Zubizarreta had originally devised his tactics to target Havertz, but now he simply applied the same plan to Werner.
He believed Werner and Havertz shared the same weaknesses.
Although Gaya did not have to mark Musiala directly, he still needed to help Rodri double-team him whenever possible.
Saúl was responsible for limiting Kroos, while Leo Lin had a different assignment.
For this match, Zubizarreta wanted Leo Lin to target Goretzka.
In the 17th minute!
"Goretzka is currently marking Lin more tightly than anyone else. Some people call him a Matthäus-style midfielder. When he's in form, that description fits, but when he isn't, he looks like a completely different level of player."
Leo Lin drove at Goretzka with the ball. His sudden acceleration and change of pace left Goretzka unable to react. It seemed he was not at his best today.
Leo Lin quickly beat him and tried to keep advancing, but Goretzka came from behind and shoved him to the ground.
"It looked like Goretzka had to use a lot of force to bring Lin down. He even needed both hands. Most players couldn't knock Lin over with one hand while he's dribbling."
Saúl and Rodri immediately closed in on Goretzka from both sides, preventing him from walking away after the foul.
Only after Leo Lin got back to his feet, turned around, and nodded to Rodri did the two of them finally let Goretzka go.
"Every Spanish player is protecting Lin. Goretzka should be glad he didn't make Lin angry this time, or Rodri and Saúl wouldn't have let him off so easily!"
Gullit was growing more and more fond of Rodri. In recent years, whether at Liverpool or with Spain, Rodri had always been Leo Lin's best protector and most reliable cover.
"Rodri is now Spain's most valuable player after Lin, and he's widely regarded as one of the five best midfielders in the world!"
"With Lin around, it may be difficult for him to ever claim the title of the world's best midfielder, but I think Rodri will eventually make the number-two spot his own."
"You have to say Rodri is fortunate. Playing alongside Lin while he's still young means he can absorb everything from a master midfielder and improve his own game."
Gullit believed Rodri had developed so quickly because he had played beside Leo Lin ever since joining Liverpool. He also partnered him regularly with the national team.
Among all midfielders in world football, Rodri had spent more time playing alongside Leo Lin than anyone else.
Musiala saw how Rodri had dealt with Goretzka and committed it to memory.
Leo Lin took responsibility for the free kick once again. This time, he went directly for goal.
His curling effort struck the crossbar, giving every German supporter a scare and startling Neuer as well.
"I guarantee Goretzka won't dare foul Lin again!"
"With Goretzka in Germany's midfield, Kroos also has to shoulder some defensive responsibility. Musiala and Havertz are both classic attacking midfielders. Neither contributes much defensively."
Neuer prepared to take the goal kick, then spotted Musiala.
Musiala had been searching for a chance to take Rodri on one-on-one. After all, Rodri was now one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.
Long passing was one of Neuer's strengths, while controlling the ball was one of Musiala's. Their combination gave Musiala the chance he wanted against Rodri.
Once again, Rodri was unsettled by Musiala's rapid succession of feints. When he stepped in to challenge, Musiala successfully dribbled past him.
"Musiala gets past Rodri, but he was so close to the touchline that he lost control and was forced to carry the ball out of play."
"To beat Rodri cleanly, Musiala had to use every inch of available space, and that ultimately caused the mistake."
Although he had taken the ball out himself, Musiala pointed at Rodri after beating him, then looked toward Leo Lin with a smile.
There was no doubt that he was provoking Leo Lin.
"Look at that gesture from Musiala. Either he doesn't like Lin very much, or he simply has the courage to challenge a player of Lin's caliber!"
Gullit thought it was a wonderful kind of exchange between a talented youngster and an established superstar.
Leo Lin was not angered by Musiala's provocation. Instead, he found it amusing.
Musiala's behavior reminded him of his younger self. Back then, Leo Lin had also refused to be intimidated by any established midfielder. He had challenged every one of them without hesitation.
Germany's 3-2-4-1 was working extremely well, with Havertz and Musiala both thriving in the attacking midfield positions.
Gaya kept trying to join the attack, but Musiala restricted his opportunities to get forward. Rodri was also finding it difficult to contain him.
For some reason, Rodri was not at his best today. He also seemed unaccustomed to facing an attacking midfielder as agile and technically gifted as Musiala.
"Musiala isn't just another attacking midfielder who happens to be good at dribbling. His dribbling ability is on an entirely different level."
In the 32nd minute!
Musiala once again tried to dribble past Rodri, but this time Rodri stopped him and immediately moved the ball to Saúl.
Saúl pulled the ball away from Kroos, beat him, and slipped a through ball to Leo Lin.
Leo Lin still had defenders in front of him. Goretzka was positioned well to block his path, with Rüdiger behind him.
Behind Rüdiger stood Neuer.
With so many layers of protection, Germany's goal looked completely secure.
Then Leo Lin shot while holding off Goretzka.
Even before receiving the ball, Leo Lin had been watching Neuer's position. The goalkeeper was standing slightly to the left, leaving more space on the right side of the goal.
That was why Leo Lin shot the moment the ball reached him.
He aimed for the open space to Neuer's right.
The ball followed a strange trajectory, suddenly rising before dipping toward the goal.
Neuer had no chance.
In an instant, Germany's goal no longer looked secure at all.
Rüdiger raised his head and watched the ball fly over him, dropping into the goal behind him like the moon falling from the sky.
Musiala watched Leo's long-range strike follow a strange trajectory, rising sharply before dipping beyond Neuer and into the net. Leo then ran toward him, pointed to the World Cup winner's emblem on his armband, and raised one hand as though holding a trophy.
Anyone who had seen Leo Lin receive his first Ballon d'Or would recognize the gesture. It was the same pose he had struck when lifting the award for the first time.
Stam recognized it immediately.
"After scoring, Lin pointed to the World Cup champion emblem on the Spain captain's armband, then repeated the gesture he made when he received his first Ballon d'Or!"
"When I was 18, I was already a World Cup champion and a Ballon d'Or winner!"
"And who are you?"
...
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