Victory Secured, Eyes on the Future

England restarted the game cautiously, their players treading carefully to avoid losing possession. It was understandable—they had just conceded a goal and were keen to stifle Greece's momentum, denying them opportunities to launch another attack. The focus was clear: sap the opponent's morale and regain control.

Aldrich felt a small sense of relief as he observed his team maintaining composure, resisting the urge to engage in a frantic counterattack or reverting to England's traditional, chaotic style of play.

What kind of strategy Greece was deploying was beyond his comprehension.

Perhaps even their coach couldn't fully decipher it.

It was chaos.

Still, Aldrich saw the bigger picture. From a broader perspective, he had a solution. Breaking through wouldn't be difficult.

The key lay in the players' mindset. If they grew anxious and got drawn into Greece's scrappy play, losing focus, they would fall into a trap and be led by the nose.

Aldrich raised his hand and pointed at McManaman. As their eyes met, Aldrich gestured toward the Greek penalty area. The message was clear, and McManaman nodded in understanding.

Meanwhile, the Greek players and their coach were too focused elsewhere to notice Aldrich's conspicuous gestures.

Greece's desperate counterattack turned into an intense high press, with their players surging forward on the offensive.

Scholes dropped back to help with defense. England's eight-man, two-line defensive setup held firm, refusing to panic. They didn't grant Greece another chaotic opening or a clear shot on goal.

In the 80th minute, Butt and Ferdinand worked together to dispossess a Greek forward. Butt followed up by passing the ball straight to Beckham, about four meters ahead.

As Beckham sprinted forward to meet the pass, he assessed the situation upfield. While chasing the ball, he noticed two Greek players charging toward him like wolves.

Without halting or trying to shake them off, Beckham launched a long pass forward with a single, decisive kick.

The Greek defense was pushed high up the field—an inevitable trade-off for their all-out attack. If their defensive line didn't press, the midfield gaps left during transitions would be too vast to cover.

The last Greek defender was closely marking Owen, using his body to obstruct the striker's route and limit his acceleration.

Owen couldn't seize this opportunity.

But the ball, soaring from midfield, traced a distinct arc, curving from right to left and descending near the edge of the penalty area.

Owen had no chance, but when the Greek defender turned his head, he saw a flash of red streaking past.

McManaman.

Five meters ahead of the defensive line, the elegant figure of McManaman tore through like an unbridled stallion.

Golden hair flowing, a slight frame, a scholarly demeanor—McManaman was the picture of grace and determination.

Beckham's eyes gleamed with excitement and anticipation. Like his teammates who had held their positions at the back, he silently roared: "Steve, it's all on you!"

McManaman reached the ball just as it descended, skillfully controlling it a meter ahead before cutting inside.

The Greek goalkeeper charged out, while the Greek fans in the stands, unable to bear the sight, clasped their hands to their chests, praying fervently to the gods for salvation.

McManaman was cutting inside, looking for that perfect angle. The keeper, seeing the danger, sprinted forward, trying to close him down. The moment of truth came as the keeper lunged when he got within touching distance.

But McManaman wasn't done yet! With a sudden feint, he dragged the ball outside, leaving the keeper sprawling on the turf, clutching at nothing but grass. His trail? Just a set of footprints where McManaman had danced past him.

He's beaten the keeper!

With the goal wide open, McManaman calmly slotted the ball into the net with a precise left-footed push, ensuring there was no chance of missing.

As the ball crossed the line, rolling into the net, the Greek fans and players mirrored each other's reaction.

Eyes shut in despair.

The English fans erupted, their thunderous cheers piercing the heavens, dispelling the shadow of Greek gods and bringing light to the field. Victory was near.

McManaman jogged toward the stands, blowing kisses toward the English supporters in celebration.

"England seals the victory! Beckham's brilliant long pass from the back bypassed Greece's midfield and defense. McManaman raced in from the left, dribbled past the goalkeeper, and slotted the ball into an empty net. England's lead extends to two goals—3–1! Greece's hopes of a comeback are crushed!"

When Aldrich witnessed the goal, his reaction mirrored that of the Greek fans. He closed his eyes, a slightly ferocious smile curling on his lips as he swung his arms rhythmically.

This goal wasn't just a lifeline to turn the match around; it also served as a shot of adrenaline for Aldrich's aspirations of coaching the national team.

These players could be relied upon!

In the face of the overwhelming support from the Greek fans and the fearless fighting spirit of the Greek players, Aldrich's team had not lost their composure. They stood firm under pressure, an invaluable test of resilience and a significant step toward strengthening their squad.

Aldrich glanced up at the night sky again, his gaze unwavering and resolute.

Greece? Consider them conquered!

The first contender had been eliminated!

There were still 10 minutes left in the game. Did Greece have any chance?

None whatsoever!

Aldrich was confident.

The match's dynamics had shifted. The third goal had crushed the Greek players' morale, scattering their unity.

A comeback?

How many Greek players could genuinely believe it possible?

A draw would be mutually damaging. Greece needed all three points to keep their hopes of advancing alive. If they chose to drag England down with them, the outcome wouldn't change much. A draw would still leave England three points ahead, keeping their World Cup prospects intact while Greece's path remained bleak, beyond even divine intervention.

