[Football] Bad Boy Batty

"Don't be careless! We can't let our guard down until the end of the game!" Tite loudly encouraged the players who were training in the circle grabbing on the training ground, "Yes, they (Germany) did not perform well in the group stage, but they are still a strong team and the defending champions! Cheer up!"

Brazil will play against Germany. This matter has exploded the entire Internet since Germany qualified. Everyone is like preparing for a carnival. The official Twitter accounts of the two countries mocked and targeted each other almost non-stop.

The players are also actively preparing for the game. Although the team still adheres to the philosophy of happiness first and the head coach also warns the players not to lose their own style and content, it is obvious that the atmosphere on the training ground is relaxed but a little serious.

The whole country is waiting for them to take revenge on Germany, how can we not get excited!

Batistuta was the most excited one, even more exaggerated than the players in the team who had experienced that tragedy. After the group training ended, he did not go to rest, but continued to talk about tactics with the set-piece and corner kick coaches.

Looking at the teenager running around, Jesus found Ederson with a water bottle and nudged him with his elbow: "Who has ever seen Batistuta so enthusiastic about training? Look at his energy. To be honest, it scares me a little bit."

"It's normal. Germany beat us 7-1 back then. Who wouldn't be angry when they face each other now? Look, Neymar is also very active." Ederson shrugged and said, "Ask yourself, don't you have any resentment towards Germany?"

"Of course not, all Brazilian players want to play in Germany again, me too." Jesus took a deep breath after refuting, "I just said - Batistuta's obsession with Germany is deeper than you think."

"Yes, you should have noticed it when he was at Manchester City. Every time he guessed the opponent in the Champions League draw, he said Bayern Munich," Ederson said. "Also, last season, I heard that Batistuta was high on the training ground before the game against Bayern Munich."

The Manchester City goalkeeper gave Jesus a shoulder squeeze: "You were there, wasn't that the case?"

"But Bayern is Bayern and Germany is Germany," Jesus said. "Bati takes Germany too seriously."

"That's great, maybe we can give them a tragic incident so that the Germans will remember it. Don't think too much and just train well," Ederson concluded.

Jesus nodded, then joked: "If we send Pep a video of Batistuta focusing on training, will he go crazy with jealousy?"

Ederson imagined the scene and couldn't help but burst out laughing. Jesus finally stopped being nervous and they both laughed together.

……

After talking to the coach, Batistuta returned to his room. He planned to change his clothes before going to physical therapy. Neymar had already gone there. He had just sent him a message three minutes ago saying that he had brought two strawberry jellies from the kitchen as snacks. After the physical therapy, they would go to dinner, and then Tite would conduct the final mobilization before the game.

What kind of mobilization is needed to play against Germany? Batistuta thought, it would be better to replay the video of the game four years ago, which is guaranteed to get everyone excited.

He threw his phone on the bed and started rummaging through the boxes.

To be honest, this year's German team should be the least German team.

A team that used to play high-pressure, fast break and headers actually used passing and controlling. Does Loew want to be the next Guardiola? Batistuta watched Germany's performance in the group stage. How should I put it? It seems that they don't really want to win and have no sense of urgency.

The German team has too many loopholes and serious tactical problems, which can be seen at a glance on the field. Even laymen who don't understand football can occasionally sigh, "Why is it so difficult to play?"

Löw himself didn't understand how he wanted the team to play. If he wanted to play long passes and headers, why didn't he let the only center forward Gomez start? If he wanted to play on the ground and pass the ball, why did he let the center forward Werner keep crossing from the side?

And the defense is even more of a disaster.

Loew always uses Kroos in the defensive midfielder position, but he does not give him the corresponding protection. He is responsible for organization and defense alone, and anyone will become a big sieve. And Boateng, his excellent defense is a thing of the past. Now he is slow to react, turn and chase back. When he and Hummels partner, the gap between them is big enough to fit a nest of rabbits.

