Becoming a football god from Arsenal

Chapter 222: A classic scene! A battle of pressure with no other choice! The knockout round officially begins! Against Italy!
After the game, Benzema slowly returned to the locker room, ready to talk with Deschamps, but found that both he and Maher were gone.

This made him a little stunned. He originally thought that the two men would wait for him and discuss with him privately how to handle the matter decently.

Going straight to the press conference?
Benzema returned to his seat with a gloomy face, and while removing the bandage on his ankle he muttered complaints, feeling that he was not getting the respect he deserved.

"I'll wait and see how you two can handle this."

He had an indifferent look on his face, and in his heart he didn't think he would receive a severe punishment, at least not as severe as Ribery.

Their situations are different. He is only 25 years old this year, which is the prime of his life for a center. He still has at least 8-10 years of peak period.

As a winger, Ribery is about to reach the age of 30. His speed and agility will definitely decline, and it will be difficult for him to maintain his peak form.

Coupled with Mahel's sudden emergence, if Ribery does not accept to be a substitute, he will definitely be in the cleaning queue.

What about him?

He is an indispensable core player for this team, who can replace him? !
Giroud?
Benzema thinks that is impossible. If the French team wants to go further, they must have someone like him who can stand in the middle and has sufficient offensive talent to support them.

He is a Real Madrid superstar, while Giroud is just a big guy still wasting time in the French Ligue 1. The gap between them cannot be offset by his mistakes.

Another point is that when Deschamps first joined the team, he had the task of completing the French Football Association's renewal requirements and establishing his own prestige.

At this time, Ribery made some mistakes and became an example, so he was naturally dealt with with thundering means.

The reason why he didn't jump during that period was because he saw the situation clearly and deliberately avoided getting into trouble.

But now?

Deschamps' mission has been basically completed and the team has reached a critical period. Is there any reason for him to establish his authority and deal with people?
Even if he admits that he did lose his temper and did something more irrational and excessive, which may bring greater negative impact to the team, does Deschamps have the courage to take him down?

This team has already been controversial for not bringing Ribery before the start of the European Cup. Now they have to get rid of him after the group stage. How much criticism and pressure will they have to endure?

Unless he can win the championship in the end, Deschamps will inevitably be angrily purged by some French fans after the European Cup, and he may even lose his position as coach.

"Ha" Benzema laughed coldly. Without him, relying only on Maher and Nasri, how can this team compete for the championship.

So it must be a fine + apology, and as long as he is sincere, the matter will be over.

He felt much more at ease and began to concentrate on repenting the mistake he had just made. After all, it was indeed his own fault. If he wanted to become a better player and win more honors, he must become more rational.

Let's just get by like this for now, and I just hope that I won't make this kind of mistake again in the future.

"Sweden beat France 8- but still failed to qualify! England beat Ukraine - and grabbed the last spot in the quarterfinals!" - Picture from the British newspaper The Guardian

"France lost 1-2 to Sweden! After losing in the last round of the group stage, Benzema threw the captain's armband and blamed Mex, which caused dissatisfaction among Deschamps and Maher!" - French newspaper Salvador

"Traditional 'art' reappears? The French team qualified as the first in the group but could not avoid internal strife!" - China's "Live Bar"

As soon as the game ended, or even before it ended, news of infighting within the French team broke, sparking attention and discussion from fans around the world.

"What is Benzema doing?!"

"You're crazy, haha. I'm dying of laughter. Now we're going to have a good show."

"The most important thing is what will happen to him? Is there no follow-up for Deschamps and the French team?"

"It seems that a press conference is being held, and Deschamps and Maher are attending together. If there is any news, it should be reported."

"I'm a little worried about Benzema. Will he also be kicked out of the team? Deschamps will never pamper such a player."

"Not really, is it? The knockout round of 8 to 4 is coming up soon. It's ridiculous to get rid of the main center forward at this time. If he really gets rid of him, I think there's no need to play. Let Italy advance directly."

