Midfielder

Artificial turf and strong bodies may be the most important weapons of the Russians now. They were invincible in the qualifiers, relying on their home advantage. Many technical teams have failed here. Now the Russians want to replicate this effect on the Portuguese team.

Before the game started, many Russians shouted on various occasions that they would use their strong bodies to teach the Portuguese team a lesson in the home game!

Even the head coach of the Russian team publicly said that the seven-to-one was just an accident. The Russian team had to prove in front of the home fans that they were the first in the group and they were the strongest.

However, when Scolari led the Portuguese to kill, the title of runner-up of the European Cup still brought some pressure to the Russians. Although they had already made a harsh statement before the game that they would teach the other side a lesson in Moscow, the residual power of seven to one still made them a little scared.

Especially those Russian players who were bloodbathed in that game, they have not forgotten that bloodbath.

But the absolute main players like Karpin and Smerkin still support the head coach and teammates. They believe that they will beat the opponent at home, and many Portuguese media have also reminded the team that the opponent's artificial turf is indeed difficult for technical teams to play their advantages.

Although many teams have strongly protested against such poor artificial turf after playing against the Russians, UEFA has no way to deal with the Russians. After all, it is often cold and freezing there, and it is really difficult for them to maintain natural turf.

This is just like the plateau stadium in Bolivia. Artificial turf has become a key magic weapon for teams in cold regions such as Norway and Russia to win. Scolari's preparations have been done well. He started adaptive training three weeks before the game.

But there is still a gap between adaptation and frequent play. After arriving in Moscow, the Portuguese team deeply realized how bad the Russians' artificial turf was when they adapted to the venue. If you want to do any explosive technical moves on it, you really have to pay attention to your sense of balance.

Otherwise, no one can guarantee that you will not fall on the turf when you turn around to stop the ball or pass.

Anyway, Carvalho and the others must be careful that the Russians will use the advantage of the grass to put pressure on them, especially the high-altitude ball, which has always been the fatal weakness of the Portuguese team's defense.

This time, facing the equally strong Russians, they don't want to repeat the bad performance in the match against the Greek team. Scolari also frequently reminded them not to take it lightly.

With such weapons, the Russians still dare not take it lightly, especially since they are always paying attention to the personnel adjustments of the Portuguese team. After Lin Yi joined the team, they are even more eager for this information. Many people are speculating whether Lin Yi can play as a starter in this game.

The Russians don't know whether this less than a month of running-in can allow that kid to enter the team's starting lineup. In the two recent warm-up matches of Portugal, the kid did not show up, and Scolari did not give a positive response to the media interviews, and he never talked about Lin Yi.

Not only the Russians were confused, but even the Portuguese media couldn't find a way to get some information. Scolari didn't impose a news silence on them, but the airtight training ground and the state of all the players keeping silent made everyone a little confused.

Starting? Substitute? First choice? Surprise? These symbols are all shrouded in Lin Yi. Now no one can figure out Scolari's thoughts. This die-hard old man seems to have hidden Lin Yi and has no intention of exposing him to the media. This move is very confusing.

Even after many Portuguese fans rushed to Moscow, they didn't know whether they could see Lin Yi on the court in this game, but everyone had a little expectation in their hearts, hoping that in this battle with Russia, that kid could become the new engine of the Portuguese team and dominate the game.

The confused Russians were the most depressed, because they had long known that there were too many people in the Portuguese team who could preside over the overall situation in the midfield, and changing any combination would cause trouble for themselves. Even Smerkin and Karpin had said more than once that the Portuguese midfield was the most terrible.

However, knowing and being able to defend are two different things, especially when Scolari still has a trick up his sleeve. The head coach of the Russian team probably has to scratch his head for a long time before he can come up with a countermeasure. Three days before the game, the two teams fell into an unprecedented silence.

The Russians, who were originally shouting that they would end their opponents at home, also felt the pressure this time, so no one would continue to advocate their winning speech at this time. Maybe Scolari himself didn't expect that when he didn't say a word, he could still make the opponent feel so confused and helpless.

I guess no one could have thought that Lin Yi's joining could bring such an effect. Even if this kid hasn't played for even a minute, he has already made the opponent's head coach and players feel troubled. If he plays, will this kid really torture the opponent to death?

It is estimated that Scolari had such an idea. He did not announce the list of players until the game started. The little guy who had been resented by the Russians for a long time appeared in the starting list. When the reporters got the list first, many Portuguese reporters cheered.

Russian colleagues certainly did not know why these guys were so excited, but those reporters from Portugal knew that the old Brazilian man who had always been a little cautious finally decided to take a risk in this game. The starting midfield combination he arranged had a strong offensive intention.

