The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 226 Northern Ireland
  After winning the Italian national derby, the outside world's doubts about Leonardo finally subsided.

In fact, Leonardo has never particularly cared about doubts about his coaching level.

Because he doesn't value the job of head coach too much, he would still prefer to return to the club management position if given the opportunity.

At least it's not so tiring or stressful.

Fortunately, Inter Milan's players are strong enough to help Leonardo temporarily secure his position as coach.

As long as the current state can be maintained, there shouldn't be a big problem in finishing the season.

"Injured? How is it?"

“Oh, it’s just a small injury, it’ll be healed soon.

It’s just that the national team can’t go this time. "

Another national team match day has arrived, during which Italy has two consecutive European Cup qualifiers to play.

Leo learned that Balotelli was injured again and could not come.

"Why do you feel that you have been injured a lot since you went to Manchester City? I didn't see you like this when you were at Inter Milan before?"

"Oh, boss, don't mention it. I really regret it now. If I had known better, I wouldn't have left Inter Milan!"

Balotelli really regrets it now. Even if Manchester City offers more than twice his weekly salary at Inter Milan, he is not happy.

Bashen misses the happy life of hanging out with Thornton all day long in Milan...

Ahem, no, he just missed his familiar teammates and friends a little bit.

In the Nerazzurri, he doesn't have to deal with a bunch of strangers, nor does he have to suffer racial discrimination and glares everywhere.

British gentlemen are famous, but their football hooligans are more common.

In the Apennine Peninsula, Balotelli now at least has the status of an Italian international and is given a certain degree of preferential treatment.

Even though there are a lot of hooligans in Italian football, the treatment received by Barcelona in the away game is much friendlier than in England.

After some complaints, Leo joked angrily:
  "I've advised you a long time ago, but you didn't listen. If it doesn't work, just go to Manchester City to collect wool.

Isn't it the happiest thing for you to not have to play and get paid for nothing?
  No matter when you want to come back, you don’t have to worry about Inter Milan, I will take care of it. "

"really?

If it doesn't work, I'll just mess it up and let Manchester City sell me, so Inter Milan won't have to spend too much money.

But that’s not good, right? "

"Hahaha, it doesn't have to be like this.

Anyway, train hard to maintain your condition, and if you have the chance, go out and perform well. If not, it doesn't matter. "

Balotelli is a little moved, but he is also a little worried that he will be scolded by the fans when he returns to Inter Milan.

Before, he was thinking that if it didn't work, he would let Raiola work for him to go to AC Milan.

As a result, he was scolded by Leo.

"You don't care what the fans think, I'll forget it, but you don't even care about my and David's feelings?

Dad is not sorry for you, right? Think about it for yourself, is it appropriate to do this?

If you want to betray everyone, make those Nerazzurri who used to support you hate you deeply, and make friends like us who have good relations with you turn against you, then you can try. "

The idea of ​​Balotelli leaving Inter Milan and then looking for a chance to play next door was finally given up.

On October 2010, 10, an away match between Italy and Northern Ireland in Group C of the 8 European Cup qualifiers started at the Belfast Stadium.

It is worth mentioning that Italy has maintained an unbeatable record of victory over Northern Ireland for 1958 years since 52.

So even though Northern Ireland has won eight of their last eleven home qualifiers, their home record is impressive.

However, the outside world is generally optimistic that Italy, the defending World Cup champion, can easily win away from home.

Italy has won the first two group matches, and Prandelli's starting lineup today is consistent with what was revealed before the game.

Buffon, Gilardino, Balotelli, Antonelli and other Italian stars continue to be absent due to injuries.

Mauri, who performed well at Lazio after the start of the new season, was once again selected for the Azzurri.

Borriello replaced Pazzini and partnered up front with Simone Pepe and Cassano.

The three midfielders are the immovable Leo, Pirlo and De Rossi.

Cassani and Criscito served as two goalkeepers, Chiellini continued to partner with Bonucci in the national team as a central defender, and Viviano beat Sirigu to guard the goal.

Italy wore a white upper and blue jersey in the away game today, and the visiting team actively launched an attack after the start.

In the second minute, Cassano's powerful volley from the outside of the penalty area was deflected over the crossbar by the Northern Ireland goalkeeper. A corner kick!

Leo discussed it with his teammates and he stopped taking the corner kick with them.

Leo feels that it may be more threatening to look for opportunities near the penalty area.

Pirlo and Cassano, the two Italian players with the best free kick skills besides Leo, did not refuse. This corner kick on the right was first taken by Pirlo. His curved ball turned directly to the front post, but was cleared by the Northern Ireland defender standing there.

The important task of letting go of Leo seems to have been handed over to West Brom midfielder Brent. The Northern Irishman has been entangled with Leo from the beginning of the game.

But to be honest, this level of targeted defense can no longer cause Leo any trouble.

After catching the ball and turning around with a deft turn, Leo got rid of Brent who was marking him.

Then a diagonal kick was sent to the right. Cassani passed and shot the ball into the penalty area from the front right side of the penalty area. Northern Ireland veteran goalkeeper Mike Taylor got the ball.

The thirty-nine-year-old Taylor has considerable professional experience and has guarded the goal for the Northern Ireland national team for many years.

Whether Northern Ireland, playing at home today, can withstand Italy's fierce offensive depends largely on his performance.

