Chapter 313: An 18-Year-Old World Cup Champion? Why Not!
The moment the final whistle blew, the Spanish players hugged each other in excitement. Even the substitutes and some coaches rushed onto the field, celebrating wildly together with the players. After four years, they had once again reached the World Cup final. The Spanish team now had a real chance to lift the World Cup trophy, the highest honor in football. This excitement and sense of madness were palpable.
Bosque, deeply moved, tried to maintain his composed image as a distinguished coach. He stood up, adjusted his attire, and walked over to the Argentine bench. "Your team played brilliantly; it was a spectacular match!" he said, shaking hands with Argentina's coach Sabella, who replied with a polite thank you and wished him luck in the next game.
Sabella's mood was far from cheerful. After the loss, he knew his position was essentially lost. Even if the Argentine Football Association and fans did not hold him responsible, he would resign. This World Cup, although not held in Argentina, felt almost like a home event since Brazil was right next door, and with Brazil eliminated, it was like a semi-home ground. Despite having a strong squad with stars like Messi and many top-league players, they failed once again in the knockout stage, likely disappointing many Argentine fans. Sabella realized his limitations and decided to step down.
Bosque felt some sympathy for Sabella. Compared to him, Bosque's position was very secure. Since taking charge, Spain had won a World Cup, a European Championship, and a Confederations Cup. If they succeeded in defending their World Cup title, he would undoubtedly become the most successful coach in Spanish history. With the brilliant players in La Liga and promising talents like Lin, Bosque was confident about Spain's future success.
While the Spanish players celebrated, the Argentine players were deeply dejected. When the final whistle blew, many Argentine players fell to the ground, exhausted and heartbroken. Messi, the team's soul, stood there, hands on his hips, staring at the ground, looking like a statue, motionless. This sight broke the hearts of countless Messi fans. Even some neutral fans felt sympathy.
"This is Messi's third World Cup, right?" "Yeah, he's been in three World Cups since 2006." "Eight years ago, he was just a 19-year-old rookie. Now, he's the core of Argentina, but the result seems unchanged. Argentina's World Cup journey ends again."
In the previous two World Cups, Argentina was eliminated by Germany in the quarterfinals. This time, they reached the semifinals but faced a stronger Spanish team and failed to reach the final. Although they improved compared to four years ago, for a team aiming to win, being eliminated in the quarterfinals or semifinals makes little difference; it's still a failure.
This result deeply disappointed Messi. Born in 1987, he was already 27. In the next World Cup, he would be 31. Time was running out for Messi. If he couldn't win the World Cup at his peak, he doubted he could lead the team to victory in four or eight years. His opponent, Spain's Lin, was much younger. Four years later, Lin would be only 22, and eight years later, 26. Lin's strength would only grow, while Messi's would decline with age.
Messi couldn't beat the young Lin now; he doubted he could in the future. If he couldn't win in the next World Cup, he feared he might never lift the trophy.
At the post-match press conference, Sabella took full responsibility for the loss and announced his resignation. Someone had to take the blame, either the coach or the players. Messi had scored twice and done his best, but many still criticized him for not saving the team. However, most agreed that Argentina was tactically outplayed by Spain. Bosque's quick, decisive substitutions paid off, while Sabella's indecisiveness and slow adjustments led to his defeat. Facing such clear disparities, Sabella knew he would be fired if he didn't resign.
Bosque, in contrast, was in high spirits. Brazil seemed like a lucky place for Spain. Last year, they won the Confederations Cup here. Now, they had the chance to win their second World Cup. Bosque confidently declared their intent to defend their title: "We came here to defend our title. Germany is strong, but we are stronger. The final victory will be ours!"
His declaration won strong support from Spanish fans but also provoked German players. Götze responded on social media, "The Spaniards have had it too easy. In the final, we'll make them taste the power of the German machine!" Boateng added, "We beat Brazil 7-1. Spain will face the same fate!"
Spanish players like Piqué and Ramos also fired back, reminding the Germans of their past defeats and mocking their adoption of Spanish tactics. The heated exchanges continued, with both sides using Brazil's defeat as a reference point to argue their superiority.
