Football: Starting from the 05 World Youth Championship

Chapter 347 Champions League Semi-Final, Inter Milan VS Liverpool

The situation in the semi-finals is just the opposite of that in the quarter-finals. This time, Inter Milan starts the game first, and the schedule is home first and away later.

AC Milan will play away first and then at home, and the game will be one day later than Inter Milan.

For the two teams that finished the league on the same day, being able to rest for one more day would allow them to recover more and have an advantage in the game.

However, if given a choice, AC Milan would probably rather not take up this bargain, as they really want revenge on Liverpool.

"It doesn't matter, as long as Liverpool eliminates Inter Milan and reaches the final, we can still take revenge on them!"

Milan fans can only comfort themselves in this way, but looking at the current state of their neighbors, it seems that it will be difficult for Liverpool to get through this level!
“Haha, we Inter Milan fans thank you for your blessings. You should worry about whether you can get past Chelsea first. With the oldest lineup in the top five leagues, you will be torn apart when facing a tough team like Chelsea. Don’t get slaughtered at Stamford Bridge and embarrass our Serie A!”

Although the relationship between Inter Milan and AC Milan is not as bad as that between Juventus, it is definitely not good either.

So fans of both teams are hoping that the other team will fail in the Champions League semi-finals, so that they don't have to meet each other on the final stage.

Two civil wars a year are already too much, even the majority of fans are tired of it, and really don’t want to see these two teams meet again in an occasion like the Champions League.

But it seems a bit early to think about the finals now.

The two Premier League teams that have made it to the semi-finals are not simple teams. Neither Inter Milan nor AC Milan are sure of winning.

Compared to Mourinho's extremely utilitarian football, Benítez's Liverpool at least plays technical football.

In addition, Liverpool had a very scary score in the last Champions League game, and Inter Milan is also a team that advocates offensive football.

So according to the outside world's expectations, this should be an offensive war that will be like Mars hitting the Earth.

Therefore, in these two Champions League semi-finals, most fans paid more attention to the match between Inter Milan and Liverpool.

After all, it goes without saying that Chelsea's playing style is defensive counterattack. This kind of game is destined not to have many goals, so it is far less exciting than the offensive battle here.

However, when the game started, the fans cried out that they had been cheated!

"Well, Benítez, you, a guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes, have become utilitarian!"

"What happened to the promise to fight to the death and destroy the opponent with offense? It turns out that these were all smoke screens deliberately released by Liverpool!"

At the press conference the day before the game, Benítez said that he would continue to adopt Liverpool's offensive football to deal with the opponent.

But in the end, he, like Mourinho, chose the very utilitarian tactic of defensive counterattack.

Benítez was very satisfied with the reaction from the outside world. He called himself a tactical master, so naturally he would not be proficient in only one tactic.

As long as it can be used to defeat the enemy, no matter whether it is offensive football or conservative football, as long as it really works, he will choose it without hesitation!
Inter Milan's home record is so strong that Bayern and Manchester United, who came as guests before, failed to gain any advantage. Although Liverpool believes that its strength is not weaker than these two teams, it has no confidence that it can capture Inter Milan's home court.

If they really let go and fight Inter Milan head-on, the possibility of them losing is obviously greater.

Therefore, adopting a relatively conservative tactic on the road is the most reasonable choice.

As for the smoke bomb at the press conference, it was nothing more than a battle and game between the opposing head coach before the game!

If Mancini is really so naive and believes his lies, that would be great!
……

Liverpool had obviously prepared for this game for a long time. Agger, Gerrard, Mascherano and Bellamy, who had been resting in the league, all appeared in the Red Army's starting lineup.

In addition, Benitez specially prepared a surprise weapon for Inter Milan. He let the former Dutch "fast winger" Zenden return to the long-lost right midfield position, which was obviously intended to make use of the quick counterattack.

Compared with Benítez's adjustments, Inter Milan did not make any special arrangements for formation and positioning.

They still used the regular formation that they often use in the league and the Champions League, but Mancini chose Cruz to start as the striker.

Crespo has a stronger sense of scoring in the penalty area, and his shooting and scoring abilities are more outstanding.

