Chapter 446: Resilient Croatia

Chapter 446: Resilient Croatia

Fortunately, Kovacic returned to defense in time to form a double midfielder combination with Brozovic, and Rakitic relied on his deft pace to almost stick himself to Royce who was rushing in with the ball.

But even so, the Rockets still found an opportunity to pass the ball, and a diagonal pass directly from the left wing to the penalty spot almost shocked the jaws of all Croatian fans.

Fortunately, Vida's bold attack and Kovacic's desperate back tackle jointly stopped Zhao Jinge who was about to catch the ball, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

The football was shoveled out of the baseline by Kovacic. Although the German team was given a corner kick opportunity, the defense was still successful this time.

Taking advantage of the dead ball, Dalik thought for a while and decided to let Rakitic and Perisic, two of the Croatian team's two best players with the ball, retreat to a deeper position and the two midfielders. Let’s get the situation under control.

The top area of ​​the center circle is left to Modric alone to handle. He would rather put the German team into his own half to play, and the rib defense area must be consolidated first.

This position is too sensitive and dangerous. Zhao Jinge, Royce, Muller, and Draxler are all very fast. Once the pass is successful, they will have the opportunity to take a long shot.

Dalek didn't want to bet on probabilistic events, especially when facing several forwards who were obviously in great shape.

Facts have proved that Dalic's adjustment was very timely.

In the following five or six minutes, the German team has been making use of the Croatian team's wing and rib defense areas, trying three times to hit behind the Croatian team's defense.

The retreating Rakitic and Perisic cooperated very well with the two inward full-backs, using two wonderful double-teams and a foul to stop the German team's offensive progress.

But the German team's bold attempt today did bring a big test to the Croatian team's defensive system.

It was not until the 19th minute of the first half that the Croatian team launched its first threatening counterattack of the game.

Mandzukic did not become the terminator this time. He served as a fulcrum and passed the ball to Modric who inserted in the middle. Modric and Perisic, who was extremely fast in the counterattack, completed the offensive cooperation this time.

Perisic's final pass was destroyed by Gundogan's pursuit and failed to reach Modric at the back of the goal. Otherwise, Modric's heavy bombardment would still be very scary.

Although the threat of this counterattack has not been realized, it has also sounded a wake-up call to the German team, which is currently on the offensive. Even though the Croatian team is being beaten by them, as long as they are given a chance, Croatia, which currently focuses on defensive counterattacks, The team can still bite them!

Apart from anything else, Modric and Perisic were obviously in good condition after today's opening. They were very active in counterattacking and retreating defensively. It can be seen that both of them are holding back a lot of excitement in their hearts. Desire to win!
Soon, the German team's offense came back.

Teacher Tony passed the ball in a wide range and lobbed the ball from the center circle to Royce who was ready to start on the left.

The little rocket took off instantly. Although Perisic's defense was timely, it still couldn't keep up with Royce who was full of firepower.

It wasn't until Vrsaljko followed up on the inside cut that Royce made a precise long pass to Muller on the other side of the court!

Erwa immediately led Gundogan forward and rushed towards the Croatian team's left defense line composed of Strinha and Rakitic.

If it weren't for Kovacic's timely blocking, forcing Muller to pass back and insert Kroos in the one-on-one duel, the Croatian team's right defense would definitely be more uncomfortable than the left at this moment!
But this time the German team's attack was not over yet. Teacher Tony, who successfully connected, immediately passed the ball to Zhao Jinge, who retreated from the center to connect.

Royce immediately moved to the side and raised his hand to ask for the ball. Muller, on the other hand, cleverly moved in to act as a receiving point.

According to the German team's tactical play in the past period, Zhao Jinge currently does not have many breakthroughs with the ball, and usually the wingers on both sides do this job.

Therefore, Brozovic appropriately moved closer to Royce's position, preparing to guard against Royce's rapid breakthrough later.

But this time Zhao Jinge was uncharacteristically different. After everyone thought he should pass the ball, when he was waiting for an opportunity, he stopped passing the ball!
When he turned around with the ball and strode towards Kovacic with the ball, Brozovic screamed in his heart and started to defend decisively with a roar.

Brozovic's reaction was quick, but his pursuit was not faster than Zhao Jinge's advancement.

By the time he led his teammates to chase back, Kovacic, who was playing as the right midfielder today, had already been overtaken by Zhao Jinge!
This has nothing to do with positioning or defensive skills. It's simply that Kovacic failed to keep up with Zhao Jinge's speed. He didn't even have time to make a foul move, so he was run over!
Vida was intercepting Thomas Muller who was advancing on the other side. Lovren was alone in the Croatian team's penalty area and watched as Kovacic was passed clean by Zhao Jinge!

Seeing this situation, Croatia goalkeeper Subasic had no choice but to save the penalty area and try to intercept. At this time, Zhao Jinge lightly pushed the ball towards the area he had vacated.

A figure with blond hair crossed diagonally into the penalty area from the wing, and faced Zhao Jinge's through ball and directly chose to push!
"GOAL!!!!!"

"Tony Kroos! The German team scored! Subasic didn't save it! The ball went in! The ball went in!"

"Tony Kroos's classic non-stop putt and hit the goal! This shot was crisp enough! Zhao Jinge's pass was just right!

Once again, Zhao Jinge relied on his personal ability to launch a counterattack, directly passing a defensive midfielder and a central defender on the opposite side, creating this kind of opportunity that was not an opportunity in the first place!

We can see Dalic's face red with anger on the sidelines!

It seems that the famous Croatian coach is very dissatisfied with the team's defense, but how can he defend against such a breakthrough? This is really impossible to prevent! "

The German team commentator on the scene was extremely excited at this moment. This is the World Cup semi-finals!

The German team scored in the first half, which is great news!

