Chapter 732: Chapter 731: National team rosters announced, but Portugal faces an unexpected twist
On the German team’s forward line, there’s "Prince Podolski," Kuranyi, the Stuttgart striker, and Klose from Kaiserslautern.
Lacking big names, but all are hopefuls.
In midfield, after Matthaus, there’s Ballack, the national team’s core, Dortmund captain Kehl, Frings, Leverkusen star Schneider, and young Bayern talent Schweinsteiger.
On defense, Lahm made a strong entry. There’s Hinkel from Stuttgart, Boulahrouz from Werder Bremen, Friedrich from Hertha Berlin, Novotny from Leverkusen, and Worns from Dortmund.
The goalkeeper lineup is extremely strong, with Kahn as the top choice, followed by Arsenal’s Lehmann.
Of course, besides caring about their own players being selected, Manchester City fans are certainly more concerned about the England national team.
After all, Manchester is part of England.
And this year’s England national team did not disappoint everyone.
Stars and young superstars side by side, fully showcasing the hope of England.
English media fully believe that such an England team could dominate the world competitions for the next decade!
Up front, they have Owen, Fowler, and Heskey, the mid-generation star players.
Goodness, all from Liverpool.
Fortunately, there’s little Rooney from Everton.
Adding a touch of blue to England’s attack.
England fans lament that it would have been nice if that touch of blue had been Manchester City’s sky blue.
Deng Kai, Adriano, Ribery, any one of them taking English nationality would have thrilled the English.
Unfortunately... unfortunately, when Deng Kai left the national team, the English didn’t seize the opportunity.
Sigh... In one’s youth, one doesn’t realize how good Deng Kai is, mistakenly cherishing Owen as a treasure.
Of course, Owen isn’t bad.
But compared to Deng Kai... it’s too harsh on Owen.
In midfield, Beckham leads, with stars like Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard, Joe Cole, Hargreaves, and Butt all in the lineup.
The defense line is even more enviable, with Ashley Cole, Terry, Campbell, and Gary Neville – essentially the Premier League’s best defense line.
Add Bridge, Carragher, and Ashley Young to that, and it’s double happiness.
Only slightly lacking is the goalkeeper, Leeds United’s Robinson.
But surely he’s better than David Seaman, isn’t he?
Not to say Seaman wasn’t strong, but mainly because he was too butterfingered.
The only regret is that the Premier League’s top central defender, Ferdinand, was banned for eight months due to missing a drugs test half a year ago by the Football Association, making him miss the European Championship.
Otherwise, England’s chances of winning the championship would increase.
But Spain’s national team had the greatest connection with Manchester City.
Because this time, three Manchester City players were selected.
On the front line, Real Madrid’s Raul and Morientes were chosen.
This season Morientes was loaned to Monaco, not only leading them to the Champions League final but also personally knocking out his former club, Real Madrid.
Beautiful!
But the other two Spanish forwards are Torres and Villa!
Manchester City nurtured half of Spain’s strike force!
Unfortunately, both of these players are substitutes.
In midfield, Albelda, Baraja, and Vicente from Valencia were all selected, and given their chemistry, likely all to start.
Xavi Alonso from Real Sociedad, Xavi from Barcelona, Joaquin the "Spanish Figo" from Betis, Etxeberria from Athletic Bilbao, and Manchester City’s Fabregas all made the team.
In defense, Marchena, Puyol, Helguera, Gabri, Bravo, Cesar, and Capdevila were selected.
The starting goalkeeper is likely to be the thirteenth registered Casillas, not the number one Canizares.
Don’t ask why.
Ask, and you shall receive the news from the village.
Haven’t you seen this year’s European Union Cup final?
A seven to one match.
Deng Kai’s smooth six-goals streak completely broke Canizares.
Up to now, the favorites for the championship were practically settled except for some lingering dust on Portugal’s side.
Not that the lineup wasn’t announced.
In fact, the Portuguese team’s lineup was already revealed.
No need to mention Deng Kai, the sole core of the team.
Upfront, the team showed great respect for veterans, featuring Figo as the leader.
Ronaldo followed closely behind.
Then there were Bolaita, Quaresma, Simon, Nuno Gomes, and Postiga.
Among these names, Postiga was the most poignant.
Once upon a time, he was the senior to both Ronaldo and Deng Kai, playing above them both.
And yet in just a few years,
these two not only surpassed him but even outperformed stronger players like Nuno Gomes, Simon, Quaresma, and Bolaita.
Not to mention Hugo Almeida, who was just behind them at the time.
A sigh.
Sigh, indeed!
On the midfield, Rui Costa’s name was also placed before Deco’s, third in line was Viana, followed by Maniche, Costinha, and Veloso.
Veloso, from Sporting Lisbon, had once won the Champions League alongside Deng Kai, Ronaldo, and others!
Wu Xudong, who had been promoted to Sporting’s first team with him, had a better career development and was now a world-class star.
Of course, Veloso was also a highly sought-after newcomer in midfield.
He primarily played as a defensive midfielder and was versatile enough to shift to center-back or full-back.
With an aggressive playing style and robust defense, his passing and ball control were quite decent.
If he were ten centimeters taller, people might even think he was a combination of Vieira and Thuram.
Unfortunately, due to his height, he couldn’t play as a center-back for the long term.
And with speed being an issue, he also had difficulty consistently playing as a full-back.
When it comes to the defensive midfield position alone, people tend to focus more on defense and are less inclined towards defensive midfielders with some passing and ball control abilities.
On the defense line, Portugal called up Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, and Paços de Ferreira from the Champions League winner Porto, including Deco and Costinha, who were all notable figures in European football this year.
But sorry, they weren’t the most dazzling.
Not because the team also called up Liverpool’s defensive keystone, Kilop.
But because the team also called up Manchester City’s "European Union Cup Five-time Champion second time" and second captain, Jose Fonte!
Let’s talk face value!
Take a closer look at this Portuguese team.
Half of them are former members of the miracle of Sporting Lisbon.
The other half are current members of the Champions League winner Porto.
Those who have not won the Champions League in their career are only ... Simon, Quaresma, Bolaita, Viana, and the third goalkeeper Moreira, five people!
Just how terrifying is that!
But why say that Portugal’s lineup is still unsettled?
Because ... a group of lawyers from Spain filed a lawsuit against Deng Kai.
Even though Adriano’s father, Almir, expressed gratitude for Deng Kai signing the critical condition notice, the lawyer group still believed Deng Kai broke relevant laws and thus sued Deng Kai.
