France had once again fought back stubbornly to level the score. Their resilience had already far exceeded what even their own fans had imagined.
On the sideline, Deschamps clapped and shouted wildly, continuing to urge every player on the pitch to dig out even more energy.
The more you erupt in adversity, the more likely you are to create a miracle.
Deschamps could already see hope of taking the lead.
"This is definitely the most intense match I've seen in a very long time."
"It's been ages since we've had a World Cup final this classic. Only this level of brilliance is worthy of a World Cup final!"
"France's resilience is terrifying. You can't kill them off. You simply can't!"
The fans were all marveling at France's stubbornness, while the hearts of the Spain fans were once again in their throats.
"The match isn't over yet. Nothing is over yet, Casillas. Don't celebrate too soon."
Zidane leaned calmly back in his chair.
At that moment, France made another substitution, and Spain also made changes.
"Deschamps makes another change. Attacking Midfielder Fekir comes on to replace Giroud. This is another tactical shift!"
"Spain make changes as well. Isco comes on for Asensio, and Saúl comes on for Busquets."
Spain also made a double substitution.
After play resumed, there were about 30 minutes left including stoppage time.
With Fekir coming on, France immediately switched to a strikerless formation.
Fekir stayed frequently in the Attacking Midfielder position, using his passing and link-up play.
He did not push into the box at all. Instead, he stayed near the top of the penalty arc and fed ammunition to both flanks.
Sergio Ramos and Piqué were extremely uncomfortable. They were forced to leave the penalty area and mark Fekir closely.
But as a result, the half-spaces in Spain's back line were enlarged, and the distance between the center backs and full-backs grew wider.
Saúl and Thiago were forced to drop back on either side to help defend, and France gradually began to gain the upper hand.
In the 70th minute.
"This is the first time since the start of this World Cup final that France have held the advantage in open play."
"After equalizing for the third time, Deschamps's tactical adjustment and France's surging morale have pushed the team into especially good form. They're building real momentum on the pitch!"
Leo Lin could feel it too. Equalizing three times in such stubborn fashion had filled this France team with confidence. They had fully entered the match and were now releasing a level of energy that might even exceed their usual ability.
In the 72nd minute.
"Fekir drops back. Pogba plays the through ball and finds Fekir!"
"He carries it and turns. The right side is open!"
"He's brought down!"
"Saúl, who came on as a substitute, receives a yellow card. He absolutely couldn't allow Fekir to slip that through ball to the right!"
"France have a free kick in the attacking third. This is a very good position!"
"Fekir and Griezmann are standing over the ball. Both are free-kick specialists!"
Then, with Griezmann making a dummy run, Fekir curled his shot around the wall.
The dipping trajectory looked exactly like the sinking hearts of every Spain fan.
"Swish!!!"
"OHHHHH!!!!"
"Come on!!!!!"
"Come on!!!!!!!!"
Zidane slammed both fists onto the commentary desk.
Beside him, Makélélé looked like he wanted to flip the whole desk over.
Every French fan inside Luzhniki Stadium erupted in celebration.
French fans around the world boiled over.
Every France player, including those on the bench, rushed toward Fekir and buried him beneath them.
Deschamps dropped to his knees in a slide right on the sideline.
But for Spain's players and fans, that goal was a hammer blow.
ESPN, Derek Rae.
"This goal is an enormous blow to Spain!"
"I can hardly imagine it. You lead three times, get pegged back three times, and then you're overtaken just as the match is nearing its end. The psychological drop must be immense!"
"The Spain players have now entered the most difficult period of the match!"
"They must find a way to equalize as quickly as possible. There really isn't much time left for them!"
Sergio Ramos rushed into the net, grabbed the ball, and threw it back to midfield. Leo Lin caught it and pressed it down inside the center circle.
The Spain players immediately returned to their positions.
Their morale was not as low as expected, but the tension and anxiety were visible to the naked eye, along with plenty of anger.
Especially Leo Lin.
He felt like he was about to explode.
The fire bottled up inside him spread through his entire body in an instant.