But Cruz is taller and has a more comprehensive playing style. In addition to shooting and scoring, he can also use his height advantage to act as a fulcrum, pass the ball to his teammates, and even use his body to break through the opponent's defense when the team is unable to open up the situation.

However, compared to the veteran Cruz, Benítez's attention is more focused on two young players of Inter Milan.

He had heard of Lin Feng's name a long time ago. Although he was young, his personal strength had already reached a top-notch level.

What is even more commendable is that the opponent is an all-around midfielder with both offensive and defensive capabilities and outstanding offensive and defensive awareness.

This kind of player is the treasure that any head coach dreams of!

But unfortunately, Liverpool has not yet gotten out of the shadow of the Heysel Stadium tragedy.

The club has always invested very little in transfers. Even though Benítez was drooling over Lin Feng, he could only sigh in his heart that Liverpool could not afford a player of this level.

Unless they sell their captain like Arsenal did...

If selling Gerrard could really get Lin Feng in exchange, then he thought this deal would be a good one.

It’s just that the club and the fans can’t explain it!

This idea was crazy, and Benítez forced himself not to have any bad thoughts.

So he just glanced at Lin Feng quickly and then turned to another player - Fernando Torres!

As a Spaniard, Benítez had long noticed this young striker playing for Atletico Madrid.

As early as the winter transfer window of last season, he had set his sights on Torres and even went to watch Torres' game in person.

Don’t be fooled by this boy’s harmless and even sunny and handsome face.

But beneath this harmless face, there is a beast-like soul hidden!
Torres possesses excellent physical fitness and confrontation ability, and his explosive power and speed are very strong, so he often performs his unique skill of eating the opponent's defenders alive on the court.

The most important thing is that his goal efficiency is very high.

After coming to Inter Milan and getting the support of top midfielders, Torres seemed to have opened up his Ren and Du meridians. In his first season with Inter Milan, he scored 28 goals in all competitions, completed two hat tricks and three braces.

And with a 4-goal advantage, he leads the Serie A scorer list!

It should be noted that this was achieved when there was fierce competition among the three forwards in Inter Milan and Torres' playing time was limited.

It can be said that Torres' talent and achievements at Inter Milan have completely exceeded Benítez's expectations.

He knew that the other party was strong, but he didn't expect him to be this strong.

At the beginning, due to financial constraints and Atletico Madrid's high asking price, they failed to successfully sign the opponent.

When he wanted to make a move in the summer window, Inter Milan had already taken the lead. If he had had a bigger transfer budget or had been more resolute in facing the board, Torres might have already put on Liverpool's jersey.

Whenever he thought of this, he felt extremely sad, as if some treasure had been stolen!
Torres on the field obviously didn't know that he had such a fate with Liverpool, but if he was given another chance to choose, he would still decide to join Inter Milan.

After all, everyone here is talented, speaks well, and there is a thigh thicker than an elephant to hug. Only a fool would choose Liverpool!
After the opening, Torres was particularly active.

I can’t explain why, but I just have a kind of affinity with Liverpool - I want to score a few more goals against them...

In the eighth minute, Inter Milan made a cross from the flank, and Cruz headed the ball in the penalty area but was saved by the goalkeeper.

The ball fell in front of Lin Feng. Lin Feng stopped the ball with his chest, dribbled past the defender, and sent the ball back into the penalty area.

Torres forced his way out from between two Liverpool defenders, Finnan and Karak, and fired a powerful shot from the edge of the small penalty area.

But Liverpool goalkeeper Reina reacted quickly and raised his hand in a very strange posture to block Torres' shot over the crossbar.

"Reina's reaction didn't seem like he was saving the ball, but rather he was subconsciously protecting himself from being hit by the ball."

Inter Milan fans were very depressed and felt that the opponent's goalkeeper was just lucky.

"Don't worry about it. Just tell me whether the ball was saved or not."

"That's right. A good goalkeeper is one who can save the ball, no matter if he is well prepared or it's an unexpected move!"

"Luck is also part of strength!"

Although Torres' shot missed the target, it still made Benítez break out in a cold sweat.

If we lose the ball so quickly, today's game will be very dangerous!
Once the team falls into a disadvantage and the players' morale drops, it is hard to say whether they can rely on defense to stabilize the situation and prevent the opponent from expanding the score in the remaining time.

