"With a shot like that, forget how many players could actually pull it off. Lin might be the only one who would even dare to try!"
"You can see how much Hierro trusts him and how strongly every one of his Spanish teammates supports him."
"He's the captain on the pitch, a true captain, not someone who merely wears the armband."
"A goal like that can lift the entire team out of its current slump."
Rodri copied Leo Lin's celebration, except he pointed at Leo Lin's armband.
After all, Rodri had never won the Ballon d'Or or the World Cup.
Musiala smiled as well. Like Leo Lin, he did not get angry at the response to his provocation. A young player who could enjoy this kind of competition was bound to have an extremely high ceiling.
"Look at Musiala's reaction to Lin's celebration. He isn't upset or angry, nor does he seem unsettled. He simply smiles and starts walking back!"
Musiala headed back toward Germany's half. As he passed Leo Lin, they both reached out at the same time, almost as if they had planned it.
They exchanged a respectful high five. Leo Lin liked Musiala's style as an attacking midfielder.
The German supporters had not yet been given a chance to taunt Leo Lin, but at least they had seen Musiala exchange a high five with him. Fans from both sides began applauding.
"If you can score a goal like that, there's nothing anyone can say. Lin is Lin. Whether he's playing for Spain or Liverpool, he's the best midfielder in the world!"
"Lin has answered Musiala on Rodri's behalf. Hopefully Spain can keep scoring!"
"I don't want to see either Spain or Germany eliminated, but that's what makes the European Championship so exciting."
As Leo Lin walked back, he kept thinking about the opening he had just found through Goretzka.
It had not happened by chance. There was a reason for it.
After Rodri won the ball, Germany's two attacking midfielders could not track back as quickly as wingers would have.
Dropping back from the center was completely different from tracking back along the flank. The distance and direction of the run were not the same.
At the start of the match, Spain had repeatedly attacked down the wings, hoping Sarabia could recreate the combinations they had produced against Croatia in the previous round.
However, Gosens and Kimmich had defended both flanks extremely well. They had not only contained Oyarzabal, but also prevented Sarabia from making an impact.
Germany then began attacking Rodri and Saúl through the middle. Musiala had managed to break through Rodri's defense, while Havertz had found several openings against Saúl.
Yet the move that led to Leo Lin's goal had come through the center, through Goretzka and Toni Kroos.
Kimmich was playing at fullback in this match, but he would occasionally move inside to help Kroos deal with Sarabia.
That meant Leo Lin could keep looking for openings through the middle and continue targeting Goretzka. Then, once he brought Sarabia into the move on the left, he could pass to him whenever Kimmich stepped inside to support Kroos.
That would allow Spain to exploit both the center and the left side.
Musiala could not know what Leo Lin was thinking. Once play resumed, Germany continued attacking Spain's penalty area with Musiala and Havertz combining behind Werner, whose constant movement stretched the defense.
"Germany have completely handed control of the attack to Musiala. I thought Havertz had stopped playing as a striker, but whenever Germany go forward, he pushes up to join Werner in the front line."
"Musiala is then responsible for carrying the ball and beating defenders. As long as he can find an opening to pass to either Werner or Havertz, Germany can get a shot away!"
Zubizarreta kept a close eye on Eric García. The assignment he had given García would determine whether Laporte could keep Werner under control.
In the 36th minute!
Toni Kroos controlled the ball in midfield. He first dragged it to the left, created a step of space, then pulled it diagonally backward to the left again.
The two smooth touches did not take him past Saúl, but they gave Kroos enough room to make the pass.
He sent a long ball toward Gosens on the left. Gosens had always reminded Leo Lin a little of Kramarić. Once he got moving with the ball, he always seemed capable of creating a crossing opportunity.
Gosens drove forward while looking toward Werner. Havertz was also signaling for the ball.
Just as Gosens prepared to whip in a powerful cross, Gaya stepped in decisively. He intercepted with his right foot and won the ball before Gosens could deliver it.
Germany's left side was now completely exposed.
Rodri immediately recognized the opening and surged forward.
Gaya played a quick through ball to him. Rodri received it and drove toward the left before knocking the ball back inside to Leo Lin, then continued his run.
His movement forced Rüdiger to follow him, leaving Germany with fewer players available to defend Leo Lin.
Rodri had joined the attack specifically to exploit Germany's left side before Gosens could recover.
When Leo Lin received the ball, the German defenders assumed he would continue attacking that flank. Rüdiger watched Rodri while keeping an eye on Leo Lin, worried that a pass could come his way at any moment.
Goretzka was also cutting off Leo Lin's passing lane toward Germany's left. Gosens was sprinting back, and with his pace, he would soon return to the fullback position and pick up Rodri.
Instead, Leo Lin began carrying the ball toward Saúl.
Kimmich and Kroos were both focused on Saúl. Neither noticed that Sarabia had already begun moving toward Neuer's goal.
Leo Lin held his breath as he dribbled. He did not even dare glance at Sarabia, afraid that Kimmich would spot the run.
Saúl had already understood Leo Lin's intention. He made his movement more exaggerated and ran directly toward Leo Lin, deliberately drawing Kimmich and Kroos with him.
Once Sarabia had created enough separation from Kimmich, Leo Lin immediately slipped a through ball into his path.
Sarabia had finally punished the mistake on Germany's right side.
Only then did Rüdiger, still guarding the opposite flank, realize that the space to Neuer's right was completely unprotected.
Sarabia controlled the ball, adjusted his footing, and smashed a shot at Neuer.
The sheer power of the strike was too much for the goalkeeper.
Spain had scored again before halftime.
"Germany have conceded another!"
"That move began with Gosens making the mistake, so how did it end with Kimmich being the one punished?"
"Saúl's presence is putting Kroos under a very different kind of pressure from Pedri, while Gosens' need to push forward has given Oyarzabal and Rodri several opportunities!"
"Lin scored the first goal and has now created another for Sarabia. It's Sarabia's first European Championship goal since joining the Spanish national team!"
Gullit had not expected Spain to open up such a large lead so quickly. Musiala and the other German players all looked toward Löw.
Löw wiped his hands on his shirt and began making adjustments.
However, his changes failed to produce a German goal before halftime.
Spain led Germany 2-0 and entered the second half with a commanding advantage.
The German supporters did not want their team to be eliminated this early!
...
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