Not to mention that this year they also have their traditional program - chaos in the locker room.

If they meet in the group stage, Brazil can beat Germany by double digits, Batistuta thought.

Just as he was imagining himself walking in the German team's penalty area and scoring a goal, the phone that was thrown on the bed rang. It must be Neymar. He was tired of waiting. Batistuta quickly put on his clothes, threw himself on the bed and answered the phone: "Don't be so anxious, I'm just changing clothes, if you wait--"

What's surprising is that.

"My name is Joshua Kimmich." A strange German-sounding voice came from the other end of the line. "I'm sorry that I'm not the person you think I am calling you."

Kimmich?
Batty raised his eyebrows in surprise, then held the phone away and looked at the screen, which indeed showed an unknown caller.

"How do you have my number?" he asked warily.

"I asked Gundogan for it," Kimmich replied. His tone did not change at all. He was still so hard and cold, very, uh, close to the stereotype of Germans. "I don't mean anything else. I just want to tell you that in the game the day after tomorrow, I... we will go all out."

what is this?
provocative?

Batty sneered and said, "I don't know what you're thinking. You called me before the game. What did you want to hear from me? Good luck in the game?"

"——No." Kimmich was a little stunned on the other end of the phone. To be honest, he didn't know why he made this call. "Maybe I want to clarify some misunderstandings about us. The German team has not lost its belief in winning the championship. We will show our best condition to defeat you."

"The best situation? You mean the fight in the locker room?" Batty rolled half a circle on the bed and leaned on the pillow, curling his lips in contempt. "I go online and see those news, about the factional struggle in the locker room, very German."

Kimmich was speechless. He wanted to tell Batistuta that he had had enough of the bad atmosphere in the locker room. He just wanted to play well and beat all opponents, but he couldn't say it, not only because Batistuta was their next opponent, but also because...

(“Joshua? Are you here? We’re leaving, training.”)
Kimisi quickly put the phone away. "I'm coming!"

However, Batistuta still heard another voice on the other side. He quickly searched his memory and finally identified the owner of the voice as Thomas Muller.

This guy should be considered a veteran now.

Batty raised his eyebrows: "You secretly called your opponent before the game and got caught. Have you thought about how you're going to die?"

"Huh? Who are you calling?" Mueller's funny voice was getting closer and closer. "Is it your girlfriend? Or someone else you're planning to date?"

Kimisi was a little embarrassed, "No."

"It's me, your opponent the day after tomorrow." Batistuta was happy to add fuel to the fire in the German locker room quarrel. He raised his voice and replied, "It's been a long time since we last met, Thomas Muller. Your teammates are challenging me!"

"Yeah? Is it Batistuta?" Thomas Muller sounded quite surprised, but he didn't seem to object too much. "I thought you didn't have much communication." "No, he called me and said you would do your best." Batistuta replied, and then he joked: "I think this is unnecessary. Everyone knows the grudge between us, don't you think, Mr. Tragic Bottle Opener?"

"Ahahaha, the bottle opener is too cruel. I don't want to be that kind of person." Thomas Muller laughed his usual hearty laugh, "But Joshua is right, we will do our best."

Batty responded with a few meaningless nasal noises.

"See you at the game the day after tomorrow," he said.

"See you the day after tomorrow! Good luck in the game!" Thomas Muller said goodbye to Batistuta happily, "Bye--"

("See you on the court. I swear I won't let you pass again this time...")
Cheer for your opponent?
Batty hung up the phone and looked at the screen saver interface, with a slight smile on his face.

That's very Mueller-esque.

"What are you doing? So slow, the physical therapy has started." Neymar opened the door and waved to Batistuta, "Hurry up, if you don't go, I will eat your jelly too."

"Why are you rushing me? It's already been packed." Batistuta rolled his eyes at Neymar, got up from the bed and walked towards the door. "If you dare to eat my share, I won't pass the ball to you in the game the day after tomorrow."

