The Young Lion

On the first day of December, Millwall trained as usual.

Players who came to the club in different styles of cars came to work step by step. Ronaldinho would chat with the guard for a few minutes. Nedved went to the team doctor to see his medical report last month. Henry sat in the locker room and listened to music to relax. Pirlo Playing ball on the court, Gattuso will see the right time to **** Pirlo, Alonso will hold a bookmark in one hand, and hold the book in one hand against the goalpost to read by the bright sun...

In this small world of clubs, there are so many different things in life, and you can still get a glimpse of it.

Aldrich has developed the habit of driving to the club, parking the car, and holding a cup of take-out coffee in his hand over the past year.

Although the work schedule under the instructions of the text has been reasonably planned recently, it is difficult to change the habit.

Before training, he will chat with everyone in the coaching staff's studio. When the time is up, he will go to the training ground to gather. At that time, most of the players are also present.

The atmosphere today is a little special, the players seem absent-minded.

Coaches, coaches, players, in fact, everyone is not thinking about training.

After the warm-up, Aldridge did not conduct ball training, directly let the players practice their physical fitness. After half an hour, many players were sweating and Aldridge ordered.

"Let's go to see the World Cup group draw together."

The players cheered, and they followed the coaches to the office building of the training base together. They sat in the room where the pre-match preparations were held. The big draw of the World Cup of South Korea and Japan was already playing on the big TV screen.

"Boy, is this girl a player of Asian women's football? Asian women play so beautifully?"

Ronaldinho moved a chair and sat in front of Aldridge, the first row. He pointed to a lottery ambassador on the big screen and asked curiously.

There were whistle blowing immediately around the teammates.

Aldridge couldn’t help laughing, saying, “That’s the Korean female star, not playing football.”

Ronaldinho pointed to South Korean movie star Song Huiqiao. As one of the 13 lottery ambassadors this time, let's talk about women playing football. Among the 13 ambassadors, there are also Chinese Sun Wen.

Some Asian faces are not known by players, such as Zheng Mengzhun in South Korea, Hong Mingpu, Masai Ibara in Japan, etc. But others such as Bailey, Cruyff, and Platini are familiar in European football circles An old face that can no longer be cooked.

Ronaldinho turned his head again and asked, "Boss, you led England so well in the past year, why is it not a seed team?"

"Because the World Cup is held in Asia, Japan and South Korea account for two seed teams. Without them, England and Portugal can enter the seed team."

After Aldridge finished speaking, he pushed Ronaldinho's head forward and said, "Look quietly, don't make trouble."

In fact, whether England has been assigned to the seed team, Aldridge feels that the difference is not significant.

In the first gear, which belongs to the weakest group, the probability of being divided into death groups is high.

In the second gear, even with the strong seed team, at least the second gear has a high probability of occupying a place.

But it depends on luck, because the World Cup is a group stage. In addition to European teams, teams on other continents have a circumvention principle.

Since Japan and South Korea occupy the seed team quota, there are as many as 11 teams in the second gear, that is to say, there are 3 second-tier teams that have not been drawn out, and they will enter the third gear. If it is good, there will be a seed team plus two second-tier teams into a group, which will give birth to the death group.

In the third-tier team, Aldridge saw a name: China.

I didn’t think much about this history in my previous life, but now I feel very strange when I look at it.

Say Senegal, Tunisia, South Africa, Cameroon into the fourth gear is not unusual, but the United States, Nigeria into the fourth gear, which makes some people feel very incompatible, especially in the United States, although football in the United States native sports The ranking is not high, but everyone has participated in the World Cup in recent years. The World Cup was held. The Chinese team entered the World Cup for the first time and could be placed in the third position.

Over the past two years' record? FIFA Points?

Aldridge didn't remember and was too lazy to think.

The players in the conference room began to whisper, in fact, the real draw will not take too long, but this lottery ceremony still has to go through, the participating team flag bearers enter, the national flags are displayed by the countries, the official cultural performances arranged by South Korea, and the American women Star Anastasia sang the theme song "Leap", followed by a promotional video introduction of the participating teams.

In England’s team promo, the players are naturally dominated by the two most famous celebrities, Beckham and Owen, but it is rare. Of the 32 team promos, only the English promo is given to the coach. This character's close-up moment of more than 20 seconds...

When the draw began, the meeting room was quiet, and everyone was waiting for the draw.

When the result of the group that England was drawn into Argentina appeared, there was a cry of excitement at the lottery, and the coaching staff around Aldridge also showed a variety of expressions.

Klinsmann took a breath, and Jenson felt helpless as he slapped his thigh over his head.

Only one game was done in 1998, and four years later, I will continue to lead!

Aldridge's expression was as usual, and he had read the lottery of all teams in the second gear, and then he frowned.

"I am grass! Why is Argentina?"

Jenson couldn't help but swear.

Ten years later, when people talk about this World Cup, what can Argentina remember?

People remember the five-star Brazil!

