When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 217 Weeping by day, weeping by night, could Roy cry himself to death?

On October 7, 2004, in the lobby of the Clairefontaine training ground, Roy caught a glimpse of Sylvain Wiltord, an old acquaintance with whom he had a past feud, as soon as he walked in.

Roy kept a straight face, pretended not to see him, and walked right past him.

But Wiltord suddenly called out to him, "Roy, wait a minute, we need to talk."

Roy stopped and turned slightly to the side, his face displaying a cold politeness: "What is it?"

His tone was calm, but the condescending detachment made Wiltord feel the pressure.

Wiltord rubbed his hands together, giving a slightly awkward smile. "Listen, Roy. I know we've had some disagreements. But now that we're both in the national team, I think maybe we can start over?"

Roy raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on Wiltord's face for two seconds.

"that's it?"

“Sylvain, I’m not stupid.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone carrying a hint of pressure.

There's always a reason why something happens. Why? Tell me plainly, or rather, what do you want?

Wiltord was taken aback by the sudden question, and the smile on his face froze.

He took a deep breath and, as if making a decision, said, "Alright, since you asked... then I'll just be direct."

He lowered his voice, glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention, and then continued:
“Roy, I’m retiring soon, but I want to play for another two or three years. I want to try for the World Cup. I know you won’t speak up for me, and I don’t expect you to do anything. I only ask one thing: if I’m in good form, can I be a substitute? Just don’t tell the coach things like ‘I don’t want to see Wiltord in the team.’”

"Just consider it a fair chance to compete."

Roy looked at him without saying a word, and sneered inwardly: You've already won two European Cups; you were originally only supposed to win one.

“Silvan, you don’t need to explain these things to me. If you play well, the coach will naturally choose you; if you don’t play well, nothing I say will make a difference.”

Wiltord quickly added, "I'm serious. I'm willing to apologize in public if necessary."

He gritted his teeth: "You know, there are a lot of young people in the team now, and we old guys have to set an example."

"old man?"

Roy laughed and pointed to himself. "Me?"

Without waiting for Wiltord's response, he turned and strode toward Domenech's office.

"Sylvan, just do what you're supposed to do. Don't expect anything else, and don't worry about it. I'm too lazy to do anything extra."

On October 9, 2004, France faced Ireland in a World Cup qualifier.

"Good evening, this is France Sport. Tonight at the Stade Saint-Denis, the French team will face Ireland in a crucial World Cup qualifier. 20-year-old Roy will captain the French team for the first time, and this rising star will lead the French to victory."

"Let's look at the starting lineup for the French team: Barthez in goal; Gallas, Squillaci, Givet and Evra in defense; Dacourt and Mavuba in midfield, Wiltord and Pires on the wings; Henry and captain Roy in attack."

"The Irish team, led by Roy Keane, last won in Paris in 1937. However, they are a tenacious team, and the French team must be careful."

"The players have entered the field, with Roy wearing the captain's armband at the front. This young core player will shoulder the heavy responsibility of leading the team. The match is about to begin!"

Roy led the French team onto the field, and the captain's armband on his number 11 jersey was particularly eye-catching.

He walked steadily at the front of the team, his black hair slightly tossed, his sharp black eyes revealing determination, his cold face and upright posture like a drawn sword on the field.

With veterans like Henry and Pires following behind, this French team has officially embarked on a new era.

The French team is experiencing a clear slump.

Despite performing brilliantly at the European Championship just a few months ago, the team is now in a general slump.

Even key players like Rothen, who shone in the Champions League last season, have seen a noticeable decline in form recently. Worse still, the team has suffered a severe injury crisis, with several key players unavailable.

The current French national team has a significantly weaker squad compared to the European Championship period, resulting in a substantial drop in overall strength.

This once invincible "Gallic Rooster" is now facing a severe test.

Tonight's World Cup qualifier against Ireland will be a crucial moment to test the mettle of this team in transition.

After the match began, the Irish team took the initiative and quickly controlled the tempo of the game, fueled by the cheers of nearly 25,000 away fans at the Stade Saint-Denis in France.

The French midfield, lacking Vieira, appeared quite passive.

The makeshift partnership of Dacourt and Mavuba was completely outmatched by the experienced Roy Keane and the aggressive Kilbani.

Ireland frequently launched quick counter-attacks by intercepting the ball in midfield, putting France's defense under constant pressure.

