Body Talk｜European Cup Notes: Clear The Clouds And See The Light

In the play-offs, his winning goal helped North Macedonia advance to the European Cup; in the first game of the main match, he scored the country's first goal in the history of the competition with a supplementary shot; facing Ukraine's desperate situation of falling behind by two goals, he Work hard to create points and give North Macedonia hope of winning again. Although he ultimately exited the group stage, Pandev's performance has won everyone's respect.

As early as before the start of the cup, Pandev announced that he would retire after the European Cup. Therefore, the last game of the group stage became his farewell performance. In the 68th minute of the game, amid the cheers and applause of the audience, Pandev was replaced by the head coach. All North Macedonia players lined up to pay tribute and hugged him one by one. Among the applauding crowd in the stands, a stout middle-aged man stood out. He was Dutch star Sneijder, Pandev's old teammate at Inter Milan. Both Meazza's children left their glorious years to the Nerazzurri.

Pandev came into public view in Serie A and spent most of his career in Apennines. In the second year after returning to Inter Milan, Pandev reached the top of Europe under the guidance of Mourinho and became famous for a while. Inter Milan gave him the opportunity to land in Serie A and brought him to the pinnacle of honor. Pandev once said in an interview: "I am forever grateful to Inter Milan. It was Inter Milan that brought me to Italy, introduced me to Italian football, and made me stand out."

Pan Dev has always been a grateful person. "North Macedonia invested in Pandev, and now Pandev has returned all to North Macedonia. Everyone knows what he has done for this country, and he is our idol." Draghi Kanatlarovski said . 20 years ago, it was this old coach who recruited Pandev into the North Macedonia national team and started his legendary career.

North Macedonia players lined up to pay tribute to Pandev. (Image source: Tencent Sports)

On the green field, the veteran ran with all his strength, scored goals to give back to the motherland, and created national history. Off the field, Pandev is also dedicated to the development of football in his country. Well aware of the fact that North Macedonia is weak and unable to train many young people with football talents, Pandev established the Pandev Football Academy at his own expense, providing a certain amount of funds for the academy every year and handing over the responsibility of running the team to his brother. He told his old friends: "I will invest the money I earn in football construction to help my city, our children, and our motherland."

Pandev Academy has 13 youth teams of different age groups with players all over North Macedonia. After several years of development, Pandev Academy, as a new team, has made its way from the fourth tier of North Macedonia to the top league. In 2019, it won the domestic cup championship and had the opportunity to appear in the Europa League. In North Macedonia’s squad for this European Cup, midfielder Marjan Radeski is from Pandev Academy.

Pandev's classical knightly enthusiasm lights up the night sky in North Macedonia, and his efforts are paying off bit by bit.

The proud and happy Englishmen marched into Wembley singing "Football Comes Home". This is the place of glory for British football, and this young, promising and star-studded England is also eager to win the major competition again after 55 years. champion.

According to data from Germany's "Transfer Market", the England team is worth as much as 1.32 billion euros, with an average worth of more than 50 million, while the Italian team is worth only 760 million euros, just over half of the former, among which their "71-year-old" The two central defenders, Bonucci and Chiellini, are worth no more than 10 million euros in total.

Only eight players from this Italian team have played in the European Cup, and only three have experienced the 2012 final. Bonucci and Chiellini are two of them. In that game, Chiellini only played 20 minutes before leaving the field due to injury. On the bench at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, he witnessed the team's defeat and the carnival of the Matador Legion.

In the 2012 European Cup final, Italy was defeated by Spain. (Image source: Tencent Sports)

Four years later, France and Italy made a comeback. Chiellini scored a supplementary shot to help the team avenge Spain, ending the regrets of four years ago. However, in the quarter-final match between Germany and Italy, Bonucci, who scored a penalty kick to equalize the score in the second half, performed abnormally in the penalty shootout. His shot lacking an angle was saved by Neuer, which indirectly led to Italy's defeat. out. When he later recalled the penalty kick, he lamented: "I was lost in the hesitation."

The final inevitably entered a penalty shootout. When the team was temporarily behind in the first two rounds, the person who went to the penalty spot was Bonucci. In the past five years, he has joined Milan, where he fell to his knees passionately after scoring against Juventus, and then returned a year later. He was selected into the FIFA Team of the Year in 2017, and just one month later he had no choice but to face Italy and miss the World Cup. tragic fate...

Bob Dylan sang in the song "How many roads does a man have to travel before he can be called a man?" For veterans like Bonucci and Chiellini, the roads they have traveled and the things they have experienced , what brought them the most was no longer growth, but a kind of relief. Before the semi-final penalty shootout started, Chiellini even joked with Spanish captain Alba. His relaxed confidence was in sharp contrast with the latter's nervous silence. It seemed doomed from the beginning. The outcome of the game.

