Start from 1999

Chapter 172
The situation of the investigation is really as Nick said. Although the police withdrew the charges against the players and UEFA did not impose additional penalties, the three players were unable to play in the match between the German team and the England team.

The German team's lineup changed again passively. Nowotny played with an injury and partnered with Link as a central defender.

At the goalkeeper position, Kahn also got his wish in the starting lineup.

In addition to the grievances between the two countries in the history of the war between Britain and Germany, there are also many football grievances between the two countries. The unsolved goal line case in 1966 and the previous Munich air crash incident were the fuse.

Therefore, there is no need to mobilize in the war between Britain and Germany, and the two sides will definitely fight to the death.

At the beginning of the game, the German team was completely suppressed by the England team.

The midfield composed of Beckham, Scholes, Ince and McMaraman completely suppressed the combination of Sauer, Basler, Schneider and Watts.

Beckham made a lot of crosses from the right, and Shearer repeatedly grabbed the spot in front of Nowotny, forming a header.Nowotny's injury still affects his performance, not because he doesn't work hard, but sometimes because he has more than enough energy.

Fortunately, Kahn's state is not inferior to that of Enke, and he continuously resolved England's shots.

After 15 minutes of the game, the England team had as many as 8 shots, and the German team had none.

Riebeck's brows off the court have never been loosened. In such a passive situation, Riebeck never thought of it. No matter how bad the German team is, it shouldn't be like this, right?

But the fact is that Riebeck had to believe that he really wanted to make a substitution, but it was too early to make a substitution after only 15 minutes of the game, right?

Just when Ribeck was hesitating, Beckham broke through to the bottom line from the right under the cover of Scholes, and then made a cross. The ball flew to the back point. Shearer rushed over like an airplane, leaned over, and the ball quickly entered the near corner of the goal. 1:0, the England team took the lead.

Slow motion shows that when Shearer rushed out, Nowotny's start was obviously a step slower.

Shearer turned around excitedly and ran towards the sidelines, and the England fans immediately roared excitedly.

"Made, you agreed to stare at Alan, German guy, where the hell are you?"

"Haha, is that German kid scared to pee? Staring at Alan to death is simply wishful thinking!"

"Alan makes one more attack and blows up the Germans' defense!"

Faced with such a provocation, the German fans could only remain silent, the German players were also injured, and Nick and the other four had nowhere to vent their anger.

Unable to play, Nick and others could only watch Shearer break the team's goal in the stands.

After falling behind, the German team still could not prevent an effective counterattack, and the England team still controlled the midfield.

Owen has become active, Owen is now in a peak period, and his speed completely makes the German team's defense impossible to defend.

In the 19th minute, Scholes passed through, Owen rushed past Link's defense with an acceleration, and then shot hard.

Fortunately, Kahn attacked in time and destroyed Owen's shot.

After 2 minutes, McMulahman broke through from the left and then broke into a horizontal strike. Owen took the ball and stabbed forward without stopping. He passed Watts very easily, and then shot a shot from the penalty area line. The ball was still bravely saved by Kahn.

The English fans held their heads in regret, while the German fans were terrified.

Kahn growled at Watts.

"What are you doing? Let that kid shoot easily?"

Watts was also a little uncomfortable. The ball was suddenly lost by Owen. Watts was on fire. Hearing Kahn's words, Watts scolded furiously: "Why do you think that kid is easy to defend? It's like a loach. I've tried my best, okay?"

As soon as Kahn heard that Watts was still angry, the guy lost his temper all of a sudden, and was about to step forward to teach Watts a lesson. Link and Nowotny rushed up and hugged Kahn.

"Oliver, what are you doing? It's a game now, we are still behind, don't mess around!"

"That's right, Oliver, if we fight among ourselves, it's over."

Only then did Kahn calm down, teaching his teammates would only make the enemy quick and the loved one painful.

Riebeck off the field couldn't hold back anymore. The scene was too passive. Aren't the two teams on the same level at all?
With a big wave of Riebeck's hand, the veteran Koller came on and replaced Watts.

Koller's defensive ability is very strong, but he is a pure defender, but Watts has the ability to organize offenses. Ribeck's substitution directly handed over the midfielder completely.

In the next game, the German team's defense was a lot more stable, but there was no threat at all in the offense. Except for Sauer and Basler's two-footed shots using their personal skills, the German team did not have any shots.

The England team formed a siege, and Beckham's cross was still very accurate, but the German team's defense was much stronger, so the two sides were temporarily in a stalemate.

But England lead the score, and they are not in a hurry. If the game continues like this, they are also looking forward to it. As long as they get 3 points, it doesn't matter how many goals they score.

This situation was maintained until the end of the first half. England had a total of 19 shots in the first half. Although they only scored one goal, they made the German team completely passive.

