Benzema slowly returned to the locker room after the game, ready to talk to Deschamps, only to find that the latter and Maël were nowhere to be seen.
This stunned him a bit. He had originally thought that the two would wait for him and discuss privately how to handle the matter gracefully.
Straight to the press conference? Benzema returned to his seat with a gloomy face, muttering complaints while unwrapping the bandage around his ankle, feeling that he had not received the respect he deserved.
"I'll wait and see how you two handle this."
He was cold-faced. Honestly, he didn't think he would receive a severe punishment, at least not like Ribery.
Their situations were different. He was only 25 years old this year, which is the prime of his career for a center forward. He still had at least 8-10 years at his peak.
Ribery, as a winger, was about to turn 30. His Speed and agility would definitely decline, making it difficult to maintain his peak performance.
Plus, with Lionel Maël's sudden emergence, if Ribery didn't accept being a substitute, he would definitely be on the transfer list.
But what about him?
He was an indispensable core player for this team. Who could replace him?! Giroud? Benzema thought it was impossible. If the French Team wanted to go further, it had to have someone like him who could stand firm in the middle and had ample attacking talent to support them.
He was a Real Madrid superstar. Giroud was just a big guy still struggling in Ligue 1. The gap between them couldn't be offset by a mistake he made.
Another point was that when Deschamps first joined the team, he had the task of completing the French Football Association's generational change while establishing his own authority.
At that time, Ribery made some mistakes and became a typical example, so he was naturally dealt with harshly.
He didn't jump out at that time because he saw the situation clearly and deliberately didn't touch that bad luck.
But now?
Deschamps's task was basically completed, and the team had reached a critical period. Was there any reason to establish authority and deal with people? Even if he admitted that he had indeed lost his temper just now and done something more irrational and excessive, which might bring greater negative impact to this team, did Deschamps have the courage to take him down?
This team was already controversial for not bringing Ribery before the European Cup. If he was dealt with after the group stage, how much scolding and pressure would he have to endure?
Unless they could win the championship in the end, Deschamps would inevitably face angry liquidation from some French fans after the European Cup, and it was possible that he would lose his coaching position.
"Ha," Benzema laughed dryly. Without him, relying only on Maël and Nasri, what could this team use to compete for the championship?
So it must be a fine + apology. As long as he was sincere at that time, this matter would pass.
He felt much more at ease and began to concentrate on repenting for the mistakes he had just made. After all, this matter was indeed his own fault. If he wanted to become a better player and win more honors, he had to become more rational.
Let's just get through this time first, and hope not to make such mistakes again in the future.
"Sweden defeated the French Team two to one but still missed the chance to qualify! The England Team defeated Ukraine one to zero, grabbing the last spot to enter the top 8!" - British The Guardian with a picture
"France lost to Sweden one to two! In the last round of the group stage, Benzema threw the captain's armband after the game, blaming Mexès, causing dissatisfaction from Deschamps and Maël!" - French El Salvador Newspaper
"Traditional 'skill' reappears? The French Team qualified first in the group but failed to avoid infighting!" - Chinese Zhibo8
As soon as the game ended, even before it ended, news of infighting in the French Team spread, attracting attention and discussion from fans all over the world.
"What is Benzema doing?!"
"Lost his mind, haha, this is going to be a good show."
"The main thing is how will he be dealt with? Will there be any follow-up from Deschamps and the French Team?"
"It seems that a press conference is being held, with Deschamps and Maël participating together. News should be reported."
"I'm a little worried about Benzema. He won't be kicked out of the team, will he? Deschamps never tolerates this kind of player."
"It shouldn't be? The quarter-finals are coming up soon. It's obviously nonsense to deal with the main center forward at this time. If it really happens, I don't think there's any need to play. Just let Italy advance."
"What's wrong with the French Team? Only Deschamps and Zidane's teams were good. Once those people retired, there was infighting in every major competition. This year there's Maël, I originally thought there would be a new atmosphere."
"There is a new atmosphere, I saw them being very harmonious before... But you can't predict this kind of sudden situation. Who would have thought Benzema would suddenly light the fire?"
