The underdog dressed as a pitbull!

 

Looking to be happy, England set both feet in the Final and a hand in the trophy

What a great game the lads pulled. Quite efficient in the first half, the English players had to sweat their butts, rather than playing football in the second half, to win the game against an opponent that was a few levels above, both technical and physically speaking. The semi-finals “underdog” is living the dream and now everything’s possible.

Mundialito Oporto Indoor (Semi Final)

July 6th of 2014, 21 hours

England, 5

Russia, 2

At Oporto indoor Games

England – Max Seaman; Sergio Wright Phillips (1), Nuno Ferdinand [C] (1), Pedro Crouch (1); Pedro Beckham (1).

From the bench: Daniel Banks, Leandro Lineker (1), Tony Lampard.

Coach: Tózé Robson

Discipline: Lineker (yellow card for foul)

Mid-term: 4-0

March of the score: 4-0; 4-1; 5-1; 5-2

Russia was the favourite but coming to think of it, England really deserved this brilliant victory, by playing as a true team and hitting the Russians where it hurts.

Beckham was the first to score with an acrobatic shot. Then, in only five minutes, the odds changed drastically. England got to the third goal with Wright Phillips and Crouch helping each other to score.

Then the game became balanced but the Russians could not wake up from the nightmare. Before the break, Lampard assisted Lineker for his first goal in the competition.

This shook the Russian’s heads furthermore, but the 5 minutes of rest helped them calm down and set their game.

The beginning of the second half was embarrassing for the British that just couldn’t hold the ball more than 5 seconds. It was hard but a champion has to suffer…

Banks, that replaced Seaman for the second half, delayed the goal as far as he could, but eventually Dzagoev did score the first for the Russians.

It could have been a turning point in the game history… but it wasn’t.

Lampard “pulled a rabbit from the hat” with an amazing pass that flew all over the Russian’s heads, as they were all balanced in the attack. This left the captain Ferdinand alone with the ball and lots of ground to cover. Akinfeev left the goal area to try to get to the ball but Ferdinand shot first and made 5-1.

Some minutes after, an injured Crouch had to leave the field. Not forgetting that Wright Phillips was also retired from the game before the break, but England stood stoically.

Russia reduced again some minutes later but it was too late. England had already put both feet in the finale… and the dream lives on…

Man of the match

Pedro Crouch – 8

The guy with the target in his back…

Instrumental in the attack, mainly in the first part, when he assisted for the second goal and scoring himself the third. With the result made at the start of the second period, came down the field, installing himself in the defence line, but always looking for a rapid counter attack.

Stopped a bunch of goal chances before exiting the game with a knee injury that may put him away from the final.  

The other members

Ferdinand, Wright Phillips, Lineker & Banks – 7

Seaman, Beckham & Lampard – 8