Zidane did not know what Twain had specifically instructed Wood, but it soon became clear to him.
Wood knocked Zidane out along with the ball he was dribbling with a vicious side tackle.
The referee’s whistle and the hissing in Bernabéu sounded at the same time.
A yellow card!
Zidane slowly stood up from the ground and moved his ankle. Everything was fine.
Then he looked up at the person who had shoved him. This was the first time he had taken a serious look at the opponent, the Nottingham Forest’s number 13, who had tangled with him for more than twenty minutes.
The “hit man” tightly pursed his lips as he stood in front of the referee and watched him record the foul in the small booklet with his head lowered. He did not apologize for the foul. He just had a blank expression on his face.
Beckham ran over to check on Zidane and found him staring at Wood.
“Be careful, Zizou.” He cautioned, “I’ve heard a lot of stuff about this kid.”
Zidane looked back at Beckham and nodded.
“I think they’re trying to provoke you, Zizou.” Roberto Carlos said in half-jest as he ran up for the free kick.
Zidane chuckled a little.
※※※
When he saw that George Wood was penalized with a yellow card because he had tackled Zidane, David Kerslake turned his head to look at Twain.
Twain looked back at him and shrugged. “He has to learn more techniques to control his fouls. That tackle just now was too aggressive. It looked like he had caused a lot of harm, but actually…” He paused for a moment before he continued. “If he’s going to get penalized, he also has to reap the equivalent benefits of getting that card. Now Wood has a yellow card, but he didn’t hurt Zidane.”
“Now I’m just worried about one thing, Tony. Wood has two options right in front of him. Will he choose to defend against Zidane at all costs and then get sent off after getting a second yellow card? Or will he be constrained in his defense against Zidane and let the defensive line in front of our center backs thin out?”
“That… you have to ask him.”
※※※
Just as Kerslake had said, even though there was no expression on his face, George Wood was confronted with a dilemma.
He knew that he would be sent off if he received two yellow cards in the same game. And now that he had one, it would not be easy to defend against Zidane. He could not guarantee that he would be able to defend against Zidane in the remaining sixty minutes without risking another a yellow card.
Regardless of whether or not he could defend against Zidane, it was extremely difficult not to risk a card in this high-intensity defense. George Wood was not Franco Baresi or Roberto Sensini. He could not play effectively and civilly during defense.
To counteract Zidane, he had to pay the price to make up the disparity between him and Zidane.
But now, getting a yellow card too early made him face a difficult situation.
If he did not want to accumulate another yellow card, he had to ease up on defense. The likelihood of getting a second yellow card would be greater if he did not let up.
He didn’t know what to do.
He did not want to be sent off. He wanted to stay on the field to compete with number 5. Twain wanted him to defend against Zidane. But if he was sent off by a red card in the end, then he would have failed in his mission. He did not want to be a loser.
This was Wood’s dilemma and Zidane’s chance. Accustomed to all kinds of circumstances and various types of opponents, how could Zidane not know Wood’s situation now?
He knew clearly. This was something he could fully make use of.
And he was not the only one who could take advantage.
After Roberto Carlos sent out the free kick, Real Madrid visibly shifted their offensive focus to Wood’s side.
Perhaps he might not get another card if he just defended Zidane alone. But when he had to face the entire team’s offense and could not even fend for himself, when he was dizzy and lightheaded from the attacks from everywhere, who could guarantee that he would not be impulsive, or react a little faster or slower, and then receive another yellow card?
Just as he strove to block Carlos’ pass, he watched the football bounce out and fall to Zidane’s feet. George Wood went all out to charge up, only to see the other party nimbly pass the football to Guti next to him.
Albertini came up to defend, but Guti passed the football back to Zidane again.
The French midfielder remained in his position. He did not rush to send out the ball as if he wanted to trick Wood into a foul.
But this time, Wood did not do as he wished and impulsively tackle him. Instead, he stuck close and constantly badgered Zidane for the ball from behind until the referee whistled.
It was a foul, but there was no card.
※※※
“He should have done this earlier,” Twain muttered to himself. He did not understand why Wood liked to tackle the ball. Was it because it looked aggressive?
※※※
This time, Real Madrid’s free kick was unsuccessful.
Wood strenuously propped up the defense, but he had not crumbled yet.
The game seemed to be in a stalemate. In the face of the Forest team’s tight defensive formation, Luxemburgo seemed to be out of ideas other than relying on the superstar footballers on the field.