I can only say it’s a good thing I didn’t get in!
But this kid is in really good shape today!

Torres himself also felt that he was in very good shape, especially in physical confrontations with opposing defenders, he always had the upper hand.

With Torres disrupting the game in the opponent's penalty area, Liverpool's defenders had a very difficult time.

In addition, Lin Feng would take the ball and attack the penalty area from time to time, and Cruz would frequently provide cover for Lin Feng.

As a result, in the first twenty minutes, the situation on Liverpool's side was very passive.

Benítez was already sweating profusely after watching this!
I thought that by playing more conservatively, I could limit the opponent's attack, but now it seems that is not the case at all.

Although Liverpool's iron triangle of Alonso, Mascherano and Gerrard was not inferior to Inter Milan in the midfield, the disadvantage on the front line was too great.

Look at who are the people at the front on both sides?
Inter Milan has Torres and Cruz, and Liverpool has Kuyt.

Can Kuyt play as a center forward?
I can’t fight. I don’t have the ability to do that, you know!

This kid used to play as a winger. It is wishful thinking to expect him to rush into the penalty area and disrupt the opponent's defense like these two forwards of Inter Milan.

The advantage in the front line allowed Inter Milan to quickly find opportunities to score.

In the 29th minute, Lin Feng dribbled past Agger on the right and made a cross. Torres rushed over and slid into the goal.

The score became 1:0, and Liverpool's goal was breached after only 29 minutes at the Meazza Stadium.

Seeing Torres score a goal, Benítez held his head in his hands, looking extremely unacceptable.

This should be our Liverpool player, this goal should belong to our Liverpool!
Seeing the opponents celebrating the goal wantonly, Liverpool captain Gerrard found several of his teammates and discussed it together:

"We must keep a close eye on the kid wearing the number eight jersey. We can't let him do whatever he wants on the wing!"

Mascherano, Agger, Riise and others nodded one after another, defending the matters that coach Lin Feng had emphasized before the game.

But judging from the situation on the field in the first thirty minutes, they did not complete their task well.

Especially the left side of the defense guarded by Riise was almost paralyzed by the combined attack of Lin Feng and Figo!

Of course, this cannot be entirely blamed on him. After all, even if he were to replace him with the best left-back in Europe, he might not be able to withstand the successive attacks from the two opposing players.

Therefore, if you want to plug the gap on the left, you can't just rely on the left-back alone, you need other teammates to stand up and cooperate with him.

The person who is most capable and obliged to cooperate with him is left midfielder Mascherano.

Compared to Xabi Alonso, a defensive midfielder who needs to take care of both the team's offense and passing tasks, Mascherano's main task is defense.

It just so happened that Lin Feng's activity area was within his defensive area, so strictly speaking, he was the real defender facing Lin Feng.

In his prime, Xiao Ma Ge could be considered a strong contender for the title of the world's best defensive midfielder.

It is precisely because he saw great potential in the opponent that Benítez let the 23-year-old Mago, who just joined the team during the winter break, start in such an important occasion.

But in the first thirty minutes, Mascherano's performance was not good.

When facing Lin Feng, he did not complete the task assigned by the head coach very well and did not completely stare at the opponent.

Instead, he allowed Lin Feng to run to the wing many times and found offensive opportunities from the wing.

But this cannot be entirely blamed on Xiao Ma Ge. Firstly, he has not yet reached his peak, and there is a big gap between his defensive experience and awareness and his peak period.

Secondly, Liverpool's left midfielder is the 'old' Zenden. Although the Dutchman is only 31 years old this year, his condition has declined significantly compared to his peak period.

Benítez sent him on the field, hoping to use his speed and breakthroughs to open up the situation on the left.

And his teammates have been executing this tactic, passing the ball to him many times during offense.

But the Dutchman is already old and has lost the style of his former fast wing.

Facing Inter Milan's tight defense, he couldn't move fast enough, nor could he break through.

Even when passing the ball, he often couldn't find his teammates and the pass was a mess.

What's worse is that he was slow to return to defense, causing Mascherano to have to clean up his mess.

How could one person doing the work of two people possibly stop Lin Feng?

(End of this chapter)