princely elegance

Chapter 166 Battle of the Losers

After Argentina and Mexico decide the winner, all the fans are just waiting for the final.No matter how tasteless a competition is, after the finals, all the players and fans will pay attention to it.What's more, the level of the America's Cup is not low. Apart from the European Cup and the World Cup, he is the most influential.

In addition, the two sides in the final are Brazil and Argentina, both of which are well-known powerhouses in the world.

July [-], Maracaibo, South American duo, America's Cup top!
The ratings of this game set a new high in the history of the America's Cup.

The crazy goal battle, the fierce sparks of strong confrontation, and the fanatical atmosphere left a deep impression on the senior FIFA officials who watched the America's Cup. South American Football Federation also announced in advance that this America's Cup was "" The best ever”, for very good reasons: the number of viewers is close to the highest level in history, the media attention is the first in history, and the number of reporters interviewed on the spot is as high as 5749, far exceeding the previous 3814.The live and recorded broadcasts covered 188 countries on five continents, which was absolutely unprecedented in influence in 2007 when there was no World Cup or European Cup.

But this may be the last traditional Copa America. According to the requirements of FIFA, the Copa America will be restructured after this session.

The Copa America, CONMEBOL's signature competition, is both the world's oldest and the strangest in its current state.The America's Cup was born in 1916, which coincided with the 100th anniversary of Argentina's independence.The Cup was established at the initiative of Argentine President Irigo.

Only 4 teams participated in the first session, and then gradually expanded to all 10 South American national teams. After 1993, the Copa America invited Mexico and the United States to participate. In 1999, Japan was invited to participate due to the withdrawal of the United States, making it almost a "mini World Cup".

In terms of the competition system, the Copa America was basically held once a year in the first few years. After 1929, it was changed to be held irregularly every two, three or four years. The interruption, after 8 years of twists and turns, was finally resumed in 1937, and this really began to show the charm of South American football.

In 1959, two America's Cups were held within one year, and the champions were Argentina and Uruguay.Since 1, the America's Cup has gradually entered the right track. It was once held every two years, and in 1987 it was changed to be held every three years. The last America's Cup was held in 2001.This kind of arbitrariness has caused FIFA a lot of headaches, so it hopes to reorganize and institutionalize it.
In fact, according to the reputation of the teams participating in the America's Cup, even if his influence is smaller than that of the European Cup, it should not be a whole level worse.The key to this is the arbitrariness of the America's Cup, which discourages sponsors.

The TV rights of the World Cup and the European Cup are often packaged and sold for several sessions. The advantage of this is that it can obtain enough funds at one time and greatly increase efficiency, but there is no way to do this in the Copa America.Last year, the America's Cup "collided" with the European Cup, resulting in a sharp drop in ratings.
The idea of ​​a four-year session appeared very early. When participating in the last Copa America, the former Brazil national team coach Pereira said that only a four-year session can improve the level of the Copa America and fully explore its potential.

He believes that because South American countries have to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers and participate in the Copa America at the same time, this arrangement makes it difficult for the team to parry.If it is unified as a four-year event, it will not only avoid the two major events of the World Cup and the European Cup, but also carry out systematic commercial development, which will undoubtedly usher in new vitality for the America's Cup.
According to the development trend of today's football, South American Football Confederation, after many meetings and discussions, after distributing the benefits, finally decided to start after this session.The America's Cup is determined to be held every four years, and South American Football Confederation President Leozi is ambitious to increase the influence of the America's Cup to the point where it is not weaker than the European Cup.

The final of the America's Cup has invited FIFA President Sepp Blatter to watch the ceremony, and he will present the trophies to the two teams.

Before the final, there is another game in the Copa America, which is the third-place battle between the two losers, Uruguay and Mexico.

Of course, not many people pay attention to the loser's war, except for the fans in their own country.

For football, not being able to win the championship is a failure, and even the players themselves don't pay much attention to the small third place.After being eliminated by Argentina in the semi-finals, the Mexican national team captain Marquez left Venezuela, hoping to get more holidays to prepare for the new season's Barcelona game.From this, one can imagine how unappreciated this battle of the defeated army was.

But not every player doesn't value it, at least for Fran and Castillo, they still have the hope of competing for the Golden Boot, although it is extremely slim.For a striker, the top scorer is the honor that can best demonstrate his ability. Even if Fran has won the European Golden Boot, he is still eager for the Copa America Golden Boot.Not to mention Castillo, after being severely humiliated by Argentina in the semi-finals, he believes that only the top scorer can wash away his shame.