In the locker room, Riebeck did not get angry, and he was a little at a loss for the German team's passivity. England pressed too hard, and the German team could only strengthen their defense.

"In the second half, it is impossible for them to maintain such good physical fitness. Our opportunity will come soon. Mario, you are in charge of organizing the offense."

Riebeck reasoned conventionally to arrive at this decision.

On the other side, Kevin Keegan said: "Guys, the first half was a perfect half. We had a goal and put the Germans in the half. But the Germans will definitely counterattack in the second half, so where is our counterattack? Michael, you are in charge of the counterattack."

Owen smiled: Counterattack?I like it best!

After 15 minutes, players from both sides came out and the second half began.

Sure enough, the England team shrank a little, and the German team began to have a chance to attack.

But England's defense is also very stable, veteran Adams is staring at Bierhoff, and Campbell is firmly watching Kirsten.

Ince is not afraid of the successive attacks of Sauer and Basler in the midfielder position, and his strong physical fitness has also played a role frequently.

After 20 minutes passed, the score still did not change, the German team had an offensive, but did not score.

Seeing that the score had not changed, Riebeck waved his hand and signaled the players to press on.

Nick quietly said to Enke and others in the stands: "Be careful of Michael Owen's counterattack. That kid is too fast. I'm afraid he will penetrate our defense."

"The coach should have arrangements?" Metzelder said.

"I hope, but that British kid's speed is too fast, Nick, I think only you can keep up with him." Enke also spoke aside, and Owen impressed them so much that it was like a gust of wind, passing the German team's defenders as wooden stakes.

The England team shrunk even more, and the scene looked like a replica of the first half.It's just that now it's the German team playing against the England team.

The German fans looked forward to the team's quick return of a goal and cheered for the team one after another.

But in the 72nd minute of the game, the German team suffered another fatal blow.

After Ince cut off Sauer's ball, he passed it to Beckham, who made a big long pass.

The German players were surprised to find that Michael Owen started from the midfield, and Link, who was closest to Owen, leaned forward decisively. Owen's small body is not worth relying on him at all.

However, Link didn't get close to Owen, and Owen directly flicked the ball to the outside. Although the change of direction was great, Owen's speed was too fast. Soon he caught up with the ball and cut inside again, rushing into the penalty area of ​​the German team, and before Link entered the penalty area, Owen directly faced Kahn.

Faced with such a situation, Kahn could only choose to attack, but Owen's dexterous toes flicked, and the ball flew into the back corner.

2:0, the England team expanded the score.

"Damn, did I hit it? I didn't take any measures against Michael Owen, defending one-on-one, how can I prevent him." Nick couldn't help cursing.

"Hey, this is difficult. The advantage of 2 goals is hard to shake. There is not much time in the game. We have to fight the Portuguese to the end." Friedrich could not express the disappointment in his eyes.

Enke and Metzelder were also disappointed, but they didn't speak.

Owen happily rushed to the sidelines to accept the crazy cheers from the English fans, while most of the German fans were already very disappointed. They all cursed in their hearts that the old man Ribeck is cheating again. If the group can't qualify, then why play?Is German football really falling into the second-tier in Europe?
2 goals behind, if it is left in the past, German fans still have confidence, after all, the German team has turned defeat into victory many times.

But now, the game is really over, and the German team has no hope of winning back. They defended in the first half, and failed to defend the opponent's counterattack in the second half. They didn't lose their temper at all.

The only hope now is to score a goal and fight Portugal in the last game. If Portugal wins and England 'inertically' loses to Romania, the two sides can still compare the goal difference, so that the German team still has a chance to qualify.

The German team, which was two goals behind, then launched a Jedi counterattack, and the steel will of the Germans really came into play at this moment.

Basler suddenly flourished in England's backcourt like crazy, but Basler was too independent. He had a good chance to score the ball after the breakthrough, but Basler did it alone.

A lot of opportunities were wasted by Basler. In the 87th minute, Basler seemed to finally come to his senses. After breaking through Ince and Adams in a row, Basler made a cross pass. Sauer came up and took a kick. The ball passed under David Seaman's crotch and got into the goal.

1:2, the German team finally pulled back a goal.

Basler quickly hit the England goal to pick up the ball and rush back to the center circle, but was blocked by Adams. Basler punched Adams in the face angrily, and Adams fell to the ground.

"Damn, this bastard ate explosives? Isn't he looking for cards by himself?" Nick couldn't help jumping up and swearing.

Enke and the others also shook their heads again and again. Basler is simply a time bomb, and there is no guarantee that it will explode at any time.

The on-duty referee Collina ran over and gave Basler a red card expressionlessly, which made the morale of the German team fall again.

Basler ended miserably, and the German team was one player behind and one goal behind. The England team took the opportunity to regain the initiative on the field and kept the 2:1 score until the end.

(End of this chapter)