As a Spanish player, Lin also expressed his eagerness on social media: "World Cup champion? Why not? I can't wait to lift the trophy in the final!" Winning the World Cup was the ultimate goal, especially with just one game left. If Lin won, he would become the youngest champion in Spain's history at 18.
The pre-final war of words continued, with journalists fueling the fire by questioning German coach Löw about Bosque's comments. Löw confidently replied, "We are not here to be a stepping stone for anyone. We are here to win the title!" He also pointed out Spain's lack of physicality and promised a tough, physical game to break them.
Germany was known for their physical, combative style, and although they had adopted more technical play recently, they were still a formidable force. Bosque took Löw's words seriously and studied Germany's past tactics, preparing for all possibilities. Despite Germany's recent technical play, their traditional strengths in physicality and set-pieces remained a threat.
Both teams were preparing intensely, with Bosque even hinting at using Diego Costa alongside Lin in a dual-striker formation for the final, adding to the speculation and uncertainty. Fans and pundits were left guessing if this was a genuine strategy or a smokescreen.
"Hehe, we beat Brazil 7-1, and the Spaniards probably want to experience the same thrashing!"
With the German players joining the fray, the Spanish players couldn't just sit back and watch. Piqué, who loves being in the spotlight, was the first to speak up:
"Have the Germans forgotten who knocked them out four years ago? Have they forgotten the fear of our tiki-taka football?"
Ramos added fuel to the fire:
"Hehe, I guess they haven't forgotten, otherwise why would Bayern and the German national team be learning our tiki-taka?"
Fàbregas was merciless:
"They shamelessly came to learn from us Spaniards, and now they dare say the teachers are afraid of the students. That's hilarious!"
The Spanish players mocked the Germans for adopting their tiki-taka style, even playing without a traditional striker in some matches. The Germans were furious but couldn't deny the truth. Indeed, the German team had adopted the Spanish style of play, originally created by the Spaniards. They retaliated by pointing out their massive victory over Brazil, suggesting they were stronger than Spain.
Both teams had defeated the host nation, Brazil, making Brazil a reference point for measuring their strength. On paper, Germany's 7-1 win looked more impressive than Spain's, but the Brazilian squads they faced were different. Spain faced a full-strength Brazil in the Confederations Cup final, while Germany faced a depleted Brazilian team.
"Germany just took advantage of a weakened Brazil. If Brazil's key players hadn't been injured, who knows how the semifinal would have ended!"
"I'm a Brazilian fan, and I support Spain in this one. Losing to Spain felt fair, but losing to Germany didn't. If Neymar and Thiago Silva were fit, I bet Germany wouldn't have won so easily. Dare to face us again, Germany?"
German fans, of course, didn't engage with this argument, preferring not to waste time on defeated opponents.
As a member of the Spanish team, Lin also spoke out on social media:
"World Cup champion? Why not? I can't wait to lift the trophy in the final!"
No one can refuse the allure of the World Cup, especially when it's within reach. If Lin wins, he will become the youngest champion in Spain's history at just 18 years old.
Following Lin's statement, several German players also spoke out, but their remarks didn't carry the same weight. Hence, the Germans didn't gain much advantage in the pre-final war of words.
However, the battle wasn't confined to social media. Reporters took Bosque's comments to German coach Löw, asking for his response.
"I have great confidence in my team. We didn't come here to be anyone's stepping stone. We're here to win the title!"
At the final stretch, Löw couldn't back down. He not only stood firm but also pointed out Spain's lack of physical strength, confidently stating that Germany would use their robust play to crush Spain and leave a lasting, painful memory for the Spaniards.
The German team was known for their tall, strong players who excelled in physical play. Their teams were always difficult to face, as their strong physical presence could lead to overwhelming victories if they gained momentum.
Löw's words reached Bosque, causing some concern. Wasn't Germany supposed to be playing a more technical game now? What did Löw mean by reverting to their old style? In reality, technical teams often struggle against physical ones. The old German teams were tough, aggressive, and difficult to beat. Their techniques might not have been as flashy as the Spanish, but their simple plays were highly effective.
Bosque took this seriously, immediately gathering his coaching staff to analyze Germany's traditional tactics, preparing for the possibility that Germany might revert to their old ways.