With the team divided and their energy sapped, Greece's strategy was faltering.

Rationally, they didn't even know how to stop England's offense anymore.

Take Beckham's earlier long pass, a straightforward and brutal play that bypassed their defense entirely. After the restart, Greece retreated their backline, determined not to let England exploit them with another ball behind the defense.

However, their midfield and forwards continued their aggressive pressing, hoping to overwhelm England with sheer numbers and chaos in pursuit of an equalizer.

The result? Gaps in midfield widened, and once again, Scholes became their nightmare.

After another failed offensive attempt by Greece, Scholes and Lampard executed a series of rapid one-twos, advancing seamlessly upfield. With ample space ahead, they reached the edge of the box, where Scholes combined with McManaman in yet another slick one-two. Scholes broke into the penalty area as McManaman's perfectly timed pass arrived, and the redhead unleashed a powerful strike into the net, extending the score to 4–1.

"A dreamlike sequence of play! England has just delivered an incredible team goal! Scholes, Lampard, and McManaman exchanged rapid-fire passes, weaving through Greece's defense with stunning precision before Scholes finished clinically inside the box to seal the match!"

Scholes' goal turned the game's closing stages into a frenzy. The English players appeared to be throwing a party on the pitch, celebrating unrestrainedly in this mythical land.

Aldrich, however, had already taken his seat. He didn't find the goal particularly impressive.

Was England's play truly exquisite?

Not really. With little defensive pressure up front, Scholes and Lampard's one-twos were hardly challenging—practically training drills. Greece's overcommitment in their counterattack left their defense in shambles. Their defenders made the fatal mistake of rushing to intercept, only to be overrun, leaving their backline short-staffed and doomed to collapse.

Though the match wasn't over, the Greek team was teetering on the edge of a breakdown.

The World Cup dream? Shattered.

With only one point from four matches and traditional powerhouses Germany and England in the group, their hopes were non-existent.

From the moment the draw was announced, no one truly believed Greece could make it out of this group. Yet, the allure of a miraculous underdog story persisted.

After today's clash with England, as the 90 minutes drew to a close, the Greek players faced a brutal reality:

Attack?

They didn't dare.

Whenever they pushed forward, they left gaping holes behind, utterly incapable of containing England's devastating counterattacks. Even their forwards struggled to make progress against England's defense. Supporting midfielders had no choice but to press up.

Yet, the moment they committed to attacking, England would exploit the openings with lightning speed, leaving the advancing players no chance to retreat to their defensive positions.

This was the essence of England's tactical brilliance. The three deep-lying midfielders strengthened their defense while enabling fluid transitions into explosive counterattacks.

The key lay in exploiting the brief window during their opponent's offensive-defensive transition.

If the opposition failed to set up their defense promptly, England's attack would systematically dismantle them, piece by piece.

Following another Greek restart, their attacks became overly simplistic—long balls aimed at the forwards, with midfielders hesitant to make bold runs for fear of exposing themselves to England's devastating counterplay.

In the dying minutes, neither team managed to create any significant threats.

England was content to play it safe, comfortably waiting to celebrate their 4–1 victory.

Greece, on the other hand, played cautiously to avoid turning a defeat into a humiliating rout.

When the final whistle blew, the English players collectively exhaled, smiles lighting up their faces as they embraced and high-fived. This victory wasn't just a morale boost—it elevated their confidence and fueled their aspirations for the journey ahead.

More importantly, it solidified their faith in Aldrich. At 2–1, his presence on the sideline seemed to infuse the team with an intangible strength, compelling them to stick unwaveringly to the game plan. Ultimately, they triumphed with a resounding win.

Aldrich exchanged handshakes and hugs with Klinsmann, Jensen, and others. England had successfully eliminated a competitor, their progress evident, but the road ahead was still fraught with challenges.

Without shaking hands with the Greek national team coach, Aldrich strode into the players' tunnel. Post-match handshakes weren't mandatory, after all.

Unbeknownst to him, his reputation as the "Manager Slayer" in English football was gaining new notoriety. Following Greece's crushing defeat at home, their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in tatters, the Greek Football Association announced the dismissal of their head coach. Otto Rehhagel, the legendary tactician who had achieved the Kaiserslautern miracle, was appointed to rebuild the team in preparation for the post-World Cup European Championship qualifiers.

The Fleet Street press gleefully linked this to Aldrich, humorously dubbing him the "Manager Slayer" whose infamy now extended to international football.

However, Aldrich was more intrigued by Rehhagel's appointment. He deeply admired the German coach, not just for his tactical prowess but for his ability to adapt.

Unlike other accomplished managers, who often possess a distinct tactical style that dominates their era, Rehhagel stands apart. At Kaiserslautern, he achieved glory with a bold and attacking philosophy. Yet, with Greece, he ascended to legendary status by adopting a conservative, defensive approach—a stark contrast to his previous style.

This versatility is both unconventional and awe-inspiring, making him a figure others can only look up to. Aldrich, for his part, eagerly anticipates the next opportunity to cross paths with Rehhagel when facing Greece, keen to learn from their tactical duel.