In the 6th minute, Ireland crossed from the right wing, and Morrison suddenly surged forward to try and get a touch on the ball, but Barthez reacted quickly, diving to push the ball out of bounds and denying a sure-fire goal opportunity.

After escaping a close call, the French team attempted a counter-attack, but their overall offensive organization appeared clumsy and chaotic.

Pires received the ball on the left wing and habitually looked for Henry, but the striker who had been a force to be reckoned with at Arsenal once again struggled with his performance for the national team.

In a simple one-two pass, Henry's pass went directly out of bounds, and he shook his hand in frustration.

Roy had to drop back to the center circle to receive the pass.

Dacourt's pass was quick and flat, and Roy, under Roy Keane's close marking, lightly tapped it with the instep, making the ball seem glued to his foot.

But looking up, there was no focal point in the attacking third, and no one was pushing forward on either wing.

The Irish players quickly formed a perimeter, with Keane's defense relentlessly pursuing them, and Kilbani also closing in from the side.

Even so, Roy still managed to get past Keane with a backheel flick, and then dodge past Kilbani with a change of direction.

A few gasps of surprise rippled through the stands, but this imaginative breakthrough ultimately ended in failure.

His attempt to pass directly to Wiltord was intercepted by O'Brien.

The broadcast camera pointed meaningfully at Roy, who stood with his hands on his hips: sweat had soaked the black hair on his forehead, but the sharpness in his eyes had not diminished at all.

Behind him, the Irish team had already launched another attack.

In the 24th minute, Finnan received a pass back from his teammate on the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a powerful long-range shot that headed straight for the bottom right corner of the goal. Barthez made another brilliant save, tipping the ball over the crossbar with one hand.

The ball was passed back and forth between the backfield and midfield. Dacourt and Mavuba carefully controlled possession but struggled to advance.

Roy frequently dropped back to receive passes, attempting to orchestrate attacks with precise passes, but Ireland's defense was well-organized, with Keane and Kilbany constantly applying pressure, cutting off France's passing lanes time and again.

Roy tried several times to play through balls to Henry, but O'Brien and Cunningham always anticipated the play and cleared the ball out of bounds.

Wiltord hesitated after receiving the ball on the right wing, and could only pass it back to Gallas, and the attack fell into a stalemate again.

France seemed to have the upper hand in possession, but they were unable to create any real threats.

Ireland's counter-attacks were simple and efficient. After each interception, they could quickly launch attacks through the wings of Duff and Finnan, keeping the French defense constantly on the run.

In the 30th minute, Ireland won a corner kick. Morrison leaped high in the penalty area and unleashed a powerful header that grazed the right post and went wide. France escaped again.

Throughout the first half, the French team was almost completely suppressed, losing control of the midfield and their defense was in a state of panic.

Domenech stood on the sidelines, his face grim, clearly extremely dissatisfied with the team's performance.

Even a top-tier player like Roy can't carry the team alone when his teammates are ineffective.

His speed is enough to shake off defenders, his explosiveness can tear apart defenses in an instant, his dribbling is dazzling, and his shooting and passing are perfect.

But football is ultimately a team sport.

Whenever Roy got the ball, at least two or three Irish players would immediately surround him.

Roy Keane stayed close to him like a shadow, while O'Shea and Cunningham were ready to cover for him at any time.

Roy can easily get past the first, or even the second, defender, but when he looks up for support...

Henry was lost up in the attacking third, Pires was in poor form, and Wiltord was virtually invisible.

All passing lanes were blocked, and positioning and teamwork were completely ineffective.

Roy had to drop back into the midfield and backfield time and time again to receive the ball and try to advance the ball with his individual ability, but with no support in front and behind, even his strong individual ability was no match for the opponent's team defense.

Every breakthrough was thwarted, every pass was intercepted.

Roy's jersey was already soaked with sweat, but he still gritted his teeth and persevered, carrying the entire French team forward on his own.

As the halftime whistle blew, the French players lowered their heads and hurried toward the locker room, the entire team shrouded in a subdued silence.

Roy was the last to leave the field. He ripped off the captain's armband and clutched it in his hand, his brow furrowed and his face filled with anxiety.

Inside the changing room, the air was so heavy it almost seemed to freeze.

Barthes slammed his glove on the ground: "Damn it! We were dominated for 45 minutes!"

Gallas and Evra sat in a corner, arguing in hushed tones about defensive positioning, their voices tinged with obvious impatience.