"What's wrong with the French team? It was OK during the years under Didier Deschamps and Zidane, but once these guys retired, there were internal conflicts in major tournaments every year. This year with Maher, I thought there would be a new atmosphere."

"It's a new atmosphere. I saw them getting along well before. But you can't predict this kind of sudden situation. Who would have thought that Benzema would suddenly get angry?"

"Was it Deschamps who instigated the internal strife? Or was it Maher? Is one of them a dictator and the other a master of palace fighting?"

"Blind man, didn't Benzema throw the captain's armband? Stop arguing and wait for the final result."

"."

After a burst of noise, everyone's attention was focused on the French team's post-match press conference, which received unprecedented attention.

Inside the Poznan Stadium, in a room filled with reporters and all kinds of cameras.

Maher and Deschamps sat here calmly, waiting for reporters' questions with answers.

"A very unpleasant game experience? What kind of impact will this have on the team?" A reporter first asked the question from the perspective of the team as a whole.

"Maybe." Deschamps did not give a precise definition, but raised his eyebrows and said: "Losing is always unpleasant. Once you fail, many problems will be exposed.

"As for the impact, I don't think it will be too big. The team will still qualify. Most people will still be very positive to face the upcoming challenges and stay united."

The second half of his sentence was a bit meaningful. Many reporters followed his hint and asked questions: "There are a small number of people who don't have it, right? How will they face the future?"

"Someone didn't."

Deschamps nodded, glanced at Maher beside him, and turned his head with regret, "His European Cup journey is coming to an end. We don't need such a player. Only a team with one mind can achieve the final victory."

After he said this, there was silence at the scene. Obviously, this was Deschamps' signal to abandon Benzema.

"Buzz.!"

Deschamps' phone vibrated. He wanted to hang up, but when he saw that it was from French Football Association President Le Graet, he stood up and prepared to go outside to answer the call. "Excuse me, let Mahel take care of the scene first. I agree with him."

He gave a trusting look to Maher, who also showed no nervousness or worry, sitting in front of the microphone.

"Benzema is leaving? Really? Would this be a hasty decision?" The reporters no longer beat around the bush or hinted, but asked the question directly.

“Yeah.”

Maher straightened the microphone, thought for a moment and then asked, "Why is it sloppy? I need to know why you define it that way first."

The reporter's thinking was also very clear, and he immediately said: "Benzema's departure will definitely cause turmoil, which will make the team panic and thus affect the combat effectiveness of the entire team.

"If France faces the Czech Republic or Greece in the next round, there might be time to adjust, but you are facing Italy, the favorite to win the championship."

Maher nodded and answered directly: "In terms of the impact on the team's combat effectiveness, I think sometimes the wrong stay has a greater impact than the wrong leave.

"In addition, the opponents in the European Cup are all very strong. We don't think that Italy and the Czech Republic are teams with a big gap, nor are we afraid of any of them.

"We have no choice but to defeat the opponent who stands in our way, no matter how strong he is or what kind of turmoil we are going through."

These three sentences blocked most reporters' next question, and looking at Maher's determined face, they quickly took pictures to record this important moment.

Everyone knows that once a superstar of Benzema's level leaves the French team, he will definitely break up with the team.

In the future, whether he wants to join the team again or the French team wants to invite him again, it will become extremely difficult!
So, this may be the moment when a superstar in his prime drifts away from his destined team, which will definitely be regarded as an important scene in football history in the future.

Leon Mahel, the young captain who is not yet 19 years old, acted like a judge and pronounced Benzema's fate more clearly on behalf of Deschamps.

The incongruity and sense of disconnection of his appearance on such an occasion and making such an important decision added a touch of classic feeling to this scene.

A reporter then couldn't help asking: "Did Deschamps tell you these words? Or are they your own thoughts? Do you sometimes feel that you lack the confidence to say these things?
"Of course this is not a question, it's just that people generally believe that young people lack the right to speak. In this regard, being young may be a shackle for you, rather than a blessing."

"That was my idea." Maher did not shirk responsibility. From the moment he chose to step forward to stop Benzema, the two of them had already stood on opposite sides, so there was nothing to worry about.