Moreover, even a loser needs a fig leaf, and this third place is so meaningful to the two teams.Fans from both sides called the match a "battle of honor."

No matter what, as soon as a professional player arrives on the court, he must do his best to defeat his opponent.

Although it was a losing battle, Argentina, who had nothing to do, gathered together in the conference room to watch the game.This is their only pastime before the final.

From the perspective of the game itself, it is very exciting, goals, red cards, penalties, every element is complete.

In the No.20 second minute of the first half, in a positional battle, Uruguay, through a series of passes and cuts, finally scored with a header from Abreu, leading by one goal.

After falling behind, Mexico launched a counterattack. In the last 5 minutes of the first half, with the help of the referee, they equalized the score with a penalty kick.The referee gave Uruguay's captain Lugano a red card while awarding a penalty.

"Isn't Mexico really stuffing money? Why do I feel that the referees belong to his family?"

Messi said angrily that he hadn't forgotten that one of his penalty kicks was blown away in the last game.

"Next time we meet them, enter a few more."

Jia Ge patted his chest very loyally, expressing that he would vent his anger next time.

In the second half, Uruguay, with one less player, was completely at a disadvantage, and was eventually reversed by Mexico.

Bravo and Guardaldo both scored two world waves in the same position, helping Mexico reverse Uruguay 3:1 to win.

It is worth mentioning that in the second half, Recoba played again with an injury, but failed to help the team win. After the game, the sad look of the "Chinese boy" attracted more media.In any case, the star is the king of the media survival.

However, both Fran and Castillo were defended by their opponents in this losing battle and failed to score. This means that the battle for the Golden Boot still has to be decided between the two finalists. .

Robinho currently tops the scorer list with six goals.Next was Gago, who scored twice in two consecutive knockout rounds and added a goal in the group stage, allowing him to unknowingly sit below one and above several with five goals.

The rest are possible Riquelme, Messi and Crespo.Among them, Riquelme scored four goals, while Crespo and Messi both scored three goals. The Argentine media said sourly that if Crespo hadn't been injured in the second group match, the top scorer The position which round gets Robinho to sit.

In this regard, the Brazilian media used "a penalty kick can hurt yourself" to ridicule the old-timers of a generation of heroes.

Fortunately, Basile conducted closed training, otherwise, with Crespo's temper, he would vomit blood without being angry after hearing this ridicule.

……

"Roberto, have you, Zanetti and Crespo thought about retiring?"

After the last practice session, Redondo and Ayala asked out of the blue while they were eating together.

After Ayala heard it, she lowered her head and answered softly.

"Let me think again, think again."

After Redondo heard this, he didn't say much, but just smiled, he already knew the junior's answer.

……

The next day, an hour before the final, Ayala took off his national team jersey in front of all the players in the locker room.

"I won't wear him again!"

Regarding this point, obviously no one thought of it, even Basile, who had just come in to prepare tactics, was stunned.

"Robert, you..."

Zanetti stood up and wanted to say something, but was stopped by Ayala.

"I'm 34 years old this year, and I already feel that I can't play anymore. Now is the time to give the opportunity to young people!"

Ayala is a low-key person. This is the representative figure of Argentina in the post-Maradona era. For the first time, he said such a long string of words in the locker room.

"Our generation represents sadness. I owe Argentina a championship. Although I have enviable honors and records, I carry more failures and even resentment. I have broken my dream 4 Copa America, 4 Lost to a Brazilian in knockout for the first time."

When he said this, Ayala's face became excited.

"This time, I don't want to lose again. I want to give the fans a championship in the last game of my national team. I owe them too much. For 14 years, if it wasn't for me, Pampas would have There are several champions!"

"Robert, it wasn't your fault!"

"Javier, let me finish, please."

Ayala said to Zanetti, who stood up and interrupted him, with a tone of weakness that he didn't usually have.

"I will transfer to Zaragoza next season, it has been confirmed, Diego, we will be teammates by then."

Milito didn't know what to say when he heard this, but finally said "Welcome!"

"My physical condition does not allow me to fight on the two fronts of the national team and the club. After the game, I will announce to the media that I will quit the national team and focus on the club in the future."

"This match is my farewell match, guys, can you bid me farewell with a championship!?"

Ayala finally said these words, and Zanetti was the first to come to him, stretched out his palm, and held him.Then Crespo, Gago and Messi stood up at the same time, and finally all the players in the locker room formed a circle in front of Ayala.

"This time, you will not be disappointed again!"

Zanetti responded to Ayala on behalf of all the players.

(End of this chapter)