Henry slammed the towel down on the bench, his voice trembling with anger: "What kind of awful game is this! The Irish have completely blocked out space, their defense is packed tighter than a tortoise shell. Every time I turn around, I bump into two or three people!"

He tugged at his soaked jersey collar in frustration. "Is the referee blind? Roy Keane was practically riding on my back, and he didn't even call a foul!"

"Wiltord's crosses from the right wing went out of bounds eight out of ten times. Gallas made runs forward but didn't track back to defend. Evra was almost sieved by Duff. Didn't you defend him very well in the Champions League? Dacourt and Mavuba couldn't hold the ball in midfield at all. The Irishman would lose possession as soon as he pressed. Without Zidane and Vieira, we didn't even have anyone who could control the game. The midfield was like an unlocked safe, anyone could take a few bites!"

"Squillaci was grabbed by the arm by O'Brien during a header challenge, but the referee didn't call it. Givet's recovery was so slow it was like he was taking a stroll. Barthez made some decent saves, but his long balls never found the striker. We played like an amateur team; the Irish could easily get into our penalty area with just a couple of passes!"

He grabbed his water bottle and took a big gulp: "We're playing like strangers, while the Irish seem like they grew up together. At this rate..."

He glanced up and saw Roy standing shirtless in front of the locker, stretching his shoulders.

The young captain glanced at him sideways, a hint of mockery in his dark eyes, beads of sweat sliding down his muscular physique. His gaze seemed to say:

"Finished complaining?"

Barthez scanned the locker room. Dacourt and Mavuba lowered their heads in silence, while Evra had a gloomy face, his gaze shifting back and forth between Henry and Roy, clearly suppressing his dissatisfaction.

"Alright," Barthes broke the silence by patting his gloves. "It's Roy's first time wearing the captain's armband, everyone calm down. What's the point of arguing now? We'll all be on the court fighting for our lives in fifteen minutes."

"Hmph, fight to the death?"

Henry sneered and tossed the towel over his shoulder. "In the first half, we were all fighting for our lives, each of us giving it our all."

He glanced meaningfully at Dakot and Mawuba, "Some people don't even have the right to compete."

"The newspapers are always boasting that someone should take responsibility, but who will? How will they take it? By talking? Me?"

"Shut your stinking mouth, Thierry, you're as damn talkative as a North London shrew."

Henry jumped to his feet, his face ashen: "Who the hell are you calling a shrew?!"

He clenched his fist, but Butters grabbed his shoulder.

He shook off the veteran goalkeeper's hand, his voice trembling with anger: "So, our Ballon d'Or winner isn't even allowed to speak now? What else could you do in the first half besides dropping back to call for the ball?"

Evra instinctively stood up, wanting to stand behind Roy, but hesitated for a moment and froze in place.

As Roy's most loyal supporter, he was unsure whether to intervene in the conflict between the two big shots, and could only clench his fists and stand still.

Roy sneered: "I'm dropping back to get the ball so you can run up front and make your own runs, not so you can stand like a wooden post within three meters of me waiting to be fed! Even a beggar knows to hold his bowl and wait for food. When I have the ball, you run; when I set up a wall, you dribble. Is that so hard? Do what you're supposed to do, or go to the bench and watch how Gibril plays as a striker!"

Cisse's eyes widened, and he shrank back innocently, inwardly cursing, "What does this have to do with me!"

Henry's face flushed crimson instantly, veins bulging on his neck: "You fucking think you're Zidane?!"

"Zidane didn't step over you to win the Champions League. It was me at Highbury and the Stade Louis II, have you counted how many goals I scored? Everything I have is hard-earned. You either score for the team now, or shut up and run according to my hand signals. I'm not Bergkamp, ​​nor Wenger, I won't praise you as the best player in the Premier League after every game. That was last year, now I'm here, you'd better face reality."

Pires opened his mouth several times but couldn't utter a word; his face looked extremely pale.

Wiltord also had a gloomy face. Roy's words were clearly referring to last year's Champions League semi-final, when he led Monaco to eliminate Arsenal.

Several Arsenal-affiliated players in the locker room felt humiliated.

At that moment, Domenech pushed open the door and entered the locker room. He stood at the door for a moment, stunned, and the gunpowder smell in the room made him cough.

Domenech cleared his throat and forced a stiff smile: "Guys, calm down, we still have forty-five minutes to change the score."

He clapped his hands casually, "Come on, everyone sit down, let's make a quick adjustment to our tactics."

Roy interrupted coldly, "I have no problem, but whether certain people can cooperate with the tactics is a problem."