Moreover, as the captain, he has to attract some firepower sometimes. He cannot let Deschamps shoulder all the responsibilities. This is his due responsibility.

He is never afraid of being questioned because he can always make a beautiful comeback.

"As for that, haha"

When answering the next question, he couldn't help laughing, and then said: "I think the way to judge whether a person has the right to speak is to look at his strength and abilities in all aspects, and whether others believe in him.

“So I don’t think age is a shackle for me, and some people born in the 80s also have a say in the world.

"Being young will not be a disadvantage for me in any way. It is only an advantage. It only represents abundant energy and vitality, upward drive, and a very beautiful youth."

After saying this, he saw Deschamps standing outside the door out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't seem to be planning to come in.

The press conference should be over. He stood up, picked up Deschamps's bag and prepared to leave. "Thank you, see you next time!"

"Crack, click, click!"

The flashbulbs flashed wildly, and everyone once again rushed to record the scene.

Many people feel that Maher seems to be different from before, giving people a feeling of being both flamboyant and calm.

"Mael, why do such incidents always happen in the French team?"

“Are you afraid of pressure?”

"How is Mex? Will you still be friends with Benzema?"

Many people continued to ask questions, but Maher ignored them until a French female reporter shouted, "Maher, after this, does the team have a chance to make it to the end?"

"of course."

He turned around, smiled at her, nodded and said, "We will definitely make it to the end, don't worry!"

After walking out of the door, Deschamps gave him a hug with a silly smile. Maybe he is not silly, but his smile gives people such a feeling.

"Well done."

Deschamps had been listening outside the door and said with a smile: "How about I leave all future post-match press conferences to you."

“Haha.” Maher chuckled and shook his head, “It’s just that I have a lot to say today. Maybe I won’t be like this in the future.”

Deschamps walked towards the locker room with Mahel, shook his phone and said: "It was Le Graet who called just now. He kept asking me if I had made a decision. I told him very seriously that I had made a decision.

"Le Graet may be a little helpless, but he has to support me because he promised that I can decide everything about this team."

He patted Maher's arm and suddenly laughed crazily, "Are you ready? The storm is getting worse and worse, and the pressure battle is coming."

“Of course.” Maher raised his shoulders to show that he didn’t care, and said firmly: “No matter how much pressure there is, we have no choice but to win. We just need to keep our heads down and move forward.”

"Haha." The two laughed together again. They accepted it all calmly and set their sights on the next game.

These are just minor storms. As long as they can keep winning on the main front, what else do they have to worry about?
In the locker room, many French players watched the press conference on their mobile phones. When they looked up at Benzema, their expressions were more complicated, indifferent, and sympathetic.

They quickly lowered their heads, not wanting to make any eye contact with Benzema, so as to avoid the other party learning the news through him.

Some people sighed slightly, wondering whether the team's experience in the middle of the European Cup schedule would cause some turmoil.

"Benzema."

An assistant coach received Deschamps' message and came to Benzema to inform him of the team's decision in advance to avoid embarrassment or other conflicts when he met Deschamps and Maher later.

Benzema was stunned in his seat after hearing the news. He had just come out of the shower and was about to get dressed and blow dry his hair, but he learned that this was bad news.

he?
Kicked out of the team?
Deschamps and Mahel, how dare and how could they make this decision?
Benzema's arms, which had been put into his sleeves, did not move. He had forgotten to put on his clothes and looked distraught.

ended?
His career in this European Cup, and even his career in the French national team, is over just like that? !

"Why?"

He suddenly stood up, quickly put on his clothes, and ran outside like crazy, as if he wanted to ask the two people for an explanation.

"Alright, alright!"

Four or five French players quickly approached and, together with a group of assistant coaches, held him back to prevent his emotions from further aggravating and escalating the situation.

"Do you know what you are doing? Do you know?!"

Benzema was indignant, but he could faintly feel that he was powerless at the moment. "Without me, you can't break through the Italian team's door! You will waste the chance to qualify as the first in the group!