"Did Deschamps provoke the infighting? Or Maël? Are these two a dictator and a master of palace intrigue?"
"Are you blind? Didn't Benzema throw the captain's armband? Stop arguing, wait for the final result."
"."
After a burst of noise, everyone focused their attention on the French Team's post-match press conference, which had unprecedented attention.
Inside the Poznan Stadium, in a room filled with reporters and various cameras.
Maël and Deschamps sat here with calm faces, waiting for the reporters' questions with answers prepared.
"A very unpleasant match experience? What kind of impact will this have on the team?" A reporter took the lead in asking about the team as a whole.
"Maybe." Deschamps didn't give a definite answer, raising his eyebrows and saying, "Losing is always unpleasant. Once you fail, many problems are exposed.
"As for the impact, I don't think it will be too big. The team still qualified, and most people will still actively face the upcoming challenges and maintain unity."
His second half of the sentence was a bit meaningful, and many reporters followed his words to imply and ask, "Some people didn't, right? How will they face the future?"
"Some people didn't."
Deschamps nodded, glanced at Maël beside him, then turned his head with regret, "His European Cup journey is coming to an end. We don't need such players. Only a team with one heart can achieve the final victory."
After saying this, the scene was silent. Obviously, this was Deschamps' signal to abandon Benzema.
"Buzz...!"
Deschamps' phone vibrated. He wanted to hang up, but after seeing that it was a call from Le Graët, the chairman of the French Football Association, he got up and prepared to go outside to answer it. "Excuse me, I'll leave the scene to Maël first. My will is the same as his."
He gave Maël a trusting look, and the latter didn't show any nervousness or worry, sitting upright in front of the microphone.
"Benzema is leaving? Is that right? Wouldn't this be too hasty a decision?" The reporters stopped beating around the bush and implying, and directly threw out this question.
"Yeah."
Maël adjusted the microphone, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Why is it hasty? I need to know why you define it that way first."
The reporter's thinking was also very clear, and he immediately said, "Benzema's departure will definitely cause turmoil, which will make the team panic and affect the combat effectiveness of the entire team.
"If the French Team faces Czech and Greece in the next round, there may be time to adjust, but you have to face Italy, the favorite to win the championship."
Maël nodded and directly replied, "If we talk about affecting the team's combat effectiveness, I think sometimes leaving the wrong person has a bigger impact than leaving the wrong person.
"In addition, the opponents in the European Cup are very strong. We don't think there is a big gap between Italy and Czech, and we are not afraid of any of them.
"We have no choice but to defeat the opponents in front of us. It doesn't matter how strong they are, or what kind of turmoil we are experiencing."
These three sentences blocked most of the reporters' next questions. Looking at Maël's resolute face, they quickly took pictures and recorded this important moment.
Everyone knows that once a superstar of Benzema's level leaves the French Team, he will inevitably break up with this team.
In the future, whether he wants to join the team again, or the French Team wants to invite him again, it will become extremely difficult! Therefore, this may be the moment when a superstar in his prime is drifting away from his destined team, which will definitely be an important scene in the history of Football in the future.
Lionel Maël, this young captain who is not yet 19 years old, is like a judge, declaring Benzema's fate more clearly than Deschamps.
The sense of disharmony and separation between him appearing in this kind of occasion and making such an important decision adds a classic feel to this scene.
A reporter then couldn't help but ask, "Did Deschamps tell you these words? Or are they your own thoughts? Do you sometimes feel that you lack confidence when you say these things? Of course, this is not a question, but it is generally believed that young people lack the right to speak. In this regard, youth may be your shackle, not your blessing."
"It's my idea." Maël didn't shirk responsibility. From the moment he chose to stand up and stop Benzema, the two of them were already on opposite sides, so there was nothing to worry about.
Moreover, standing in the most glorious position of captain, sometimes he has to attract some firepower and can't let Deschamps carry everything. This is his due responsibility.
He is never afraid of questioning, because he can always make a beautiful comeback.
"As for, haha."