Deco, Lin Yi, and C Ronaldo, three very offensive guys, only Petit and Thiago were responsible for defense behind them. Although the 4-5-1 formation did not invest more in the forward line, with these three guys who could make waves in the midfield, the Portuguese team's offense would appear sharper.

Especially Lin Yi's starting appearance made them excited. Originally, many Portuguese media speculated that Scolari would probably let Lin Yi come on as a substitute to solve the problem when the game was not open, instead of letting this kid charge at the beginning.

After all, Lin Yi has only been in the team for less than a month. It takes time to get used to each other and get familiar with the tactics. Scolari has always been a relatively cautious person, so many people are speculating on Lin Yi's playing time. Many people tend to use him only when they can't open the situation.

But now Scolari not only surprised these reporters, but also made his opponents fall into the trap he set. The Russians did not consider the possibility of Lin Yi starting, but the Brazilian old man made the Russians have to face the crazy impact of Lin Yi from the beginning.

Scolari's pre-match speech has always been very simple, and this time is no exception. When facing all the players who were about to play, he only said one sentence, "Take down the opponent, let us consolidate our advantage in the standings, and let those pursuers behind us accept failure with disappointed expressions."

The Brazilian old man's voice was not loud, but what he said was already telling his players that in this game, Portugal only accepts victory, and he doesn't want a draw. Since he chose to play such a risky offensive style away from home, Scolari only needs one victory!

There was no roar. The Portuguese were always so restrained, but the eleven guys who were ready to play all raised their right hands, clenched their fists and walked out of the locker room one by one. Just like their current movements, these Portuguese had long been ready to give their opponents a heavy blow.

Karpin, Smerkin, Arshavin, it can be said that the Russians have already sent out their best players, but they are obviously inferior to the Portuguese in the midfield. Especially after Smerkin saw Lin Yi enter the stadium first, he could feel that he was sweating all over his forehead.

"Hey, man, you are starting today too." When Lin Yi greeted Smerkin, the Russian Footballer of the Year last season could feel the corners of his mouth twitching. He was sure that his expression was extremely distorted at the time. He might have never been so unwilling to see Lin Yi.

But the kid was standing in front of him alive, and the No. 20 jersey behind him was even more conspicuous. Smerkin had a moment, feeling that Lin Yi was like he was in Chelsea at the moment, but now he was in the opponent's camp, and the kid would definitely start to wreak havoc.

I don't know why I feel this way. Anyway, Smerkin knows that as long as the boy steps on the grass, the smile on his face will disappear, and he will be replaced by his crazy performance. This time, as an opponent, I might be tortured by this boy.

You can't say that Smerkin is a prophet, because this guy has been struggling in Chelsea for a season, and he knows too well how strong Lin Yi is. Although many Russians think that an 18-year-old boy is not to be feared, Smerkin knows that he is a lunatic.

Madman? Indeed, as long as Lin Yi steps on the grass, he is like a crazy lunatic. There is no good way to really stop him. Unless you risk one or two people to commit a lethal foul, otherwise, even if you find someone to follow the boy, you can't defend him.

Some people are like this. Only when he feels it with his own hands can he know where the other party is horrible, just like the Russians feel now. They may not focus too much on Lin Yi's thin body, but soon they know they are wrong.

Less than three minutes into the game, Lin Yi only touched the ball twice. The smooth breakthrough and pass that many Portuguese people expected did not appear on the field. Many fans who came from Porto saw Lin Yi, but did not see his iconic breakthrough and blade-like pass.

"Still not quite used to a somewhat unfamiliar lineup?" Many Portuguese reporters had a question mark in their minds. Looking at Lin Yi's current performance, it seems that he did not play in his usual style, as if he was not yet able to control the entire team at will.

"Maybe Scolari was too risky this time." In the eyes of many people, the old Brazilian may be too eager to let Lin Yi play the role he played in the club, so he let the little guy take the risk to play the game before he was fully run-in and formed.

Even Mendes in the stands frowned. He didn't know if he was really in a strange team. Lin Yi hadn't found the rhythm of the game yet. This was his first appearance in the national team. If If the performance is really bad, it does not bode well for Lin Yi's future career with the national team.

Just when these people were worried about this game and Lin Yi, Lin Yi, who had always seemed a bit silent, suddenly moved. It was originally just a cross pass given to him by Deco. It looked more like a transition. , but the moment Lin Yi caught the ball at his feet, he knocked hard and jumped out directly.