"I don't accept it! You've gone too far! Just for a small mistake, you've taken away my hopes and dreams!"

"alright!!"

An angry shout was heard, and everyone turned around to look. Unexpectedly, it was Nasri who shouted, "Since it has come to this, leave in a dignified manner and don't lose your status any more!

"Everyone is very tired today. We need to go home and rest quickly. Don't waste time here. The competition will be in five days."

Benzema's chest, which had been rising and falling violently, slowly calmed down. He seemed to have realized that things had come to this point and there was no point in saying anything more.

He suddenly became quiet, returned to his seat under everyone's vigilant gaze, packed up his things, took his last game jersey, and walked out quickly.

Many people followed him, but when they saw him look in the opposite direction and then turn around and leave, they felt relieved about him.

"." There was a long silence in the locker room. Everyone was shocked by Deschamps and Maher's swift and decisive actions and was speechless for a short time.

Nasri and Evra, the two old rivals, looked at each other, as if they almost saw their own shadows again.

The two men shrank their necks and became more honest, but they couldn't stop their inner worries. Where will this team go?
"Now, what should we do?" Sagna spoke at this time. He originally wanted to ask Koscielny, but after he opened his mouth, he realized that the locker room was very quiet and everyone could hear it.

"What should I do?"

Goalkeeper Lori kept looking at one place and replied: "Mr. Deschamps, Ma and the captain have taken all the pressure and didn't let us come out to express our opinions. We just need to play the rest of the game well."

"More than just the end of the game." A voice came from outside the door, and then Mahel and Deschamps walked in with smiles on their faces.

Their mental state seemed to be much better than those in the locker room. It didn't seem like they had just finished something big, but more like they went to the toilet and were unaware of the changes in the team.

But how could they not know?

The appearance of the two men gave many people some encouragement. They looked up at Mael again and waited for him to finish speaking.

"We have to win them all!"

Maher knew what he should say at this time. He came to the middle of the locker room, put his hands in front of him, and motioned for everyone to come together.

When Sagna, Koscielny and others came up and put their hands on his, others followed one after another. But their speed was obviously much slower than before, and they lacked enthusiasm.

Maher turned around and glanced at Deschamps, then turned back to look at everyone and said seriously: "Perhaps in the next few days, we will encounter a lot of criticism and face a lot of doubts.

"But everyone must hold their breath and keep moving forward. We still have everything possible, and nothing can stop us! Come on!"

"Come on!" A chorus of shouts echoed throughout the locker room, but the volume was still smaller than usual.

After experiencing such a change, it is unlikely to say that there is no impact on any aspect of the team.

This kind of influence cannot be diluted overnight. It can only be changed slowly through continuous victory and moving forward!

"If the pressure is too great, use that free time to watch the European Cup."

Deschamps also stepped forward and said with a smile: "Don't forget what a great arena we are in and what great opportunities we have to create.

"come on!"

"come on.!"

The French players packed up and went home one after another. Everyone looked more tired than usual. Deschamps and Maher were more tired, but their optimism overshadowed their condition. Two days later, on June 2, the first knockout match of the European Cup kicked off at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland.

C Ronaldo led his Portugal team to face the Czech team who were determined to create a miracle in this game.

Before the game, a piece of news made many football fans who were watching the European Cup feel proud.

"Officially surpassing the Olympics! The European Cup's ratings and revenue have surpassed the Olympics, second only to the World Cup!" - Spain's Marca

比赛在下午5点45开打，接下来的4场8进4对战，都会在这个时间点吹响开球哨。

"The first half of the game might have ended like this, with neither side making any progress!

"Portugal still had a good advantage. They fired 13 shots but still failed to break the Czech goal!
"."

"Moutinho passed the ball to the back post! Header! The ball went in! Ronaldo's header helped Portugal break the deadlock in the 79th minute of the game!
"Cristiano Ronaldo spent the whole game wondering why he had such bad luck today. But this time, Moutinho's pass found him! A beautiful header! This was his 35th goal for the national team!
"After 17 shots, Portugal finally got something! If they keep this score till the end, they will become the first team to reach the semi-finals of this European Cup!

