Once there’s solid evidence, such as agreements before the match, call records, or recordings.
These will become match-fixing scandals and will be severely punished.
But the reason why tacit match-fixing still appears is because such evidence is often not easy to provide.
So...as long as there is evidence, tacit match-fixing is match-fixing.
But if there’s no evidence, procedurally, it’s impossible to determine it’s match-fixing, but morality and public opinion can.
So, don’t think just because there are many tacit matches in reality, this behavior should be assumed as not match-fixing, the standard should not be lowered due to frequent occurrences.
Some things, however often they appear, remain illegal.
The death group, the best watch is always the last group match.
Just like the current situation in Group A.
Spain and England are fiercely battling from afar.
While the "weak teams" Poland and Italy have both erupted with strong fighting spirit, ensuring the match doesn’t go one-sided.
From a fan’s perspective, we must say all four teams are admirable.
But in competitive sports, there are always winners and losers.
The losing side often finds it hard to accept.
...
On the pitch of Spain vs Poland.
Spain’s Invincible Fleet’s future captain Enriquez had a stern expression.
In the first half, he made a cross which helped the team take the lead.
He also achieved two goals and two assists in three group stage matches, perfect stats.
But who knew the Poles were so tenacious, stubbornly equalizing with four goals across three matches.
The pain of being defeated in stoppage time in the previous match against England still lingered in Enriquez’s heart.
This time, he absolutely won’t allow Spain to suffer an upset.
"Pass the ball to me!"
Enriquez seriously instructed the team’s midfield core.
The other party was a bit surprised but soon nodded quickly.
Enriquez is different from Mancini.
Mancini is a classical speedster, adept at fast dribbling, skilled in quick shooting, and good at shooting during confrontations.
Enriquez, however, is more technical, skilled in dribbling and shooting, able to maneuver in the penalty area to find shooting and assist opportunities.
Tactically speaking, Enriquez is more central, but fully unleashing his abilities requires teamwork coordination.
Whereas Mancini possesses more compatibility to plug and play, demonstrating formidable prowess under any team and tactics.
This results in Mancini having stronger national team stats.
While Enriquez shines more in club stats.
Just now, when Enriquez demanded the ball, it wasn’t for ball control; he has ample ball possession.
He wanted the shooting right!
Spain is a possession team, theoretically capable of finding the best advancing and shooting moments.
And the person doesn’t necessarily have to be Enriquez.
As long as suitable, anyone can get a good shooting right.
But concentrating shooting opportunities on a specific player somewhat betrays the essence of possession tactics.
However, with Enriquez speaking up, no one in Spain U-21 National Team would disagree.
This core player, even slightly selfish, wouldn’t have just two goals in the European Youth Championship.
Enriquez grants many good opportunities to teammates, just like playing at Real Madrid.
But his teammates aren’t those stars of Real Madrid.
The abilities of these National Youth Team players in shooting and scoring aren’t just worse than Enriquez with good opportunities but even with ordinary ones.
In other words, what Enriquez sacrificed for the team received diminished returns.
This is also why Spain has had a difficult time during the group stage in the European Youth Championship.
In matches among young players, stellar individual performance tends to lead the team to victory more effectively than teamwork does.
Enriquez came to this realization!
Five minutes later, a "GOAL" echoed throughout the stadium.
Enriquez galloped wildly across the green field, then slid passionately on his knees toward the corner flag area to celebrate!
He scored!
Spain leads Poland 2-1!
Spanish fans at the venue were all shouting Enriquez’s name.
At this moment, the superstar shone in the European Youth Championship!
Spain’s current group stage standings thus rose to six points, only next to England’s seven points.
But even as group runners-up, six points still offer the chance to advance to the semifinals.
Among the current three groups, other than the group leader, only one team has a chance to get seven points, and only two teams can possibly achieve six points.
As long as Spain has a sufficient goal difference, their chance of advancing as the best group runner-up is great.
Shifting focus back to the match between England vs Italy.
Eighty-one minutes into the match.
Italy obtained a corner kick opportunity.
Recently, England had fully bunkered down.
It proves that any strong team, within the last ten-plus minutes of a match and leading by one goal, would choose to park the bus.
This England Youth Team, known for their offensive prowess, surprisingly hadn’t initiated any attack during the previous minutes.
Their front attack core Rashim had fully retracted to their own half.
The whole England Youth Team, only Mancini remained upfront just to show presence.
Bang!
Morici made the kick, Pirola, towering in stature, overwhelmed England’s center-back Chaloba to head the football.
But the ball hit the post.
At this moment, Italy’s fans felt an ominous premonition.
The saying goes, heaven favors those who seize opportunity, otherwise there will be repercussions!
When most fatal goals aren’t scored, the attacking side will suffer a counterbite.