Capítulo 183: Qualify for World Cup in Advance!
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"Wow, it's freezing!"
As the Spanish national team arrived in Helsinki and got off the plane, they were hit by the cold wind and collectively shivered.
The temperature in Helsinki was around 5 degrees Celsius, with nighttime temperatures dropping below freezing. When they left Madrid, it was sunny and 33 degrees. The 30-degree temperature difference felt like moving from summer to winter overnight.
Although the national team's logistics staff had reminded them to prepare warm clothes before departure, the Spanish players still underestimated the temperature.
What made it worse was the strong wind in Helsinki. The players quickly lost body heat and couldn't help but shiver.
"Quick, quick, get on the bus before you catch a cold!"
Coach Toni, with a red nose from the cold, stood in the wind, urging the players to get on the bus.
Once on the bus, the driver turned on the heater. Feeling the warm air from above, the Spanish players breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is this what it's like in the Arctic Circle? Winter comes too early here!"
"I heard it's not usually this cold. Today is an exception because of a cold wave!"
"Damn, why did the cold wave have to come now?"
The players were worried. Playing in cold weather increases the risk of injury, especially without proper warm-up. Coming straight from warm Spain, they weren't used to the climate and had little time to acclimate before the game the next day.
"Don't worry, it's not a do-or-die match. Even if we lose, we can still qualify!"
Seeing his teammates' concern, Casillas reassured them.
Spain had three World Cup qualifiers left, including this match against Finland and two home games against Belarus and Georgia. Winning just one of these games would secure first place in the group.
Their earlier victories against France were crucial. If they had won even one less match, they wouldn't have this margin for error now.
Hearing Casillas, the team felt a bit more at ease. Without the pressure of a do-or-die game, they could relax a bit.
Casillas, after calming his teammates, quietly approached Lin:
"Lin, what are your thoughts on tomorrow's game?"
"Huh?"
Lin looked at him puzzled, not understanding. Didn't Casillas just say the result wasn't crucial? Why ask now?
"What do you think, Captain?" Lin asked, sensing Casillas had a reason for asking.
"I want to win tomorrow and secure our spot in the World Cup early!"
Lin nodded. Casillas' desire made sense, and Lin shared the same goal.
The remaining group opponents weren't strong. If they beat Finland and qualified early, the main players could rest in the next games.
With the Champions League group stage, league, and cup matches all happening in mid-October, their energy would be drained by playing on three fronts. Adding national team games would only increase this burden.
Overexerting themselves could lead to injuries. Securing the World Cup spot early would reduce one front, conserving their energy.
"Got it, Captain. I'll give my best tomorrow!" Lin assured.
"Great, that's a relief!" Casillas smiled, knowing with Lin's commitment, beating Finland would be easy.
Finland didn't think so!
Seeing the Spanish players shivering after stepping off the plane, Finnish fans, who had lost hope, felt hopeful again.
The Spanish players seemed unaccustomed to Helsinki's cold, whereas the Finnish players were used to it.
So, the weather might help them weaken Spain, preventing the visitors from playing their best.
If Finland seized this opportunity, they might defeat Spain!
Spain was on a 37-match unbeaten streak in international competitions, with their last loss in 2011. Defeating Spain, the world's best team, would be a great honor for any national team.
Finland was third in the group with six points, just three points behind France. They still had a chance to clinch second place and fight in the playoffs.
So, Finland was fully prepared for this match. The Helsinki Olympic Stadium was packed with nearly 40,000 fans.
At 7:30 PM, with the referee's whistle, the 2014 World Cup European Qualifier Group I match between defending champions Spain and Finland officially began.
Del Bosque made significant changes to Spain's starting lineup.
Young Atletico Madrid player Jorge Koke played as a right-back for the first time in a national team competitive match. Another Atletico player, Mario Suárez, replaced Javi Martínez as a defensive midfielder. Arsenal's Cazorla took over from the aging Xavi as the midfield playmaker. Mata replaced the injured Silva.
Lin was still the lone striker up front, with Fàbregas and Iniesta behind him.
As the match began, the Spanish players played cautiously, just as Finnish fans had hoped. Afraid of injuries, they avoided making big moves.
Finland seized this chance to attack Spain's goal.
In the 3rd minute, Finland launched a quick attack from a throw-in. Left winger Alexander Ring dribbled sideways but couldn't get past Spain's solid defense. He sent a cross from near the left touchline. Striker Pukki, making a near-post run, managed to get to the ball but was blocked by Koke. His awkward shot was easily saved by Casillas.
The 21-year-old Koke's solid defense earned applause from teammates and coaches. Casillas patted his back for encouragement.
Finland's attacks continued. In the 6th minute, Schürrle launched a long pass from midfield. Pukki received it in the box and half-turned for a right-footed shot, which went over the bar.
