Born to be a coach [soccer]

Chapter 253

Assistant coach Russell and his colleagues stood on the sidelines to watch the game.He is no less relaxed than the players on the field. At this moment, he is staring at a pair of cowbell eyes, staring at Pickford who is taking a penalty kick without blinking.

Anton took the young keeper fifth in the lineup, a decision that caught Russell by surprise.But Anton is not the only one who advocates, even the goalkeeper coach Nick Abraham also agrees.

Russell is not in charge of goalkeeper training, but he has coached Sunderland for many years and almost watched Pickford grow up.

When Pickford was a child a few years ago, not many coaches in the youth academy were optimistic that he would become a successful goalkeeper in the future.This kid is very smart and has a very quick reaction on the goal line, but his physical condition is not good. The length ratio of his arms and legs is not the most ideal among goalkeepers. He is also short and thin.It wasn't until half a year before Anton came to the club that this kid grew up to his current appearance.

Who could have imagined at that time that this teenager would become the team's main goalkeeper, and he was still standing in front of the goal, as the most critical pick, preparing to take a penalty kick?

Russell watched from a distance and felt that his whole body was a little stiff. Just as Nick put his arm over, he also quickly stretched out his arm and put it on the shoulders of his colleagues, as if everyone could get a little support in this way.

At this time, Pickford ran up, kicked, and with a "bang", swept the ball into the dead corner of the goal guarded by the Braga goalkeeper.

"Okay!" Russell couldn't help raising his arms high and shouted.Pickford's strength lies in his stable psychological quality, and he is extremely difficult to be disturbed by the outside world. He just needs to focus on implementing the techniques taught by the coach earlier.So no matter what order he played in the penalty shootout, it didn't matter to the young man.

Russell finally believed: Anton's order of penalty points was definitely "seeing people's dishes", and people of what character and ability would be placed in what position—and no one thought of this trick, It's a surprise move.

On the other side of the goal, Pickford finished the fifth round of the penalty shootout and hurried to the side of the field, put his goalkeeper gloves back on carefully, and then came to the goal again.Facing the opposing player who came up to the 5-yard point, Pickford opened his arms and jumped up vigorously.

He was trying to disturb the opponent's mind, as if he was saying: Come on, I just scored a goal, but I don't think you can do it!

The Braga players stood silently in front of the penalty spot, looking at Pickford, seeming a little apprehensive.At this time, the Sunderland fans behind the goal also saw the opportunity and started clamoring together.

Pickford continued to dance happily on the goal line, seemingly not paying attention to his opponent at all.But when the referee whistled, Pickford immediately stood firmly on the goal line, lowered his center of gravity, and stared at the opponent's shooting action, not letting go of any clues that would help him judge.

With a "bang", the opposing player took a penalty kick.

The entire Braga city stadium seemed to be in the gap of time and space at this moment. The stadium was suddenly quiet for a moment, and the hearts of all the people present were raised in their throats——The Braga player kicked a half lob.

The half-high ball is known as the "goalkeeper's favorite", and the goalkeeper can easily encounter such a penalty when he falls to the ground.

This time there was a soft "pounce", Pickford judged the direction accurately, and when he pounced sideways, he hit his fists steadily, hitting the incoming ball.The ball was immediately smashed out by Pickford with both fists, bounced on the ground, and bounced out of the small penalty area.

Russell on the sidelines opened his mouth wide, and felt a cheer uncontrollably blurted out, but he couldn't hear anything, because everyone on the coaching staff around him, like him, opened their mouths to cheer or cheered. Roar - Sunderland struggled for 120 minutes, until now, the penalty shootout has entered the sixth round, they finally saw the hope of victory.

This game is too difficult.

That's why the prospect of imminent victory is all the more exciting.

In the stands behind the goal, the small number of Sunderland fans had already huddled together.Some of them couldn't hold back and started celebrating for the team in advance.

The score is still 5 to 5, but as long as Sunderland can score the next goal, according to the rules of the 1-round elimination system, Sunderland will defeat Braga and successfully advance to the final.

The Braga player who missed the penalty just now didn't dare to look at all this anymore, and directly lifted his jersey to cover his face.Seeing the way his shoulders twitched, he should have realized that something was wrong, and at this moment he cried out of remorse—what kind of trick was not good, why did he have to kick a half-high ball.

But the game is not over yet, Sunderland has a bright future now, but it also needs the most crucial goal to make a final decision.

Royce walked out of the waiting line near the middle circle and came to the penalty spot.He was the sixth overall free-throw shooter.

After 120 minutes of fierce fighting, the young man still looks tidy: handsome and elegant, with unruly hair.He came to the penalty spot, picked up the ball, turned it twice in his hand, and gently put the ball on the penalty spot.