When answering the next question, he couldn't help laughing, and then said, "I think judging whether a person has the right to speak depends on his strength and various abilities, and whether others believe in him.
"So I don't think age is my shackle. Some people in their 80s are also very influential in the world.
"Being young will not become my disadvantage in any way. It will only be an advantage, representing only abundant energy and vitality, upward drive, and a very beautiful youth."
After saying this, he saw Deschamps standing outside the door, but he didn't seem to be planning to come in.
The press conference should be over. He stood up, took Deschamps' small bag, and prepared to leave, "Thank you, see you next time!"
"Click, click!"
Flashes flashed wildly, and everyone scrambled to record this scene again.
Many people have a feeling that Maël seems to have become a little different from before, giving people a feeling of being both flamboyant and calm.
"Maël, why does the French Team have such incidents every time?"
"Are you afraid of pressure?"
"How is Mexès? Will you still be friends with Benzema?"
Many people continued to ask questions, but Maël ignored them until a French female reporter shouted, "Maël, after this, does the team have a chance to go to the end?"
"Of course."
He turned to him with a smile, nodding, "We will definitely go to the end, don't worry!"
Walking out the door, Deschamps gave him an honest smile and a hug. Maybe he isn't really honest, but his smile gives people that kind of feeling.
"Well done."
Deschamps had been listening outside the door, and now he laughed, "Why don't I just leave all the future post-match press conferences to you?"
"Haha." Maël chuckled and shook his head, "It's just that I had a lot to say today, it probably won't be like this later."
Deschamps led Maël towards the locker room, shaking his phone, "That was Le Graët's call just now, he kept asking me if I had made a decision, and I told him very seriously that I had decided.
"Le Graët may be a little helpless, but he has to support me because he promised that I can decide everything about this team."
He patted Maël's arm and suddenly laughed maniacally, "Ready? The storm is getting worse, the pressure battle is coming."
"Of course." Maël shrugged his shoulders, indicating that he didn't care, and said firmly, "No matter how much pressure there is, we have no choice but to win, just keep our heads down and charge forward."
"Haha..." The two then laughed together again, they accepted everything calmly and focused on the next game.
These are just small storms. As long as they keep winning on the main battle line, what do they have to worry about? In the locker room, many players of the French Team watched the press conference through their mobile phones, and when they looked up at Benzema, their expressions were more complicated and indifferent, with some pity.
They quickly lowered their heads, not wanting to make any eye contact with Benzema, lest he learn the news through them.
Someone sighed slightly, wondering if the team's experience in the middle of the European Cup schedule would cause some turmoil.
"Benzema."
An assistant coach received a message from Deschamps and came to Benzema to inform him of the team's decision in advance, to avoid him being too embarrassed or causing other conflicts when he met Deschamps and Maël later.
Benzema was stunned in his seat after hearing the news. He had just finished showering and was about to put on his clothes and blow-dry his hair, but he learned this news that could be regarded as bad news.
He? Being kicked out of the team? Deschamps, Maël, how dare they, how could they make this decision? Benzema's two arms that had already slipped into his sleeves were motionless, forgetting to put on his clothes for a long time, with a lost look on his face.
Is it over? His European Cup career, even his French National Team career, is over like this?!
"Why?"
He suddenly stood up and quickly put on his clothes, running out like crazy, as if to ask the two for an explanation.
"Okay, okay!"
Four or five French Team players quickly approached and, together with a group of assistant coaches, held him back to prevent his emotions from further escalating and escalating the situation.
"Do you know what you are doing? Do you know?!"
Benzema was indignant, but he could faintly feel that he was already insignificant at this moment, "Without me, you can't break through Italy's gate at all! You will waste the opportunity to qualify as the first in the group!
"I'm not convinced! You're too much! Just a small mistake, and you deprive me of my hope and dream!"
"Enough!!"
A roar sounded, and everyone looked back, unexpectedly it was Nasri who shouted this, "Since it's already like this, then leave with dignity, don't lose your status anymore!
"Everyone is tired today, we need to go home and rest quickly, don't waste time here, the game is in 5 days."
