"Football is never about a single player. Croatia involve everyone on the pitch in the process of creating victory."
"But the most important player will always be Luka Modrić. The way he scored in the first half was something Unai Simón never expected, and something neither Rodri nor Laporte ever imagined."
"Looking back at Luka Modrić's shooting motion, he leaned too far forward, and the swing of his leg almost threw him completely off balance."
"But the ball still went in. It was as though he used that goal to tell everyone, 'I'm Luka Modrić. That's why I can score from there.'"
Scholes did not believe Croatia could take the lead against Spain, but he was equally convinced that whenever Spain went ahead, Croatia had a strong chance of equalizing again.
"This feels like a match that could go on forever. Every time Spain take the lead, Croatia seem capable of finding a way back."
"But they appear to lack the ability to go ahead themselves, so the two sides will keep getting dragged into an endless struggle. This match could last a very long time."
"Croatia are exceptionally good at prolonged battles, so Hierro needs to beat them as quickly as possible. Above all, he has to deal with Luka Modrić."
Hierro was searching for a solution, and so was Zubizarreta. In the past, it had always been their opponents trying to figure out how to stop Leo Lin. Zubizarreta usually designed defensive tactics around Leo Lin's strengths and Spain's overall quality.
Now, however, Zubizarreta had to find a way to stop Modrić.
Rodri was still frustrated. He could not accept that Modrić had beaten him in the first half and indirectly caused Spain to concede.
Rodri never allowed himself to fail defensively like that on the pitch.
"On almost every Croatian attack, Brozović makes the first forward run. Modrić then carries the ball before either finding Petković or shooting himself."
Hierro traced Modrić's movement with his hands in front of Zubizarreta, while Xavi rested his chin on one hand and thought.
"It's as though the ball is constantly drawing him toward it."
Leo Lin joined the discussion. In Spain's dressing room, he had always been free to speak more directly than anyone else.
"Think about it. Luka Modrić always seems to appear wherever the ball is. Or rather, he only appears wherever the ball is."
"It isn't because he lacks ability off the ball. Modrić has to play this way to keep Croatia functioning as a complete team. Otherwise, more and more gaps will appear."
"In that case, we'll create more places where the ball is."
The players around Leo Lin did not understand. There was only ever one ball on the pitch, so how could there be more places where the ball was?
Hierro understood.
So did Zubizarreta.
Leo Lin did not mean increasing the number of balls. He meant increasing the number of players available to receive it.
"In the second half, Rodri and Pedri will both receive the ball higher up in midfield. Sarabia will come inside as well."
"Don't hold onto the ball at all. The moment it reaches you, pass it on. Only carry it forward once Modrić is out of sight or far enough away. Otherwise, keep moving the ball."
"Modrić has to remain close to the area of possession if he wants Croatia to function properly."
"So if we play this way, we can beat Modrić. Once we beat Modrić, we can beat Croatia."
Hierro gathered all the players together.
"First we beat Modrić. Then we beat Croatia!"
"Sarabia, those first 45 minutes proved I was right to start you."
"Rodri, that goal wasn't your fault alone. Getting beaten was not solely your responsibility."
"We're going to suppress Modrić the Croatian way, and then we'll defeat them!"
From the beginning of the second half, Spain adopted a multi-point passing system, and Sarabia's strengths immediately became obvious.
Ferran Torres remained on the right. Although he did not take part directly in the passing network, he would make his run whenever Spain's circulation began to stall. Sarabia or Pedri could then slide the ball straight through to him.
If Ferran Torres had room to break forward, he could attempt a cross. If not, he would return the ball to Rodri and allow Spain to continue passing.
Meanwhile, Modrić displayed his extraordinary work rate.
"Sarabia plays it back to Rodri, who gives it to Leo Lin."
"Modrić keeps moving and refuses to give Spain any opportunity to pass through the space!"
"This looks like the role Modrić plays for Real Madrid. He has to perform the same function in their midfield!"
"We all know he can keep playing like this for a long time, but how much longer can he really last? This is the European Championship!"
Kovačić and Brozović wanted to relieve some of the pressure on Modrić, but both already had other responsibilities.
One had to carry the ball forward, while the other handled transitions. Neither could fully commit to helping Modrić.
The 63rd minute!
Modrić continued trying to predict Rodri's next pass. Brozović had Pedri covered, so his own target had to be Leo Lin.
Relying on that judgment, Modrić moved to mark Leo Lin.
But Rodri's pass floated toward Ferran Torres instead.
The pass carried very little force, yet the ball seemed to drift through the air as though it had bounced off several cushions.
The pass could only be described as floating.
Ferran Torres's header was more like a gentle spring.
He flicked the ball toward Sarabia, who did not shoot immediately. That was not his style.
Sarabia first killed the ball dead on his instep, then played it into the middle.
Morata had a chance to shoot.
But Gvardiol appeared once again. His awareness of the ball seemed almost equal to Modrić's.
Morata had not even begun his shooting motion before Gvardiol closed him down.
Then Morata suddenly exploded into action. He planted his foot on the ball, dragged it backward, and continued retreating with it under control.
Once he had pulled roughly three steps away from Gvardiol, Leo Lin arrived and took over possession.
Both Gvardiol and Modrić reacted immediately, their exceptional awareness drawing them toward Leo Lin at the same time.
But Leo Lin used his ankle to brush beneath the ball while standing almost sideways. His body was turned roughly 270 degrees away from the goal.
Within that sweeping angle, the ball curled toward the net.
...
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