It's cheating, but Hazard

Chapter 249: Two victories, advance to the next round (daily transition)

"At the Polokwane Mokaba Stadium, although the temperature today is not that high, it cannot dampen the enthusiasm of the people watching the game."

"In this life-and-death battle, the French team was the first to break the deadlock."

"Maybe if Oscar was a little taller, he could have saved this one, but unfortunately there is no if."

"Mexico has to buck up now because now they face the prospect of being eliminated early."

Aguirre looked gloomy.

Although there was still a long time, he knew that unless God was wearing a Mexican jersey in today's game, the game was over.

Mexico has never really defeated France in 80 years;
In their 17 appearances in the World Cup finals, they have never won against a team that has won the championship before.

Is this record going to continue?

No one answered Aguirre directly.

But in the following time, the French team once again showed him the silent answer through their half-court offensive and defensive drills with Mexico.

In the 53rd minute, Ribery made a cross pass from the left, and Charles volleyed the ball with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area. Oscar tried his best and finally lifted the ball out.

However, just two minutes later, Charles suddenly shot from outside the penalty area. Oscar had just kicked the ball out, and Malouda, who was waiting in the penalty area, made a follow-up shot.

But this time, Oscar was unable to descend to earth like before.

France 2:0 Mexico.

Mexico is completely on the brink of life and death.

It is well known that people become unreasonable when they are crazy and desperate.

Juarez, who was about to become Route 16 after being passed many times, saw Charles running in front of him without the ball and pushed him down from behind.

"What the hell is he doing?"

"How could he do this?"

Just as the fans on the field were talking about it, Domenegue also smelled something wrong.

This is just a group match, as long as we win it will be fine. It would be unprofitable if the core players get injured just for a big win.

Domenegge made a prompt decision and made a substitution immediately.

When the Mexican players saw Valbuena replace Charles, they didn't know whether they were happy or unhappy.

All they know is that they don't have much time left.

Soon, everyone was celebrating Domeneg's substitution decision.

Just one minute after Charles left the field, Moreno tackled Malouda near the sideline.

The closer the game got to the end, the more fouls Mexico committed.

Suspension due to accumulation of yellow cards?

If we lose this game there will be no hope of qualifying, so what is the point of restraint?

As the fouls became more intense, Domenegge used up his three substitutions.

With the three substitutes coming on, France's offensive firepower did decline.

The Mexican players tried their best and finally created some threats.

In the 84th minute, Max made a lob pass from the midfield, and Hernandez, who came on as a substitute, chested the ball and tried to dribble past Lori and shoot into the empty goal.

But Lori is a goalkeeper who has trained with Charles and Ribery in one-on-one shooting many times, so it is not easy for him to be dribbled past.

As expected, Lowry rushed out and stole the ball from Hernandez.

What follows is another very familiar plot.

Gignac, who replaced Benzema, received a pass from Malouda, broke into the penalty area and shot with his right foot.

But in the end the angle was a little off, the ball hit the goal post and eventually bounced out of bounds.

Second minute of injury time.

Barrera dribbled into the penalty area, and Abidal made a bold counter-tackling move and successfully intercepted the ball cleanly.

When Lori received the ball, he kicked it like a hot potato and headed towards the front court.

Anelka, who replaced Ribery in the middle, ran with the ball. Just when he was about to have a one-on-one chance, Rodriguez committed a direct foul and tackled the ball.

However, in the next second, the referee blew the whistle to end the game.

In the end, Mexico lost 4:0 to France after paying the price of 2 yellow cards.

"Almost 80 years ago, the first World Cup match was between France and Mexico."

"In all the previous encounters, Mexico's best result was a draw with France."

"In this life-and-death battle, Mexico has shown all their strengths, and every player has tried their best."

"But there is a saying that goes, sometimes only after you have tried your best can you discover how cruel reality is."

"If Mexico had not tied with South Africa in the first round, they would not have been so passive against France today;"

"If the Mexican players could maintain their peak form from two years ago, perhaps they wouldn't be so passive in today's game;"

"If Max hadn't been seriously injured last season, he might not have been so passive when facing Charles today;"

"Perhaps there are many more possibilities, but the ending has already been born, and nothing can be changed."

“But there is also a saying that the art of life is not so much the art of the dancer as it is the art of the wrestler, to stand firm and meet the blows with courage.”

"Come on, Mexico, there will be opportunities in the future."

"At the same time, let us congratulate the French team for winning this life-and-death battle."

Charles was wrapped in a thick blanket on the sidelines. After thanking his teammates, they returned to the locker room together.

"Baguette! Baguette! Give me a baguette. I'm starving."

After washing his hands, Benzema rushed directly to the table in the locker room and wanted to pick up a baguette and eat it directly.

When he was substituted just now, the baguette was not ready yet.

"Is there any paper? Why is the paper gone?"

Henry went around to the pillar in the middle of the locker room and handed the oil paper that had just been delivered to Benzema.

Charles wasn't interested in the baguette, and instead took a chocolate bar.

Benzema took a baguette wrapped in oil paper and started eating slowly.

"Today's oil paper seems different."

Henry also wrapped a baguette and ate it slowly, "Anything?"

"It seems that the oil paper today is printed with news or something?" Lori heard this and stared at the oil paper attentively. "It doesn't seem to be one of the decorative news pictures from before."

Charles finished a chocolate bar in no time. "What is that? It can't be Levasseur's treasure map."

There were bursts of laughter in the locker room.

Lori's face turned red. "Can you please stop talking about that——"

Mandanda laughed the loudest and couldn't stop, and finally choked.

"No, we must never forget this. This is our most precious memory of the match against Austria." "What most precious memory?"