"In the second half, switch to a 4-3-1-2 formation. Pires will move to the attacking midfield position but won't control the ball; he'll only be responsible for receiving and distributing passes. Roy will drop back to receive the ball and organize the attack, with Henry leading the way as a pivot. Wiltord will tuck inside to assist the midfield, while Dacourt and Mavuba will provide double defensive midfield protection. The full-backs must push forward decisively. Remember, quick ball movement, reduce holding onto the ball, and Pires should immediately pass to the wings or play a through ball once he gets the ball."

"All attacks should be initiated through Roy. When he has the ball, Pires should immediately move up to support him, Wiltord and the full-backs should move forward simultaneously to widen the gap. Henry should be ready to run behind the defenders at any time, and Dacourt and Mavuba must ensure that at least one of them is within five meters of Roy to provide cover. Remember, when Roy has the ball, the whole team must move. Whoever stands still and waits for the ball should be substituted."

The players exchanged glances, and although no one said a word, they all understood.

Since the whole team has to revolve around Roy, he'd better be able to lead them to victory.

Domenech's words were too harsh; he was clearly putting the team's fate entirely on Roy's shoulders.

If they don't win today, all the pent-up frustration in the locker room will come back on Roy's shoulders.

Roy stood up, his gaze sweeping calmly across the locker room, before finally giving Domenech a slight nod.

He clapped his hands like a true leader, his voice not loud but loud enough for everyone to hear:

"The coach's instructions are clear. Now, I need everyone's running and trust."

He paused for a second, his palm still hovering in mid-air: "Remember, winning depends on the whole team working together. And I will make sure that every pass is worth your running."

Roy's words sounded polite, but everyone understood that the whole team had to play according to the rules set by the coach.

If they win, he will be the only sunshine for the French team.

He lost, and he has to take all the blame.

But right now, no one dares to openly oppose it.

After Ireland kicked off, Morrison and Robbie Keane passed the ball back to Roy Keane.

The four Irish midfielders began to patiently pass the ball around, with Kevin Kilbany passing across to Finnan, who then passed it back to O'Brien.

O'Brien observed the situation for a moment and then passed the ball to left-back O'Shea.

O'Shea dribbled forward two steps and then suddenly made a long diagonal pass to Duff, who had retreated.

As Duff chested the ball down and was about to turn, French left-back Evra closed in.

The two men grappled shoulder to shoulder for three steps. Duff tried to flick the ball towards the byline with his heel, but Evra had already anticipated his intention. He took a step to block the ball and cleanly poked it out of bounds with his left foot.

As soon as Ireland threw in the ball, Mavuba rushed up to press, forcing Kevin Kilbany to pass it back to Cunningham.

France's front four immediately pressed forward as a whole, forcing the Irish defender to clear the ball with a long kick, and the game officially entered France's attacking rhythm.

Irish center-back Cunningham's clearance was high and floaty, flying directly towards the midfield.

Squillaci outjumped Morrison to head the ball down, but Dacourt intercepted it at the second ball.

Just as the Irish players were about to swarm and press, Dacourt looked up to observe and immediately launched a long, over-the-top pass.

The ball fell precisely into the 30-meter zone of Ireland's half.

Roy had already dropped back into position, using his back to firmly block Irish center-back O'Brien.

The moment the ball fell, he deftly tapped it with his right foot to deflect the long pass. O'Brien was still putting up a strong challenge when Roy suddenly flicked the ball with his heel!
The ball passed O'Brien's feet and was delivered right to Pires, who was making a diagonal run into the middle.

Pires easily shook off Kilbani, who was chasing back, and dribbled straight into the penalty area.

Ireland's right-back, Carr, hurriedly covered for the ball, but Pires suddenly changed direction and passed it across.

Henry arrived in a flash and, without adjusting his position at the edge of the penalty area, unleashed a powerful left-footed shot!

Irish goalkeeper Given made a diving save to tip the ball over the crossbar with one hand.

The entire Irish defense was on edge, while the French players rushed toward the corner flag.

This fluid and seamless teamwork prompted Domenech to clench his fist in frustration from the sidelines.

In the first half, the French team played like headless flies, unable to hold the ball in midfield and fighting individually in the attacking third.

Now the whole team is finally moving: Dacourt is daring to send long passes, Roy is dropping back to receive the ball and finding someone to pass to, Pires is no longer holding onto the ball, and Henry has also made his run into position.

63 minutes.

