บท 327: From dark horse to Champions
The penalty shootout tests a player's mental fortitude more than anything else. It's not like the usual 90 minutes of regular play. No, it's entirely different. The shootout is the final test where victory is on the line. Ironically, the more desperate a player is to win, the less likely they might perform well. Add to that the physical exhaustion after 120 minutes, and even the most routine technical movements could go wrong under the immense pressure.
Butt wasn't physically tired. As long as he could conquer the mental pressure, he'd perform to his usual standard. And he did. He slotted in the first penalty, looking calm but it was anything but easy.
Real Madrid's first penalty taker was Mijatović, the forward who had previously won a controversial penalty for the team. As he stepped up to the spot, the stadium fell silent, everyone watching closely to see where he would place the ball.
Mijatović stared at the bottom left corner as he ran up, trying to mislead Butt, who dove towards that side. But the Real Madrid forward had chosen to strike to the other side. However...
The ball flew wide of the post. He missed!
"Mijatović misses! He couldn't handle the pressure! Although Butt dived in the wrong direction, Mijatović was too focused on precision, and the ball went just wide. Millwall now leads 1-0 after the first round."
Butt got up from the ground, his face calm, and stepped aside for Illgner to take his place in goal.
Millwall's players at the center circle didn't celebrate the miss extravagantly. Some of them clenched their fists and closed their eyes in silent celebration.
As Millwall's second penalty taker walked to the spot, the commentator was in disbelief again.
"Materazzi! Materazzi is taking the second penalty! Where are Millwall's strikers? Where are their midfielders? First it's the goalkeeper, now it's a defender. Are the others too scared to take a penalty? This is unbelievable! The first was a keeper, now it's a defender. Did Hall mix up the penalty taker list?"
But Materazzi was an excellent penalty taker. Those unfamiliar with the Premier League wouldn't know, but when Millwall used their second squad, Materazzi would always take the penalties. He had already scored 11 goals this season, six of them from the spot.
There was no issue with him taking the penalty, and he was full of energy, having only come on in extra time. Within the team, his leadership sometimes even surpassed that of Larsson, the club's third captain, as Materazzi frequently led the second team in matches.
With a serious expression, Materazzi waited for the referee's whistle, then ran up and struck the ball.
The ball flew cleanly into the top right corner. A little higher and it might have missed, but it was so precise that Illgner had no chance of saving it. He barely moved.
"Materazzi scores! Even though having Butt and Materazzi take the first two penalties was risky and unconventional, they both delivered. Now the pressure is mounting on Real Madrid. In the psychological battle, Hall's team is now in control. Real Madrid's next taker is Seedorf. Can he handle the pressure and restore some hope for his team?"
Seedorf looked calm as he approached the ball. His run-up was slow and deliberate, but when he struck the ball, it flew quickly towards the goal. Once again, Butt guessed wrong, diving to the same side as before, while Seedorf's shot headed towards the top corner.
Bang!
The ball smashed off the crossbar and bounced out!
"Wow, Seedorf's penalty hits the crossbar! Millwall hit the woodwork four times during regular play, and now it's Real Madrid's turn. But this miss couldn't have come at a worse time for them."
The Real Madrid fans in the stands were silent. Many shook their heads in disbelief, and Seedorf walked back with his head down. Several of his teammates were already crouching on the pitch, devastated.
Millwall led 2-0.
Theoretically, if they scored two more penalties, Millwall would win the title.
For the first time, Aldrich felt the nerves creeping in. He draped one arm over Jansen's shoulder and the other over Benítez's. If either of them had been paying attention, they would've noticed Aldrich's arms trembling.
The Champions League was within reach!
Millwall's third penalty taker stepped up: Nedvěd.
"Finally, a familiar face on penalty kicks appears! Nedvěd has been outstanding in the second half of the season and Hall has unleashed his attacking potential. No attacking midfielder has scored more goals in the top five leagues this year More than him. He has played a vital role in many goals and has become a key figure for Millwall. "
Nedvěd calmly ran up and pushed the ball into the bottom corner. Illgner was frustrated. He had guessed right again, but Nedvěd's shot was so precise that he couldn't quite reach it.
As Nedvěd's penalty hit the back of the net, the Millwall fans erupted in thunderous cheers.
This put Real Madrid on the brink of defeat. Even if they didn't fall now, they needed to score their next two penalties to stay alive.
