Chương 394: The Mighty Bayern Munich
Wembley, evening, with a gentle breeze.
The highly anticipated first leg of the Champions League semi-finals is about to kick off. Wembley is packed, and getting a ticket is nearly impossible!
Not just the fans of The Lions, but countless neutral supporters also want to be present for this pinnacle matchup.
Both teams' players are waiting in the tunnel to make their entrance.
Matthäus, 38, felt someone was watching him. He turned around and saw Schneider, who greeted him in a friendly manner.
Why does it always seem like Bayern Munich dominates German football?
Didn't Dortmund and Mönchengladbach once reign supreme?
There are too many factors involved. Besides financial backing, Bayern's crucial role in helping the German national team win championships during tournament years plays a significant part. In particular, with football legend Beckenbauer as the president, Bayern's influence in Germany expanded further, leading to a tradition where at least half of the national team's main players come from Bayern. Consequently, this means that top local talent aspires to join Bayern Munich, which in turn increases their chances of making the national team. This cyclical pattern is hard to break.
In the current Bayern Munich starting lineup, besides Lizarazu, Elber, and Kuffour, all the other players are homegrown Germans. While Kuffour is Ghanaian, he came up through Bayern's youth system.
Seeing his older peers, Schneider knows he must greet them respectfully; he's still a backup for Babel in the national team.
Ronaldinho's eyes dart around, which annoys Matthäus. Ronaldinho finds it curious that someone twice his age can still start in a match at this level, almost like a monster.
...
Aldrich exchanges pleasantries with Hitzfeld before standing on the sidelines, waiting for the match to start.
The players enter the field as the Champions League anthem echoes through Wembley.
"Good evening, spectators! The thrilling Champions League semi-finals are underway. The defending champions, Millwall, have once again reached the semi-finals in their second year of UEFA Champions League action. Their opponents are Bayern Munich, and both teams have sent their strongest lineups to face off today.
Millwall starts in a 4-3-3 formation.
Goalkeeper: Butt.
Defenders: Schneider, Materazzi, Southgate, Zambrotta.
Midfielders: Makélélé, Pirlo, Nedvěd.
Forwards: Larsson, Henry, Ronaldinho.
Bayern Munich starts in a 5-3-2 formation.
Goalkeeper: Kahn.
Defenders: Babel, Kuffour, Matthäus, Linke, Lizarazu.
Midfielders: Jeremies, Effenberg, Basler.
Forwards: Jancker, Elber.
Millwall undeniably ranks among the most potent attacking sides in Europe, while Bayern Munich is renowned for its solid defense. What sparks will fly between these two teams today? We'll find out!"
Aldrich gazes intently at Bayern's starting lineup, feeling a surge of excitement.
Indeed, Millwall is up against a complete and formidable Bayern Munich.
This is not the same Bayern Munich that Manchester United faced, missing Lizarazu and Elber!
Fans who still harbor feelings from the classic 1999 Champions League final might say: If only Lizarazu and Elber had played...
Manchester United fans would retort: If only Keane and Scholes had been there!
What if Matthäus hadn't been substituted in the final ten minutes?
If only...
In football, the world favors the winners—there are no ifs.
But the truth is, Millwall is facing a Bayern Munich at its zenith. Two decades later, this squad would be celebrated as part of footballing legend!
Kahn needs no introduction, the best goalkeeper in German history, right at the peak of his career.
Babel, a key player in the German squad that lifted the European Championship trophy in England in '96!
Kuffour and Linke were instrumental from Bayern's journey to the 1999 Champions League final to winning it in 2001.
Matthäus, the evergreen 38-year-old, arguably ranks just below Beckenbauer in terms of accolades in German football. He has won World Cup and European Championship titles, and the only missing piece is a Champions League title, which he's striving for.
In recent years, German football has adopted tactical formations like 3-5-2 or 3-6-1, where roles like Matthäus's become pivotal.
As a sweeper in defense, he also contributes significantly to the attack. He can be wherever he's needed, which allows Bayern to transition between 3-5-2, 3-4-3 in offense and 5-3-2 in defense.
This role is extremely demanding, relying heavily on one's awareness and reading of the game. If played well, one could receive accolades like Sammer in '96, but if not, such roles can result in dire consequences for the team. Clearly, Matthäus is far from a liability.
Lizarazu, the greatest left-back in French history, recently helped France lift its first World Cup trophy.
Jeremies, the strongest defensive midfielder of this era in Germany, showcases a sweeping ability reminiscent of Gennaro Gattuso in his prime. His knack for breaking up play is second to none.
