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...
The scorching weather turned into waves of heat, swirling over the turf of Luzhniki Stadium.
But under the burning gaze of all 81,000 fans in the stadium, those heat waves were nothing.
The real pressure came from every fan in the stands.
Their eyes were filled with expectation. Every gasp that burst out whenever danger appeared on the pitch pressed down on the 22 players with a terrifying sense of weight.
"Football fans, and all of you still watching in front of your televisions, good evening!"
"You are now watching the goal fest of the 21st World Cup final, live from Luzhniki Stadium!"
"France versus Spain. The second half is about to begin!"
"The players from both sides have returned to the pitch, and neither team has made any substitutions yet!"
"Even through the screen, I think everyone can feel just how tense the atmosphere is here!"
"The Spain and France fans haven't clashed, but they certainly aren't friendly either. They're just staring straight at each other, and who knows what they're thinking."
"Athletes must have tremendous mental resilience. Otherwise, it's very easy to be broken. That is also part of soccer's charm."
"This truly is a top-level sport. From mind to body, it tests every quality a normal human being needs to possess."
The players from both teams had already returned to the pitch. The second-half battle was about to begin.
Leo Lin stood in the center of the pitch. His arms had already been coated with an oily mixture. He had not had it on in the first half, but clearly, Leo Lin was going to increase his dribbling and sprinting in the second half.
With that oily mixture on his arms, it would be harder for opponents to pull him without making an obvious foul, which increased his chances of breaking through successfully.
Kanté and Matuidi watched Leo Lin closely from either side. During halftime, they had been given strict orders in midfield. They had to stop Leo Lin at all costs.
Deschamps absolutely would not allow Leo Lin to keep playing with that terrifying ease, as if he were strolling upward through the clouds.
The 22 best players in the world took their positions at Luzhniki Stadium. Amid the roars of 81,000 frenzied believers, Pitana blew the whistle to begin the battle.
"The match begins. The second half is underway!"
"France kick off first, and they also want to play an opening routine."
"Giroud plays it back to Pogba. A long ball to the right, and Mbappé flicks it on with his head!"
"Pavard sweeps it into the middle!"
"The delivery is good!"
"A header on goal!!!"
"A world-class save from De Gea! There's still a chance for the rebound!"
"Pogba follows up and shoots again!"
"Sergio Ramos clears it with a big kick! The two players crash hard into each other!"
"The referee gives the foul against Pogba and issues a verbal warning!"
After committing the foul, Pogba did not return to midfield. Instead, he stayed near the top of Spain's penalty arc. Then France's entire shape pushed very high up, with even the defensive line moving close to the halfway line.
France's tactics had changed significantly. They had started playing a high defensive line.
France began showing greater aggression, and their attacks also became more varied.
When they won the ball, Left Back Lucas Hernández would charge into Spain's half-space.
He was originally a full-back, but now he was playing like an extra attacker.
Pogba would position himself at the top of the penalty arc to help France control possession.
Griezmann moved in from the wing, tucking inside behind Pogba, frequently playing Wall Passes and quick one-touch short passes with him.
Whenever there was space, Griezmann would look for Giroud with a 45-degree diagonal lofted ball, allowing Giroud to use his target-man screen to create attacking chances for Mbappé and the late-arriving Lucas.
When France attacked, their front-line positioning became an irregular diagonal 2-3.
In the 52nd minute.
"After France changed their attacking tactics, the effect on the pitch has been very clear."
"They're more aggressive, they have more drive, and they're creating better chances."
"Two players press on the flank, and David Silva has been dispossessed!"
"Pavard gets the ball and switches it diagonally across to the left, finding Griezmann!"
"A square pass. Pogba receives it, Busquets one on one!"
"Thiago steps up. Two against one!"
"Pogba plays it back!"
In the two against one, Pogba suddenly passed it back. Leo Lin hurried forward to block Griezmann, but Griezmann did not stop the ball and gave Leo Lin no chance to tackle. With one touch, he sent a 45-degree diagonal lofted pass toward Giroud.
Giroud's positioning was extremely clever. He stood behind Pogba, wedged in the space between Spain's center backs and Defensive Midfielder. That left Sergio Ramos and Piqué in a difficult position.
If they left the box to defend Giroud, one mistake would leave a huge gap behind them. But they also could not simply watch as Giroud completed the headed layoff.
So Sergio Ramos stepped forward alone, but Giroud still got there first and headed it on for the late-arriving Lucas Hernández.
Lucas was like a blade. The moment he received the ball, he raised his foot and struck it.
"Bang!!!"
De Gea instinctively dropped down, stretching his left leg across the path of Lucas's low drive and barely blocking the ball out over the byline.
"OHHHHHHHH!!!!"
The French fans cried out in regret.
"What a pity! That didn't go in!"
"De Gea has made two brilliant saves in a row in the second half."
"Deschamps's attacking tactic has completely unlocked everything Giroud can offer!"
"France are just one bit of luck away from equalizing!"
The sudden tactical change once again put Spain's back line under pressure. From the sideline, Hierro shouted at Leo Lin.
"Control!"
"Leo Lin!"
"Control the tempo in midfield!"
Leo Lin gave Hierro a thumbs-up to show he had heard him. Then he dropped back again as a withdrawn Attacking Midfielder, taking up a position almost level with the defensive line.
To stop Leo Lin from receiving the ball, France had no choice but to commit more players forward to press.
In the 59th minute.
"France are still pressing very aggressively in the front line, pushing all the way into the penalty area and giving De Gea no space to play out."
"A half-height ball into the middle. They're still looking for Leo Lin."
"He controls it with his chest. Pogba is defending him, and Kanté has closed in too!"
The two of them instantly trapped him.
Leo Lin brought the ball down steadily. One step, one touch. One step, one turn. His rhythm was stable, and he kept full control of his center of gravity.
The Maradona skill shone brightly.
Combined with his terrifying boost in strength and explosiveness, even when facing a double team, Leo Lin simply would not lose the ball.
He turned sideways and used his right shoulder to shove Pogba away. Leo Lin stepped on the ball to keep possession, then turned and exploded forward, forcing his way ahead for two steps while carrying Kanté on his body, quickly leaving the danger area.
Then he turned halfway around, nudging the ball as his body twisted. Using his left ankle to guide the ball, Leo Lin began spinning in place.
On the sideline, Xavi found it very familiar. This was a dribbling method he had once liked to use.
Maradona and Cruyff had both used this kind of movement to escape pressure on the spot.
But to Xavi, Leo Lin looked even more agile. His turning speed was faster, and his control of the rhythm was better.
Leo Lin first turned one-third of a circle in place, by which point he had used his back to completely hold off Kanté. Then he twisted another third, basically forcing Kanté aside. With the final third of the turn, he completed the escape on the spot.
Kanté had no answer. He could only reach out and try to pull him, but all he got was a handful of oil. He could not even manage to foul him properly.
Derek Rae cried out.
"One against two!"
"He spins away on the spot!"
"Leo Lin's dribbling is like something from another world! You can't even hold him back!"
...
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