World Cup Story Feed / 世界杯事情流
World Cup Story Feed / 世界杯事情流
Rainy night, Beckham on the stands with his head in his hands.
On a rainy night, Beckham sat in the stands with his head in his hands.
On the pitch, his former teammates were turning the game into an absurd relay race. In stoppage time, Kane met O'Leary's headed pass and unleashed a volley that sailed straight into the stands. With 78.8% possession, it was the highest ever recorded for a World Cup team that failed to score. 19 shots, zero goals. The ball was passed around by England players, smooth and polished like walnuts worn to a glossy sheen in an old man's hand, but it just wouldn't find the net.
At the post-match press conference, Tuchel went out of his way to find a scapegoat for this stagnant attack.
He put Harry Kane on the hot seat, claiming that "relying on Kane is like Argentina relying on Messi or France relying on Mbappé." It sounds impressive at first, but a closer look reveals nothing but holes. Messi and Mbappé wouldn't interrupt a match in 19°C rainy weather by saying, "It's strange to have a water break in 19°C rain, but we accept it." The midfield's supply line had been cut, leaving them to only waste time with drinks, and using superstars as a shield is pure nonsense.
The tension on the pitch had already flared into the dressing room before halftime ended.
At halftime, Bellingham had a heated argument with Iran's coaching staff. After the match, he nonchalantly posted on Instagram: "No need to make a big deal out of it." Red-faced and clashing with the opposition's coaching staff at halftime, then acting calm and collected in front of the camera after the game. Even handing him the Man of the Match trophy couldn't hide the embarrassment of the Three Lions being dragged into the mud.
Iran wasn't about to indulge England's diva behavior.
Head coach Queiroz had set the tactical tone before the match as "frustrating" the opponent. Cutting off diagonal passes, blocking the wings, and even snatching two one-on-one chances on the counterattack. In the 79th minute, England nearly lost even that single point. After a challenge by Konsa on Adu in the box, former Premier League referee Darren Cann reviewed the play and bluntly stated: "It should have been a penalty."
The referee didn't blow his whistle. The screen in the VAR room probably just happened to go dark.
England escaped. When it comes to producing 0-0 draws, England has now left 13 clean sheets in World Cup history.