Benzema's violently heaving chest slowly calmed down, he seemed to have figured out that since things had reached this point, there was no point in saying anything more.
He suddenly became quiet, returned to his seat in the wary eyes of everyone, packed his things, and walked out quickly with the last match-worn jersey.
Many people followed him, but after seeing him glance in the opposite direction of leaving and then turn around and leave, they were relieved about him.
"…" There was a long silence in the locker room, and everyone was shocked by Deschamps and Maël's swiftness and decisiveness, and couldn't speak for a short time.
Nasri and Evra, the two old rivals, looked at each other, as if they almost saw their own shadows again.
The two shrank their necks and became more honest, but they couldn't stop the worry in their hearts, where is this team going? "Now, what do we do?" Sagna asked at this time. He originally wanted to ask Koscielny, but he realized that the locker room was very quiet and everyone could hear him.
"What should we do, we do."
Goalkeeper Lloris kept looking at one place and replied, "Mr. Deschamps and Ma. and the captain have taken on all the pressure, and they didn't ask us to express our opinions, we just need to finish the remaining games well."
"Not just finish." A voice sounded from outside the door, and then, Maël and Deschamps walked in with smiles on their faces.
Their mental state seemed to be much better than the people in the locker room. It didn't seem like they had just finished a big thing, but more like they had gone to the bathroom, and didn't know about the team's changes.
But how could they not know?
This scene injected a shot in the arm for many people, making them look up at Maël again, waiting for him to finish speaking.
"We will win everything!"
Maël knew what he should say at this moment. He came to the center of the locker room, put his hand forward, and signaled everyone to join in.
When Sagna, Koscielny, and others came up and put their hands on his, others followed suit one after another. But their speed was obviously much slower than usual, and they lacked enthusiasm.
Maël turned to look at Deschamps, then turned his head and looked at everyone seriously, saying, "Maybe in the next few days, we will suffer a lot of criticism and face a lot of doubts.
"But everyone must hold their breath and continue to move forward. We still have every possibility, and nothing can stop us! Let's go!"
"Let's go!" A chorus of shouts resounded through the locker room, but the momentum was still smaller than usual.
After experiencing such a change, it is impossible to say that it has no impact on all aspects of the team.
This kind of impact can never be diluted overnight, only by constantly winning and moving forward can it be slowly changed!
"If the pressure is too great, take those free time to watch the European Cup."
Deschamps also stepped forward and said with a smile, "Don't forget what a great arena we are in, what a great and glorious opportunity we have to create.
"Let's go!"
"Let's go!"
The French Team players packed their things and went home one after another. Everyone's eyes were more tired than usual. Deschamps and Maël were even more serious, but their optimism concealed it.
Two days later, on June 22, the first knockout match of the European Cup kicked off at the Warsaw National Stadium in Poland.
Ronaldo led his Portugal team in this match against the Czech Team, who were determined to create a miracle.
Before this match, a piece of news also made many Football fans who were watching the European Cup feel very proud.
"Officially surpasses the Olympics! The European Cup's ratings and revenue both surpass the Olympics, second only to the World Cup!" - Spanish Marca
The match started at 5:45 PM, and the next four 8-into-4 matches will kick off at this time.
"The first half of the match may end like this, with both sides failing to score!
"The Portugal team still has a good advantage. They have bombarded the goal 13 times, but they still failed to break through the Czech Team's goal!"..."
"Moutinho is past, pass to the back point!! Header!! The ball went in! Ronaldo's header helped the Portugal team break the deadlock in the 79th minute of the match!! "Ronaldo was thinking throughout the match, why is his luck so bad today? But this time, Moutinho's pass found him! Beautiful header! This is his 35th goal for the national team! "17 shots, the Portugal team finally got something! If they maintain this score until the end, they will become the first team to enter the top 4 of this European Cup!
"…"
"Alright, at this time, the referee Webb from England blew the whistle to end the match! The Portugal team eliminated the Czech Team with Ronaldo's goal!
"Next, they will face the winner between Spain and the England Team in the semi-finals!!"
"…"
"Siu!" Ronaldo roared his signature celebration in front of the camera after the match, tightening his arms.