The Real Madrid manager did not do anything except stand on the sidelines and occasionally wave his hands anxiously. Moreover, the Real Madrid players on the field might not even listen to the words he shouted. He had gradually lost control of the team. His desire to defeat Nottingham Forest at his home ground was just the final struggle of a dying man.
As shown on the field, Real Madrid did not perform as a whole during this period. They were completely reliant on those star players’ occasional flashes of brilliance. A nice way of saying it would be that those players had the ability to decide the game on their own. To put it bluntly, they were unable to cooperate with each other and fought alone.
If the superstars were not in condition for various reasons, then the game would be lost. And when those superstars lacked the desire for victory and had an inexplicable sense of superiority, they were likely to give up the game at the earliest point if the team was in trouble.
Fortunately for today’s game with regards to Real Madrid’s star players, although they were behind in the score, they were still dominant in the game. This gave them the motivation to win the game instead of raising their hands in surrender.
The supporters of Real Madrid were looking forward to Raúl, Zidane, Ronaldo, Beckham, or Roberto Carlos… Any one of them to stand up to save the day. They believed that their team was still the most powerful in the world because they had some of the most powerful players in the world. As long as one player stepped up, he could turn the tide in the game.
The Forest team finally managed an offense and obtained a corner kick after their tireless efforts. The two tall center backs went up to prepare to scramble for the position. In the end, Viduka ferried the ball to Anelka, who stopped the ball and shot a volley amidst the booing of the entire stadium. This time, Casillas positioned himself accurately and judged correctly in advance. He sealed off the French striker’s shot angle and easily grabbed the ball.
Real Madrid immediately launched a counterattack after that. Casillas threw the ball to Zidane.
The Frenchman elegantly stopped the ball and turned. He dribbled the ball and charged into the Forest team’s penalty area in one go.
Piqué and Pepe turned to run back to their own penalty area after they saw Casillas take down the ball. They put in all their efforts and ran what was their personal fastest time.
They had to do that because there was only one fullback in the rear, Chimbonda, a goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar, and a defensive midfielder, George Wood.
The first defender to meet Zidane was George Wood.
Wood did not directly face him, but slowly retreated on the side while he waited for his teammates to fall back.
However, Zidane would not give him the chance. He sped up!
The distance between the two men rapidly shortened.
Ten meters.
Wood quickly glanced behind him, which was still largely empty.
Five meters.
The Real Madrid players were pressing ahead quickly. Wood was not able to recognize them one by one in such a situation, but he saw four figures in white jerseys with one sweeping glance.
The enemies were pressing at the border.
Three meters.
Wood had to turn his gaze back. Zidane was already close at hand. He swept above the football with his left foot and did not touch it. It was immediately followed by his right foot sweeping towards the ball.
Wood did not know whether he was faking or playing for real this time. He quickly made a choice in his mind and decided to gamble that it was real this time.
Two meters.
As Zidane’s right foot drew across the ball, Wood shifted his balance. He was deceived!
One meter.
Zidane’s left foot kicked the football away from Wood’s side. Then he lightly leaped, and both of his feet went over Wood.
Such skill!
Wood still had a chance to stop this breakthrough if he extended his hand to hold the Frenchman’s jersey or quickly tripped him from behind.
However, if he did all of those, it would mean a foul this time. And judging from the vast expanse behind him, he was bound to get a card!
Wood must make a choice in a flash, whether his right hand or his right foot should move, or whether to stop the attack at the expense of being sent off.
Wood hesitated. At that time, Zidane bypassed and easily overtook him.
Bernabéu burst into deafening cheers, and the sound stirred Wood. He suddenly turned and gave chase to the white figure.
He wanted to make up for his mistake and could not let Real Madrid go into battle with this offense, no matter what price he had to pay!
When he was about two meters away from Zidane, Wood was ready to tackle the ball. He was ready to leave the field as soon as he struck with his foot.
He was going to tackle from the back!
As if he had eyes at the back of his head, Zidane suddenly jabbed the ball to the right at that moment Wood tackled. Then he jumped up as Wood’s legs slid under his body.
The football was sent to Raúl’s feet. He was in the penalty area and swung his leg to shoot!
Lying on the ground, Wood saw the scene while he was under Zidane. Edwin van der Sar did everything he could to save the goal, but he did not even manage to touch the ball. The ball hit the far end of the goalpost and shot into the goal.
Music was broadcasted at the Bernabéu stadium, followed by a roar. “And the goalscorer is Raúl González!!”