When Bonucci stood on the decisive 12 yards again after five years, he had long since let go of his previous hesitation and confusion. Run-up, pause, and hit the goal. Although Pickford guessed the right direction, he could not stop the ball from flying into the blind corner. This time, Bonucci did not act as a half-hero, and Italy also changed from "defeating with glory". The last king.

After winning the championship, Bonucci and Chiellini celebrated passionately. (Image source: Tencent Sports)

Football did not go home, but took a detour to Rome. Italy won the championship, leaving the world with a huge question: How much gas is left in the tank? In next year's World Cup, how far can Italy's half-new and half-old electric classic car drive?

Without warning, Eriksen collapsed on the lawn. For a moment, it seemed as if the whole world had stopped, and then he fell into uncontrollable fear and sorrow. The audience at the scene covered their faces and did not dare to watch any more; the fans in front of the screen were helplessly typing on their mobile phones and praying "Don't let anything happen". Eriksson's family members on the sidelines were emotionally broken down and burst into tears. The tragedies of Marc-Vivian Foe and Morosini reappeared in people's minds, and the cruelty of life and death tore at everyone's beating heart.

During that difficult time, at the Copenhagen Park Stadium, the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, and the football bar in Wudaokou, the "European Cup" briefly disappeared, and only Eriksen remained in the football world.

Danish players built a "wall of life" for Eriksen. (Image source: Tencent Sports)

Well, this time, football won, in every sense of the word.

Danish captain and defender Kjaer was the first to react to the situation. He quickly took out Eriksson's tongue to prevent him from choking or biting it off. Then he organized his teammates to build a wall to protect Eriksson's privacy. And he worked with deputy captain Schmeichel to comfort the family members who were on the verge of losing control. About thirty minutes later, Eriksen came to his senses and was finally carried away from the scene on a stretcher to the applause of the fans. The players and the doctors present took advantage of the "four golden minutes" to bring Eriksen back from the dead.

Many people don't know that Kjaer and Eriksen have been old friends for many years. They have played together for Denmark since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and they also completed the 100-game milestone for the national team in the same game in 2020. In the face of his best friend's sudden fainting, Kjaer maintained absolute composure. In this fight against death, he showed the world what a true tough guy and leader is.

After the 4-1 victory over the Russian Miracle in the final round of the group, people began to look at the Danish team in surprise. They found that the spirit of Kjaer had spread to the whole team. Everyone standing on the field, their eyes There is fearlessness and perseverance in all of them. It is true that Eriksen's absence is a huge loss, but his temporary departure also gives the teammates who are still fighting reason and belief to move forward.

The Danish team keeps moving forward with Eriksen's dream. (Image source: Tencent Sports)

Sweeping Wales and defeating the Czech Republic, the Danes made it all the way to the semi-finals. Facing the powerful Three Lions, the 21-year-old youngster Damsgao pierced the sky with a full-moon scimitar, shocking the world again. But the Danish fairy tale failed to have a happy ending in the end. Kane's supplementary shot in overtime sent England to the final. Danish goalkeeper Schmeichel Jr.'s eyes showed unwillingness and disappointment. He had tried his best, but could not replicate the glory created by his father Schmeichel Sr. and the Danish team in 1992.

But who could blame the Danes? This summer, they have left enough surprises and hopes. They once again led people to realize the most authentic love for football and life. They perfectly implemented the heroism of "seeing through life and loving life" in Romain Rolland's words.

Thirty days, day and night, passed by in a flash, but the aftertaste lingered. Twenty years later, when we talk about the summer of 2021 again, what will we think of? Schick's midfield lob, Dubravka's "dunk", the crazy night dedicated by Switzerland and Croatia, Morata's heroic sinner between the lines, Chiellini's foul of the century, Southgate's magical substitution people……

Perhaps, you will also think of the Danish team, who carried the sorrow forward and made people believe in fairy tales again; and the two "old guys", who experienced falls again and again, and finally climbed up step by step. Throne; you will probably not forget the handsome guy nicknamed "Nuclear Warhead", who, from jersey to suit, faced many doubts and restored the glory of Ukrainian football; of course, there is also the stubborn North Macedonian veteran, who knows what he does on and off the field. Unite, stick to it for twenty years, and dedicate everything to the motherland.

They have all been trapped in darkness, shrouded in confusion and helplessness, but they have also chosen to overcome their fear, move on, and finally push aside the clouds and see the light.

The reason why football can captivate all living beings is because it gives people the courage to face reality. This world is indeed ruthless, but as long as we are firm enough, brave enough, and loving enough, maybe one day, she will tear off her cold veil and let us meet the long-awaited midsummer.

See you in Qatar next winter.

Not about life or death

higher than life and death