Ireland attacked down the flank, Finnan crossed from the right, and Morrison's header was saved by Barthez.

France quickly launched a counter-attack from their own half. Mavuba intercepted the ball and played a through ball to Roy. Roy, facing two defenders, dribbled past them with a croquet move and then delivered a penetrating through ball. Henry beat the offside trap, but his shot was blocked by O'Shea's sliding tackle and went out of play.

France took a corner kick, Squillaci headed the ball across, and Wiltord's volley went high.

Ireland launched a counter-attack, with Duff breaking through Gallas on the left and crossing the ball. Robbie Keane's shot was blocked by Squillaci.

France made a fatal mistake while passing the ball around in midfield.

Mavuba's cross pass was too weak and was intercepted by Ireland's Kevin Kilbany in a quick move.

But before the Irish fans could even cheer, the entire French team tightened their grip like a trap being triggered! Roy was the first to lunge at Kilbany, who had the ball, while simultaneously blocking Roy Keane's passing lane.

Kilbani turned hastily, but was tackled by Dacourt who was chasing back!
Dacourt poked the ball to Roy as he fell to the ground, and the French team's attacking machine was launched.

Roy received the ball and strode forward, but Ireland captain Roy Keane immediately came to block him.

The moment the two clashed in the 30-meter zone, Roy suddenly twisted and deflected with his right foot, using a change of direction and rhythm difference to make Keane stagger half a step!

With just that half-step of space, Roy didn't even wait for the defender to get close before unleashing a thunderous long-range shot with his right foot!
The ball shot straight into the top right corner of the goal like a cannonball.

Irish goalkeeper Given made a diving save, but his fingertips were still 10 centimeters away from the ball!
The moment the net trembled violently, the entire stadium fell silent for a second, before erupting into a deafening roar of cheers from the French fans!
1-0!

Roy didn't even celebrate after scoring; he simply pointed to the center circle with a blank expression, his eyes sweeping over each of his teammates.

This goal perfectly showcased the essence of the French team's tactics: interception, passing to Roy, all players making runs, and the decisive strike!
Domenech on the sidelines finally unleashed a furious roar and punch, while the Irish manager's face turned ashen.

The thing they feared most has finally happened.

As the match entered its final stages, the Irish team launched a furious counterattack.

Roy Keane made a vicious tackle from behind on Roy during a challenge, and the referee immediately showed him a yellow card.

The French team steadied themselves, with Pires and Wiltord constantly switching positions to ensure that Roy always had a passing option whenever he received the ball.

Ireland pressed forward with all their might, but Dacourt and Mavuba formed a barrier in midfield, repeatedly thwarting the opponent's attacks.

The final whistle blew, and France defeated Ireland 1-0.

The only goal of the match came from Roy's stunning long-range strike from 30 meters out.

Despite remaining passive in midfield, the French team successfully transitioned possession to Roy, who proved with a goal that he deserved the team's trust.

Vieira is back, but in an awkward situation.

The day before the match, he sat in the stands and witnessed firsthand how Roy led the French team to victory with a long-range shot, and he also heard about what happened in the locker room during halftime.

Roy berated Henry, and no one dared to say a word.

Although Vieira is now the official captain of the French team, Roy is the true mastermind on the field.

If Roy pretends to be oblivious and doesn't return the captain's armband, Vieira will be in an awkward position.

Trying to take it back by force? Roy wasn't buying it.

If we just let it go, then I, as the team leader, will become nothing more than a figurehead.

What's even more troublesome is that no one on the team, including the coaching staff, can do anything about Roy.

He's arrogant, but he always keeps his word; winning is the only thing that matters.

Vieira is now in a dilemma.

They either bowed their heads and compromised, acknowledging Roy's de facto leadership.

They could either confront each other head-on, but that's too risky; no one can guarantee the locker room won't fall apart as a result.

Roy sat in his room in Clairefontaine, his packed luggage at his feet.

He held the captain's armband in his hand and weighed it in his hand; now, its whereabouts were entirely in his control.

But when it can actually be disposed of at will, it completely loses its symbolic meaning.

Honors, responsibilities, and powers have all become empty words.

It's just a tool now; the key is how to use it to get the most benefit.

Vieira dragged his suitcase into the Clairefontaine hall, and the previously noisy chatter suddenly dropped eight octaves. Henry nodded to him in greeting, Pires chatted with the players next to him, and everyone tacitly avoided his gaze.

Vieira looked around but didn't see Roy.

He tightened his grip on the suitcase, his face expressionless, but he was on edge.