"."

"Well, at this time, the referee Webber from England blew the whistle to end the game! Portugal eliminated the Czech team with Ronaldo's goal!

"Next they will face the winner between Spain and England in the semi-finals!!"

"."

"Siu!" Ronaldo faced the camera after the game, tensed his arms and roared out his signature celebration.

The Czech team's No. 10 core player Rosicky could only say goodbye to the Czech fans with a sad face and clap his hands. After the game, he went to the VIP area of ​​the stadium to reunite with his Arsenal teammates.

His journey is over, but he will continue to fight with his brothers who are still on this field, just like Van Persie and others.

At the same time the next day, the match between Germany and Greece kicked off at the Liv Stadium in Kiev.

"The tempo of the confrontation between the two teams was very fast. Perhaps the German team did not expect that the Greek team would cause them such a big trouble!
“With this intensity, a chance to score could be just a matter of seconds!

"."

"Shoot! The ball went in! One to zero! The first half was in the 38th minute! Lahm scored!

"Lahm's goal from this position is just like the one he scored against Costa Rica in the 06 World Cup opener! It went straight into the back corner!

"."

"The ball is still in the Greek team's hands. Pass the ball horizontally! Shoot! This time the ball goes in! The Greek team equalized the score with Samaras' goal!
"."

"Boateng passed the ball! Khedira volleyed the ball! 2-1! Germany once again took the lead! What a beautiful shot!
"A set-piece opportunity, a header! The ball goes in again! Klose!! Scored his 64th goal for the national team!
"Play again! Four to one! Reus of the German team scored the goal that killed the game!
"The powerful German team did not give the Greek team a chance to breathe in the second half! They have the best players, iron willpower, and the most suitable coach for them, Loew!"

"."

"Finally, in the second quarter-final of this European Cup, the German team defeated the Greek team and advanced to the semi-finals of this European Cup!

"Their opponent will be the winner between Italy and France! It will definitely be a decisive battle!"

After this round of games, what made headlines along with the German team was an exclusive interview Benzema gave while on vacation in Spain.

"Have you calmed down after a few days? What do you think of Deschamps?"

"I did make a mistake on the pitch, which I'm sorry about, but after I came off the pitch I was calm and showed my willingness to communicate well with the team.

"But obviously, I didn't get any chance to communicate and was kicked out of the team. So, instead of asking me if I was calm, you should ask me if I was confused.

"Deschamps is a bit twisted, he is a bit too dictatorial, which is sometimes not a good thing. You have to let the players have the right to communicate with the coach, instead of abusing your power.

"He is more suitable to be a captain, not a head coach, because he cannot grasp the degree and needs someone to control him and not let him go beyond the limit."

"."

"You also saw Maher's comments after that, what do you think of him?"

"Ha, did you wear your father's oversized suits when you were a kid? That's the way he makes me feel.

"He always feels that he has to do this and that when he wears the armband, does he really have that kind of leadership and decision-making ability? He keeps making the wrong choices.

"A price tag of 1 million euros won't convince everyone, at least not me. I think if he wants to win in the end, he shouldn't have said that and conspired with Deschamps to make me leave."

"."

"Do you have any complaints?"

"What do you think? I heard that the team recruited Griezmann, the midfielder from Real Sociedad, and I also heard that Deschamps is facing some other pressures, such as some domestic issues.

"He's giving in to racism, don't you think? I'm of Algerian descent and he's always had a problem with me and was looking for this opportunity to kick me out of the team.

"It was the same with Maher. They had discussed it long ago, so they threw the armband to me when he left the field."

"."

"But the French team has many black players, and I heard Maher is one of them."

"No, no, no, it's not the same thing, I don't want to talk about it, but there were some disputes between the Basques and the Algerians, you know?"

"."

June 6th, a holiday.

Maher was watching the quarter-final between Spain and England in the hotel and saw Benzema's controversial remarks during halftime.

