Chapter 311: Lin Quan Scores Again, Spain Nearly Steps into the Finals!
"Marco's jumping ability is astonishing!"
"Yes, despite being only 174 cm tall, he can compete in the air with Busquets who is 189 cm—terrifying!"
"If he hadn't jumped so high, maybe they wouldn't have been hurt so badly!"
Watching the unexpected events unfold on the field, fans from both sides were worried.
Mascherano and Busquets, both key defenders for their teams, had to leave the field due to injuries, a significant loss for both Spain and Argentina.
Biglia, replacing Mascherano, lacked his defensive fierceness and resilience, which had once earned Mascherano the reputation of being one of the toughest defensive midfielders in the world.
With him, Argentina's defense had a nearly impenetrable barrier; his absence was a huge blow.
Busquets, known as a "filter for the blind," played a more crucial role than the fans could see.
With both players off, the game took an unexpected turn.
After the substitutions, the pace of the game didn't slow down.
Spain capitalized on the moment as Biglia, newly on the field, hadn't adjusted to the pace yet, launching a fierce attack on Argentina.
In the 58th minute, Argentina's defender Garay lost his shoe in an encounter with Lin Quan, but just as the Spanish cross flew in front of him.
Garay, one shoe off, tried to clear the ball hurriedly. He managed the clearance but slipped and fell, sprawling on the grass, which caused the fans, even the anxious Argentine fans, to burst into laughter.
Spain's corner was then taken by Ramos, who jumped high but headed the ball straight into the hands of goalkeeper Romero.
In the 59th minute, Spain's assault continued in the Argentine box.
Lin Quan outmaneuvered Zabaleta on the wing and was about to break into the box when Demichelis, unable to stop him, fouled Lin just outside the box.
The foul occurred outside the box, but Lin, due to momentum, fell inside it.
The scene became chaotic. Spanish fans shouted for a penalty, pressuring the referee, while Argentine players rushed to explain that the foul was outside the box.
The referee calmed everyone down and then showed Demichelis a yellow card, signaling a clear foul.
The exact location of the foul was uncertain—inside or outside the box—and needed confirmation, possibly even from the video assistant referee system.
Before the referee could get a definitive answer, Lin Quan clarified:
"The foul by Martín was outside the box, this isn't a penalty."
The Argentine players were stunned by Lin's honesty, typically expected to pressure the referee for a penalty in such situations.
Demichelis appreciated Lin's fair play, as it could have been a crucial mistaken call.
"Lin, thanks. I'll buy you dinner back in Manchester," he said.
"Deal!" Lin replied with a smile, slapping Demichelis on the back.
Messi, observing this, gained a deeper respect for Lin Quan's character.
This guy really seemed to match his own ideals.
He thought: "If he could come back to Barcelona, we'd work well together."
Unfortunately, seeing Lin return to Camp Nou soon was unlikely, and without much personal connection, it was hard to become friends.
In the stands, Argentine fans applauded Lin for not exploiting the situation. If they had to lose, they preferred losing to such a fair opponent.
Spanish fans, however, were slightly disappointed, knowing that had Lin pushed into the box, it might have resulted in a goal or even a penalty.
"Ah, Lin's too honest; he could have won a penalty there!"
"Yes, but I prefer Lin this way; at least he doesn't manipulate the rules to win!"
"Haha, if it were some divers, they'd have screamed for a penalty!"
"Someone, just reveal my ID already!"
In a VIP box, FIFA President Blatter, impressed by Lin's integrity amidst football's increasing commercialization, considered Lin an ideal role model for young players.
He began clapping and instructed his assistant to ensure the media highlighted Lin's sportsmanship in their post-match coverage.
As Lin Quan prepared to take the well-positioned free kick, Argentine players nervously set up a wall, fearing a direct goal.
Lin, known for his free-kick goals in leagues and the Champions League, was closely watched.
Given the close distance near the box, his options were limited, so he attempted a lobbed shot.
Romero, highly focused, leaped and tipped the ball over the bar, saving what could have been a direct goal.
Lin was slightly disappointed, his shot not as fast to keep it under control, giving Romero enough time to react.
Back on the field, as Argentina geared up to counter, Biglia passed to Di María, who after a breakthrough, sent a through ball to Messi for a clear chance—Argentina's best of the match.
As Messi faced a one-on-one, the stadium's Argentine fans stood, necks strained, eyes on the pitch.
If Messi scored, the teams would be back on equal footing.
Casillas rushed out, both speeding towards the ball. Messi, risking injury, kicked the ball away first, then dodged Casillas's challenge.
Though slightly unsteady, Messi chased the ball, kicked it towards the goal, and was knocked down by Ramos.
As the ball flew into the net, the score was tied 1:1!
In the midst of adversity, Argentina found themselves equalizing in the 62nd minute of the second half, thanks to a goal by their key player, Messi. This was the first time in this World Cup that a team managed to level the score against Spain, who had been leading. Messi's goal instantly ignited the atmosphere at the Mineirao Stadium. Countless Argentine fans were overwhelmed with joy, embracing each other as tears flowed freely. No words could describe their emotions at that moment; they had been living in tremendous fear and anxiety during the minutes they were trailing behind Spain. Finally, all the gloom that had accumulated in their hearts was swept away!