Domenegue opened the door and walked right in.

Seeing Domenegue's face was like seeing leaves being crushed one after another between books.

"Nothing... I'm going to take a shower first!"

With that, Lori fled and rushed to the shower room.

He swore that he never wanted to hear the word Levasseur's treasure map again in his life!
Benzema and Mandanda looked at each other, immediately wolfed down the baguettes in their hands, and rushed into the shower room.

"Coach, let's go take a shower too."

Domenegre was completely confused, but in the end he did not ask any more questions. He just explained for a while and then left.

At the same time, Henry and others finally began to study the unusual oil paper.

"It seems to be a real news report, and it seems to be from yesterday."

Charles picked up the oil paper and looked at it carefully.

The news printed on this piece of oil paper is actually printed from the website of a French sports media.

"Pascal Frankfort's Pizza launches 'Watch the game, I'll deliver pizza' campaign."

"The activity stipulates that for every goal scored by the French team in the World Cup, they will give away 350 free pizzas to consumers."

"After the first round of the group stage, they had given out 700 pizzas."

"Based on the current efficiency of the French team, this pizza shop may deliver more than 1000 pizzas."

"It's not just this store that has launched this kind of activity. There are also many beverage stores and bars that have similar activities."

After reading it, Charles put the oil paper away.

"Well, it looks like we won't be able to get this free pizza."

Ribery smiled and took a baguette from the table and started eating. He smiled and said, "If you want to eat, you can go over after the game. They will definitely give you a free meal."

"Forget it, I might as well go look for Levasseur's treasure map."

As soon as Charles finished speaking, Lori's angry voice came from the bathroom: "Don't talk about this anymore!"

"Hahaha--"

……

After France defeated Mexico and secured its qualification, with the situation becoming clearer, more and more people were optimistic about France winning the championship.

Among them, L'Equipe even wrote such a column article directly.

“Five reasons why the French team won the championship: art and genius intertwined, maturity and innovation blended.”

"After finishing second in the last World Cup, this World Cup may be the next one for the French team to conquer."

"During the warm-up matches, the French team's performance was getting better and better, especially in the match against the Chinese team, where the French team scored 10:0."

"And as the World Cup group stage began, France won two games in a row, 2-0, and is in excellent form."

"The Gallic rooster carries the hopes of all France."

"Since we have already won the runner-up in the last World Cup, why not continue our momentum in this World Cup and add a star to the French team's jersey?"

“One: The interweaving of artistic football and genius”

"Compared to the World Cup four years ago, the French team has lost Zidane, but they have found a new Charles."

"With the core of players established and the smooth transition of style, the French team's offensive firepower is now even more gorgeous."

"Domeneg's tactics are stable, and with the players' continuous running-in and the new changes brought by Charles in the midfield, the French team's offense has become more three-dimensional and imaginative."

“Two: Bold and delicate aesthetic midfield is more creative”

"Already approaching maturity, Ciel is entering his prime, during which his creativity and imagination grow day by day."

"Whether it was Ribery, Malouda, Diarra, Benzema or Gignac, they all played to the highest level of teamwork under his bold and meticulous dispatching."

"As long as the ball is in the French team's hands, it means the opponent is in danger."

"This extremely smooth offensive system is destined to become a nightmare for all teams."

“Three: A forward who is both an individual and a team player”

"Although Henry is no longer at his peak, the newly emerged Benzema, Anelka and Gignac can all become excellent striker options."

"And when attacking, in addition to the excellent individual abilities of the strikers, the midfielders Charles, Ribery and Malouda are all sharp weapons."

"While their individual abilities are outstanding, their team spirit and sacrificial style of play will take France's offensive firepower to the next level."

“Four: A solid back line”

"Abidal, Gallas, Evra, Sagna... France's starting defensive players are all the main players of major giants. They are not only young and strong, but also experienced."

"Mandanda and Lloris, together with Cazorla, are the basis for the French team to reach the World Cup."

“Five: Blast Furnace Stars Shine in South Africa”

"Two years ago, no one knew who Ciel was."

"But in this World Cup in South Africa, he has become the shining star that cannot be ignored."

"Besides him, the other French players are equally as star-studded as the entire South African sky."

"Benzema, Ribery and Henry are already brilliant enough, but what about Anelka, Charles and Gignac?"

"As the second most valuable national team in the world, in addition to the longest board being prominent enough, the shortest board won't be that short."

"The brilliance of the overall strength is the key to the French team winning the World Cup."

However, more media are still paying attention to the game itself.

The Guardian: "France's victory was well deserved. They defeated their opponents with a performance that was significantly better than Mexico. Four years later, they still have the shadow of the World Cup champions."

The Daily Telegraph: "Domeneg made the right choice to replace the key players to keep them healthy after the game was no longer in doubt."

"Mexico tried their best in this game, but France still made them suffer."

"Aguirre's thinking was already confused during the game, but at such a critical moment, who can remain absolutely calm when facing a strong enemy?"

Gazzetta dello Sport: "The French team has basically qualified ahead of schedule."

"The French team showed great strength in this game. Their quick and smooth cooperation left a deep impression on everyone."

"Domeneg's astrological tactics seem to be really useful. Perhaps he really knows magic, and Charles is the magical creature he summoned through the magic circle."

Marca: "Mexico is completely cornered."

"France now has 6 points, Uruguay has 3 points, South Africa and Mexico have 1 point each."

"After losing 0-2 to France, Mexico's qualification may only exist in theory."

"Unless it beats Uruguay in the final round and South Africa loses to France."

"But I'm afraid that's a difficult task to accomplish."

Is it “explain” or “confess”?

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(End of this chapter)