Kalpin, who was beside him, didn't even react when he saw a figure passing by. When he came to his senses, he saw the figure carrying the No. 20 uniform running towards his half with the ball. And not only did he get rid of himself, he also passed by the defensive midfielder who had just come up to defend.

Many people were waiting to see Lin Yi's gorgeous breakthrough. Now Lin Yi let these people get what they wanted. He didn't slow down at all when dribbling the ball forward. Two people from the opponent tried to block him. position, but this kid used realistic fake movements and short-range bursts to get rid of the opponent.

A sprint that caught everyone's expectations, allowing Lin Yi to directly shake off two defensive players who were trying to seal him off. Before the opponent's midfielder and defender could surround him, Lin Yi suddenly used a ball while running at high speed. The outside instep of his right foot picked out a pass over the head of the opposing defender.

Falling out! When the unlucky Russian defender took off, he realized that he couldn't stop Lin Yi's pass at all. His reckless takeoff also left a fatal gap behind him. Paulet, who had been wandering on the court for a few minutes, Ta didn't know when he appeared behind him.

Sweeping the shot, Pauletta calmly shot a shot from the edge of the penalty area with almost no one hindering him. Although he is not very qualified as a center, he will not take such an opportunity easily. Missed it, and the Russian goalkeeper has no potential to be a god.

When the Russian goalkeeper lowered his body, the football had already passed through the fingertips of his hands.

Although the unlucky guy fell on the goal line in a state of disgrace, he did not stop the football from entering the net.

Three minutes into the game! Pauleta's sweep shot had penetrated the fingers of the Russian goalkeeper, and the less than 4,000 Portuguese fans in the stands had already started cheering loudly. They did not expect that the goal would come so quickly. This was just the Portuguese The second attack was successful.

Pauleta got up from the turf excitedly, stood in front of the opponent's goal and raised his arms and shouted, while the Portuguese players around him had excitement written all over their faces.

A perfect start. This goal was like the bloodbath of 7-1. It gave the Portuguese team a good start and pushed the Russians to the edge of the cliff. There is nothing better than this.

Lin Yi's continuous shaking in the middle not only shook away the defense of the opponent's two midfielders, but also made the opponent's defenders a little at a loss at the last moment. Everyone was preventing this kid from breaking through from their side, but The timing of Lin Yi's final choice to pass the ball was also etched in the Russians' minds.

It was a very simple pass, not flashy, but what Lin Yi seized was the short space in their defense, and he also caught Pauleta's movement very accurately. Almost when that guy started, Lin Yi Wing's pass was already in his path, and the time was just right.

If it had been one second earlier, it might have been offside. If it had been later, the opponent's defender might have had a chance to block the shot. However, Lin Yi's pass captured such a short moment. His timing was so impressive. Fear, the Russians now know they are in trouble.

Scolari was not as excited as his assistants and substitutes. He just looked at the little guy who accepted Pauleta's hug with a smile on his face. His calmness on the court seemed to be innate, even if He scored a goal at the beginning, and he didn't show much excitement.

It seems that this is his task, and he has completed it well now, but Scolari knows that the kid uses such a calm feeling to make every player feel more relaxed. He has a feeling beyond his years. Mature, maybe such a guy is born to be a commander.

Deco, who had always been the core of the midfield under his own account, is now willing to assist him by his side. This is something that even Scolari did not expect. It turns out that Deco even competed with Figo. Command power, now he will actively give up the power.

Perhaps only Deco knows what Lin Yi can bring to the team, just like he did in Porto, but it is easier to be Lin Yi's friend than to be that kid's opponent. It turns out that he is already used to being with Lin Yi. Cooperating with each other on the court, now it's just a repeat of the original feeling.

Facts have also proved that Deco's choice is correct. Lin Yi is still the same as before. If he is ready to move, he has seen the loopholes in your defense. Just like just now, he will use his The pass is like a sharp blade, cutting into your vitals.

"That kid is always the focus of the field." After seeing Lin Yi's perfect performance, Deco could only comment on his old partner in the bottom of his heart. However, if such a guy will play in the Champions League next season, Meet again? MY, GOD, that's such a bad thing.

Being behind at the start, the Russians had no other choice but to charge forward and fight to the end with their opponents. But now they were not facing Portugal's defense. What they needed to consider most was how Portugal's midfield would use the space behind them.

The bayonets that the Portuguese had shown were already against the throats of the Russians. Perhaps every time they stabbed, they would bring a streak of blood, letting those strong guys remember how dangerous they were.

And the person behind them directing the dagger was the black-haired little lunatic. . .

(During the window period, there were no games, no passion, and I was depressed...)