He immediately raised his head and straightened up, twitched the corner of his mouth, and smiled at the Braga goalkeeper standing in front of the goal.

The Sunderland fans behind the goal yelled "Oh" together - they will never tire of Marco's smile, even if they are asked to face Marco's smiling face every day.

But the Braga goalkeeper couldn't bear it. Obviously, the muscles in his face twitched, and he looked away, not daring to look at the opponent again, just looking down at the ball on the penalty spot.

Braga's goalkeeper is probably thinking at this moment: Don't watch, lest you be deceived by the opponent's psychological warfare.

But keeping his head down and not daring to look at his opponent's every move was what really caught Royce's hands. He took a step back in the psychological warfare and suffered first.

Hearing the referee's whistle, Royce began to trot all the way, and when he came to the penalty spot, he suddenly paused-this change of rhythm was fatal to the Braga goalkeeper.He had calculated the rhythm in his mind, but at this moment Royce stopped suddenly, and the goalkeeper panicked.

Royce completely disrupted the Braga goalkeeper's preparation by relying on the rhythm of his feet. At this time, he took a free kick and shot the ball.

The Braga goalkeeper failed to judge the direction of the opponent. He flew to the left of the goal and stretched his arms to the right in vain while in the air.But for Royce's ball, if the goalkeeper judges the right direction, it will only be more depressing-the goalkeeper has no choice but to watch the goal.

The Sunderland fans behind the goal were all in a cold sweat, thinking that Royce is really a brave man, this kind of penalty kick is extremely easy to miss, but Royce handled it just right, the most important thing here The moment came overnight and scored the winning goal for the team.

Although the fans were sweating from fright, Royce's penalty kick was too beautiful. When the Sunderland fans came back to their senses, everyone jumped up in the stands.

"what--"

"We won!"

"The Champions of Europe are waiting for us!"

"Marco, we love you!"

"Pippi, we love you too!"

The fans shouted wildly at the two biggest players in the penalty shootout.

Some fans were crying and laughing on the field, and they really couldn't tell whether the tears on their faces were joy for the team's promotion, or they were frightened by the various twists and turns of the game.

Once Royce's penalty kick hits the net, the game is over.Sunderland advanced to the final with an aggregate score of 8-7 (6-5 on penalties).They will meet Villas-Boas' Porto at the Dublin Stadium in Ireland.

The moment Royce scored the penalty, the coaching staff and the substitutes all waved their hands and rushed into the field, rushing towards their team near the center circle - and the Sunderland team raised their arms together Shouting, nine people rushed towards the goal together.There, Pickford and Royce had already joined forces. After the two embraced tightly, they turned around together and rushed forward to face their team.

At first Anton was also mixed in the crowd celebrating enthusiastically by the coaching staff, but he quickly "stand out".

He first sprinted on the field and found Pickford directly.There, Pickford smirked and hugged the head coach.

Anton is a person who has practiced Taekwondo for many years. The foundation under his feet is very stable, but today he was lifted up easily by Pickford for some reason——

"Jordan—" Anton shouted loudly, but he was extremely relieved. The emotions that had been suppressed for 120 minutes were finally released at this moment. This shout was more like a loud laugh: it seemed that he had never laughed so freely in his life Drenched.

He quickly discovered what was going on—not only Pickford, but also Royce, who also rushed up to have fun at this time. Together with Pickford, he held Anton's feet with both hands, and the two The people worked together and immediately lifted Anton up.

At this moment, all the Sunderland players gathered around. Captain Garner, with a white gauze wrapped around his head, smirked at Anton, but shouted "one, two, three". Anton suddenly felt like he was flying into the air. Tossed into the air by all the Sunderland players together—

Russell, Sunderland's assistant coach, couldn't care less about his own image at this time. Ever since Royce made the final decision, he has been in tears, and the tears have never stopped.

Having worked as an assistant coach in Sunderland for many years, Russell never thought in his life that he would one day be able to join the team in the European finals.

All this happened so fast and suddenly that Russell was not yet ready to accept the fact.

Unexpectedly, at this time, the bad boy Pickford suddenly came up and giggled in Russell's ear: "Mother Luo has worked hard today—"

Russell suddenly realized - what?He actually cried?And still crying with snot and tears?

can not be like this! ——He still has to create the prestige and image of Mr. Black!

But it was too late at this moment, the entire Sunderland team finally let go of Anton at this moment, and all surrounded Russell.The whole team smirked and shouted: "Mother Luo!" Then they lifted Russell up and threw him into the air——

They will never forget those who worked hard for the team.