Chapter 48: Olympic Games
The American Dream Six team participating in the Athens Olympics is a hybrid. None of the five superstars including O'Neal, Kobe, McGrady, Ray Allen, and Kidd participated in the Athens Olympics.
But the lineup of the Dream Six team is still luxurious. Iverson, Marbury, Duncan, LeBron, Wade, Anthony, Boozer, Marion, Stoudemire, Odom and Richard Jefferson are all NBA first-line stars, of which there are superstars and future superstars.
Sitting idle in the car is also boring, Zhang Guan began to analyze the American Dream Six team.
Zhang Guan stretched out a finger and said, "First of all, Kidd didn't come. Who will organize this Dream Six team? Count on Iverson and Marbury?"
As guards, Iverson and Marbury are not organized, their style is not the style of guards.
Zhang Guan stretched out his second finger: "Second, Kobe, McGrady, and Allen did not come. The outside firepower of the Dream Six team must be inadequate. If they meet a three-point opponent, they are likely to pounce the street, you know."
There are problems with the3 pointer outside shooting. Everyone knows that none of the team's guards are particularly accurate. The current 03 Golden Generation has only played in the NBA for a year, and the technology is not as comprehensive as the future.
"Third, the inside lineup of Dream Six is too weak." Zhang Guan continued.
"Wait, I don't agree with this. The US team has Duncan, Stoudemire, Boozer, Okafor, but they are not weak." Pakistani said.
"Don't forget that this is the Olympic Games, and the international rules are implemented. Don't forget that there are no three seconds of defense in the box in the international rules." Zhang Guan then extended his fourth finger and said: "The next point is the fourth point, the international rules: without a reasonable collision zone, the inside will be full of people, which is equivalent to the abolition of James and Wade's offensive means. Iverson and Marbury can only choose a jumper. I think the United States team mainly depends on individual ability. "
Zhang Guan said what ordinary basketball coaches and even senior fans can analyze. However, because the men's basketball national team was divided into Group A, and the Dream Six team was divided into Group B, the two teams would not meet, so the men's basketball coaching team did not analyze the Dream Six team, and the players did not understand the real situation of the Dream Six team.
There are a lot of basketball players in the car. When you mention basketball, it seems to open the conversation box. With Zhang Guan as a leader, the car suddenly becomes lively.
...
Although the Athens Olympics will not be held until August 13th, many events have already started in advance, such as football.
On the evening of August 10th, Athens time, the Olympic football group stage was officially kicked off. That night was a women's event. In the women's Group F game, the women's national team was beaten with a score of 8: 0 by the German women's football team. Before, the gambling company gave the national women's team a 1: 3.5 odds to win the championship and an 8: 0 fiasco was completely beyond everyone's expectations.
The next day, the men's football match also began. The first match was a match between the men's A and C teams. There was no upset in that day's game, and all the winners who should have won have won. They all shake hands and made peace.
At 8:30 on August 12th, Athens time, the men's football Group B and Group D games started. Italy and Portugal, the two championship winners, will debut on this day.
...
British William Hill Company.
Thomas, deputy director of intelligence analysis, and his colleagues sat together. In front of them, four televisions were placed and the four games of the Olympic men's football team B and D were broadcast simultaneously.
Thomas used to be a scout for a small football club in the United Kingdom. Later, the club was acquired and Thomas left. With his football knowledge and technical analysis skills, he successfully entered the well-known British spinach company William Hill and has now risen to the intelligence analysis position of Deputy Director.
There is a three-hour time difference between Britain and Greece. Also, it is August. The United Kingdom is implementing daylight saving time, so there is no time to get off work at this time, but now it is during the Olympics. Thomas and his colleagues are destined to work overtime. Their job is to watch the group matches of the Olympic football event, analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each team, and despite writing an intelligence analysis report, they had sent it to the data department to formulate the odds for the next game.
In the game Paraguay against Japan, Paraguay broke the goal of Japan in just 5 minutes, which made Thomas feel that this game should soon lose its suspense. Costa Rica is playing against Morocco, the two teams are wandering around and are still tempting each other. In the match between Italy and Ghana, the two teams quickly entered the state as soon as they came up, which is also a fast-paced game. As for Portugal against Iraq, Thomas selectively ignored it.
"The Ghanaian athletes are performing very positively, which is not the same as what we had expected. The Ghana team was originally thought to have fallen, and now it seems that this young Ghana team is still very good and is likely to become the dark horse of this group. Let's pay more attention." Thomas said to his colleagues.
Thirteen minutes into the game, the Portuguese team led Iraq 1: 0, and it was the backcourt player Jabal of Iraq who scored a goal for the Portuguese team. This is an own goal.
