Shanghai Lions FC

The way it happened, was SO FRUSTRATING that I was not feeling like writing just after it but finally it is quite a long report.

Because is it football : there are still so many matches to play, Les Bleus have to rebound and there are things to learn from defeats ...

We have started in a system (4-3-2-1) : only 1 forward and 3 defensive midfields. Actually, it was a tactical bet and it worked at first half-time. We were playing with 3 defensive midfields but we played very HIGH. It means the defensive can become offensive quickly, and it is a compact block of players. The team was well organized, we get almost all the balls in their side and make it circulate well. So, we scored logically thanks to a wonderful shoot from Greg ! No seriously, it was quite a not powerful long shoot but their goalkeeper helped us with such an unbrilliant miss but who cares, it was A GOAL, it was deserved. We were leading 1-0 probably after 15-20 mn !!

We had the game under control (no danger from Koreans) but didn't succeed to score another goal though several opportunities. David got injured, Christophe took his place.

At half time break, there may be the thought of changing the system (4-4-2) but we were afraid also to be unorganized as it worked well in first half-time. Tactical decisions and changement of players are always sort of bets and we are never sure what can happen.

At second half time, we still got the chances to score a second goal and kill the game. The problem is lack of realism in the last pass or the last striking gesture, maybe also lack of luck but we already had some with the first goal ! And we still got some luck : the Koreans WON A PENALTY BUT MISSED IT !! We were still leading 1-0 and we had again chances to score after that (hit the post from Max, diving head from Loic, etc ...) => ARGHHHHHHHHH, the ball just doesn't want to enter : there is a lack of STRIKING KILLING in our attack movements ....

More we miss the chances, more it becomes frustrating and more the fear of being equalized grows. From now, we have never been able to secure a game 1-0 and what is the recipe to entirely kill a game ?

And then, they equalized 1-1 ! (don't remember exactly their movement, except that the korean striker shot a 1 meter distance of the cage with rage).

The mental is not our strength, and with equalizer, doubts started because of all the missed chances. Some members may still believe in victory, some may have problems to get rid of the disappointment.

Another post hit (head of Pascal) for Les Bleus, a few other missed chances. But finally, it is the Koreans who scored another goal 2-1 with a misunderstanding between Oumarou and Edu, their opportunist striker jumps out first and made a lob.

Well, with 5-7 mn left,  we still got some chances to equalize.  But mentally it was too much to handle for Les Bleus. Even before the final whistle, we can feel there was sort of give up because of the disappointment.

WE COULD HAVE WON 3-0 but WE LOST 2-1 

WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL BUT WE DON'T MAKE IT BECOME REALITY AND THAT'S WHY, IT IS SO FRUSTRATING.

Things to learn from this defeat and use it to be better  :

1/ REALISM: for sure in the attack movements (we got many), we have to kill the game ! We don't have the right to create so many chances without scoring.

2/ MENTAL: Half time break, I think at that moment, we could have warmed up more the team to gain back fighting spirit and concentration like when we start the game. Try to forget we lead 1-0 : it is not easy because we know we lead 1-0 and unconsciously a team plays differently ...

3/ TACTICAL: David (injured) is able to play more defensively than Christophe in the axis. Actually, we realized it more after and could have been better to switch in 4-4-2 because the team was less in place and organized in second half-time. Maybe it would have helped but not sure, we'll never know ...

The positive thing is to learn improving organization systems. If we are able to switch from one system to another between matches and even between half-times, it gives more winning weapons ! (of course players have to follow the instructions of the system chosen, and the system is chosen consequently because of the players on the pitch)

Final score Koreans 2 - Les Bleus 1