The platform “Out of Context Football,” which delivers news of soccer, created a buzz by posting a video on social media on the 30th (Korea Standard Time). The video showed Real midfielder Bellingham and Cross greeting their fans after the game.
Real beat SSC Napoli 4-2 in Group C of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain on the 30th after a fierce battle. 스포츠토토
Real, which was established in Group C along with SSC Napoli (Italy), SC Braga (Portugal) and Union Berlin (Germany) in the Champions League group stage this season, has already confirmed its advance to the round of 16 by winning all four matches, and confirmed its first place in the group by winning all five matches by overcoming Napoli at home. Napoli maintained the second place (2 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses, 7 points) with the loss of the match, but it can only confirm its advance to the round of 16 by catching the third place (1 win, 1 draw, 3 losses, 4 points) Braga in the last game.
Real allowed Giovanni Simeone to score the first goal in the 9th minute of the first half, but Hodrigo scored the equalizer two minutes later, and Bellingham took the lead in the 22nd minute of the first half when he connected David Alaba’s cross with a header to shake Napoli’s net.
Real then conceded an equalizer in the second minute, but regained the lead with a go-ahead goal from 19-year-old prospect Niko Pas in the 39th minute of the second half, and Hosselo scored Bellingham’s fantastic out-front cross in the second half to end the game with a 4-2 upset.
Real, which gave up the first goal but immediately scored an equalizer and a come-from-behind goal, secured the top spot in Group C, which could be seeded in the round of 16 draw of the Champions League with six games left, allowing them to play the final group game with ease.
In the meantime, “Out of Context Football” posted a video of Real players greeting home fans who cheered for them throughout the game after the match against Napoli. Among them was Bellingham, who scored one goal and one assist on the day.
Bellingham stood on the ground and greeted the fans with his right hand raised. Cross from behind drew attention when he forced Bellingham’s right hand down.
Regarding Cross’s action, fans interpreted Bellingham’s hand gesture as a measure to prevent voices from suspecting it as a Nazi-style show of hands. FIFA strictly prohibits sending political messages on the soccer field and discriminatory acts that cause discomfort through regulations.
Greek footballer Georgos Katidis, who made a Nazi salute after scoring in 2013, was disciplined for being out for the rest of the season, and in 2017, two English football fans were permanently banned from the stadium when they mimicked Adolf Hitler’s mustache with a Nazi salute and a finger under their nose in an A match against Germany.
Therefore, it was speculated that the Real veteran midfielder Cross interfered with Bellingham’s personnel management to ensure he did not get a decent misunderstanding from the media and fans.
Bellingham, who left Borussia Dortmund for Real for 103 million euros (about 143.7 billion won) last summer, has become a key player for Real, which is only born in 2003. This season, Bellingham has appeared in 16 games in all competitions, scoring 15 goals and helping four.
Notably, Bellingham became the first Real player in Champions League history to score goals in the first four consecutive matches. It is the first time in the 68-year history of the championship that began in 1955. This is a milestone that even superstars who decorated the real scoring history with splendor such as Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Hugo Sanchez, Ronaldo, Raul Castro and Cristiano Ronaldo failed to achieve.
Some fans have already called Bellingham one of the best midfielders in football history and the successor of French and Real legend Zinedine Zidane. With excellent athletic ability as well as wide range of activities and decision-making power, he has a slightly different type from Zidane, but he has been compared to Zidane in terms of influence.
At a press conference after the match, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti praised Bellingham’s performance, saying, “He surprises the player every day, every game. It surprises Maud. It’s a gift for soccer.” “The coach and his fans are very happy. But I think the entire soccer community is happy for a young player with such potential and a positive image.
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