Leo Lin could only keep taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.
On the sideline, Hierro shouted toward the players on the pitch.
"There's still time!"
"Push up and attack! All of you, push up!"
On the other side, Deschamps signaled for his players to drop their shape back. France were about to go all in on defense.
"France make their third change. Midfielder Nzonzi comes on to replace Griezmann!"
"They've taken off an attacking player and brought on a Defensive Midfielder. France are going all out to defend!"
An unbearably tense atmosphere filled Luzhniki Stadium. Spain's players pressed forward like mad, while France built an iron wall, defending with no gaps at all.
In the 79th minute.
"Down the right, an immediate cross!"
"Carvajal sends it into the middle! Varane clears!"
"Nzonzi launches it straight back into Spain's half!"
In the 84th minute.
"Leo Lin! He shoots directly!"
"It hits a defender!"
"France's penalty area is packed with bodies!"
"Leo Lin is getting a little anxious! The Spain players are all getting anxious!"
As the match time grew shorter and shorter, it was not only the Spain players. In the stands, every Spain fan was on their feet, their faces full of urgency.
Some fans could no longer stop their tears, while others angrily pulled off their shirts and pounded the seats.
They did not know what else they could do.
"Including stoppage time, there are less than ten minutes left in this World Cup final. Spain really do not have much time left!"
Leo Lin sprinted under enormous pressure.
He tried to calm himself down, but it was truly difficult.
In the 90th minute.
"Diego Costa is facing pressure from two players. He forces the turn and twists the ball to Thiago!"
"Played out to the right. They're still looking for Carvajal!"
"The cutback!!!"
"Saúl arrives and places the shot! It slides just wide!"
"Kanté with a brilliant piece of defending!"
"He just managed to change the path of Saúl's shot with his left leg. Otherwise, that ball should have gone in!"
The Spain fans looked ashen. Saúl's shot had been blocked again, and they no longer knew whether there was still hope.
Leo Lin held his head in both hands. He had thought it was in.
Hierro shook his head helplessly, while Xavi was still shouting for every player to push forward.
"A corner. Spain have won a corner on the left."
Almost every Spain player pushed up. Even De Gea had gone into the penalty area.
"All the players from Spain and France are inside the box. This may be their final good chance!"
Leo Lin stayed near the front, staring at Thiago.
Thiago began his run-up.
Sure enough, he sent it to the near post.
But Lloris had read it.
Lloris came out and punched the ball toward the right. Spain's players sprinted back like mad, because there was no goalkeeper behind them.
The France players immediately pushed forward.
This was their perfect Counterattack chance. If they scored, they would kill off the final for good.
Every Spain player chased back, while as many as six France players surged forward.
Nzonzi had already found space on the far left, but Pogba still chose to look for Mbappé on the right.
An outside-of-the-foot curling pass bent toward the right flank.
Mbappé exploded into motion.
Just as he was about to go clean through, and just as Mbappé was ready to finish into the empty net, a figure suddenly flashed out.
It was not Leo Lin.
It was Sergio Ramos.
"Bang!!!"
The captain flew in with a sliding tackle from the side.
Mbappé was brought down.
Deschamps protested loudly, but Pitana did not blow for a foul.
Sergio Ramos chased back with long strides and used his outstanding sliding tackle technique to barely win the ball.
At that moment, some France players pressed Sergio Ramos, while others began to retreat.
Sergio Ramos lifted his head, glanced up, and immediately saw a figure waving at him.
Carvajal.
France's defensive line had already pushed up outside the penalty area to defend high, precisely to leave Spain's players offside.
But Carvajal and Leo Lin had cleverly stayed right on the offside line.
Sergio Ramos swung his foot.
A lofted through ball over the top.
But it carried a little too much power. Carvajal barely managed to receive it.
He crossed immediately.
A high ball.
Leo Lin watched the ball flying toward the space ahead of him. He had already started his run.
He would never give up.
At this moment, Leo Lin was like a warrior who knew victory was impossible, but still swung his sword and charged forward.