THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-630

After the Ivory Coast and Iran game, Mark Pougatch, the famous sports presenter for ITV, gathered a group of top-notch pundits to discuss the match in a post-match show.

The panel included the likes of Slaven Bilic, Eni Aluko, Ryan Giggs, and Gabriel Clarke, who shared their expert opinions on every aspect of the game. From analyzing the players' performances to uncovering the game's highlights, they dived into every detail to give viewers an unforgettable experience.

As the post-match show heated up, the commentators couldn't help but talk about Zachary's outstanding performance. Everyone was in awe of the star player who played a vital role in all three of Ivory Coast's goals. It was an unforgettable moment for Zachary and his team, and the commentators couldn't stop raving about his brilliant moves.

Ryan Giggs himself couldn't help but marvel at Zachary's effortless goal-scoring skills. "Did you see how he scored Ivory Coast's first goal?" Ryan exclaimed. "It was insane! A header from such a tight angle is never easy, but Zachary made it look like child's play."

"Zachary timed his run perfectly, shook off his marker, and then angled his head just right to direct the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net. The momentum behind the cross did the rest of the job. It's rare to find players possessing the talent and accuracy to execute a flawless header from such an arduous angle. Zachary is truly a master of his craft!"

Slaven Bilic shook his head and commented, "I've been following the World Cup for years and couldn't help but notice something. It's a tough pill to swallow – but we must admit that African teams often struggle with their attacking play."

"African sides usually make poor decisions in the final third and struggle with their technique, resulting in a lack of effectiveness when attempting to score goals. Surprisingly, many of their players play for top European teams. Teams like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Ghana have all had strong representatives in European clubs, but for some reason, they don't seem to perform as well for their national teams."

"I think this is about to change during this World Cup, with Zachary taking the stage," continued Slaven. "I say this because what I saw today in the match between Ivory Coast and Iran was not an underperforming Zachary – but the same Zachary who has helped Juventus win many trophies, including two Champions League titles, over the past few years."

"Despite being in a different team, which I have to say was a bit weaker than he's used to, Zachary was still as creative as ever and as sharp as ever in front of goal."

"Let's discuss Ivory Coast's second goal, shall we? It was an incredible display of skill. Zachary made a perfectly timed run, which opened up the entire Iranian midfield. He didn't stop at that but threaded the ball through the defender's legs, finding Nicolas Pépé, who finished the move."

"The same can be said for the third goal. Despite being surrounded by Iranian players, Zachary created space for himself with a simple twist and turn close to the edge of his box. He then launched a counter with a long-range pass using the outside of his boot. This resulted in Salomon Kalou's 92nd-minute goal. Zachary is truly at the top of his game, and if he keeps performing like this, he will undoubtedly help Ivory Coast progress far in this year's World Cup."

With a grin, the presenter, Mark Pougatch, eagerly acknowledged Slaven's contribution. "Thanks for that, Slaven! As we've all witnessed, Ivory Coast and Zachary have just bagged a crucial three points by defeating Iran with a stunning three-nil victory in their opening Group B game. But hold on to your seats, as the road to the World Cup knockout stages has only begun for them. They'll now have to face the mighty Portugal and Spain in their upcoming games, and it'll be a nail-biting journey ahead. Eni, do you think they've got what it takes to make it through?"

"I truly believe they have a shot," Eni Aluko exclaimed, her voice brimming with confidence. "The Ivorian team boasts an incredible lineup this time, featuring talents such as Serge Aurier, Eric Bailly, Wilfried Zaha, Nicolas Pépé, Gervinho, Zachary, and Salomon Kalou, all eager to showcase their skills."

"I can't stress enough the importance of Zachary's influence on the team – he's the driving force behind the Ivorian side, igniting his teammates and propelling the team forward. With his exceptional talent, he's bound to elevate the team's goal-scoring abilities and propel them to great success in the World Cup."

Mark Pougatch flashed a grin as he turned toward the cameras, clearly impressed by Eni's response. After a quick remark, he smoothly redirected the show's attention to the much-anticipated clash between Portugal and Spain.

With both teams boasting football icons such as Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Isco, Sergio Ramos, and Gerard Pique, the experts dived into a thorough analysis, holding the audience spellbound until the show's end.

