Born to be a coach [soccer]

Chapter 252

Russell must admit that after the moment Ibrahimovic just scored, his eyes were sore and tears almost came out of his eyes.

Russell hurriedly held back, for fear that if someone saw him, his own nickname of "Mother Luo" would be confirmed.Fortunately, Anton came back from the sidelines and said to the coaching staff: "Hurry up, get ready for overtime."

Soon after 90 minutes of regular time, Sunderland and Braga scored 2-2 on aggregate. The two teams each had an away goal, which was evenly divided.According to UEFA's regulations, in this case the two teams will continue to play extra time, if the winner cannot be decided, then the penalty shootout will be decided.

Before the start of overtime, Sunderland's coaching staff will check the physical condition of all players on the field to see if they are strong enough to support 30 minutes of overtime.In addition, tactics need to be arranged so that the team can try to resolve the battle within 30 minutes and not drag it to a penalty kick.

Anton said beside Russell at this time: "I somewhat understand why Boas predicted that there will be a penalty shootout."

Sure enough, the two teams drew 90-1 at home in Braga within 1 minutes.In the next 30 minutes of extra time, Braga will do everything possible to prevent Sunderland from scoring.As long as Sunderland scores a goal, regardless of whether Braga can equalize, Sunderland will qualify because of more away goals.Sunderland will score two for one Braga goal - for Braga, which has a relatively superior defensive strength, it may be a better choice to survive the penalty shootout than rushing to attack.

As expected by Anton/Boas, in the 30 minutes of overtime, the two sides did not achieve anything, and the game was dragged into a penalty shootout.

At the end of overtime, both players were physically exhausted.Hummels, the backbone of Sunderland's defense, once suffered from cramp. At the moment, he was lying on his back on the turf, feeling that he didn't even have the strength to move his fingers again.His teammate and roommate Royce hurried to the team doctor to help his friend relieve symptoms.

The coaching staff was busy, Anton, goalkeeper coach Nick, and assistant coach Russell were quickly discussing the list of players for the penalty shootout.

The penalty shootout list needs to be drawn up in advance and submitted to the referee team.

"Really... is that okay?" Russell asked hesitantly.

"Yes!" Not only Anton said so, but even the goalkeeper coach said so.Russell was speechless.

"Russell, every one of our players is trustworthy and worthy of our [-]% trust." Anton said this, and Russell nodded simply--if he hesitated, he would look like a mother-in-law.

At this time, Sunderland's deputy Henderson had already gone to the referee to guess the side and choose the order of appearance.The captain, Garner, was wrapping gauze around his head at the moment, and together with all the teammates on the bench, they put their arms together and prayed for Sunderland.

What Garner said was, "Guess right guess guess right—"

He knows the importance of guessing sides, and at this moment is praying that Henderson's luck will be overwhelming, and the penalty kick will be held on the side where the Sunderland fans sit.

Perhaps the prayers of the wounded moved the heavens, and Henderson really got the right to choose a side, and immediately pointed to the side where the Sunderland fans were.All the Sunderland fans behind the goal clamored and shouted slogans as much as they could—the voices of the Braga fans soon overwhelmed them, but under the overwhelming shouts of the Braga fans, "Sunderland, Sunderland! Lan" that rhythmic slogan can't be completely covered up.

The next step is to guess the coin to determine the order of penalty kicks. Sunderland was not so lucky, and gave up the choice to the opponent, while the opponent chose to take the penalty first.

When the Sunderland fans at the back of the field saw Pickford slapping the goalkeeper gloves on the field, they cheered for a while, and then reminded each other that it was Pickford's turn to pounce. Skin concentrates.

However, Braga's first free throw was easily hit.Pickford didn't judge the direction of the opponent, and was tricked by the opponent's fake action to jump to the other side. Watching the ball go into the net, Pickford was still so angry that he lay on the ground and beat his hands on the ground.Sunderland fans behind him shouted Pickford's name after sighing.

"It doesn't matter if you don't save this one, don't be discouraged!"

It didn't take long to see Pickford get up again calmly and give up his position to Braga's goalkeeper.There was no annoyance on his face at all, as if the pounce just now was just the club's usual training.

Sunderland fans sighed after seeing it: I forgot it so quickly, Pippi's memory...is it a fish?

Next, all Sunderland players who were still on the field came to the center circle. Hummels, who was in poor form earlier, was also lifted up by Royce, and he limped to the middle of his teammates.

Sunderland's first penalty shooter was Ibrahimovic.All teammates and fans have high hopes for Ibrahimovic, hoping that he can open the scoring and help the team stabilize their morale with a steady goal.

Ibrahimovic's penalty is also very in line with his image, simple, direct... violent.There was no half-fancy burst shot. The Braga players judged the right direction, but they couldn't save it at all-the ball was too fast and too powerful.After the ball hit the net, Ibrahimovic still clenched his fists and shook his head at the Braga goalkeeper: This guy is still angry and remembers it all in his heart.