The whole team knows about the armband issue now; it's just a matter of how he handles it.

Should we bite the bullet and ask for it back directly? Or wait for Roy to return it voluntarily?
Whichever path you choose, you may find yourself in an embarrassing situation.

Vieira put the box down in the corner, thinking, "Damn it, he's coming back to his own team like he's visiting someone."

Suddenly he heard a familiar voice behind him. Roy drawled out the words with a hint of mockery: "Patrick, you're finally back! I've missed you so much!"

Before he finished speaking, Roy had already walked up to Vieira and casually handed him the captain's armband.

"The locker room situation is too complicated; I can't handle it."

Roy raised his eyebrows and smiled: "I'd better focus on scoring goals."

After saying that, he turned and left, his steps light and quick, as if he had unloaded an insignificant burden.

Roy didn't care about his jersey number or captain's armband; he knew his worth.

As long as he's on the field, he's a unique presence.

On October 13, 2004, in a World Cup qualifier, France played against Cyprus.

With Vieira's return from suspension, Domenech was finally able to field his planned 4-3-3 formation, which is exactly the system Roy thrives in.

Goalkeeper Barthez anchored the back line, while the defense consisted of Gallas, Squillaci, Givet, and Evra.

In the midfield trio, Vieira dropped back to provide cover, while Dacourt and Pires occupied the flanks.

The attacking trident consisted of Wiltord, Henry, and Roy.

This lineup not only fills the organizational gap left by Zidane's retirement, but also frees up Roy.

He no longer needs to be fixed in the middle, but can roam freely, attacking the flanks and retreating to connect with others.

During pre-match training, Domenech repeatedly emphasized: "Give the ball to Roy and let him decide the direction of the attack."

Shortly after the start of the match, the French team took control of the tempo.

Roy received the ball on the left wing and formed a triangular combination with Evra and Pires.

Roy first passed the ball back to the onrushing Evra, then quickly cut inside himself.

Evra didn't stop the ball and passed it directly to Pires.

Pires, facing the defender, deftly pushed the ball back to Roy's feet.

The three players made several quick passes in succession, completely tearing apart Cyprus's right flank defense.

Roy received the ball on the left flank and suddenly flicked it with his heel, sending the ball precisely between two defenders to find the advancing Evra.

Evra strode down to the byline, opting not to pass a high ball, but instead to play a low, triangular pass back to the edge of the penalty area.

Roy arrived in a flash, lightly rubbing his right foot.

The ball arced through the air, bounced in front of the goal, and then darted into the far corner.

Cypriot goalkeeper Panagioto made a desperate save, but it was too late.

1-0! France took the lead early on, with Roy's clever runs and accurate shooting once again proving effective.

In the 28th minute, Vieira successfully intercepted the ball in midfield and quickly dribbled forward.

He first passed the ball to Gallas on the right wing, and then continued to move forward to receive the pass.

Gala understood immediately and promptly relayed the message to Vieira.

Vieira received the ball and immediately made a diagonal pass to right winger Wiltord.

Wiltord received the ball and pretended to go down the byline, then suddenly stopped and cut inside, shaking off the defender.

Before the opposing defender could get back in position, he unleashed a powerful right-footed shot that flew straight into the top left corner of the goal!
2-0! France extends their lead.

In the 41st minute, the French team continued to besiege the Cypriot penalty area.

The ball was passed back and forth on the edge of the penalty area, but Cyprus's tight defense never showed any weakness.

Just when the attack seemed to be at a standstill, Roy suddenly launched an attack.

He subtly shifted his position from behind Henry to the right wing, and Henry, understanding his intention, immediately passed the ball back to him.

After receiving the ball on the right wing, Roy suddenly accelerated and cut inside. He first used his left foot to dribble past the onrushing defender, and then used his right foot to cut past the midfielder who was covering him.

Facing a third defender, he pretended to pass the ball across to Henry, who was making a run forward, and in the instant that the opponent shifted his center of gravity, he suddenly unleashed a powerful right-footed shot!
The ball flew straight towards the far end of the goal like a cannonball, struck the inside of the goalpost, and bounced into the net.

The net shook violently, and the Cypriot goalkeeper stood still, not even having time to make a save.

3-0! Roy's individual skill completely tore apart Cyprus's defense, and France went into halftime with a three-goal lead.

In the 72nd minute, Dacourt delivered a penetrating through ball from midfield, and Henry suddenly accelerated past the defender.