And the Czech Team's number 10 core, Rosický, could only wave goodbye to the Czech fans with a sad face. After the match, he went to the VIP area of the stadium to meet up with his Arsenal teammates.
His journey has ended, but he will accompany the brothers who are still in this arena to continue fighting, just like Van Persie and others.
At the same time the next day, the match between the Germany Team and the Greece Team kicked off at the Liv Stadium in Kyiv.
"The pace of the two teams is very fast. Maybe the Germany Team didn't expect at first that the Greece Team would cause them so much trouble! "In this intensity, the appearance of an opportunity may be just a moment!
"…"
"Shot! The ball went in! One to zero! The first half of the match reached the 38th minute! Lahm scored a goal!
"Lahm's goal in this position is like the goal in the opening match of the 2006 World Cup against Costa Rica! Straight into the far corner!
"…"
"The ball is still at the feet of the Greece Team, cross pass! Shot! The ball went in! The Greece Team equalized the score with Samaras' goal!"..."
"Boateng passes! Khedira volleys! Two to one! The Germany Team once again overtook the score! What a beautiful shot!" Opportunity for a set piece, header! The ball went in again! Klose!! Scored his 64th goal for the national team!" Shoot again! Four to one! Reus of the Germany Team scored a goal that killed the match!" The powerful Germany Team did not give the Greece Team a chance to breathe in the second half! They have the best players, an iron will, and the most suitable coach for them, Löw!"
"…"
"In the end, in the second 1/4 final of this European Cup, the Germany Team defeated the Greece Team and advanced to the semi-finals of this European Cup!
"Their opponent will be the winner between the Italy Team and the French Team! That will definitely be a battle of Tianwang Mountain!"
After this round of matches, Benzema's interview during his vacation in Spain, along with the German Team, made headlines.
"Have you calmed down after a few days? What are your thoughts on Deschamps?"
"I did make a mistake on the field, and I apologize for that, but I was calm after the game and showed a willingness to communicate with the team.
"But obviously, I didn't get any chance to communicate and was directly kicked out of the team. So, instead of asking if I'm calm, why not ask if I'm dumbfounded?
"Deschamps is a somewhat twisted person. He's a bit too dictatorial, which isn't always a good thing. You have to allow players the right to communicate with the coach, instead of abusing your authority.
"He's more suitable as a captain than as a head coach because he can't grasp the measure. Someone needs to control him to prevent him from going too far."
"..."
"After that, you also saw Maël's comments. What do you think of him?"
"Ha, would you wear your father's oversized suit when you were a kid? That's how he feels to me.
"He always feels like he has to do this and that just because he's wearing the armband. But does he have that kind of leadership and Judgment? He keeps making the wrong choices.
"A 100 million euro price tag doesn't make everyone submit to him, at least not me. I think if he wants to achieve the final victory, he shouldn't have said those words and conspired with Deschamps to make me leave."
"..."
"Do you have any complaints?"
"What do you think? I heard that the team later called up Griezmann, the midfielder from Real Sociedad, and I also heard that Deschamps was facing some pressure from other levels, like some domestic matters.
"Isn't this him bowing to racism? I'm of Algerian descent, and he's always had a problem with me, just looking for this kind of opportunity to kick me out of the team.
"Maël is the same. They had already discussed it, so he threw the armband to me when he left the field."
"..."
"But there are many black players in the French Team, and I heard that Maël also..."
"No, no, no, this is not the same thing. I don't want to say these things, but the Basque and Algerian people have had some disputes, you understand?"
"..."
June 24th, a day off.
Maël was watching the 1/4 final between Spain and the England Team in the hotel. During halftime, he saw Benzema's controversial remarks.
He laughed out loud, prompting Isabella beside him to quickly lean over to see what happened. "What's wrong?"
Maël handed over his phone, shaking his head slightly. Could it be that this Real Madrid striker just doesn't want to accept that his behavior was too much, trampling on the team's dignity and causing the team to no longer trust him? He ignored it and didn't care about the other party's evaluation of him. It's better to avoid thinking about such disgusting remarks, lest it ruin his mood.
