The Era of Emerald

ps: First, I would like to ask everyone for a recommendation ticket here...

How Zidane and Jacquet deal with the condemnation and pressure from all sides is the French's own business. Now let us refocus our attention on the World Cup that has just ended all quarter-finals.

Shortly after Italy knocked out hosts France as part of the World Cup semi-finals, the remaining three quarter-final matches were also quickly decided.

Facing Denmark led by the Laudrup brothers and Schmeichel, the Brazilian had a lot of effort in the game, and finally relied on Rivaldo's brace to score three goals. Thrilling victory over this not-so-powerful opponent, they became the second team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup after Italy.

The Netherlands' opponent in the quarter-finals was the Argentine team, which was in full swing after eliminating the English.As a result, after nine 10 minutes of the game, the most united Oranje team led by Hiddink in the past decade, with the goals of talented forward Kluivert and Ice Prince Bergkamp, ​​separated Batistuta and Sane. The Tees were kept out of the semi-finals.After the game, Bergkamp's goal was also rated by many media as one of the most exciting goals in World Cup history.

The old German chariot finally showed its true colors in front of the Croatians after entering the quarter-finals. Jarni, Vlaovic and Davor Suker each scored a goal in the game, and they defeated the European champions [-]-[-]. When he completed his feat of breaking into the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time, he also drove Vogts, who was superstitious about the role of a veteran, into the bottomless abyss.

And the impact of this defeat on Germany is far more than this. A bigger earthquake is still waiting for this veteran team-after the defeat in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, Reuter, Koller and Helmer are three. The defender announced that they will retire collectively from the national team from now on!

People cannot criticize their choice too much. After all, Reuter and Helmer, who used to be the best man-marking central defender in Europe, are already 33 years old. It is quite normal to choose to retire from the national team at this age. things.

However, these three defenders can be regarded as the current pillars of the German team's defense. Now they choose to withdraw from the national team collectively. This is undoubtedly an extremely fatal blow to German football, which is in a period of failure!

Four days after the semi-final list was released, Brazil's semi-final against the Netherlands officially started. The result was as in history. The alien's goal gave Brazil the lead at the beginning of the second half. Although it helped the Oranje team equalize the score in the stage, but in the subsequent penalty shootout, the Dutchman, who has always been very hard on the [-]-yard decisive battle, fell to the penalty again this time!

The Brazilian made all four free throws, but Cocu and Ronald De Boer of the Netherlands missed free throws successively, making the Selecao reach the World Cup final for the second time in a row!

On the second day after Brazil successfully advanced to the final, Italy continued to sit at the Stade de France. In the semi-finals, Maldini's team faced the biggest dark horse of this World Cup - entering the semi-finals for the first time in the World Cup Croatia!

Although Croatia is an out-and-out new army in the World Cup, its players are not newcomers, and many of them have already made a name for themselves in European football—for example, they are currently playing in Serie A. Boban of the giants AC Milan, Prosinecki, one of the "Three Musketeers" who led the Belgrade Red Star to win the Champions League trophy, and Dave Suker, who is known as "playing the violin with his left foot".

Coupled with the powerful players such as Gianni, Sordo, Stanic, and Bilic who appeared in the starting lineup, Croatia, which has obtained more than half of the star resources from the fragmented Yugoslavia, reminds many people. The demeanor of the "European Brazil team" that year.

However, although these Croatian stars evoke people's good memories, many people can also see that this World Cup may be the swan song of these players in the international arena.

After all, most of these people have already entered their thirties. It is completely unknown how many of them will be able to dominate the football world as they are now after four years. Therefore, this World Cup in France is the last for Su Ke and Boban to strive for results. a chance.

Therefore, for this semi-final against Italy, all Croatians are gearing up to give this favorite to win the championship in everyone's eyes.

Compared with Croatia, which is eager to try, Italy is quite calm. Many of them have participated in many competitions and know how to adjust at this time, so as to meet the next game with the best state.

In this game, the old Maldini followed the four-three-three formation used in the last game against France, but made some adjustments to the starting lineup.

Goalkeeper Pagliuca, Maldini Jr. and Panucci, the former AC Milan full-back combination, played together in the semi-finals this time, and the central defender partner became the old and young combination of Nesta and Bergomi , Materazzi, who made great contributions in the game against France, was not selected for the starting lineup, because the old Maldini was worried that Materazzi would be deliberately targeted by the referee in the game.

Albertini and the two Baggios continued to serve as the starting midfielders. Di Livio and Di Matteo were one on the left and one on the right. They were good at attacking and defending, and they were responsible for delivering shells to Vieri at the front on the wing.

On the evening of July 7, at the Stade de France, Zhuang Mingge sat in a box and watched the whole process of this game that had never happened in history.

To be honest, the overall strength of Croatia, which has stars such as Suk and Boban, is indeed very strong, and it is also very difficult to deal with. On the offensive end, it caused a lot of trouble for the Italian defense led by Maldini, but it was just trouble. That's all, after all, Pagliuca is not the buttery player of Barthez, and Italy's defense is only stronger than France's. Therefore, although the Croatian's offensive is gorgeous, they did not break through the goal guarded by Pagliuca.

On the defensive end, in the face of Italy's multi-level three-dimensional counterattack, Croatia's defense is obviously not as good as the Italian's. In the game, the opponent has repeatedly seized the opportunity to play a quick counterattack, and every counterattack will make Jarr Ni and Bilic were in a hurry.

In the end, Italy scored their seventh goal in this World Cup with Vieri and Albertini's free kick, beheading Croatia [-]-[-] in the semi-final!

Thus, a scene that everyone did not expect before the start of the World Cup was born-after Italy eliminated Croatia, the Apennines actually joined their old enemy Brazil in the World Cup final for the second time in a row!