He dribbled into the left side of the penalty area, and calmly flicked the ball with the outside of his right foot against the onrushing goalkeeper.

The ball arced through the air, skimming the far post before nestling into the net.

This was Henry's first goal for the national team in more than two months.

He let out a long sigh of relief and smiled with a sense of accomplishment, before being surrounded by his teammates who rushed up to him.

In a post-match interview with a reporter from France 1, Domenech said:

“I’m sure the team is back on track. We have many key players who can take responsibility. In the last game, Vieira was in the stands, while Roy stepped up and carried the whole team forward. It’s inevitable to encounter such situations during the adjustment period, but we’ve found a new direction from the difficulties. This is especially true after Patrick’s return in this game; his excellent game reading ability enhances the team’s fighting spirit. He and Roy each have their strengths – Patrick’s experience and Roy’s talent complement each other. And then there’s Henry, who contributed 44 goals for Arsenal last season, and we hope he brings that form to the national team. He is indeed still adapting because club and national team are different systems, but we will find a way to get all the players to perform at their best.”

Wiltord said, "Patrick doesn't talk much, but every time he does, he hits the nail on the head, and we all admire his insight. As for Roy, he's an unparalleled genius. We've had conflicts? Maybe we have, but now I only admire him, and I think those things happened just as they should. The circumstances were unavoidable because no one can predict the future. If I could say something to my past self now, I would tell Sylvain: 'He was an extraordinary man.'"

Roy responded to questions about his overly harsh comments to Henry during halftime: "I didn't say anything offensive to Henry. Some reports are untrue; I didn't say any of those things. I only said what I had to say at the time. I think such exchanges keep us grounded and ultimately help us win the game."

Portugal thrashed Russia 7-1 at home.

Despite injuries sustained in the previous match, Deco and Simão recovered in time and started the game.

The Russian team is plagued by injuries and has only 17 players available. Portugal previously defeated Russia 2-0 in the European Championship group stage.

In the 26th minute of the match, Ronaldo broke through on the right wing and crossed the ball, and Pauleta pounced on the ball in front of the goal to score. Although the linesman raised his flag for offside, the referee still ruled the goal valid.

In the 39th minute, Pauleta crossed from the left, and Ronaldo easily tapped the ball into the net.

In first-half stoppage time, Deco unleashed a beautiful curling shot from outside the penalty area into the top corner, making the score 3-0.

The second half turned into a long-range shooting extravaganza for the Portuguese team.

In the 70th minute, Ronaldo unleashed a wildly curved shot from 25 meters out, finding the back of the net. In the 80th minute, he scored again with a low shot from a similar position.

In the 83rd minute, Simão received a pass from Ronaldo and Deco and unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty area into the top corner of the goal.

In the 89th minute, substitute Petit scored with a long-range shot.

In stoppage time, Petit scored again from almost the same spot with a free kick.

Portugal ultimately sealed the victory with six spectacular long-range shots from outside the penalty area.

Russia suffered its biggest humiliation since the team's founding.

In the waiting area of ​​Cyprus Airport, Roy had just sat down when he received a call from Mourinho.

Mourinho: How do you feel?

Roy: "It's alright, just a little tiring."

Mourinho: "Where exactly?"

Roy: "My right leg is a little tight."

Mourinho: "Listen, we're short-handed. You should still play for Manchester City. But I'll start Joe Cole, and you can take him off after sixty minutes, okay?"

Roy: "Sure, I'm ready anytime."

The voice on the other end of the phone was gentler than usual, and the person carefully inquired about his physical condition and level of fatigue.

Roy truthfully reported the slight muscle soreness and physical exhaustion.

The call was brief, but the coach's concern was evident.

The team is currently facing numerous troubles.

Before the turmoil surrounding Mutu had subsided, the locker room was already seething with undercurrents due to a wave of injuries.

When the medical room was overflowing, the players on the bench became distracted, and there was less and less conversation on the training field.

£4000 million is enough to support the operation of a mid-to-lower-tier Premier League team for an entire season, but the money Chelsea spent has become a problem.

Chelsea initially spent a total of £4000 million in bonuses on Mutu, Cudicini, Parker, Johnson and Huth, but now several players are facing varying degrees of positional crisis due to lack of playing time, which could be fatal for Chelsea, who are determined to defeat Arsenal and win the title.

There's an undercurrent of tension in Chelsea's dressing room.

Mutu had just bowed his head to Mourinho to admit his mistake when he was kicked off the training field.