He laughed out loud, causing Isabella to come over to see what happened. "What's wrong?"

Maher handed over the phone and shook his head slightly. Could it be that the Real Madrid striker just didn't want to accept it? Was his behavior too excessive, trampling on the team's dignity and making the team no longer believe in him?
He ignored it and didn't care about the other party's comments about him. It was better not to think about such offensive remarks so as not to ruin his mood.

Isabella then frowned and complained, thinking that he did not deserve such an evaluation.

Maher patted her head and didn't talk to her in detail. After the broadcast started, he focused on the game and studied his opponent.

In this match, the Spanish team still had the absolute initiative. Their passing and control made the English team's superstars feel a little overwhelmed and they could only run around in a hurry.

In the 55th minute of the second half, the deadlock was finally broken. Alba, who was still a young player at this time, made a cross and Fabregas scored at the back post.

One to zero!

After this goal, it can be seen that the England team was very anxious to counterattack, but it was still difficult for them to snatch the ball from the Spanish team, and their mentality was a little broken.

"Snapped!"

Not long after, Gilbert brought down Pedro in the penalty area and awarded a penalty, which was a painful price to pay for his first major tournament.

Xabi Alonso then scored to help the team lead 2-0.

This was also the final score. When the game ended, all the superstars of the England team lay on the ground, leaving only a few young people such as Gilbert standing, looking into the distance.

With this, Portugal, Germany and Spain have all entered the semi-finals!
The last spot will be decided between the French team and the Italian team!

Mahel took a deep breath and felt a lot of pressure. He came to Isabella's side, put his arms around his girlfriend's slender waist, and leaned in her arms to rest.

Isabella seemed to understand his mood at the moment. She put her arms around Mahel and gently patted the back of his head to relieve the pressure.

"I'm going to exercise for a while."

Maher hugged her for a while, then turned around to pack up his things and prepare to go to the gym.

"The competition is tomorrow, but we're going to exercise today?" Isabella was a little confused and worried. She took two steps on her knees on the bed to get to Mahel's side and massaged his shoulders.

"It's a very light exercise." Maher smiled and told her not to worry, "I feel like my body is not in the best condition.

"This is the time to consume some energy, and then slowly recover it until it reaches its best condition before the game."

"Okay." Isabella didn't quite understand. After thinking for a while, she smiled brightly. "I'll go learn how to massage from Safina today and wait for you. Ah, you should go to the team hotel now, right?"

"Ah."

"Then tomorrow."

Isabella quickly got out of bed and put on her slippers. She bounced her long legs back and forth, opened her arms and hugged Maerso tenderly, "When you return triumphantly, I'll give you a massage to relieve your fatigue."

After Maher packed up his things, he hugged her, smiled and kissed her before saying, "Okay, I'll give you a massage after you've given me one."

"Hehe." Isabella also took the initiative to pout and kiss Maher. They were no longer shy in private. "Then I'll wait for you. Remember what I said, just give 95% of your effort on the court.

"The remaining 5% of your strength must be left for me when you come back at night. That is mine alone."

“How can we save our strength in the knockout rounds?”

Maher pinched her cheek, put on his bag and prepared to walk out the door. "I will give 100%, and then leave the remaining 120% ​​of the 20% for you."

"oops!"

Amidst a flurry of flirting, the two parted again and at the same time began to look forward to their next meeting, hoping that it would be a happy and joyful reunion.

Not long after Maher left the house, he arrived at the team's base, where he practiced dribbling and crossing for a while. He went to eat not too long after practicing, and then adjusted everything to its pre-match state.

While eating, he also looked at the increase in the proficiency of various skills in recent times.

[Skill: Decision Level 4]

[Proficiency: (2441/5000)]

[Skill: Galloping lv4]

[Proficiency: (1779/5000)]

[Skill: Divine Power lv4]

[Proficiency: (1359/5000)]

[Skill: Arc Blade lv4]

[Proficiency: (326/2000)]

[Skill: Arc Guidance lv4]

[Proficiency: (312/2000)]

[Skill: Fancy Breakthrough lv3]

[Proficiency: (1743/2000)]

[Additional skills: Fancy skills lv2]

[Proficiency: (701/1500)]

"The fancy style is just one step away from upgrading, and the new level 4 skill has also increased quite well during this period."