Nedvěd, eyes closed, clenched his fist near his mouth as he walked back to his teammates, who welcomed him back with open arms.
"All the pressure is now on Real Madrid. Their third taker is Šuker. He *must* score, or they will have to watch their opponents lift the European Cup."
Before taking his penalty, Šuker had observed Butt's previous saves. He knew Butt liked to dive early, so his plan was to trick the goalkeeper into committing, then place the ball easily into the other side.
Butt hadn't saved any of the first two penalties. The Real Madrid players had been too focused on placement and ended up missing.
If Suk shoots into the theoretical dead center, even if Bart guesses the direction correctly, he will probably not be able to save it. So, with a comfortable 3-0 lead, he decided to play it safe and cover the central part of the goal. If an opponent takes a clever shot, he either pounces on the ball or simply lets it go. "
"The referee's whistle blew and Suker started the game. His eyes were on Butt and he felt the uncertainty wash over him as the tension began to creep in.
"Come on, you damn German—for God's sake, dive!"
"Dive!
"Dive!
"Left or right, choose whichever side you want!!!"
But there he was, squatting motionless like a statue. "
Now, as Suker stood at the penalty spot, he felt the weight of the moment. He had to shoot, but Bart remained motionless, sparking a pang of anxiety within him. In a desperate moment, he struck the ball, seemingly casually firing it towards left-center of the goal. It was a half-high shot that was difficult for the goalkeeper to save.
However, the ball wasn't moving quickly, allowing Butt to wait patiently for it to come to him before making his save. In that moment, Butt and Suker seemed like perfectly synchronized partners. As the ball rolled out, Butt took a step to the right and securely gathered it into his arms. With his expression unchanged, Butt hurled the ball toward his teammates.
But then his expression twisted, and he roared, "What are you waiting for? Champions of Europe! Let's celebrate!"
Millwall's ten outfield players at the center circle exploded with joy and raced towards Butt, fists pumping and shouting in celebration.
The substitute on the bench erupted and immediately rushed onto the field. The Millwall coaching staff, centered on Aldridge, is also working hard to move forward. Aldridge entered the fray with his eyes wide open, but he was tripped by a player on the way and fell face first to the turf.
But luck was on his side; the other coaches were quick on their feet, diving onto Aldrich in what looked like a celebratory pile-up. It made it seem like he wasn't just crashing to the ground but was actually getting cozy on the pitch to join in the celebration!
"And it's all over! Suker's penalty was effortlessly collected by Butt, leading Millwall to a stunning 3-0 victory in the penalty shootout against Real Madrid, crowned champions of the 1997/98 UEFA Champions League! Millwall has completed this season unbeaten, winning all 11 of their Champions League matches—they didn't just sneak into the final as dark horses; they arrived with undeniable strength and ultimately lifted the trophy. This is a myth, a miracle, destined to be remembered as one of the classic seasons in UEFA Champions League history. Millwall, the undeniable champions of Europe!
For Real Madrid, it's a bitter disappointment; their dream of a Champions League title, which had eluded them for 32 years, has been completely shattered by Millwall in this shootout. Hall described this match as akin to a date with one's lover, and indeed Millwall has made sure that the Champions League dreams of Real Madrid have come crashing down in Amsterdam!"
In the English commentary box, the broadcasters had gone completely wild.
"English clubs return to the pinnacle of Europe after 14 long years! The last Champions League title went to Liverpool in 1984, and during these fourteen years, English football endured a harrowing dark age. We faced bans, we were criticized as a breeding ground for football hooligans, and we were repeatedly beaten by Europe's strongest teams. But we have risen again, step by step reclaiming our place.
During this critical period, a great young tactician emerged—Aldrich-Hall. Every Englishman should cheer for him, as he has made England the center of attention once more! In just four years, he has built a powerhouse team capable of sweeping through Europe! Who would have thought that Millwall would carry the flag for England and restore our teams to the glory of the European summit?
In this match, Hall once again showcased his brilliance. Millwall lacked luck in regular time, with four clear chances striking the woodwork. Yet in the penalty shootout, Hall tactically employed the goalkeeper first, then defenders, followed by midfielders to take the penalties—systematically breaking down Real Madrid's psychological defenses. This was absolute premeditated genius! Aldrich-Hall has not only brought success to Millwall, but he has also laid the foundation for this young team, and achieved greatness for himself! From today onwards, Hall is a championship-winning coach, and Millwall has become the king of Europe!"
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง