Chương 310: Chapter 310: Football Kings Speak Out, Pelé: "I Favor Spain for the Championship!"

Chapter 310: Football Kings Speak Out, Pelé: "I Favor Spain for the Championship!"

"What a fantastic goal!" "Lin Quan's goal has pushed Argentina into the abyss!" As Lin Quan scored, commentators around the world, speaking in various languages, excitedly narrated the goal to fans. Major TV networks repeatedly replayed the goal, showcasing Busquets' interception, Xavi's pass, and the series of passes and movements by Spanish players up front.

"This goal is undoubtedly a credit to the entire team!" "Spain's team executed incredible coordination to achieve a spectacular goal!" "When Lin Quan shot, he was probably less than two meters from the goal; the ball was practically passed into the net!"

After reviewing the slow-motion footage of Spain's goal, commentators around the world couldn't help but express their admiration: "People said that after Guardiola left Barcelona and as peak Barcelona declined, possession-based football would die. However, anyone who watched these semifinals wouldn't think possession football is fading away. Inspired by Spain's style, Germany's strength has increased, as evidenced by their 7-1 thrashing of Brazil. With Lin Quan joining the team, Spain has finally assembled their dream lineup. This Spanish team feels like a return to the days of peak Barcelona! Their control of the game and their ability to pressure opponents is terrifying!"

"Although the score is only 1-0, Spain's lead doesn't seem significant. But after Lin Quan scored, the dynamics of this match changed drastically. Argentina's chances of winning plummeted, shifting from a pre-match 60-40 to now 80-20 or even 90-10. If Argentina can't equalize soon, they will slowly suffocate under Spain's relentless pressure. Argentina's coach, Saviola, is already sweating profusely. Despite the hot weather, he feels as cold as if he's fallen into an ice cellar. He had intended to play on the counter, but his team fell behind in the first half, thwarting his plans. Now, Argentina has no choice but to attack with all their might in the second half."

"After seeing Spain's offensive power in the first half, Saviola is extremely anxious. Is it really feasible to go toe-to-toe with such a team? He's studied Spain's previous five matches, noting that many teams could keep up with Spain in the first half. But once Spain breaks the deadlock, those teams quickly collapse, conceding second, third, or even fourth goals. The Netherlands in the first match, Chile in the second, and Mexico and Costa Rica in the knockout rounds all followed this script. Now, Argentina is handed the same script. If they choose to launch a full-scale counterattack, their fate may not be much better than those teams. This is why the public is skeptical about Argentina's chances after they conceded. Falling behind against Spain almost certainly means defeat."

"If it weren't for having a superstar like Messi in the team, the outside world might not even give them that last 20% chance of winning. The only reason people think Argentina still has a chance is because of Messi. After all, a superstar of his caliber can perform miracles!"

Yet, Messi's mood was somewhat downcast. Watching Lin Quan surrounded by his jubilant Spanish teammates, Messi felt a pang of envy. If he had chosen to join Spain, he might have been the one celebrated in the middle. Shaking his head, Messi dismissed such thoughts from his mind. As an Argentine, he is committed to fighting for Argentina and does not regret his decision. Instead of dwelling on regrets, he's better off rallying his spirits and trying to equalize as soon as possible. Now fully motivated, Messi refused to let Lin Quan get all the glory. He has been yearning for the Hercules Cup for over eight years, and this time, he is determined not to let it slip away so easily.

When play resumed after Spain's celebration, Messi was noticeably more active. In the 45th minute, his breakthrough caused Busquets to foul and receive a yellow card. Although Busquets and Messi are club teammates and have always had a good relationship, on the field, Busquets didn't hesitate to commit a necessary foul. After the foul, he immediately apologized to Messi, hoping not to damage their relationship. Messi didn't hold a grudge as Busquets hadn't used excessive force; he merely pulled him down, and since Busquets had already received a yellow card, there wasn't much more to say. After all, once the national team games are over, they still have to return to club duties, and maintaining a good relationship is beneficial for both.

As the half came to a close, Argentina decided to use this free kick to attempt a header on goal, but Spain's defense was tight. The ball entered the box, but Ramos cleared it immediately. The Argentinian players on the outside then took a long shot that went over the goal, and the referee blew the whistle to end the first half. With a one-goal deficit, the Argentine players returned to the locker room with solemn expressions.

"Come on, Argentina!" "Go, Messi!"

Seeing this, the fans in the stands, including those from Argentina and fans of Messi, shouted out to encourage their team and players. In fact, since Argentina fell behind, these fans have been vocally supporting their team, sticking by them without hurling insults but instead fulfilling their roles as the best twelfth player loyally.