Seeing their team pressuring Spain, the Finnish fans were excited. One fan even stripped down, waving a Finnish flag shirtless in the cold 3-4 degree weather with light winds.
Though it seemed Spain was on the back foot, as they ran more, their bodies warmed up.
The Spanish players became more fluid, slowly gaining control.
The gap in skill between the teams was apparent. Finland had a brief advantage when Spain was cautious, but once Spain warmed up, Finland was pushed back.
In the 11th minute, Spain intercepted the ball in midfield. Pedro passed to Lin after getting past his marker on the right. Lin played a one-two with Pedro, who then crossed to the edge of the box. Pedro's shot was weak and easily saved by the keeper.
Though they didn't score, it marked the start of Spain's counterattack.
In the 12th minute, Spain executed a brilliant passing play, ending with Iniesta's imaginative backheel pass into the box. A focused defender cleared it before Lin could get to it, preventing a likely goal.
In the 15th minute, Spain attacked again. Left-back Alba advanced, sending a half-high cross. Lin, not wanting to miss the chance, instinctively leaned back and performed an overhead kick. The ball struck perfectly, catching the keeper off guard and flying into the net.
1-0, Spain led.
The incredible goal surprised even Lin. His teammates swarmed him in celebration.
Spain, known for not losing once they score first, felt a weight lift off their shoulders.
"Don't relax, let's keep pushing for a couple more goals to seal the win!"
"If Lin scores two more, he can rest in the second half!" joked Iniesta.
After conceding, the Finnish fans' enthusiasm waned. Even the shirtless fan waved his flag slower, possibly due to the cold or fatigue.
Spain's attacks continued. In the 28th minute, exploiting Finland's eagerness to equalize, Spain launched a quick counter. Fàbregas made a brilliant pass to Lin, who beat the offside trap and faced the keeper alone. Calmly, he slotted the ball in with his left foot.
2-0, Spain virtually secured victory.
"Great shot!"
"Lin is so balanced with both feet, it's like he doesn't have a weak foot!"
"Haha, not as balanced as Cazorla, though!"
Lin modestly replied.
Many Spanish players are balanced with both feet, like Iniesta and Pedro, but Cazorla stands out the most.
Watching him play, you can't tell which is his stronger foot; he's equally skilled with both.
For professional players, developing a weak foot is crucial. Being one-footed is a serious limitation since defenders can easily predict and counter you.
Lin originally favored his right foot, while Messi was left-footed. After copying Messi's template, Lin became proficient with both feet.
The match continued, with Finland creating a decent chance in the 25th minute. Unfortunately, Eremenko's shot was blocked by Alba.
Spain countered, with Iniesta sending a through ball to Lin, who passed to Pedro. Trying to showcase his skills, Pedro's left-footed shot missed, hitting the far post and going out.
Pedro's sheepish grin and gesture to teammates acknowledged his mistake.
"We don't believe you, Lin. Next time, don't pass to this guy. A simple right-footed shot would've been enough."
Seeing Spain's relaxed demeanor in their own box, Finnish players felt defeated.
They couldn't stop the Spanish players' passes and movements, despite their physicality and speed.
Unless they doubled their defense to block all passing lanes, they couldn't stop Spain.
As Spain's attacks grew sharper, Finnish fans' enthusiasm dwindled. Their cheers quieted.
In the 37th minute, Fàbregas received the ball on the left side of the box, passed to Lin, who dribbled past two defenders but found no forward path. He passed back to Fàbregas, who then passed to Pedro. Pedro let the ball go, allowing the oncoming Iniesta to strike, catching the keeper off guard and scoring.
3-0, with
Spain leading before halftime.
Seeing another Spanish goal, Finnish fans started leaving. Even the shirtless fan quietly put on his coat, unsure if it was due to the cold or disappointment.
In the second half, with a commanding lead, Del Bosque made early substitutions to prevent injuries. At halftime, he replaced Iniesta and Fàbregas with Negredo and Isco.
Ten minutes into the half, noticing Finland's lack of attack, Spain aimed to conserve energy.
In the 59th minute, Del Bosque substituted Lin with Morata. Excited, Morata high-fived Lin, thrilled for his 30 minutes of playtime, more than he got in the Confederations Cup.
Lin joined the other substituted players on the bench, laughing and chatting in thick coats.
"Do you think the coach will call us up for the remaining qualifiers?"
"Not sure, if he wants to test young players, probably not."
"But if he wants to maintain our undefeated record, maybe he will."
With Lin off, Spain's attack weakened, and they didn't score again.
In the end, thanks to goals from Lin and Iniesta, Spain beat Finland 3-0, extending their undefeated streak and securing their spot in the 2014 World Cup two matches early.
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