In an instant, the story dominated headlines around the world.
Daily Mail: "Hope for Spain? Hero Su Hang Announces Return, Set to Start!"
The Guardian: "Stunning! Real Madrid and Spain's dual captain Su Hang declares he'll play the final—willing to risk his career to carry this invincible armada once more!"
The New York Times: "Spain receives a major boost as reports confirm Su Hang is expected to play in the final."
The Wall Street Journal: "Spain's win rate skyrockets—limit up, limit up, and still limit up!"
The Daily Telegraph: "Not limit up—dead even! Spain's win rate now matches France's! Fans' confidence in Su Hang is four times higher than their confidence in Spain itself!"
The Asahi Shimbun: "The most dangerous player is the one playing hurt—19-year-old Su Hang returns despite injury, and France now faces a young star at his fiercest."
The Korea Herald: "According to uninformed and baseless rumors, Su Hang is one-eighth Korean. We have formally requested clarification on his nationality!"
CCTV-5: "Su Hang's inclusion in Spain's starting lineup has completely shifted the pre-match narrative. Before kickoff, let's take a quick look at his journey in Madrid—how his career began with a determination to stand on his own."
London Globe: "Aragonés: Su Hang snatched my roster sheet and wrote his own name on it. It's the only time in my life I've been happy about not having the final say!"
London Globe: "Su Hang: If we ever have a day when we can win the championship, I hope that day is today!"
Boom!
A blast!
Pure hype!
Who can match this?
From that moment on, the name Su Hang was etched into the memory of countless fans.
If Real Madrid supporters once loved him unconditionally for charging into the Zaragoza conflict zone wearing the captain's armband, then performing "while injured" at La Romareda—descending like a god to lead Madrid's comeback over Barcelona to claim La Liga…
Then this time, Su Hang—playing again "under painkillers"—made every Spanish fan begin to believe in him unconditionally.
Hearts around the world began beating faster at the sound of just two words: Su Hang.
Spain was rising!
RCD Espanyol: "...Why are we suddenly involved?"
Almost instantly, Spain became everyone's team.
After all, people always love stories of lone heroes, underdog triumphs, survival in desperation, and fighting against all odds.
If morale had a progress bar, Spain's had now caught up to—and even surpassed—France's.
And France, until moments ago, had been viewed as unbeatable: the kings, overflowing with confidence.
If their morale had climbed even a little more, they might have crushed Spain psychologically—winning without even needing to fight.
And that was exactly what Zidane had been aiming for.
Yes.
No more pretending.
Cards on the table.
Zidane could play.
And… he would start!
To create maximum shock value, Zidane and Domenech agreed to announce the news during the pre-match press conference.
It would detonate the media.
And tactically, it would shake everything.
It boosted France's chances of lifting the trophy, and amplified Zidane's personal legend even further.
Then, with the World Cup trophy in his hands, Zidane would announce his retirement right there on the pitch.
How earth-shattering would that be?
He would be crowned king on the spot—recognized as the third South American "king of football" after Pelé and Maradona!
France: So only your South American kings count as "the real" kings, huh?
But in all his planning, Zidane failed to account for one thing: Domenech being… Domenech—unreliable and not exactly sharp.
You should've realized something was off when Aragonés didn't show up, and instead Su Hang's spokesperson Simon appeared at the press conference!
And you even let Simon speak first.
You really…
Hopeless.
Though to be fair, it wasn't entirely Domenech's fault. He was up against the master trickster himself — Su Hang.
That little trickster was unmatched in outmaneuvering managers and playing with the emotions of fans.
This time, he had already taken the first step.
Damn it.
Soon after, desperate to regain control, France dropped a bombshell of their own.
France Football: "Spain's all-or-nothing media blitz reversed! France plays its trump card—here comes the big one! Domenech announces Zidane in the starting lineup!"
Kicker: "Full-strength France vs. full-strength Spain! Zidane leads the charge in a battle to the death with Su Hang!"
Sport Weekly: "Zidane, Henry, and Vieira—three giants against one unstoppable force! Unless Su Hang turns superhuman, stopping France will be nearly impossible!"
Tuttosport: "Zidane says his condition is excellent and his injury long healed!"
London Globe: "Su Hang says once the whistle blows, the siu isn't far behind!"
Zidane's planned trump card suddenly looked more like a last-minute reaction.
Many didn't believe he was fully fit. Instead, they thought Zidane was forced to fight because Su Hang was playing—stepping onto the field injured.
France's psychological edge evaporated.
Even so, Zidane was still Zidane. His return shifted the odds back toward France after Su Hang had evened them.
In the end, 70% of fans believed France would win.
30% believed Su Hang could lead Spain to a miracle.
A massive gap—
But infinitely better than the original 8%.
And in the stadium, the red-clad Spanish supporters now matched the number of French fans in blue.
...
At 7:40 p.m., seventy thousand fans inside Berlin's Olympiastadion were ready.
The closing ceremony of the 2006 Germany World Cup began twenty minutes before kickoff, signaling the tournament's final crescendo.
Il Divo and Toni Braxton stood in a line, performing the tournament's theme song, The Time of Our Lives.
Two minutes later, as the song ended, drummers drove the stadium atmosphere to its peak with powerful rhythms. Sixty pale-green floral umbrellas lined both sides of the staircase in perfect order.
Latin pop icon Shakira, dressed in a striking red performance outfit, sang "Hips Don't Lie."
One layer of meaning: the fans' reluctance to say goodbye to this World Cup.
Another: the big screen replayed highlights of Su Hang, Zidane, Henry, Vieira, Raúl, and others—moments of injury, moments of crucial goals.
A tribute to their hunger for victory… and their refusal to give up.