He felt relieved and exited the proficiency panel.

Such an improvement during this period is actually due to his improved physical fitness.

If his physical fitness had not reached level 4, he would definitely not dare to find time to train in the tight schedule of the tournament and cup competitions.

"Mael." Sagna came over with a plate of food, attracting his attention. "Tomorrow is the quarterfinals. Are you nervous?"

"I don't feel anything."

He was actually very nervous, but he still showed optimism and gave himself some psychological hints, "If we were the first elimination match, I would probably be a little nervous.

"But the first three games have all been played, and I've watched them all and understood what kind of games they are, so I'm not nervous at all."

Sagna nodded and didn't say anything during the meal. When he left, he encouraged him: "Come on, you scored 3 goals in the first 5 rounds. I believe you can continue to score goals and lead us forward."

"I believe it too." Maher clenched his fist at him, wiped his mouth, and turned away.

On June 6, there was a bustle in the Gdansk Arena in Poland, and the stands were dyed blue by the fans of the French and Italian teams.

"Ohhhhhhh! Ohhhh! Ohhhhhhhh!"

The melody they shouted was very simple, but it instantly opened up a fiery picture of the midsummer of football, immersing this place in the atmosphere of the European Cup knockout stage.

"Dear audience! The match between France and Italy is about to begin. This is also the last quarter-final of this European Cup!"

In the commentary booth, the voice of He Wei, the football poet and CCTV's top commentator, sounded, very magnetic, "After this match, the top four teams of the European Cup will be announced! I believe that the French team and the Italian team are both eyeing this last spot!
"Let's take a look at the starting lineups of both teams. Today, the French team, wearing the blue jersey of their home team, will line up in a 4-3-3 formation.

"Goalkeeper Lori! Left back Clichy, center back Koscielny and Rami, defender Sagna!
"In the midfield, Malouda is in the middle, with Nasri and Cabaye on both sides!
"Left winger Mahel, center forward Giroud, and right winger is Menez!"

"."

"As for the Italian team, they used a 4-1-3-2 formation! Goalkeeper Buffon, center back Bonucci and Chiellini, left back Barzagli, right back Abate!
"Single defensive midfielder Pirlo! The three midfielders on the left are De Rossi, followed by Montolivo and Marchisio!

"In the forward position, Cassano and Balotelli!"

"."

"We should have heard that the French team has encountered some turmoil recently. Their coach Didier Deschamps and captain Maher have been impacted by public opinion, which will definitely have some impact on the team.

“To some extent, they not only have internal troubles in this game, but also external troubles!
"In comparison, the Italian team remained united, unaffected by any off-field turmoil, and focused only on the final victory.

"But I want to say that the ball is round and anything can happen!
"Although the French team is weak, they have superstar Maher. His sometimes brilliant performances are enough to lead the team to the final victory!"

"."

"Beep!"

Off the field, following the referee's whistle, players from both teams walked out of the player tunnel.

Maher was walking in front, holding the ball boy and Italian captain Buffon. They looked at each other and nodded and smiled.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!" The deafening singing sounded in the Gdansk Arena, making everyone very excited and making many people's calves tremble.

It was the first time for many people to stand on such a grand stage and participate in such an important competition.

They must be clear about what the next 90 minutes will be like.

After two hours, whether they celebrate loudly on the field for advancing to the top four, or say goodbye with tears in pain, it all depends on their performance!

"Huh!" Maher took a deep breath out of habit. This was the best way for him to adjust his mood and state.

He knew very well that after experiencing the turmoil, the team urgently needed this victory to clear the decline.

This game is extremely important to him, to Deschamps, and even to the entire team. He must be prepared for all difficulties and try his best!
"Beep!"

At 5.45: pm, the match between France and Italy officially started at the Gdansk Arena.

ps: I can finish writing this scene tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)