"You're threatening me with this? Barty darling, is there something wrong with your brain?"

"Well, I'll use this to threaten you, how about that."

As the door closed, silence returned to the room.

Over there in the German team hotel, Thomas Muller patted Kimmich's shoulder meaningfully, then walked slowly to the training ground, while Kimmich, despite his haste, still didn't say the last word to Batistuta. The German midfielder clenched his fists and made up his mind secretly while looking at the World Cup trophy on the screen of his mobile phone.

"I won't let you pass this time."

……

7月2日，萨马拉当地时间下午18点，2018年世界杯1/8决赛中最受瞩目的焦点战在萨马拉竞技场展开角逐，巴西大战德国。

Neither side's starting lineups were too surprising.

Brazil used their strongest lineup since the World Cup, with Alisson as goalkeeper; Alves and Marcelo as left and right backs respectively, Marquinhos and Thiago Silva as central defenders; Casemiro as the single defensive midfielder, Coutinho and Paulinho as midfielders; Neymar on the left, Batistuta on the right, and Firmino at the front.

As for Germany, Löw changed back to the familiar 4231 formation, with Neuer as goalkeeper; the back line from right to left were Hoffmann, Sule, Hummels, and Hector; Kimmich and Kroos played as double defensive midfielders; Goretzka played as attacking midfielder, with Muller and Reus on the left and right; Werner, who did not bring his shooting boots to Russia, was at the front.

Still no use for Sane.

With only a few minutes left before the game started, Batistuta stood in the player tunnel, feeling surprisingly calm.

Less than 3 meters away to his right stood the German players, Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos, whispering something. They were both participants in the tragedy that year.

Batty thought he would be uncontrollably excited when he saw them, but he wasn't.

It's just like any other game.

"It's just a game against Germany, you said it, it's no big deal." Neymar thought Batistuta's expressionless face was due to nervousness. He hooked Batistuta's neck and put his forehead against his, stretched out his hand and made the sign of the cross on their chests, "Praise the Lord, blessed are those who fear the Lord, our minds are firm, we will not be afraid."

Batistuta fluttered his eyelashes and looked at Neymar who was praying devoutly. His heart beat faster, as if his passion for the game had returned.

"God is with us." He held Neymar's face and kissed him on both cheeks. "We will win beautifully. I promise you."

……

[CCTV, good evening, dear audience friends. You are now watching the focus match of the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals. Brazil and Germany meet again after 1 years. After 8 minutes, which team will continue to stay on the World Cup stage? Let us wait and see! ]

There is no doubt that people's expectations for this game are unprecedented. Everyone wants to see whether the collision between the two teams will be the same as the last time after 4 years, or whether there will be sparks flying and a big fight between the two sides.

Before the game, many people speculated that the five-star Brazil, which was regarded as the favorite to win the World Cup, would easily dismantle the old and outdated German tank, but no one expected that the game would be overwhelming and one-sided from the very beginning.

Brazil, which needed a few minutes to warm up and get into the game during the group stage, was fully in combat mode almost from the moment it stepped onto the field today.

What is even more unexpected is that——

[The ball went in! Oh my god! It was only 11 minutes later! Germany lost the ball! Neymar and Batistuta’s first connection completely tore through Germany’s defense! ]

[11 minutes! Incredible! In the semi-final between Germany and Brazil in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Germany scored the first goal in the 11th minute, also from a corner kick, also by missing a player. We can't help but sigh, as if history has come full circle! ]

[Wait, what's this, Barty?]

After scoring the goal, Batistuta slid down on his knees in a rare and domineering celebration.

In the broadcast footage, the 19-year-old Brazilian boy slid towards the corner flagpole with his legs slightly apart and his eyes wide open. Facing the German fans in the stands, he opened his arms, his eyes frivolous and fierce, with that kind of natural arrogance.

next second.

Batty turned his head and lip-synced silently to the camera on the sidelines.

"This is just the beginning, are you ready?"

(End of this chapter)