In fact, it was no problem for Dalic to choose defensive tactics after being blown up on the wing at the beginning, and there was no problem with the interception positioning of the team's midfielder and central defender!

To be more serious, it can only be said that Brozovic's initial target selection when defending this time was wrong. He focused on Royce!

But this is completely nitpicking, and it makes no sense. It can only be said that Zhao Jinge’s promotion choice this time is too decisive and his personal ability is too strong!

Watching Zhao Jinge celebrating with Toni Kroos in the stadium, the Croatian fans felt even more sad.

The fans of the German team were delighted with the surprise. Such a goal was like a surprise gift!
After all, the opponent was also the Croatian team, which had made it all the way to the semi-finals. The German fans did not expect that their team would achieve such a surprising result in the first half!

You have no expectations for its arrival, and naturally you are not mentally prepared, but it comes like this, and it is still your favorite thing!
So how could they not be excited and happy?

Other neutral fans also became excited. For them, being able to see a wonderful game and a wonderful goal is the biggest gain!

The balance of the game has been broken. Now the Croatian team has no other way out except increasing its offensive. In other words, the Croatian team is no longer qualified to play defensive counterattack!
They must leave their comfort zone and start a real battle with the German team!
The two teams will enter a more intense competition rhythm!

This is definitely a piece of bad news that is even more difficult to accept for the Croatian team than the goal they just conceded!
Even with a tight defense, his defensive formation was broken by the opponent's number one star. Now he has to press out in order to attack. Isn't this going out to seek death? !
"Let Rakitic position deeper! The forward penetration of Modric and Perisic is inevitable. We need more offensive changes. Everyone else should run more and sweep up the midfield! The counterattack must be more decisive ! Believe in our forwards!”

At this critical moment, Dalic had no choice to complain. He was making the best use of the limited adjustment time.

Although he still seemed a little faultless at the beginning, he still chose to vigorously encourage his players.

However, he did not say how to limit Zhao Jinge's performance.

In other words, Dalic is a sensible person, and it is useless to waste words. He simply made tactical adjustments in other aspects.

Past games between the German team and other powerful teams gave him a lot of reference.

Rather than targeting Zhao Jinge, which is laborious and thankless, it would be better to spend more time restricting Zhao Jinge's teammates.

For example, strengthen the midfield sweep, not to mention completely cutting off the connection between Zhao Jinge and the midfielder, try to interfere as much as possible, and buy more attacking time for the Croatian team's offensive line.

Modric and Perisic's offensive advance is inevitable. No matter who becomes the head coach of the Croatian team, it is impossible to sacrifice the offensive capabilities of these two players.

Therefore, Dalic can only ask Rakitic, Kovacic, Brozovic and others to spend more energy on defense in the midfield and backfield.

After all, in a realistic situation where the ability is not as good as that of the opponent, how can one get a chance to score without running much?

At this point, since we have fallen into a desperate situation, we can only fight for the best!

The players of the Croatian team were not too frustrated after losing the goal. Unlike those teams that were the favorites to win the championship, they were able to enter the semi-finals of the World Cup. This is already the best result in the history of Croatian football!
Coupled with the unstoppable momentum of the German team in the last five games, in fact, all the Croatian team players are already ready to do their best to obey fate.

Therefore, there is no frustration and annoyance at this time.

Being scored by the German team with terrible offensive firepower is not an unacceptable thing. The mental preparation made before the game allowed the team to unify their thinking and gave them enough courage to continue fighting.

After all, the results of previous competitions are there. For the Croatian team to reach the semi-finals, it has actually far exceeded their pre-match expectations.

As a team that continues to climb up every step of the way, the players of this Croatian team at their peak have a tenacity that many players from other teams do not have.

In addition to being spurred by the mission and responsibility of reviving the Croatian team, it is their pursuit of the glory of the championship team that motivates them.

This group of Croatian players have never had any impressive results in the World Series. Today's semi-finals are the closest to honor they have ever been in their lives. Since they have nothing to lose, , then the opponent will not be so scary!

If they want the Croatians to surrender with just one goal, that would definitely be the Germans' wishful thinking, just like the previous two knockout matches that ended in penalty kicks.

Even if they lose, no matter how ugly the scene is, the players of the Croatian team are ready to make the German team pay the price!

So after the game restarted, the commentators from various countries on the scene were all surprised to see the Croatian team barely affected by the loss of the ball.
Moreover, the players of the German team were not surprised at all by the toughness of their opponents. Which of the opponents who can reach the semi-finals is a weak persimmon?

Who is not a strong-willed warrior who has experienced many challenges?

"You continue to play on their two wings! Their midfielders Kovacic and Rakitic cannot keep up with our speed.

Perisic and Modric were somewhat disadvantaged physically, leaving Zhao and the others to attract their attention in the midfield and in the midfield.

Then let the Croatian midfielder continue to consume his experience in the pull between the center and the wing, and we can play more behind them! "

Loew pondered for a moment on the sidelines, and when the Croatian team kicked off, he found the right moment to call Mr. Tony to the sidelines and speak.

As soon as Rakitic retreated and formed three midfielders on the right, center and left with Brozovic and Kovacic, Loew understood Dalic's general tactical idea.

That is to leave the offense completely to the tactical cooperation of Perisic, Modric, and Mandzukic, and then use other midfielders to confront the German team.

No matter how the tactics change, the essence of expanding the defensive range remains unchanged by taking advantage of the Croatian midfielder's abundant physical reserves and inability to run to death.

Against ordinary teams, playing like this is indeed effective, but when it comes to a team like the German team with Europe's top wingers, it's hard to say, let alone a superstar like Zhao Jinge.

After all, the current Croatian team's midfield lineup is not so balanced.

(End of this chapter)