—–

Zachary and his teammates left the Krestovsky Stadium forty minutes after their triumphant three-nil win against Iran. With spirits soaring high, they boarded their team bus, eager to continue the celebrations. Later, after arriving at their hotel in Saint Petersburg, they savored a delicious dinner before gathering in the conference room to catch the thrilling Portugal vs. Spain game.

The football match was nothing short of a nail-biting thriller that kept the spectators on the edge of their seats. It started with a bang, as Cristiano Ronaldo confidently converted a penalty and scored the first goal for Portugal within just 5 minutes of the game.

However, the Spaniards were not ready to give up so easily. They showcased their possession-based style of play and dominated the match for most of the opening minutes. With quick and intricate passing sequences, they created many problems for Portugal's defense, giving them a tough time. Diego Costa, the Spanish striker, was a constant threat upfront and eventually scored an equalizer in the 27th minute.

Just as the excitement started to subside, a sudden twist occurred during the 44th minute. Unfortunately, the Spanish goalkeeper, David de Gea, made a costly mistake, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to capitalize on the situation and score his second goal of the night. The audience erupted in joy as the Portuguese team gained a much-needed boost in their confidence.

As the second half kicked off, the tension around the game was still palpable. The Spanish team was determined to turn the match around and started attacking with newfound vigor. The midfield duo of Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets seemed to be everywhere on the field, and their relentless pressure on the Portuguese side was paying off.

Suddenly, the crowd erupted as Diego Costa scored his and Spain's second goal in the 56th minute of the game. It was a moment of pure magic as he outsmarted the defenders and found the back of the net with a shot from inside the box. But the Spanish team was not done yet. And three minutes later, Nacho Fernández scored an absolute screamer from outside the box to give Spain a 3:2 lead against Portugal during the 59th minute.

The Portuguese side was left in utter disbelief as the Spanish fans erupted in joy. It was a stunning turn of events, and the momentum had completely shifted in favor of the Spanish team. But the drama was far from over, and just when it seemed like all hope was lost, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and delivered a jaw-dropping free-kick in the 85th minute to complete a hattrick and level the score once again.

As the clock ticked into injury time, both teams were neck and neck with a 3:3 scoreline. Spain tried to maintain their dominance on the field with their possession play, but they were also on the lookout for any chance to score. However, one small mistake on their part left them vulnerable to a counterattack, which the Portuguese team seized upon with ruthless efficiency.

It all started with Jo?o Moutinho, who grabbed the loose ball just outside the box on the left flank and passed it to Jo?o Mário, the substitute. Jo?o Mário then played a couple of one-twos with none other than the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, and the duo darted towards Spain's side of the pitch like lightning bolts, leaving their opponents in the dust.

It was a tense moment as the crowd held their breath, anticipating what would happen next. The ball was passed to yet another substitute, Ricardo Quaresma, who finished from inside the box to score Portugal's 4th goal! The stadium erupted with cheers as Portugal took the lead in the game's closing stages.

What an exciting match it was! The fans were on the edge of their seats throughout, and the final result left them absolutely thrilled!

However, Zachary, who was watching the game with his fellow teammates in the conference room, couldn't help but narrow his eyes as the referee blew the final whistle. Something didn't feel right, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of déjà vu, albeit one which was troubling.

Suddenly, it hit him – the 2018 World Cup match between Portugal and Spain during his previous life was also a thriller of goals! Both teams had put up an incredible fight, only to tie 3-3 in the end. But this time, things were different, and Portugal had managed to snatch a late fourth goal to secure a win. Zachary was left wondering, what the heck was going on?

"Man, these two teams are going to be a real challenge for us," Eric Bailly interrupted Zachary's train of thought. "Their attack and midfield are top-notch, world-class. If we want to make it out of the group, we'll need to go all out and give it our best shot."

Gervinho, the captain, spoke up with a confident tone, "Let's not put too much pressure on ourselves. We've got this! As long as we play as a team and give it our all, we can definitely take on Portugal and Spain. It won't be easy, but we're up for the challenge!"

Zachary also chimed in, beaming with enthusiasm, "Gervinho is absolutely right. We only need to focus on our game plan and give it our all. I have a strong feeling that we'll qualify out of the group."

The rest of the team nodded in agreement, exchanging high-fives and words of encouragement. They were all pumped up and ready to show the world what they were made of. As they returned to their rooms for the night, they couldn't wait to hit the training field and start their preparations for the next game.