With the host Brazil already eliminated, Argentina has become South America's last hope. This led many Brazilian fans at the venue to set aside past grievances and start cheering for Argentina. People naturally sympathize with the underdog, and given the situation and the current score, Argentina is undeniably the underdog. Even Ronaldo, who had said before the game that "as long as it's not Argentina who wins the championship," was on social media cheering for Argentina.

"Come on, brothers from Argentina, defend the honor of South American football with your courage!"

Ronaldo's message prompted other stars to follow suit. Ronaldinho, who has a good relationship with Messi and has always seen him as a younger brother, also posted on social media: "Go Messi, show them your true strength!"

When two Brazilian players spoke up, how could Argentine stars remain silent? Batistuta, the legendary Argentine striker, posted: "I believe in miracles because my compatriots will fight to the last minute!" Maradona, also an Argentine legend, spoke out during the halftime break in an interview: "Argentina will win. We have the strength, we have Messi, we have Higuaín, we have Di María, and we will make it to the final!"

Maradona, more than anyone, wants to see Argentina lift the Hercules Cup again, just as he led them to victory in the Mexico World Cup years ago.

In this Argentine team, there is someone Maradona believes to be his successor: Lionel Messi! Maradona firmly believes that Messi can become a football king like him. And to become a king, winning the World Cup is almost a necessary condition! So, Messi, go for it! You can do it!

With Maradona speaking out, the other football king, Pelé, couldn't stay silent. However, knowing his reputation as a jinx, Pelé didn't directly bless Argentina. Instead, he playfully posted on social media: "Hey guys, I think the Spanish team is just too strong, they are definitely going to win this World Cup!"

Pelé's tweet immediately sparked numerous responses from fans: "Haha, Pelé jinxed Spain, does that mean Spain will be eliminated?" "Not necessarily eliminated, but their chances of winning are probably gone, right?" "You're underestimating Pelé's jinxing powers. If he thinks Spain will win, they probably won't even make it to the finals!" "Is it really that scary?" "Yes, it's terrifying!" "You scared me; I thought Pelé was going to bless Argentina. Glad that disaster didn't happen!" "Argentine fans should be thanking Pelé for sparing them!" "Thanks, Pelé, for sparing us!" "Thanks, Pelé, for sparing us!"

Argentine fans lined up to thank Pelé, while Spanish fans, after reading his tweet, couldn't help but become indignant. "Darn, the Argentines are so despicable, they brought in Pelé, the jinx, to curse us!" "This is bad!" "Don't worry, Spain is too lucky to be easily jinxed!" "Can someone tell Bosque to just put 11 defenders on in the second half and play a full defensive setup?"

Spanish fans were panicking, suggesting absurd strategies like using 11 defenders. Pelé's jinxing reputation was well known, and every team he jinxed usually met a grim fate. Spain had a strong chance of defending their World Cup title and had dominated on the field, nearly securing a spot in the final. Suddenly jinxed by Pelé, Spanish fans began to worry. Superstitions might be unreliable, but better safe than sorry!

In Spain's locker room, Bosque was unaware his team had been jinxed. He was pleased with the first half and told the players to continue with the same tactics. Considering Xavi's age, he planned to substitute him at the 60-minute mark if Argentina attacked intensively, deciding whether to focus more on offense or defense based on the game's flow.

Bosque had many options, with 12 substitute players at his disposal. One advantage of the World Cup is that even if players aren't in the starting lineup, they can all sit on the bench, ready to be called upon as needed.

As the second half started, Argentina kicked off and immediately attacked, targeting Xavi as Bosque had predicted. Busquets, already carded, was cautious in his defense, and Xavi's age and physical condition limited his defensive effectiveness, giving Argentina their chance.

In the 47th minute, Argentina's right-wing play broke through Spain's line, and a cross by Zabaleta forced Alba to clear the ball to safety. The play started on the wing but was initiated by Messi after he bypassed Xavi. If Spain's midfield had intercepted Messi's pass, the attack wouldn't have been a threat.

Bosque stood up, alarmed by Argentina's fiercer-than-expected offense, with Messi and Di María creating significant threats on the right. He quickly called Martínez to warm up. Originally a defensive midfielder and retrained as a defender at Bayern, Spain needed his strong defensive capabilities.

Deciding who to substitute was challenging: replace Xavi or Busquets? While contemplating, a major incident occurred on the field.

At the 55th minute, a head collision during an Argentine corner kick led to severe injuries for both players involved. They couldn't continue, forcing both teams to make substitutions. Argentina replaced Mascherano with Biglia, and Bosque brought on Martínez for Busquets. However, this didn't resolve the issue with Xavi's stamina.

Shortly thereafter, Bosque needed another substitution. He glanced over at Koke and Alonso on the bench, unsure of the best choice.