Chapter 566: The Kickoff
In early winter, English football fans turned their focus to the national team's friendly match, widely publicized by the FA across every street and corner.
The year 2000 marked a special occasion: England's year-ending showdown at Wembley, a friendly match against Brazil!
When selecting opponents for friendlies, Aldrich had previously advised the FA to choose strong teams whenever possible.
In the World Cup qualifiers, Germany was the only formidable opponent in England's group; the rest were weaker teams of varying levels. Aldrich argued there was no need to waste friendlies on weak teams under the pretext of building confidence or testing formations.
The friendly match, at the very least, was a matter of image, especially when played at home. The Football Association did not want to lose face, nor did it want to openly disregard Aldrich's advice. Both sides were still in their honeymoon period, and the manager's words carried considerable weight.
After surveying the international powerhouses, the FA finally settled on Brazil. They generously offered the Brazilian Football Federation a handsome appearance fee, projecting an image of generosity. The FA had just signed a new sponsorship deal, and with the national team needing to enhance its brand, it was crucial to have high-profile opponents. Otherwise, if England had settled for a team like Iceland or Andorra, the sponsors would have been less than pleased.
This friendly was packed with hype.
Over the past three years, Brazil had won two continental titles—the Copa América in 1997 and 1999—and were runners-up in the 1998 World Cup. On paper, their track record overshadowed England's.
However, upon receiving confirmation of the match, Aldrich found the FA's choice rather cunning.
Brazil's reputation seemed strong, but their actual capabilities were questionable. Key players like Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, and Cafu were well-integrated into European leagues, mitigating the disadvantage of playing away. Still, their biggest star, Ronaldo, was recovering from injury at Inter Milan, significantly weakening the team.
More importantly, Brazil had been plagued by internal turmoil. The fallout from their 1998 World Cup final loss shook the nation, leading to a congressional hearing on the match. Legendary coach Zagallo stepped down, and Luxemburgo took over.
Though Luxemburgo successfully defended Brazil's Copa América title, scandals soon engulfed him—allegations of personal misconduct, bribery for national team call-ups, and financial fraud tarnished his image. Meanwhile, Brazil struggled in the South American World Cup qualifiers, enduring a shocking six-match losing streak that jeopardized their chances of qualification. Calls for Luxemburgo's dismissal grew louder.
In a desperate bid to restore his reputation, Luxemburgo personally led Brazil's Olympic squad three months ago, only to suffer a humiliating defeat to Cameroon in the quarterfinals. Shortly after, he was dismissed, and Leão was appointed head coach.
Brazil had suffered consecutive losses in the qualifiers, and with a managerial change, the team's cohesion had clearly broken down. The best way to describe their situation was: "strong on paper, weak in practice."
Although their squad appeared formidable on paper, their actual performance told a very different story.
Aldrich couldn't help but chuckle at the FA's choice of opponent. But upon further reflection, he found a positive side.
For a developing England team, facing a disorganized Brazil could be just what they needed to inspire a strong performance and spark their competitive spirit.
In pre-match interviews, Aldrich remained diplomatic, reiterating the familiar stance: "Friendlies are not about the result."
Originally, Wembley was slated to close last month for renovations. However, Aldrich requested a delay, ensuring the national team could play its final match of the year at this historic venue before relocating to alternative grounds like Old Trafford or the Lion King Stadium during the rebuild.
The fans who arrived at Wembley today weren't just carrying cameras. Some brought simple tools, intending to dismantle and take home seats from the stands as keepsakes after the match.
During the team's first training camp under Aldrich last month, the focus was on building chemistry. Over a month later, the players regrouped with renewed determination.
Today, the team appeared more composed, with a clear tactical framework. The players' football intelligence and experience allowed them to adapt quickly to Aldrich's system, setting the stage for an electrifying encounter.
Aldrich sat on the sidelines, his expression calm and composed as he observed the match. On the field, 22 players were locked in an intense battle, creating an exhilarating spectacle due to the distinct characteristics of both teams.
Brazilian players were incredibly strong—phenomenally so.
There was the unpredictable Rivaldo, Ronaldinho with his dazzling footwork that made the ball seem like it danced on his toes, and Carlos, a powerhouse of explosive energy like he carried a rocket launcher on his back.
Whenever Brazilian players touched the ball, it was a treat for the eyes.
However, their strength lay primarily in individual brilliance. Each player showcased exceptional skills, performing their samba football with freedom and poetic rhythm. Yet, they failed to come together as a cohesive team, an integrated whole.
In contrast, England had no players with exceptional dribbling or ball control skills. But they played with great unity, and the speed of their offensive transitions was a highlight of the game.
The excitement of the match stemmed from the back-and-forth nature of the action. Both teams attacked aggressively, quickly advancing to the opponent's final third, keeping the fans on edge as the momentum shifted constantly.