Isabella frowned and complained, feeling that he shouldn't be subjected to such evaluation.
Maël touched her head and didn't chat with her in detail. When the broadcast started, he focused his attention on the game, studying his opponents.
In this match, the Spanish Team still had the absolute initiative. Their passing and control made the England Team's stars feel a little overwhelmed and could only run around wearily.
In the 55th minute of the second half, the deadlock was finally broken. Alba, still a young player at this time, sent a Cross, and Fabregas completed the goal at the far post.
One to zero!
After this goal, it could be seen that the England Team was very anxious to counterattack, but they still found it difficult to snatch the Football from the Spanish Team's feet. As a result, their mentality became a bit explosive.
*"Pa!"*
Not long after, Gilbert tripped Pedro in the penalty area, giving away a penalty, which could be regarded as paying a painful tuition fee for his first major tournament.
Xabi Alonso then scored, helping the team take a two-to-zero lead.
This was also the final score. When the game ended, the England Team's stars lay on the ground, with only Gilbert and a few other young people standing, looking into the distance.
With this, the Portugal Team, the German Team, and the Spanish Team all entered the final four! The last spot will be decided between their French Team and the Italy Team!
Maël took a deep breath, feeling immense pressure. He came to Isabella's side, wrapped his arm around his girlfriend's slender waist, and leaned in her arms to rest.
Isabella seemed to understand his mood at the moment. She wrapped her arms around Maël and gently patted the back of his head to relieve his stress.
"I'm going to work out for a while."
Maël hugged her for a while, then turned around to pack his things, preparing to go to the gym.
"The game is tomorrow, and you're going to work out today?" Isabella was a little puzzled and worried. She moved two steps on her knees to Maël's side and began to massage his shoulders.
"A little exercise with minimal activity," Maël smiled, signaling her not to worry, "I feel like my body is a bit off, not in its best condition."
"This is the time to expend some energy, and then let it slowly recover, until it reaches its peak before the match."
"Okay..." Isabella didn't quite understand, but after thinking for a moment, she smiled brightly, "I'll go learn how to massage from Safina today, and wait for you today... Ah, you're leaving now, so you should be going to the team hotel, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then tomorrow."
Isabella quickly got out of bed and put on her slippers, her long legs bouncing back and forth, and opened her arms to playfully ask Maël for a hug, "When you return triumphantly, I'll give you a massage to relieve your fatigue."
Maël finished packing and hugged her, smiling and kissing her before saying, "Sure, I'll give you a massage after you give me one."
"Giggle..." Isabella also took the initiative to pout and kiss Maël, they weren't too shy with each other in private anymore, "Then I'll wait for you, remember what I said, give 95% of your strength on the field.
"Leave the remaining 5% for me when you come back at night, that's exclusively mine."
"How can you hold back in the knockout stage?"
Maël pinched her cheek, and with his bag on his back, he prepared to walk out the door, "I will give 100%, and then leave 20% of the 120% for you."
"Oh dear!"
Amidst a playful and affectionate exchange, the two separated again, and at the same time began to look forward to their next meeting, hoping it would be a happy and joyful reunion.
...
Not long after Maël left, he arrived at the team's base, where he did some *curved shot and cross* training. He didn't train for too long before going to eat, and then adjusted everything to a pre-match state.
While eating, he also looked at the recent increase in proficiency of his various skills.
[Skill: Judgment lv4]
[Proficiency: (2441/5000)]
[Skill: Sprint lv4]
[Proficiency: (1779/5000)]
[Skill: Godly Strength lv4]
[Proficiency: (1359/5000)]
[Skill: Curved Blade lv4]
[Proficiency: (326/2000)]
[Skill: Arc Guiding lv4]
[Proficiency: (312/2000)]
[Skill: Fancy Breakthrough lv3]
[Proficiency: (1743/2000)]
[Additional Skill: Fancy Skills lv2]
[Proficiency: (701/1500)]
"Fancy is only one step away from upgrading, and the newly practiced lv4 skills have also increased well during this period."
