The Elland Road stadium was already packed.
Known as the craziest fans in England, they had already packed Leeds United's home ground before the game started and started cheering and singing.
In the players' tunnel, Luka Modric, who was waiting to enter the stadium, was looking down and thinking about something, completely unaware that the Leeds United players around him were looking at him.
It wasn't until his teammate Joel Luca nudged him that he realized what was going on around him.
First there are two bald heads, one wearing size 16 is stronger, the other wearing size 18 is not that strong, but he doesn’t look like a kind person.
The other Leeds United players were also chatting in twos and threes, but they looked at Modric from time to time, which made the Croatian feel uncomfortable.
Then the captain of Leeds United, Alan Smith, came over from behind and was about to walk to the front of the team. When he passed by Modric, he stopped and started to look Modric up and down.
Modric felt uncomfortable with his look and wanted to ask him, but he didn't know English.
After glancing at Modric twice, Smith walked forward and walked in front of Van der Sar. The Leeds United coaching staff, who have been at the back of the team, are now chatting, and the content of the chat is also about Modric.
"She looks quite delicate. Is it really as powerful as you say?" It was Brian Kidd who spoke.
The team has been studying how to play Dinamo Zagreb in the past two days, and the key point proposed by Li George is to freeze their midfield core, No. 10, Luka Modric.
"When Kaka first went to AC Milan, he was just as handsome as him and even wore glasses..."
When George Li spoke, he pushed up his glasses. He had just put on glasses, and he wasn't very used to it. When he was watching the game off the court, he noticed something was wrong with him, but he couldn't explain it.
It wasn't until watching TV that day that he finally discovered the problem. It turned out to be myopia.
George Li pushed up his glasses again and continued talking.
"He has just played in the World Cup, and it is obvious that he has great potential. And to be able to wear No. 10 at Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 20, don't you think he must be of some level?"
George Li could only say this. He couldn't tell them that he would still win the World Footballer Award in more than ten years.
"Hmph, I thought you were targeting Viduka like this because of what he said." Casper also joined the chat.
"Am I such a petty person?"
"You are..." Kidd and Casper said in unison.
^^^
While talking, players from both sides began to enter the stadium, and the game officially began.
Leeds United was also relatively conservative today. Newly joined Kuyt and Woodgate did not start. Instead, they adopted last season's regular lineup and set up a 433 formation.
Van der Sar, Baines, Matteisson, Albcheson, and Mills partnered in defense.
Because of the departure of Glenchard and Romedal, Smith moved to the left wing of the team, so the midfield became a double midfielder combination of Parker and De Jong paired with Gravesen.
The front three are Smith, Robin van Persie and Kevin Davis.
After the game started, Leeds United still pressed high in the frontcourt, putting pressure on Dinamo Zagreb's defense.
Dynamo's defense can only hand the ball forward as quickly as possible to prevent the ball from being stolen in the backcourt.
The ball was quickly driven to Leeds United's half. Dynamo forward Eduardo was defeated in the battle with Albchisson, and the ball was pushed toward the center circle.
Modric and De Jong were about to compete for the ball, but just when both sides were about to touch the ball, De Jong slipped directly to the ground and began to tackle the football.
Modric was instantly frightened and jumped up to dodge, avoiding De Jong's leg.
The ball was obtained by De Jong. After getting up, De Jong handed the ball to Graveson, and then he began to move forward and receive the ball.
Graveson began to organize the attack, Leeds United began to advance layer by layer, and the ball was passed back and forth by several people in the midfield.
From Smith on the left to Van Persie on the right, Davis retreating from the front and Baynes plugging in from behind, they are all constantly conducting the ball.
Until De Jong, who was following up, found an opportunity and found Smith inserting himself behind Dynamo's defense from behind.
But De Jong passed the ball a little late, and was blocked by the opponent's defender Mamic, who stood on the passing route and intercepted the ball.
Mamic quickly counterattacked after getting the ball and passed the ball forward to midfielder Joel Luka.
Cholluka looked up and spotted Modric who was receiving the ball. Just when he was about to pass the ball, he saw the bald head of No. 16 blocking the passing route.
Just when he hesitated, Leeds United's midfielder Parker grabbed the ball and stole the ball from Joel Luca's feet.
The situation reversed instantly, and Parker found Davis directly this time.
Davis, who retreated, used his body to jam another Dynamo center back, German veteran Nowotny.
Then he dropped his shoulders to the right, and then immediately made a half-turn to the left, getting rid of the defense.
After turning around, Davis slipped the ball behind the defense on the right, and Van Persie appeared there with a counter-offside move.
After arriving in the penalty area, Van Persie faced the ball and shot directly into the far corner with his left foot, and steadily scored the ball into Dynamo's goal.
1 to 0.
After scoring the goal, Van Persie spread his arms and started running along the baseline, followed by other Leeds United players who arrived.
Finally, he was caught up by Smith behind him in the corner kick area, fell to the ground, and celebrated together.
The Leeds United fans nearby have begun to go crazy. Their team is getting closer and closer to the Champions League.
And Li George waved his arm fiercely off the court. This goal was not because he restricted Modric, but because the team's tactics and strength were already a little higher than the opponent, and they could defeat the opponent with their strength. .
As for why Modric should be targeted, one is that the opponent is indeed a capable and potential player, and the target should be strengthened just in case; the other is simply to give Weidu some color.
After the restart, Modric deeply felt the malice of the Leeds United coach.
Leeds United's three midfielders will always intentionally stand in the passing route given to them by their teammates, and will not let him get the ball comfortably.
After he finally got the ball, he would immediately be double-teamed at the start, and it was a complete double-team. They would rather let go of their teammates, just to surround him.
Although he can pass the ball to his teammates, it will be snatched away by the opponent immediately.
The opponent's left winger and center will always retreat to defend, so that they do not have the numerical advantage in the midfield.
In a confrontation, Modric was knocked to the ground again by Parker, but the referee did not whistle.
Modric sat on the ground and watched Parker take the ball and walk away. After Parker came to the center circle, facing Joel Luca's defense, he secretly passed the ball to Smith on the side.
After Smith completed the cut from the left, he came to the front left of the penalty area and shot a long shot through Dynamo's goal again.
At this time, Modric had just gotten up from the ground.
2 to 0.
Leeds United are one step closer to the Champions League group stage.