On TV, the Iraqi team appeared frustrated, and the Portuguese team did not seem too happy and did not even celebrate after scoring a goal. For the Portuguese team, it is reasonable to take the lead against Iraq, and it is an own goal. There is nothing to celebrate.
"This game is over and the gap between the two teams is too great. Guess what the final score will be? 5: 0? 6: 9? 7: 0? Or 10: 0? Poor Iraqis, they have just experienced a brutal war and will be washed by Portugal on the football field. I think the Portuguese team should pity the poor Iraqi and score fewer goals." Thomas said, sympathizing.
A goal was scored in just 13 minutes in the opening, and the opponent was a powerful Portugal. No one thought Iraq could win. Some people even think that at this time, Iraqi players standing on the field will be great pain.
Three minutes later, while the Portuguese fans were still reminiscing about their own goal, the Iraqi team's Amadeus Mohammed broke the Portuguese goal and equalized the score for Iraq.
"Iraq scored!" Thomas was only slightly surprised, and then relaxed again.
"The Portuguese have eased their vigilance because of their own goal, but this is good enough to allow the Iraqis to score a goal in the World Cup, which can be regarded as an explanation to Iraqi nationals." Thomas thought to himself.
The equalized Portuguese team was very impatient, especially Ronaldo on the front line, frequently asking for the ball, and the Portuguese team's offense frequently caused great pressure on the Iraqi goal.
"At this rhythm, the Portuguese team should have scored a goal! The game will still be one-sided." Thomas once again focused his attention on the Italian team.
In another game, 22 minutes in, Japan's Ono scored a goal and helped the Japanese team to equalize the score. After only four minutes, Paraguay 's Cardoso broke the Japanese team's goal, with Paraguay leading Japan with a score of 2:1.
"Paraguay is leading again, and Portugal is about to score!" Thomas then looked at the game between Portugal and Iraq but found that the Iraqi team was counterattacking.
"Huh? What's going on with the Portuguese defender? They should be defending! Keep up with it! Foul! Not good!" Thomas yelled.
The goal of the Portuguese team was broken again. The goal was scored by the Iraqi team's Havar, who led Portugal 2:1.
"Iraq has taken the lead? What's going on." Until then, Thomas began to seriously watch the performance of the Iraqi team.
"Although the Iraqi team's technology is very rough and the coordination is very general, but their speed is very fast, the athletes have been running. Tactically speaking, the Iraqi team's play is very simple, there is no very complicated cooperation." The situation is documented in his book.
Portugal, which was behind the score, launched a violent attack, and the core of the Portuguese team, Ronaldo, was also extremely active. Unfortunately, luck does not seem to be on the side of the Portuguese team.
"Cristiano Ronaldo held the ball, he broke through and shot! Oh, it's a pity that he hit the post!"
"Cristiano Ronaldo's long shot from the front of the penalty area! Ah, missed."
"Cristiano Ronaldo broke into the penalty area. The Iraqi team dared not foul. The goalkeeper shot and shot! Beautiful save!"
In the remainder of the first half, Ronaldo showed his superb skills and extraordinary talent, hitting the goal post more than once.
In other games, Ghana took the lead in breaking Italy's goal in 36 minutes. In 37 minutes, Parado's Cardoso scored twice and Paraguay led Japan 3-1. This game lost its suspense.
Near the end of the first half, Bosingwa finally equalized for the Portuguese team. On the other side, in stoppage time, Ghana's Pilja helped Ghana lead Italy 2: 0.
Thomas leaned back in his chair, and the small book in his hands was densely recorded, but his expression was dignified.
Iraq's 2: 2 draw with Portugal, Ghana led Italy 2: 0, which exceeded Thomas's expectations, it can be said that it broke the upset. For intelligence analysts like Thomas, the upset means that they have to conduct more intelligence gathering work, thereby increasing a lot of work.
After a short break, the second half of the game began.
In 49 minutes, Pinch of the Italian team pulled back a goal, the Italian team still trailed Ghana 1: 2.
In 51 minutes, Boa Moore of the Portuguese team got a red card.
Boa Moore played in the Premier League, so Thomas was very familiar with him. Thomas knew Boa Moore was famously grumpy, and at this moment Boa Mott also paid for his recklessness.
"Portugal's foul seems to be a little bit more, and now there is one less person, which is not good for the situation," Thomas said.
...
Athens, the Olympic Village.
In order not to affect the rest of other athletes, Zhang Guan ran to the athletes' activity center in the Olympic Village to watch Iraq's game against Portugal.
Looking at the TV, the referee pulled out a red card, and Zhang Guan smiled a little.
"History hasn't changed. Sure enough, the Iraqis are going to win. But more important is the unyielding will and daring spirit in their hearts. This is the spirit that athletes should have!" The football team, who always supported unconditionally but would always disappoint himself, sighed helplessly.
"Forget it, stop talking, let's think about happy things!"
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