No one knew exactly what Leo Lin and Gvardiol had said to each other, but judging by their friendly smiles, Liverpool felt the Gvardiol deal was all but secured.
After all, one of the club's biggest stars had clearly shown that he was happy to welcome Gvardiol into the team. There had long been plenty of rumors about Leo Lin's influence at Liverpool.
"As Leo Lin's status at Liverpool has grown over the past few years, many fans have come to believe that he influences the club's transfer decisions."
"Some even claim that before Liverpool sign a player, they ask Leo Lin whether he would be willing to play alongside him."
"If Leo Lin says no, Liverpool won't sign that player. But that doesn't sound like something Leo Lin would do."
"Just look at Gvardiol. Leo Lin is willing to accept anyone the club chooses to bring in."
"Not one of the players Liverpool have signed over the years has ever said anything negative about Leo Lin."
"Whenever they talk about him, all they express is gratitude."
"Van Dijk, Jones, Shaqiri, and many others have only ever thanked Leo Lin. They've never had anything else to say about him!"
Leo Lin studied the position of the free kick, directed his teammates into place, and began organizing the set-piece routine.
The long ball was sent toward Morata, but Pedri got there first and flicked a header backward.
Morata cleverly ducked beneath it. The goal was directly behind him, and Livaković must have assumed Morata was waiting to receive the ball.
If Morata allowed Pedri's header to pass over him, Livaković would never expect it to be heading straight for goal.
Smack!
Livaković had not anticipated it, but he still made the save.
"Livaković has kept out Pedri's header!"
"I've been saying that he's one of the leading candidates for the European Championship's best goalkeeper award. I've liked him since the last World Cup. He may look slim, but he is incredibly strong when making saves!"
"It will probably be either him or Courtois. Pickford also has a chance."
"However, Pickford's height and reach put him at a slight disadvantage compared with those two."
"Livaković has denied Spain yet again, and only a few minutes remain in the first half."
Modrić continued urging every one of his teammates to join the counterattacks. He intended to make full use of those final few minutes.
When everyone else was ready to give up, persistence kept the possibility of a turnaround alive. If victory changed course, it would flow toward the person who had refused to stop fighting.
Persistence did not create miraculous victories from nothing. It simply gave a possible comeback a path to follow.
The 42nd minute!
"Modrić carries the ball forward! Age hasn't slowed him down at all. He can still run just as well as ever!"
"A beautiful turn! Rodri must have thought Modrić was going to pass to Rebić, but instead, he used the opening to get past him!"
"Spain are in danger now!"
Whether he was playing for Liverpool or Spain, whenever Rodri was beaten, the defense immediately found itself in danger.
Laporte drew on his experience. He told Eric García to hold his position, then moved away from Petković and approached Modrić at a steady pace.
All he needed to do was slow Modrić down slightly and give Rodri time to recover.
But while Laporte was closing him down, Modrić suddenly shot.
It was not an ideal position, and he barely had an angle.
His technique even looked awkward. His upper body leaned far forward, and he swung his leg through with an exaggerated motion. It was hardly the proper way to generate power.
Had Modrić become impatient?
Almost everyone thought so.
Then the supporters, along with Stam, Gullit, Scholes, and the others, watched Modrić shoot from outside the penalty area while Laporte was still several steps away.
His technique may not have looked right, but the ball flew toward goal at a staggering speed.
Unai Simón did not even move.
"Modrić!"
"He's equalized for Croatia!"
"My Modrić!"
"I knew the years would never stop you from playing football!"
"Do you know why that shot went in?"
"Because Modrić didn't strike a football. He unleashed the roar of every Croatian player and every Croatian supporter!"
"The tenacious Croatians never give up during a football match!"
"This European Championship knockout match will be far more difficult than Spain expected. They are about to discover just how resilient Croatia's players are!"
"They will also understand just how much football means to Croatia's supporters!"
After Modrić scored, Leo Lin watched him run toward the Croatian supporters. Following Modrić's gaze, he saw every one of them pressing a hand to the badge on their chest.
For the first time after conceding a goal, Leo Lin did not become angry. Nor did he immediately urge his teammates to hurry and retake the lead.
He simply walked back while watching Modrić and the Croatian supporters.
Whenever moments like this occurred, Leo Lin felt as though he were discovering football all over again.
He also felt as though he were discovering Modrić all over again.
When the first half ended, Modrić was adjusting his blond hair. Leo Lin walked over, suddenly put an arm around his shoulders, and smiled.
Modrić looked surprised at first. Once he realized it was Leo Lin, he placed an arm around Leo Lin's shoulders and smiled back.
The match had only reached halftime, yet the two central figures from opposing teams were already returning to the dressing rooms together like this. The supporters found the sight fascinating.
"I know what Lin is doing."
Gullit spoke up again, ready to interpret their behavior this time.
"Lin and Modrić are both footballers in the purest sense. That's why they can become so close."
"It's just like Scholes and me. We've always been close, while Ashley Cole could never fit in with the two of us."
Since Ashley Cole was not working as a commentator at the European Championship, Gullit took the opportunity to mention him again.
"I think they'll still be friends after they retire. Maybe they'll become football commentators like us, or perhaps they'll form a coaching staff together. Anything is possible!"
Scholes found the idea rather frightening. Those two could not be allowed to form a coaching staff.
"A coaching staff made up of Lin and Modrić. Just thinking about it is terrifying."
"How many tactics would those two devise, and how many new midfielders would they develop?"
Stam looked at Gullit and suddenly laughed.
"If those two formed a coaching staff, they could even put Gullit beside Lin and still lead a team to a title."
...
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