Kapitel 76: The National Team's First Hat-Trick (2-in-1)
During the pre-match press conference, Bosque revealed Spain's starting lineup for the game.
Reporters were surprised that the main forwards, Torres and Villa, were on the bench.
Instead, 16-year-old Lin from Werder Bremen started, sparking excitement among the journalists.
Bosque's bold decision raised questions. Just recruited from the youth team, Lin was given a significant responsibility right away.
If there were any issues, the blame would fall on the coach for the risky decision.
Moreover, it could have a negative impact on the young player.
If Lin performed well in the national team, journalists would praise him and Bosque.
Critiquing the approach is a traditional skill for journalists.
Regardless of the game's outcome, it was bound to be a major news story!
On the sidelines, Belarus' head coach was speechless, acknowledging Spain's strength.
But, did they need to underestimate Belarus? Was Belarus that weak to be played against by a 16-year-old player?
At nine o'clock local time, the match began.
Spain once again played without a striker, with Lin in a pseudo-striker position. Bosque granted him freedom in the front, allowing Lin to roam across different positions.
Although risky, Bosque planned to give Lin only half a game.
If Spain couldn't score in the first half, with a lead, Torres and Villa would be brought on in the second half for a traditional tactic change.
"Despite the risk, we had to do this; the next match is against France, and time is limited!"
Observing the lineup, Bosque sighed and shared his thoughts with his colleague Tony.
France was a traditional European powerhouse, and Spain was stronger, but a guaranteed victory was uncertain.
In case things went awry, the situation would be unfavorable for Spain.
Only the group winner could directly qualify for the World Cup's main event out of the 13 spots allocated to Europe.
If they failed to secure the top spot, they would have to play additional matches against tough opponents.
To avoid any mishaps, they needed to secure their World Cup ticket in the group stage.
Now was not the time for these discussions; they had to trust their decision.
Tony showed a confident demeanor, given their previous successes in the World Cup and European Championship.
With past honors secured, there were no regrets.
Bosque nodded and focused on the match.
Just when the coach was concerned about Lin's performance, he almost scored right at the start.
Within a minute, a creative pass from David Silva almost resulted in a goal.
Although the shot hit the post, Spain's intent was clear.
In the 5th minute, a fluent passing sequence led to near misses by Silva and Lin.
The misses left Spanish fans frustrated and excited, with the new player's impressive performance being a bright spot.
Lin played three different positions in just 11 minutes, showcasing versatility and skill. Teammates were convinced of the new player's worth and reliability in big games.
The team's captain, Casillas, urged for more goals to secure the win and conserve energy for the second half.
Everyone agreed and the game resumed, with Belarus struggling against Spain's strong midfield.
At the 20th minute, Silva intercepted and played a precise pass to set up Lin for a goal.
The score became 2-0, with Pedro expressing slight disappointment in his scoring attempt.
Belarus finally countered in the 27th minute but was easily dealt with by Casillas.
Lin contributed significantly during the first half, showcasing his skill and vision on the field.
In the 29th minute, despite a near offside call, Lin managed a crucial pass to Silva.
With teamwork and continued effort, Spain's lead extended to 3-0, with Lin completing a hat-trick in less than forty minutes of play!
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Good Brothers, I Want to Score Too!
The goal was truly beautiful, one Lin never expected to make.
Teammates rushed to pat his head and congratulate him:
"What a beautiful shot! This could be the best goal of the match!"
"Nice one, a side-volley, no easy task!"
"Haha, good thing it wasn't me with that shot; I'd probably sky it!"
"Hey, you might not even touch the ball, just trip over yourself!"
Silva's banter drew laughter from the teammates. Shooting wasn't the midfield's strength in the Spanish team, often having bizarre attempts in games.
Missing, skying the ball, these were all common occurrences, everyday operations.
If their shooting skills were as precise as top forwards, Spain's games wouldn't be as difficult.
The game continued, and Belarus, intimidated by Spain's strong offense, defended desperately in the latter part of the first half, and the score remained 3-0 until halftime.
During halftime, Bosque commended the players for their first-half performance and made no changes.
He planned to observe the second half and consider substitutions if they scored another goal or maintained their lead until the 70th minute.
He would then prepare for the game against France four days later, by replacing Iniesta and Xavi.
As the second half began, in the 47th minute, a skillful buildup by Spain led to a corner kick, which was taken by Alba.
Lin was in position for a side volley, but Belarus' defense intercepted, conceding the corner.
