"Dear Lin, you're going to be a godfather."
On July 22, just as Leo Lin was secretly casting a popularity vote for himself to stay at the top of the rankings, his phone was bombarded with messages from Barnett.
Barnett sent more than fifty messages in one burst, forcing Leo Lin to stop casting votes.
"Why hasn't he called me yet?"
"Isn't he even a little excited about becoming a godfather?"
Barnett was in the finest maternity ward in Liverpool. His eldest daughter had just given him an adorable grandson.
Leo Lin's call finally came through. Barnett answered excitedly, knowing Leo Lin would be thrilled to hear that he was about to become a godfather.
"Lin, listen to me. You're going to be a godfather!"
Leo Lin told Barnett to stop for a moment.
"Wait. Go to the European Championship popularity rankings and cast a vote for me first. You should get five votes when you register, so give me all five."
Barnett wished he could crawl through the phone and drag Leo Lin out. Delores, sitting beside him, began to laugh.
Hearing Delores's voice, Leo Lin instinctively asked,
"I'm going to be a godfather?"
"Don't tell me Delores has given birth again?"
"She wasn't showing any signs before I left for the European Championship."
Barnett's eldest daughter began laughing as well. Barnett had no idea how he had managed to work with Leo Lin for so many years without terminating their contract.
"My eldest daughter has given me an adorable grandson. From now on, he'll be your godson, and his nickname will be Delo-Lin!"
Only then did Leo Lin remember that Barnett had an eldest daughter. Barnett rarely mentioned her, but compared with his younger son, she seemed much more sensible.
"We can discuss that name again later. Hurry up and let me see what my godson looks like!"
Barnett turned the camera toward the baby. Even through the screen, the child looked remarkably spirited.
"We'll have him play football too. With me guiding him, I guarantee he'll make a name for himself in the football world!"
Barnett was delighted. He opened the European Championship popularity rankings and saw Leo Lin in first place.
Many of the players behind him had popularity scores that were not far below his.
"I really do have five popularity votes. How do I use them?"
"Do I press this 'Send' button?"
"All right, I sent one. Wait, why does it say I gave it to Lewandowski?"
"Don't worry. I'll send another one. I'll definitely get it right this time."
"I sent two at once this time. It says '+2' next to Giroud. Does that mean I successfully gave them to you?"
Leo Lin was speechless.
"If it says '+2' next to Giroud, then you obviously gave them to Giroud! What does that have to do with me?!"
"Barnett, stop pressing the wrong things. Give me your last two votes."
"And I want Delores's five votes, your eldest daughter's votes, and my godson's votes too. Give all of them to me!"
Barnett looked at the newborn Delo-Lin, doubtful that the baby was even eligible to vote.
The European popularity rankings had been created so fans could cast votes for their favorite stars at this year's European Championship.
Leo Lin had remained in first place, but the players behind him were closing in.
Mbappé, Van Dijk, Lewandowski, Neuer, and several others also had extremely high popularity scores.
...
Spain soon arrived at the venue for their second group match against Poland.
Poland had suffered an unexpected defeat in their opening match and failed to earn any points. If they lost to Spain, they would be eliminated from the European Championship.
Lewandowski's dream was to achieve greater honors with his national team.
Although the situation had become difficult, Lewandowski still led Poland into this match against Spain, determined to keep their hopes of qualifying from the group alive.
...
On July 23, after finishing one last video call with his godson, Leo Lin stepped off the team bus.
Spain's second European Championship group match against Poland was about to begin.
Barnett had announced the news online, so Scholes and Gullit had both seen it.
"Lin has just become a godfather, so he'll certainly give everything against Poland today. Lewandowski will also be fighting to keep Poland in the tournament!"
"Poland are playing with a back five!"
"Goalkeeper: Szczęsny."
"Defenders: Puchacz, Bednarek, Glik, Bereszyński, and Świderski."
"The strongest defender is probably Glik, who became well known among fans during his time at Monaco."
"Midfielders: Klich, Moder, and Jóźwiak."
"Forwards: Zieliński and Lewandowski."
"Świderski is probably the player whose position changes the most. When Poland defend, he plays as a right back. When they attack, he moves into attacking midfield!"
"Spain have made one change to their attack from the opening group match, with Ferran Torres replacing Oyarzabal."
"Alba started at left back in the previous match, but today he has been replaced by Gayà!"
"Although many Spain supporters have been calling for De Gea to return to the starting lineup, Unai Simón remains in goal today!"
Gullit knew just how popular De Gea was. Anyone who had only recently begun watching Spain would naturally be drawn to him.
It was perfectly understandable that some supporters struggled to accept a young goalkeeper like Unai Simón suddenly taking the starting position.
"The sight of Leo Lin being surrounded by Swedish fans after the last match kept Scholes laughing for a long time. I wonder whether the Polish supporters will surround him today as well?"
Leo Lin and Lewandowski walked onto the pitch together, and the match began.
Lewandowski passed to Świderski.
Zieliński offered himself, then immediately slipped a through ball forward.
Laporte blocked Lewandowski, and Pau Torres cleared it.
"We may see that pattern repeatedly today. Zieliński looking for Lewandowski, just as Forsberg kept looking for Isak in the previous match!"
"That's how most teams play when they don't have enough star players."
Rodri's main assignment was to contain Zieliński. Pau Torres was free to step forward and challenge, while Pedri remained responsible for linking up with his teammates.
In the eighth minute.
"Bednarek sends a long ball forward, and Lewandowski challenges for the header!"
"Rodri is tracking Zieliński. Lewandowski can't direct the header toward him!"
"Klich closes down Rodri. Rodri finds Pedri, who moves it out to Ferran Torres!"
"Świderski tracks back, and Bereszyński closes in!"
The moment Ferran Torres began dribbling, Świderski, who had been playing in attacking midfield, dropped back into the right-back position.
Poland shifted into a back five and successfully contained Ferran Torres.
"That's Poland's defensive shape. So far, Spain haven't shown a clear route toward breaking through it."
"But I'm sure Lin will find a way."
...
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