Brazil relied on individual brilliance to drive their offense, while England leaned on swift, collective transitions. Brazil struggled to defend against England's unexpected forward surges, while England had to retreat their defensive line, wary of Brazil's individual dribbling skills that could easily break through if pressed too high.
"Rivaldo has gotten past Butt again! Thankfully, Southgate stepped up with a timely interception; otherwise, England's goal would have been in grave danger! While England's defense has been breached one-on-one multiple times today, their coordinated team defense has effectively limited Brazil's ability to deliver that deadly final pass or shot in the danger zone. Southgate has repeatedly saved the day, and Beckham and Lampard's covering efforts in the midfield have been crucial."
Expecting to neutralize Brazil's attack purely through one-on-one defense was a pipe dream. England's defenders had little advantage in individual matchups against a world-class forward line. Without strategic team coordination, their defense would have been a glaring weakness.
Aldrich jotted down notes in his notebook, meticulously documenting issues he observed during the match.
Owen sat on the bench today, and Aldrich had chosen not to use Heskey either. Instead, Smith started, but the results were almost like squandering a starting slot.
Brazil's offense moved the ball quickly to their forwards, leaving Smith, despite his tireless defensive efforts, unable to retreat all the way back to support.
Offensively, Smith's inability to pose a significant threat as the forward runner after England picked up speed was glaring. His runs lacked the precision and danger Owen brought, leaving England's most threatening attacks to come from midfield surges or advances by their attacking midfielders.
For other tactical executions, there were minor issues that could be resolved with further team coordination rather than being inherent flaws.
In the 36th minute of the first half, England launched a counterattack. Lampard delivered a diagonal long pass to exploit the left-side gap in Brazil's defense, where Carlos, who had pushed up in attack, couldn't retreat in time.
McManaman, anticipating this, positioned himself on the flank during the defensive-to-offensive transition to receive the pass.
He controlled the ball near the sideline and drove it toward the byline. As Brazil's defense retreated deeper, drawn by his movement, he suddenly pulled the ball back. Beckham, arriving from behind, controlled it, took one step to adjust, and unleashed a cross with his golden right foot.
Why was Beckham's "banana kick" so revered? Why was it considered unparalleled?
Beyond his exceptional free-kick accuracy, his crosses were famed for their bizarrely precise curves.
In countless moments of Beckham's assists through crosses, a peculiar phenomenon often leaves spectators puzzled.
The ball often passes alarmingly close to the goalkeeper. Why doesn't the keeper immediately rush forward to claim it or punch it away?
The answer lies in the distinct qualities of Beckham's deliveries—his crosses have sweeping arcs and blistering speed. Particularly, the sudden dip in the ball's trajectory creates a visual challenge, leading to misjudgment. Initially, a keeper might assume the ball is sailing out or landing at the far post. However, as the curve sharpens and the spin accelerates, indecision sets in. Charging forward at the wrong moment risks leaving the goal exposed, while staying put increases the difficulty of defending against the attack.
This time was no different. Beckham's cross, appearing to head toward the keeper's six-yard box, suddenly dipped, curving past the gap between the Brazilian defender and the goalkeeper. It landed at the far post, near the edge of the six-yard area.
Such crosses not only create dilemmas for goalkeepers but also unsettle defenders. Believing the keeper would claim the ball, defenders often ease their guard. But in this instance, a phantom-like figure appeared at the far post. Without hesitation, he met the ball with a first-time volley. The strike ripped into the top corner of the Brazilian net at the near post.
"Beckham's cross! Scholes at the far post! What a finish! England leads Brazil 1-0! Now, who dares claim that Hall's England lacks width in their attacks? Lampard's long ball found McManaman out wide. McManaman hit the byline and laid it back to Beckham, who whipped in a signature cross to set up Scholes for the goal. This is classic England at its best!"
Wembley erupted with deafening cheers as Beckham and Scholes laughed uproariously, running arm in arm along the touchline.
Aldrich rose to his feet, clapping for the goal, then calmly took his seat again.
He was delighted to see his players grasping his tactical instructions. In his system, midfield and defensive players must use their brains, enhancing their vision when passing the ball.
In every attacking move, Scholes was the only fixed point in central positions. Thus, progressing from the back required players to actively assess the situation in the forward areas. Lampard's long ball earlier demonstrated this principle—McManaman positioned himself in the area with the most space. Though Lampard's pass wasn't perfect, forcing McManaman to collect it near the sideline and waste time, it showcased the idea. A better delivery would have allowed McManaman to cut inside directly.
Instead, McManaman drew the Brazilian defense back, including Roberto Carlos, who rushed to double-team him. He then laid the ball off to Beckham.
When Beckham crossed, McManaman made a diagonal run to the near post, with Smith positioned centrally. Together, their movement created space for Scholes to exploit at the far post. The interplay was outstanding, with every attacker contributing to the buildup.
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