The Sunderland fans gave applause on time and according to the quality. Ibrahimovic raised his eyes and looked coldly at the stands. The applause immediately died down; Thunder, many fans in the stands burst into tears, looking at their Zlatan.

After the first round of the penalty shootout, the two sides fought 1-1.

As we all know, the penalty shootout is divided into two stages. The first stage is a 5-round elimination system. The team with the most goals in the first 5 rounds wins; if the two sides draw in the first stage, the two sides enter a 1-round elimination system. In other words, once one side scores a penalty kick and the other side fails to score a penalty kick, the outcome will be decided.

If the two sides draw in the first four rounds, then the fifth player who takes the penalty kick will bear a crucial responsibility-once he fails or is thrown, the team's way will come to an end, and the previous efforts will be paid for. The east flow.

Therefore, when each team arranges the order of penalty points in advance, the fifth player generally arranges a player with better psychological quality and steady footwork.

In this game, Sunderland and Braga were like this. Everyone scored goals in the first four rounds, and none of them failed, and the battle was tied 4-4.However, Pickford's touch is getting better and better, and he has judged the right direction one after another.The Sunderland fans behind him had a premonition that he should be able to save in the next round.

Braga took the penalty first, and the fifth player to play was the captain of Braga, a small man with strong explosive power. He stood in front of the penalty spot and stared at the ball for a long time before starting his run-up and kicking hard. out, the ball goes to the lower right corner of the goal

Pickford not only judged the right direction this time, but also touched the ball.It's just that the opponent kicked too hard. After Pickford touched the ball, the ball bounced into the net. As usual, Pickford was so angry that he lay on the ground and beat the ground hard.

5:4.

Then it's Sunderland's turn. If Sunderland doesn't score the goal, the game will be over. Braga will advance to the final and join forces with Porto next door.

The Sunderland fans raised their heads together and looked at the teams lined up in the distance, shoulders on each other, close together, trying to judge who would be the "Mr. Key" to take this crucial goal.

Unexpectedly, no one from Sunderland came out.

Fans: ...?

Someone pointed in surprise at Pickford at the goal in front of them.I saw Pickford taking off the goalkeeper's gloves. The gloves were so tightly tied that Pickford couldn't untie them by himself, and even went to Braga's goalkeeper for help.

Sunderland fans were all panicked: Sunderland's fifth penalty shooter turned out to be Pickford?

The big guy touched his heart, but he really didn't know the bottom line.Pickford is a goalkeeper. He obviously worked hard to save points, but will he take penalties?

The fans in Braga around were also a little silly: Why did the opponent turn out to be the goalkeeper to take a penalty kick?

"Child, if you can't score this goal, you don't have to keep the goal anymore." Some Braga fans shouted-if Pickford fails to score this goal, then Sunderland will be eliminated immediately.

Furthermore, Pickford procrastinated, took off his gloves, and carried the ball to the penalty spot. The Braga fans simply booed, and the boos were mixed with the steady and rhythmic slogans of the Sunderland fans. .

The field was extremely noisy, but all the noise disappeared the moment the referee whistled.Sunderland fans naturally don't want to affect their "Pippi", and Braga fans don't want to affect their goalkeeper.

At this time Pickford jumped up, looked up at the opponent's goalkeeper, and started a run-up.

The Braga goalkeeper has probably never experienced this kind of game. It turned out to be a goalkeeper who took a penalty kick in the penalty shootout.Seeing that Pickford's run-up posture was a little...unusual, but he didn't hesitate at the penalty spot, and it was a "bang" kick when he came up. The Braga goalkeeper felt that his reaction was 1 millisecond slower. No, when he flew to save, the ball had already entered the net.

The Sunderland fans in the stands beamed with joy: "Our Pippi..."

Pickford scored the penalty, with no joy on his face, raised his hands, gave a symbolic wave to the fans behind the goal, and then hurried to the back of the goal - where his goalkeeper gloves were still lying.

The fans only reacted at this time: the two sides played 5 to 5, Pickford scored the penalty, and the penalty shootout continued.Next round - still Pickford in goal.

So everyone watched Pickford pick up his goalkeeper gloves, put them on in a hurry, then swung them twice, ran to the goal again, opened his arms, and jumped vigorously, as if Want to quickly switch from one state to another.

But the Braga penalty players don't want to wait any longer.I saw that the opponent came to the penalty spot, but Pickford was still jumping and jumping on the goal line.

As soon as the referee's whistle sounded, Pickford immediately stopped beating, concentrated, and prepared to pounce with all his strength.

The opposing player kicked a "bang" and kicked a half-high ball——

The author has something to say: It is indeed rare for goalkeepers to participate in penalty shootouts.The specific rules of UEFA are that in the penalty shootout, each team sends 10 players on the field to participate in the penalty. The penalty shooter also needs to include the goalkeeper.

Pickford himself has indeed staged a good show this summer, which is both a point and a mid point, helping the team win the game.