Two minutes later, Italian left back Criscito stepped forward with an assist. After breaking through on the left side of the penalty area, a low shot missed the far post and slid out of the baseline.

Immediately afterwards, the Northern Ireland team responded quickly. Steven Davis broke through two people at the top of the penalty area and shot with his left foot. The ball was blocked by Bonucci!

The relatively dominant Italian team did not pay attention to the home team's small resistance and continued to control the ball and attack at its own pace.

Cassano passed the ball to the left side of the penalty area, and Pepe sideways volleyed in front of the goal and missed the left post!

Then there was Cassano. He received Leo's direct pass without sticking to the ball, and immediately passed an overhead ball!

Italian forward Borriello fell to the ground under the defense of Northern Ireland defender McCauley in the opponent's penalty area!

The Italian players thought this should be a penalty kick and appealed to the referee, but the French referee Chapron only gave a corner kick.

Cassano's corner kick went to the penalty area, and Manchester United defender Evans jumped high to clear the ball before Borriello, who was fighting for the top!
  However, the home team did not do a very good job in controlling the second penalty kick. Leo stopped the ball with his chest and dunked lightly into the left side of the penalty area!
  Suddenly, an alarm sounded in the Northern Ireland penalty area, and the two defenders immediately abandoned their defensive goals and pressed towards Leo.

If it were in the past, Leo might still look for opportunities to pass the ball to teammates in better positions.

But Leo is different now, he has absolute confidence!
  Pulling and buckling with his left foot, he went to the front left and passed the Northern Ireland defender who was attacking. Leo made a slight adjustment and shot a low shot with his right foot into the near corner of the goal!

Northern Ireland goalkeeper Mike Taylor is too young after all, his reaction speed is not that fast, and the time it takes to fall to the ground to save the ball is also a bit long.

Leo's shot has passed through the goal line and into the net, and Taylor is making a fall to the ground to save!
  One to zero!

Italy scored first!

Seeing that the home team was lagging behind, the Northern Ireland fans at the scene cheered loudly for the team.

Inspired by the fans, Northern Ireland actively looked for opportunities to counterattack.

Davis stole the ball in midfield and scored a goal. Healy's left-footed shot from outside the edge of the right penalty area missed the left post.

A minute later, Brent made a left-footed pass from the right, and Healy's header from the back point bounced off the baseline!

Naturally, Italy would not let their opponents pressure them to play offensive football, and they immediately fought back.

Cassani intercepted the ball on the right side of the backcourt and passed it diagonally. Borriello broke into the penalty area and shot with his left foot, but Mike Taylor fell to the ground and blocked it!

Cassano's curved ball from the edge of the penalty area hit the leg of Northern Ireland defender Aaron Hughes and missed the right post!

The referee Chapron did not give a corner kick, and Cassano was very dissatisfied!

Chapron called Cassano over and gave a few verbal warnings without taking out his cards.

At the 45th minute, the first half is coming to an end.

Pirlo took the ball in the frontcourt and passed an overhead ball. Cassano made a cross pass from the left side of the penalty area. De Rossi volleyed with his right foot in front of the small penalty area and was blocked by Davis who was returning to defense.

Unexpectedly, Northern Ireland, playing at home, was so tenacious. At half-time, Italy only led by one goal.

Although they clearly have the advantage on the field, it is not easy to score goals.

At the beginning of the second half, Northern Ireland coach Worthington first adjusted his forward line, and Rafferty came on the bench to replace Healy.

Cassano made a breakthrough cross from the left rib, and Borriello's left-footed volley from outside the arc of the penalty area missed slightly!
  Then Borriello's diagonal long shot from the left missed the left post.

The Italian team continued to attack in the second half and did not play conservatively.

At the same time, the home team did not give up, and used quick counterattacks from time to time to remind Leo that their game was not over yet.

Northern Ireland continued to make substitutions, with McGinn replacing Brent.

Prandelli immediately made adjustments, Pazzini replaced Borriello, Marchisio came off the bench to replace De Rossi.

Macaulay made a pass from the right, and Feeney headed the ball over the crossbar without being marked in front of the goal!
  In the 81st minute, there was a funny scene on the court. Northern Ireland midfielder Davis took a corner kick from the right but kicked the corner flagpole, and the ball rolled to Leo's feet.

Leo had never encountered this kind of thing before. He didn't know how to deal with it. At this time, the referee Shapron stopped the game and awarded a dropped ball.

In the spirit of fair play, Feeney took the initiative to kick the ball out of the baseline and return the ball to Italy.

Giuseppe Rossi came on for Simone Pepe and Italy used up three substitutions.

Davis counterattacked with the ball and cooperated with McGinn's quick kick on the wall on the right. An oblique shot near the penalty spot was saved by Viviano.

The game entered stoppage time, Cassano made a pass from the left, Pazzini nodded the ball back to the point, and Leo passed the ball to the right outside the penalty area!
  Rossi's left foot volleyed into the net from close range at a small angle!
  Two to zero!
  In the end, Italy defeated Northern Ireland 2-0 in an away game and ushered in their third consecutive victory in the European preliminaries!
  In another game played at the same time, the underdog Estonia "upset" defeated Italy's strongest opponent in this group, Serbia, 3-1.

Although they have only played three rounds, the Azzurri are in a good position to qualify!
  (End of this chapter)