Chapter 316: Scoring the First Goal in the Finals!
"Hello to all our viewers on CCTV, welcome to the 2014 Brazil World Cup final—Spain versus Germany!"
"I'm He Wei!"
"And I'm Xu Yang!"
"Let's first take a look at the starting lineups for both teams. Spain's starting lineup is..."
In the CCTV studio, the two commentators were introducing the starting lineups of both teams. However, before they could finish, the situation on the field changed dramatically.
Spain didn't hesitate and launched a fierce attack on Germany.
"The ball is with Lin Quan. Iniesta is in a good position. They might pass it to each other. Lin Quan passes... no, he shoots directly!"
"Dangerous!"
"Neuer is positioned very forward!"
Seeing Neuer's positioning, the commentators couldn't help but exclaim. Neuer, known for playing like a sweeper-keeper, was positioned quite forward, covering a large area. This aggressive positioning also made him susceptible to being lobbed by opponents.
Lin Quan, having faced Neuer in the Bundesliga, knew his playing habits well. So, he specifically observed Neuer's position and then decided to shoot from a distance. The shot came very suddenly. Neuer was near the edge of the penalty area, about fifteen meters from the goal. Seeing Lin Quan's shot, Neuer's face changed color in shock as he quickly retreated, not daring to jump in place. The ball's trajectory was high, and jumping in place might not reach it.
However, the ball's speed was faster than Neuer expected. He had only taken two steps back when the ball was about to fly over his head. With no choice, Neuer jumped up, stretching his right hand to try and block the ball.
The ball had a very high arc, and an average goalkeeper might not have reached it. But Neuer, standing at 1.93 meters with impressive jumping ability, barely touched the ball with his fingertips, altering its trajectory slightly. With a thud, the ball hit the upper part of the crossbar and bounced out of bounds.
Seeing the ball deflected, German fans instinctively patted their chests, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. That shot was incredibly dangerous. Lin Quan's long-range shot was of very high quality. If not for Neuer's heroic save, the ball would have likely gone in.
This narrow escape changed the German fans' view of Lin Quan. This guy was indeed formidable.
After confirming the ball hadn't gone in, Neuer breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Lin Quan with some fear. This guy had gotten even better over the past few months. To defeat him, Neuer would have to double his efforts.
Seeing the ball deflected by Neuer, Lin Quan also felt a bit regretful. This guy's physical abilities were just too good. His jumping ability was so high that he could almost play basketball.
In a fair assessment, Neuer's sweeper-keeper style pioneered a new goalkeeping method. In modern football, keepers like De Gea, who rarely leave the goal line, are becoming less suited to the times. Neuer's style of actively coming out, covering a large area, and even initiating attacks, is becoming more common. However, few goalkeepers can match Neuer's level, thanks to his excellent footwork, stable mentality, and the continuous development he received under coaches Heynckes and Guardiola at Bayern.
It seems that taking advantage of his positioning to lob him won't be easy. Maybe it would be more effective to try when he leaves the penalty area, but that would require a shot from near the halfway line or even further.
After neutralizing Spain's attack, German players increased their pressing and double-teaming of Spain's midfielders. Khedira's absence was a significant blow for Germany, and Spain was also missing Busquets due to an injury from the semifinals.
Both teams were not at full strength, making the coaches' adjustments even more crucial.
Germany lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Kramer and Schweinsteiger as the defensive midfielders. Kramer focused on defense, while Schweinsteiger was more versatile, good at both offense and defense. Schweinsteiger was the organizer and tempo controller in midfield, but with Kroos coming into his own, Germany's playmaking duties were now shared. In attack, Müller played more like a second striker, Özil was the playmaker, and Kroos controlled the game's pace, similar to his role at club level.
During attacks, Kroos used his vision and precise passing to plot routes, avoiding tight defensive areas and targeting weaker spots. In defense, he moved back to work with the defensive midfielders, creating a tight interception net in front of the defense.
Germany was familiar with this strategy, but Khedira's sudden injury was a setback. Kramer, born in 1991, was young and lacked Khedira's experience and savvy. With defensive midfielders being crucial, Kramer was under significant pressure. If he faltered, Germany could easily lose control of the midfield.
Spain planned to target Özil before the match. Since moving to Arsenal last summer, Özil's weaknesses had become apparent—his dribbling, escaping from markers, and physical confrontations were all weak. Worse, he always looked half-asleep, lacking both personal drive and competitive desire, making him an easy target. But after Khedira's injury, Bosque shifted focus to testing Kramer.
In the 5th minute, Germany built an attack, and the ball reached Özil. Xabi Alonso quickly closed him down, using his body to outmuscle his former club teammate and steal the ball. Müller immediately tried to win it back, but Alonso's speed was faster. He passed the ball to Lin Quan, who then delivered a long pass to Diego Costa upfront. Costa tried to muscle past the defenders, but Boateng and Hummels, working well together, closed him down, and Neuer collected the loose ball.
Costa felt a bit disappointed but gave Lin Quan a thumbs-up for the pass. He started too slowly and couldn't match Lin Quan's pace. If he had moved as soon as Alonso intercepted, he might have been through on goal.
Lin Quan thought differently, noticing Germany's defenders setting up an offside trap. If Costa had moved too quickly, he would have been flagged offside. It seems straightforward attacks wouldn't work; they needed more intricate build-ups.