He felt relieved and exited the proficiency panel.
The reason for such an improvement during this period is actually due to his Stamina improvement.
If his Stamina hadn't reached lv4, he would definitely not have dared to take the time to train during the tight schedule of the tournament cup.
"Maël." Sagna walked over with a plate, attracting his attention, "Tomorrow is the quarter-final, are you nervous?"
"I don't feel anything."
He was actually very nervous, but he still appeared optimistic, also giving himself some psychological cues, "If the first knockout match was us, then I might be a little nervous.
"But after playing and watching the first 3 matches, I understand what kind of competition it is, so I'm not nervous."
Sagna nodded, and didn't speak while eating, only encouraging him when he left, "Come on, the scorer of 5 goals in the first 3 rounds, I believe you can continue to score and lead us forward."
"I believe it too." Maël clenched his fist at him, wiped his mouth, and turned to leave.
...
June 25th, inside the Gdańsk Stadium in Poland, a clamor, the stands were dyed blue by French Team fans and Italy fans.
"Oh le oh le oh! Oh oh.! Oh le oh le oh!"
The melody they chanted was very simple, yet it instantly unfurled a fiery scroll of football's midsummer, immersing the place in the atmosphere of the European Cup knockout stage.
"Friends, the audience! The match between the French Team and Italy Team is about to begin, and this is also the last quarter-final of this European Cup!"
In the commentary booth, the voice of He Wei, the football poet and CCTV's top commentator, sounded, extremely magnetic, "After this match, the top 4 of the European Cup will be decided! I believe both the French Team and Italy Team are coveting this last spot! Let's take a look at the starting lineups of both sides. Today, the French Team, wearing their home blue jerseys, is fielding a 4-3-3 formation."
"In goal is Lloris! The left-back is Clichy, the center-back pairing is Koscielny and Rami, and the right-back is Sagna! In midfield, the central player is Malouda, flanked by Nasri and Cabaye! The left winger is Maël, the center forward is Giroud, and the right winger is Mene!"
"."
"On the Italy Team side, they are using a 4-1-3-2 formation! In goal is Buffon, the center-back pairing is Bonucci and Chiellini, the left-back is Barzagli, and the right-back is Abate! The single defensive midfielder is Pirlo! The three midfielders, from left to right, are De Rossi, then Montolivo, and Marchisio!"
"In the forward positions, Cassano is paired with Balotelli!"
"."
"We should all have heard that the French Team has recently encountered some turmoil. Their coach Deschamps and captain Lionel Maël have both been impacted by public opinion, which will definitely have some impact on the team."
"To some extent, they not only have internal worries in this match, but also external troubles! In comparison, the Italy Team is still united and has not been affected by any off-field turmoil, focusing only on the final victory."
"But I want to say that football is round, and anything can happen! Although the French Team is weak, they have the superstar Lionel Maël. His occasional brilliant performances are enough to lead the team to the final victory!"
"."
"Bip bip!"
Under the stadium, with the referee's whistle, the players from both sides walked out of the player tunnel.
Lionel Maël, holding a young ball boy's hand, walked at the front with Italy Team captain Buffon, nodding and smiling at him after making eye contact.
"Oh le oh le allez oh oh.!" The deafening singing echoed in the Gdańsk Stadium, making everyone's mood very excited, and also making many people's legs tremble.
Many people were standing on such a grand stage for the first time, playing in such an important match.
They must be clear about what the next 90 minutes will be like.
In two hours, it will be either celebrating wildly on the field for entering the top 4, or painfully wiping away tears and saying goodbye, depending on their performance!
"Huff!" Lionel Maël habitually took a deep breath, which was his best way to adjust his emotions and state.
He was very clear that after experiencing the turmoil, the team urgently needed this victory to sweep away the decline.
This match was extremely important to him, to Deschamps, and even to the entire team. He had to be prepared to face all difficulties and then go all out! "Bip!"
At 5:45 PM, this match between the French Team and the Italy Team officially kicked off in the Gdańsk Stadium.
ps: I will finish writing this match tomorrow.
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