But, before the World Cup, Brazil?

Brazil and Argentina are not at the same level at all!

Brazil in the South American qualifiers, there is still the danger of being out until the last round, the penultimate round of 1:3 defeat to Bolivia almost made the Brazilian people desperate, but the final round of home victory over Venezuela 3:0 was only thrilling The goal difference is the third place, the fourth place is the same as them, the fifth place and the sixth place are 27 points, only 3 points away from Brazil, you know how well Brazil played in the qualifiers Thrilling.

And Argentina?

"Vilas, what is the situation in Argentina recently?"

Jenson turned to ask Boaz.

With the draw today, Boas will naturally also do some simple intelligence preparations.

Before Jensen asked, he opened a thick book and found the information of Argentina, Shen said: "South America qualifier Argentina 13 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss, 43 points top qualifying, scored the most goals than the number of goals The second-most Brazil has 11 more, 2 goals more than the fifth best defender Uruguay, the first attack, the second defense, the most goal difference, the only loss is at home in Brazil, but they Return home to successfully avenge."

It is no exaggeration to say that before the start of the World Cup, the strongest teacher in South America was none other than Argentina!

This is not empty talk, but has a record basis, stability, strong offensive firepower, and solid defense. This is the impression Argentina gives to the outside world.

After Boas finished, everyone's eyes turned to Aldridge, but he heard Aldridge thoughtfully: "We have a 75% chance of entering the group of death."

The coaching staff at this time coincidentally looked at the big TV screen.

After all, the World Cup group stage is the first two qualifying, the last two return home.

Argentina, England are divided into the same group, then, if a weaker third-tier team, such as the Chinese team, is added to a fourth-tier team.

Well, this sign is actually very good, earning 6 points on the weak, and certainly able to qualify.

It's just that when everyone looked at the big screen, they understood what Audridge said.

There are three second-tier European teams in the third-tier. Although European teams have no circumvention principles in the group stage, there is also an upper limit. That is, a group can only have two European teams at most. .

Therefore, these three teams can only be divided into the teams of Brazil, Argentina, Japan and South Korea.

The seed teams of France, Italy, Spain, and Germany have all drawn a European team in the same group.

When England was drawn into the Argentina group, the probability of the death group appearing was very high.

Luck is very bad, it can be said that as long as they are not drawn into the group of Brazil and Argentina, and are divided into a group with South Korea, Japan, or four other European seed teams, then the probability of avoiding the group of death is very high. 25% probability of winning the bid, and then depends on whether 75% probability can hide.

After the results of the third team drawn into Argentina and England were announced, there was another exclamation in the lottery.

Larson bowed his head in a smile in the meeting room.

Sweden, into this group.

The group of deaths, no doubt, was born.

Aldridge also smiled bitterly. How can this butterfly not affect this lottery?

After the results of the fourth team draw were announced, the delegation of England on the scene, as well as the representatives of the Fleet Street media, were all as black as carbon.

African Super Eagle Nigeria.

Argentina, England, Sweden, Nigeria.

FIFA your grandma!

Aldridge raised his eyebrows after watching the draw.

The death group is the death group, and it is not without good information.

At least the F group that England is in, if it can break out of the encirclement, then the group stage and the knockout will be carried out in the division on the side of Japan, without South Korea and Japan running on both sides.

The players also talked about each other, and some players signed their own national teams very well.

Just like the France where Henry is located, they are divided into Denmark, Uruguay, Senegal, and Pirlo. They are located in Italy. The opponents are Ecuador, Croatia, Mexico. Even Klose and Schneider are in Germany. A relatively weak group, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Cameroon.

Counting, the **** England is the worst!

Of course, Aldridge doesn’t think it’s a tragedy, he’s already prepared.

After the training, Leo training base was already surrounded by reporters.

Football reporters on Fleet Street flocked to ask Aldridge’s opinion on the draw.

"Mr. Hall, England and Argentina, their rivals, are in the same group. Will you be prepared for this battle of revenge?"

"How much do we know about Nigeria? Will such an opponent cause us trouble?"

"And Sweden, we haven't won Sweden in 33 years! Are you confident of leading England to break through in the death group?"

Aldridge was dumbfounded when asked.

Mallorbi's England.

30 years of invincibility in Germany, we know it, and don’t think there is any problem. Germany is strong.

But why did another 33 years suddenly come out of Sweden?

Aldridge, who was sitting in the car with a dumbfounded face, was photographed by the reporter.

Everyone thought that this young coach was drawn into the death group because of England and could not bear the pressure!

Aldridge was really fooled by England's modern football history.

As the coach of England, it seems he has to go back and look through history.

Otherwise, don’t beat Germany for 30 years today, and Sweden for 33 years tomorrow, and another N years later, who will win... England, who did you win?

In this regard, England has a face claiming to be a strong team?

Really kneel to Fleet Street!

It’s you who touted England’s strength, and it’s you who used England’s awkward record to force the national team coach!