Neuer's throw started another German attack. Under Alonso's pressure, Kroos passed forward to Müller, who was fouled near the box, giving Germany a free-kick.
Kroos stepped up, aiming for the top-right corner of the goal, but his shot hit the wall, with Costa's height proving crucial. The loose ball fell to a German player, and Schweinsteiger's follow-up shot from the edge of the box went over the bar.
In the opening five minutes, both teams had their chances. They traded attacks, with neither side dominating completely. After probing each other's strengths, the battle centered on midfield control.
With Busquets injured, Bosque started Xabi Alonso, meaning Spain's midfield had two players over 33. In contrast, Germany's midfielders were much younger, apart from Schweinsteiger. Younger players have more stamina and physical prowess. Löw believed that with increased pressing, Germany could overpower Spain's aging midfield.
After the midfield struggle began, he realized that he might have overestimated the strength of Germany's midfield. Spain initially focused on the young substitute, Kramer. Lin Quan, Iniesta, and David Silva took turns attacking his defensive zone. Perhaps due to nerves, Kramer made several mistakes under the relentless Spanish assault. Fortunately, captain Lahm and Schweinsteiger consciously protected him, preventing any serious consequences.
After adjusting to the pace of the game for a while, Kramer's performance gradually stabilized and even showed signs of improvement. Seeing Kramer find his footing, coach Löw felt relieved on the sidelines. But then, problems arose with Özil! As the midfield battle intensified, Özil's weakness in physical duels quickly became apparent. Picking on the weak, Spain exploited Özil's frailty, frequently intercepting the ball from him and launching counterattacks. This made it tough for Germany, as Özil's ability to make threatening passes was vital in offense. The more Özil received the ball, the higher the risk of mistakes. Constantly pressured, Özil struggled to retain possession, making it seem like Germany was continuously handing the ball to Spain.
In the 17th minute, Spain intercepted the ball from Özil again. The ball was quickly passed to Lin Quan, who took a few steps and, after dodging a challenge from Kroos, looked up to assess the German team's positioning. Expecting Lin Quan to pass to Diego Costa again, the German players were caught off-guard. However, Lin Quan only glanced at Costa before decisively passing to Silva on the wing. Silva played a one-two with Lin Quan, who then cut inside towards the penalty area. Kramer tried to stop him but fell for Lin Quan's feint and was easily bypassed as Lin Quan charged into the box. Boateng rushed towards Lin Quan but kept a reasonable distance, learning from previous encounters not to get too close and give Lin Quan an easy pass.
Determined not to be just a backdrop in Lin Quan's highlight reel again, Boateng hoped to redeem himself. After all, the viral gifs of Lin Quan dribbling past him had dented his reputation, with fans questioning his status as the world's best defender. This World Cup final was his chance to prove himself—if he could neutralize Lin Quan and lead his team to victory, he might cleanse his past humiliations.
But stopping Lin Quan was easier said than done. Seeing Boateng keeping his distance, Lin Quan used him as a screen and shot decisively. Boateng, caught off guard, hastily tried to block the shot but missed, and his positioning obscured Neuer's view, delaying the goalkeeper's reaction. The German fans in the stands felt a chill—was their team about to fall behind so soon?
At the critical moment, a player wearing the captain's armband for Germany slid in front of the goal and hooked the ball clear. It was Philipp Lahm—the shortest player on the field—who made the crucial clearance and roared in celebration. A relieved Neuer hugged his teammate, gratefully kissing his forehead. The other German defenders rushed to embrace Lahm, thanking him for his timely intervention.
Lin Quan noted Lahm's position before shooting but hadn't expected such a skilled clearance. He thought if he had aimed higher or opted for a half-volley, the outcome might have been different. However, Lin Quan wasn't discouraged, knowing such miraculous clearances wouldn't happen every time. The first shot hit the crossbar, the second was cleared by Lahm, but the next time, luck might not favor Germany.
Although the goal didn't come, Lin Quan's attempt had German fans and commentators sweating, realizing they had to find a way to contain him. "We must stop Lin Quan!" exclaimed the German commentators, acknowledging his threat. "His shots haven't scored yet, but he's in great form. If this continues, a goal is inevitable."
German fans also recognized where the problem lay—it was Özil. With less than 20 minutes played, they wondered if it was too rash to substitute him so early, given his powerful passing. Löw hesitated, knowing Özil's removal would impact their offensive capabilities.
Inaction led to consequences. In the 31st minute, taking advantage of a German corner kick where most players were forward, Spain launched a quick counterattack. Xavi Alonso delivered a long, precise pass to Diego Costa, who laid it off to Lin Quan. Bypassing Kramer and observing Neuer's positioning, Lin Quan chose to lob the goal from an ambitious 48 meters out. Neuer, positioned far from his line, could do nothing as the ball flew towards the goal.
The fans in the stadium rose to their feet, watching the ball's flight. Those who had seen Lin Quan hit the goal frame repeatedly from distance felt despair—they knew his accuracy. Under the watchful eyes of nearly 100,000 spectators, the ball traced a beautiful arc and thundered into the German net.
1-0! Spain took the lead with Lin Quan scoring a crucial goal in the World Cup final!