novelraw Chapter 340 - 102: King of Long Shots! Saint Simon!
Chapter 340 - 102: King of Long Shots! Saint Simon!
Curse Aguirre?
Although it’s disgraceful, Aguirre did kick out the most critical player for San Remo.
With this... Rome’s win rate is almost at 95%!
It’s like taking down the big three of the opposing team in an NBA Finals!
But the head coach of Rome hasn’t lost his mind, as football is still different from basketball.
The basketball operators are entirely focused on money, treating the games like entertainment, gradually moving away from entertaining the crowd to mocking them, which completely betrays the spirit of sports and will eventually backfire.
But football won’t, because in Europe, football has a third important element beyond entertainment and commerce: hometown and belief!
So, while Aguirre is not scolded, the Rome head coach won’t praise him either.
He was already confident about the penalty shootout.
There was no need for such despicable tactics.
Now this whole thing, damn it, people might even think it was his idea for Aguirre to do such a thing.
His reputation will surely stink, won’t it?
Damn!
"Shit! You’re nothing but a murderer!"
"Bastard! You really deserve to die!"
"You’re unworthy of being a professional player!"
"Just wait for your karma; you’ll have your leg broken by someone else, definitely!"
"Trash! Trash!"
San Remo fans are fervently lambasting.
And Rome fans, unusually, aren’t disturbing San Remo’s fans.
Because they themselves aren’t particularly fond of Aguirre’s actions.
To put it bluntly, if Aguirre had truly injured Jalard with a "tactical purpose," although unsportsmanlike, at least Rome fans would respect his resolute execution of the coach’s tactics and professionalism.
If there were any condemnations, it would be against the coach’s tactics lacking basic humanity, contrary to sportsmanship.
However, everyone could see that Aguirre was simply venting! Even if that kick would end Rome’s only championship chance this season, he would still take it.
That kick had no consideration for consequences, no scheming, purely because he played unsatisfactorily this match.
Jalard was just an innocent victim.
Therefore, it’s impossible for Rome fans to applaud Aguirre, even the extreme ones.
"Ah! That son of a bitch ruined a classic match! He destroyed a miracle!" Martivini, in the VIP stands, was outraged, wanting to strangle Aguirre himself!
San Remo miracle!
That was the San Remo miracle!
A penalty shootout is a place where anything can happen!
If Jalard hadn’t been injured, San Remo’s miracle might not have ended!
If San Remo really made it to the Italian Cup final, it wouldn’t matter if they won or not, as the Italian Cup would indisputably be the most significant cup this season aside from the Champions League and Europa League!
Perhaps, it could even overshadow the Europa League in terms of buzz and legend!
San Remo was just one step away from creating a football myth!
This could rival the Nottingham miracle, the Denmark fairy tale, and other legendary seasons!
Maniero pressed the agitated Martivini, motioning towards the sideline: "Perhaps... the miracle... is taking off?"
Martivini was taken aback.
Following Maniero’s gaze, he looked over.
There, Lu Yang was jogging towards the coaching area.
Sotu thought Lu Yang was coming to discuss the penalty shooters with him.
Some players, not in good shape, would voluntarily inform the head coach, who could then remove them from the shooter list. After missing an open shot today, Lu Yang’s right leg seemed uncomfortable.
Of course, some players would also escape at the critical moment of a penalty shootout.
This is a key point to test whether a player is a star or a superstar.
Players unable to face this challenge, no matter how skilled, are destined to be role players for life.
Because true superstars, real core players, sometimes go in knowing they will lose, but still face it head-on!
The wind is bleak and the water cold!
Knowing you can never return, yet still going means true heroism!
"What’s wrong, Lu? Is it your knee?" Sotu asked.
Lu Yang shook his head and then said, "I’ll be the goalkeeper!"
Sotu nodded, "Okay, I’ll just... What did you say?"
Sotu and Old Tom froze.
"I said, I’ll be the goalkeeper." Lu Yang took a deep breath, a determined look in his eyes, "No one is more suitable than me; I’m the best choice for goalkeeper on our side!"
With a snap!
A red card exploded in his mind.
On the front of the card was a tall young man in a distinctively styled jersey wearing large gloves.
He wasn’t a forward, a midfielder, or a defender.
He was a goalkeeper!
His name was Unai Simon!
The timestamp on the back was 2021.7.3!
...
The 2021 European Cup saw sudden changes.
Danish star Eriksen suddenly collapsed during a match, with his heart briefly stopping, worrying the entire stadium. Luckily, with timely medical attention, Eriksen pulled through but missed the rest of Denmark’s matches.
However, Denmark, having lost their core player, shouldered Eriksen’s responsibility, and miraculously, with a "civilian lineup," reached the semifinals of that European Cup!
Similarly, in the Group of Death, Germany, Portugal, and France were successively eliminated, becoming another major topic among fans.
Players from different positions shone brightly.