Harvey proposed a tactical play due to the lack of a tall striker in their team.
Lin saw the height difference between the Spain and Belarus players.
He agreed, and the tactical corner kick was taken.
Harvey faked a cross, passing to Lin, who seemed poised for a long shot.
Belarus' players reacted, attacking Lin who cleverly dribbled through them and broke into the penalty area.
Belarus defenders surrounded him, clearly viewing him as Spain's biggest threat after his first-half performance.
They seemed to forget Spain's formation, which didn't include a traditional striker, enabling everyone in the front line to participate in the attack and score goals.
Lin passed to Silva, who scored seamlessly.
This time, the linesman didn't raise the offside flag, making it 4-0!
Silva celebrated and jumped onto Lin, who managed his added weight surprisingly well.
The coaching staff of Spain burst into laughter, delighted by Lin's goal and his assist to a teammate.
"The coordination between him and his teammates in the attack is impressive. He doesn't look like a newcomer to the team." expressed Coach Tony with amazement.
The coaching staff was pleasantly surprised by Lin's performance on the pitch, dismissing their worries about his integration and teamwork.
The team's significant lead in the match provided a relaxed atmosphere for the coaching staff and players.
Bosque scanned the bench, considering substitutions to involve other players and get a feel for the game.
Meanwhile, Morata, eagerly awaiting a chance to play, was overlooked, causing his disappointment.
Suddenly, the assistant coach called out to Morata, Navas, and Martinez to warm up.
Morata eagerly removed his jacket and raced to the sideline for a warm-up.
Seeing Morata's enthusiasm, the veteran players like Raul on the bench couldn't help but smile.
The atmosphere of the national team, something Raul had missed for a long time!
Raul had been away from the national team for six years, not expecting a recall.
Due to a strained relationship with the then-coach of Spain, Aragones, he was excluded.
Subsequently, with Spain's national team aging, many veteran players, including Raul, were left out.
Feeling unhappy, Raul left his beloved Real Madrid and moved to the Bundesliga to keep his competitive edge.
Under his leadership, Schalke 04 achieved historic success by reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, their best performance in history.
Despite his outstanding performance in the Bundesliga, he wasn't called up to the national team.
Ultimately, Raul moved to the Middle East league for retirement plans.
Unexpectedly, in a semi-retired state, he was called up to the national team.
He looked at Coach Bosque, guessing his intentions.
Spain had an abundance of talent, not necessarily needing an experienced player like him.
His recruitment might be a form of compensation for the older players, ensuring stability after achieving success in the World Cup and European Championship.
It could also be to mentor the new players, particularly the young player wearing the number 30.
With a substantial lead, Spain's relaxed play gradually brightened up the game, showcasing players' flair and creativity, pleasing the watching fans.
Spanish fans, among 5,000 traveling supporters, were jubilant, whereas Belarus fans, exhausted after consecutive losses, started leaving the stadium.
Their home team has already been outplayed, having lost three games in a row, they must now play for honor in the next match...
In the 56th minute, the Spanish team displayed brilliant teamwork in the attacking third, passing the ball 13 times consecutively until it reached the penalty area.
Belarus' players were confused by their opponents' passing, resulting in serious defensive lapses.
Pedro received the ball in the penalty area and scored into the empty net, further extending the lead.
The goal was almost a gift as Belarus' goalkeeper had already lost his position due to a judgment error before Pedro even shot the ball.
After scoring, Pedro excitedly ran around the field.
He had many opportunities in the game but failed to convert them.
Seeing the new player score three goals and Silva scoring one, Pedro was anxious about not finding the net himself.
Fortunately, after missing numerous chances, he finally capitalized on one opportunity.
Now, he felt no pressure at all!
It was Lin who assisted Pedro's goal.
He could have taken the shot himself, just like the pass Iniesta gave him in the first half.
However, Pedro's urgency was evident, so he selflessly set up the chance for him.
The rest was up to Pedro's ability to finish the move. If Pedro squandered this well-placed pass, he might not receive such opportunities in the future under similar circumstances.
With a significant lead and all three forwards scoring, Bosque could confidently make lineup changes.
In the 65th minute, Spain made substitutions, replacing players like Xavi, Iniesta, and Pedro with Morata, Navas, and Martinez.
Lin shifted back to a midfield position, with Morata leading the attack upfront.
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This was a 2-in-1 chapter, meaning there is 2 different chapters in this 1 chapter. Make sure to give more power stones!
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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