Mutu's agent, Bakali, stated that the Romanian has decided to leave Chelsea, with his target being Juventus or Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

Juventus coach Didier Deschamps has also publicly stated that he believes Mutu can regain his peak form in Serie A and become a top striker again.

But Mutu currently earns £6 a week at Chelsea, and few clubs could afford such a high salary if he leaves.

Chelsea's bench still has quite a few high-priced but frustrated players.

Goalkeeper Cudicini, valued at £500 million, has been a long-term substitute since Cech joined the team.

Midfielder Parker arrived at Stamford Bridge for £900 million with the halo of "Premier League Young Player of the Year," but has always lived in the shadow of Makelele and Lampard, and has not made a single appearance this season.

German international Huth, also valued at £500 million, is a key player under Klinsmann and performed well in the German national team's friendly against Brazil. However, at Chelsea, he is only the fourth choice for center-back, behind Terry, Carvalho, and Gallas.

These talented players are struggling to get playing time due to intense competition within their teams.

The future of these players is uncertain.

Young center-back Huth stated clearly: "I will remain with the team until Christmas, and then we'll see how things develop. I genuinely love the Premier League and would rather stay in England than return to the Bundesliga."

This statement indirectly confirms that the Italian TV channel Cuatro's report that Inter Milan was interested in loaning him was not unfounded.

Right-back Glen Johnson is also in a difficult situation.

This once highly anticipated young English star lost his starting position after Brazilian defender Maicon joined the team.

However, Mourinho has no intention of letting him go for the time being, because the manager needs to maintain the full fighting capacity of the 24-man squad to ensure that the team remains competitive when competing on multiple fronts.

With Drogba's injury status still unclear and Mutu publicly stating his intention to leave, Chelsea's attacking line suddenly appears thin.

Robben is still recovering from injury. If no new signings are made in the winter transfer window, the team will only have Roy and Gudjohnsen as available strikers, plus Duff.

Joe Cole can occasionally fill in as a winger, but he is ultimately not a full-time striker.

Forsell, currently on loan at Birmingham, will return in the winter transfer window, but overall, Chelsea's attacking options remain limited.

What worries Mourinho even more is that Roy has scored almost all of the team's goals this season.

If he suffers an injury, Chelsea could face a goal-scoring drought.

The head coach is constantly worrying that if Roy suddenly goes down, the team's offensive system will completely collapse.

Although this team has achieved an impressive eight-game winning streak in the Premier League and appears to be a star-studded team, there are hidden crises within.

The locker room is filled with too many high-paid substitutes, and the star players who were bought with big money in every transfer window are gradually becoming stagnant on the bench.

The injury list is getting longer and longer, and the players who are not injured are gradually becoming distracted. Some are planning to leave in the winter transfer window, some are dissatisfied with their playing time, and some have already secretly contacted their agents to find a new club.

These cracks are masked by victories, but if they lose two games in a row, the house of cards could collapse at any moment.

In this timeline, Chelsea failed to sign Kezman, leaving their attacking depth a persistent concern.

Whether to make signings in the winter transfer window has become the most troublesome document on Mourinho's desk, as he has to consider both Financial Fair Play and preventing the dressing room from becoming increasingly bloated.

As Roy sat on the plane, he suddenly remembered: under the scorching sun of Madrid, the striker who had dominated in Ligue 1 and the Champions League last season was now sitting idly on the bench at the Bernabéu.

Although his ability may not be able to shake Drogba's starting position, he can provide stable firepower support for the team during the busy schedule of cup competitions and four-front campaigns, helping Chelsea cope with the pressure of competing on multiple fronts.

Indeed, Morientes' performance at Liverpool later fell short of expectations, but this wasn't entirely his fault. Benitez's tactical system relied more on quick counter-attacks and crosses from the wings, while Morientes, as a typical penalty area striker, needed his teammates to provide more ground passing and accurate through balls.

His success at Real Madrid and Monaco largely depended on the exquisite passing of players like Zidane and Figo, while Liverpool's midfield configuration at the time did not fully suit his characteristics.

Coupled with the high intensity and tight schedule of the Premier League, the Spanish striker ultimately failed to recapture his former glory.

But what can he do when he has Roy, his former good partner?
Even the dogs in the family can be assigned to the Harrington base as guard dogs.

Of course, if Chelsea can actually sign Torres in his prime, Roy will immediately become close friends with the Spanish golden boy, since you can never have too many good partners.

(End of this chapter)