Effenberg was a brave warrior who carried the banner of German football during this period, with a natural leadership temperament and straightforward character.It turns out that historically, he had harshly criticized Matthäus for requesting to be substituted in the 80th minute of the 1999 Champions League final, believing that Matthäus's departure at the end of the season served as an encouragement for Bayern Munich.
Although this "bad boy" was indeed a midfield superstar, he lacked master-level organizational skills. Later, Ballack eventually became his successor, but Effenberg's dominance was what really made him stand out and become one of the top midfielders.
Basler is a flamboyant attacking midfielder who made waves in the Bundesliga, even earning the Bundesliga top scorer title; however, the German national team values unity and spirit on the pitch, so it's no wonder he wasn't heavily utilized by the national team.
Elber, arguably the most successful foreign player in Bundesliga history, started scoring prolifically after joining Bayern.
Jancker, a traditional German target man, complements Elber perfectly.
Even so, Bayern's bench is filled with noteworthy substitutes.
Scholl, Tarnat, Ziegler, Fink, and Strunz are all either immensely talented or simply crowded out by stronger teammates. Players like Strunz and Tarnat are national team members, with Strunz having played in the Euro '96 final.
"Match underway! Millwall kicks off; Henry passes the ball to Larsson, and we see three Bayern players rush forward. Jancker, Elber, and Basler press sequentially, demonstrating Bayern's determination not to give Millwall any breathing room."
When Pirlo gets the ball, he's taken by surprise at how aggressively the opposition presses, and with no forward options, he's forced to pass it back.
Overall, the immediate sense is that Millwall is being torn apart by Bayern's defensive setup!
The distance between the midfield and forward lines is stretched, filled with Bayern players looking to intercept passing lanes or prepare for a tackle.
The tactical discipline of German teams is unquestionable. Unlike the romantic flair of Latin teams, they emphasize strength and resolve, bringing a ferocity to the pitch.
Today, Millwall's attack, when faced with Bayern Munich, finds its quality drastically diminished compared to their previous overwhelming displays.
Their attempts to attack meet constant interruptions and dispossession. Even when they regain possession and counter, they still can't break through.
The indefatigable Effenberg and the tenacious Jeremies completely stifle Pirlo's orchestration. Even when Ronaldinho and Nedvěd drop back, the front line remains isolated.
Especially Matthäus—despite being 38, he seems to be everywhere!
Every time Millwall's offense starts to gain momentum, Matthäus suddenly appears in the key areas, leaving the crowd to wonder: Is he really 18 or 38?
At his age, playing isn't solely based on passion. With years of experience, he reads the game impeccably. Being a sweeper, he has no fixed defensive zone, granting him the freedom to accurately predict the ball's trajectory and intercept at crucial moments.
After minutes of play, Millwall has only seen Henry take a shot when the match started. They haven't had any clear attacking opportunities since.
Aldrich remains calm on the sidelines, his mind steady. In a clash of experts, the first thought is always to limit the opponent, and Bayern has executed this perfectly today—arguably even flawlessly!
He hopes his players appreciate this invaluable chance to compete.
Defeating weak teams won't make one a champion; real testing happens against top-level opponents, highlighting their weaknesses and urging them to strive for higher ambitions.
Bayern, playing away today, knows that a solid defense comes first, hence their limited attacking efforts. Even Jancker and Elber are actively disrupting Millwall's offense. Their counter-attacks largely rely on solo efforts, as Basler neatly evades Pirlo, but fortunately, Makélélé holds his ground and manages to retrieve the ball. Otherwise, Millwall's defense would surely be in danger.
In a high-paced match, players are expected to make quick and efficient decisions, allowing them to match their opponents in strength.
Though there have been few clear-cut chances on both sides, the intensity is palpable, and the spectators hardly notice the time passing.
The game lasted 30 minutes, but Millwall did not create any good chances. It seemed that even at home, they did not have the upper hand.
Aldrich recognized the root of the problem: the team's recent run of victories and an easy win against Dynamo Kyiv had locked the attack into a fixed pattern.
Whether it's Ronaldinho, Henry, or Nedvěd, they all seem intent on breaking through with ground passes or individual efforts to reach their opponent's box.
In the past, this approach would suffice; with a bit of patience, they would've seen at least three clear chances in 90 minutes.
However, facing Bayern Munich—especially with Matthäus acting as the sweeper—Millwall cannot afford to stick to their current strategy.
Aldrich signaled to Pirlo, and he quickly nodded in understanding. Aldrich then made a couple of gestures to the players ahead, delivering simple and clear instructions that they comprehended instantly.
In essence, this attack needed more diverse options.
Although they have achieved success in ground passing and quick cooperation, they insist on using this strategy. When the opponent tries to limit their play, they try individual breakthroughs and try to solve the problem with their personal ability. However, when both methods fail, it is difficult for them to change tactics in time.
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