Germany's traditional strengths were clear. For years, they played a straightforward game, often attacking from the flanks, avoiding the densely defended center. Unlike Spain's intricate passing and cutting inside, German wingers would cross the ball to their tall strikers for headers. This old-school approach was simple but effective, especially with a player like Klose, who was excellent at heading.
Besides their wing play, Germany excelled at long shots and set-pieces. Midfielders like Ballack were known for powerful long-range strikes, hard for goalkeepers to save if on target. Defensively, Germany utilized their physical prowess for aggressive pressing, making it hard for opposing stars to perform well under constant pressure. This strategy had successfully limited Messi in past matches, and it was likely they would use it against Lin.
Bosque had concerns about Lin being marked out of the game, which could disrupt Spain's offensive flow. Moreover, Germany's ability to quickly switch play with long passes posed another threat, especially when combined with their solid counter-attacks. Players like Kroos, with excellent vision and passing, were dangerous. Germany's layered, multi-dimensional defense was challenging to break.
But could this current German team still play their traditional style? Bosque was skeptical. The modern German team had evolved, adopting more technical and possession-based play, resembling Spain more than their past selves. Players like Götze, Özil, and Kroos were skillful but less physically imposing.
Bosque saw no signs of Löw dismantling their tactical system, especially not in a World Cup final. Doing so could lead to a disaster, risking a backlash from German fans. He concluded that Löw's comments were a smokescreen to confuse them.
To counter this, Bosque decided to play along. He announced that Diego Costa had recovered well and might pair with Lin in a dual-striker formation for the final, stirring speculation and confusion. Fans and analysts were left guessing if this was a real strategy or another bluff
If Lin is neutralized by the opponents, Spain's attacking machine might just break down. Additionally, Germany's ability to switch play with long passes must be watched. They will exploit the opponent's defensive positioning, moving the ball across a wide area to weaker defensive spots, thus changing the pace of the game and compensating for their simpler tactics, which lack the intricate passing and movement of the Spanish style. This advantage, combined with their counter-attacking strategy, often yields great results. Therefore, when facing Germany, it's crucial not to make mistakes during offensive plays. Any error could be swiftly exploited by Germany for a dangerous counterattack.
German players play with calmness and a good understanding of the game. Kroos, for example, excels at reading the game and delivering precise long passes. His outstanding performances in previous matches have forced Bosque to remain cautious. With tall players in the box and powerful shooters just outside, defending against Germany's attack requires a multi-layered approach. However, there's doubt about whether the current German team can still employ such traditional tactics. Bosque is skeptical because this German team, with its technical style and possession-based tactics, seems more like Spain and less like the old German teams. The selection by Löw shows this change. The starting lineup now includes players like Götze, Özil, and Kroos, who are less physically imposing but technically superior.
These players are given significant responsibilities, and it's unlikely that Löw would completely overhaul the team's strategy, especially not in a World Cup final. Any drastic changes risking the championship could drown him in criticism back in Germany. Yet, how could Löw rely on Germany's physical quality to overpower Spain without abandoning his tactical setup? It's virtually impossible.
Thus, Bosque is convinced that Löw is just throwing smoke bombs to confuse. Following suit, Bosque decides to play along. He announces that Diego Costa, having recovered well, might join Lin in a dual-striker formation for the final, sparking massive media and fan attention. Costa, injured in the match against the Netherlands but returned in the game against Costa Rica, was conspicuously unused against Argentina. He wasn't even listed as a substitute, puzzling many. Was he merely a mascot in Bosque's plans, or did Bosque prefer Torres over him? Due to Bosque's decision to keep Costa benched, conspiracy theories circulated widely. Many fans believed Bosque was hiding Costa's true condition to mislead opponents, leading some German fans to warn their team not to be fooled.
Now, with Bosque openly planning to use Costa alongside Lin, fans are skeptical. Previous matches have shown that Lin is not best utilized as a forward but more effective as a free-roaming playmaker. So, is Bosque's announcement just a smokescreen? While fans might think so, Löw cannot afford such assumptions. If Costa and Lin were to synchronize well, combining their high goal-scoring efficiency, Germany could be in real trouble. Considering both are formidable strikers, Löw opts to prepare for the worst, choosing to believe Bosque's potential bluff.
(End of chapter)