The Argentinians saw a glimmer of hope to defeat the mighty Spain and secure the last ticket to the final. Not just inside the stadium, but also outside, where Argentine fans who couldn't get tickets, as well as those in bars and homes across Argentina, were visibly excited. They were shouting Messi's name, embracing their family members as if they had already clinched victory in the match.
"Damn it!" At the sideline, the Spanish coach, Bosque, cursed under his breath and kicked over a water bottle as he saw Argentina score. He turned and called Mata and Fabregas from the bench, planning to make a double substitution. He intended to replace Xavi with Fabregas and Torres with Mata, transforming Spain's formation into a true striker-less setup. With Fabregas and Mata on the field, Spain would have five midfielders.
Bosque's plan was straightforward: after gaining possession, everyone was to pass the ball to Lin Quan, maximizing his scoring potential by giving him the freedom to shoot at will. With Lin Quan's scoring abilities, Bosque was not worried about failing to score, especially with such high-caliber midfielders at his service. If Argentina had Messi, Spain had Lin Quan—and not just Lin Quan, but a whole host of top-tier support.
Seeing Bosque's decisive substitutions, the Argentine coach, Saviola, felt a bit lost. It was only the 62nd minute, and the opposing side had already used up all their substitutions. Wasn't he worried about potential incidents later in the game? Saviola lacked Bosque's audacity and wasn't sure how to play after equalizing. His players were boosted by the goal, but should they capitalize on this momentum and continue to attack in hopes of taking the lead?
While Saviola hesitated, Spain completed their strategic changes. Observing Bosque's substitutions, spectators were bewildered. "Substituting two players at once, and all offensive? Is Spain infuriated?" "Fabregas and Mata are both strong offensively, and crucially, can deliver killer passes. With them on the field, Spain's passing and control tactics will become even more formidable, and Argentina's defense may be in real jeopardy." "It's not certain, though; those two aren't the best in physical confrontations. They might not withstand the Argentine pressure." "If it were the start of the game, maybe, but now the Argentine players have been playing for over sixty minutes. They surely don't have as much energy as the freshly substituted Spanish players." "Mata and Fabregas have both played in the Premier League; their physicality is certainly not lacking!" "Time will tell whether Bosque's changes were effective or not!"
Fans had differing opinions, and none could convince the other. All arguments would be settled on the field. Once Fabregas and Mata were on, the Argentine players quickly felt the change—Lin Quan was receiving and passing the ball far more frequently. He also attempted more dribbles, which significantly increased the defensive pressure on Argentina's midfield since they couldn't afford to let him face their backline alone. Once Lin passed their defenders, the Argentine goal was sure to be tested.
Biglia became the busiest person on the field. Messi and Di Maria were offensively strong but defensively weak. Messi was somewhat better; aware of Lin Quan's threat, he actively retreated to defend. Di Maria, however, though participating in defense, rarely chased back if bypassed, choosing instead to trust his teammates. After sixty minutes of play, players on both sides were hitting their physical limits; if they committed fully to both offense and defense, their remaining energy would be quickly depleted. On the other hand, the Spanish players, especially the three who had just come on, were full of energy. Martinez, with his strong defensive instincts and stamina, secured Spain's backline. Fabregas and Mata, fresh on the pitch, acted as connectors in midfield, continuously moving to shake off defenders and reducing their teammates' physical exertion.
Facing two energetic opponents, Argentina couldn't afford to focus on them without compromising their defense against Lin Quan. Bosque's strategic substitutions were proving their worth. If he had made more conservative changes, Argentina might have had the resources to press more aggressively. But his bold move to bring on two players meant Argentina couldn't effectively press either without leaving gaps elsewhere. This allowed Spain to dominate midfield completely. With control of midfield secured, Spain's attacking threats increased significantly.
In the 68th minute, Spain launched a high-quality counterattack. Di Maria's dwelling on the ball led to a turnover by Martinez, who sent a long pass to Mata advancing on the wing. Mata quickly moved the ball along, passing to Iniesta who, before Biglia could foul him, passed back to Lin Quan. Lin, positioned at the edge of the box, received the ball and returned it to Iniesta, who then threaded it back to Lin as he cut inside the box. Lin's movement drew defenders away, opening space for Mata. As Lin received the ball again, the Argentine defenders were tight on him, leaving Mata unmarked. Mata received Lin's pass, feigned a shot, and then slipped the ball under the onrushing Rojo's lifted foot to a ghosting figure behind him. The shadow, without hesitation, adjusted and shot at the top left corner of the goal before Demichelis could block. Romero, eyes wide, desperately reached out but was a fraction too slow to stop the ball.
Whoosh—the ball flew into the Argentine net once again. The score was now 2:1. Argentina's brief joy was doused by Lin's cold execution, pushing Spain one giant step closer to the final. (End of Chapter)
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