like that, does England have the nerve to call itself a strong team?
Fleet Street is really on its knees!
It’s you who praise England’s strength, and it’s you who use England’s embarrassing record to question the national team coach!
