Chapter 641: The Last World Cup Final
As the two teams advancing to the final were confirmed, discussions surrounding the World Cup final became heated.
One of the teams was the reigning champion, having won the last two World Cups, rich in experience and legacy. The other was a strong traditional team that had clawed its way back from a slump to rise again. Both teams were powerful, with deep-rooted strengths, and it seemed that either could win the title.
As a result, debates over who would take home this World Cup title never stopped. In fact, as more people joined the conversation, the disagreements grew even sharper.
"Who will win the championship? It has to be Spain! Who can stop their offense?"
"France is strong, but their players are too young. They lack the experience of major tournaments, especially finals. Meanwhile, this is Spain's third consecutive World Cup final—they're way more experienced, so they're bound to win."
"Don't forget that Spain has Lin Huang (King Lin) on their side, the man who creates miracles. With him, Spain's chances of winning go up!"
"Only by one percent? You're underestimating Lin Huang!"
"Exactly! With Lin Huang, Spain's chances increase by at least 20 percent!"
…
Most of the fans supporting Spain had been drawn to the team because of the countless honors Spain had collected in international tournaments over the past decade. Since 2008, Spain's results in international tournaments had been blindingly impressive. In just ten years, Spain had claimed three European Championships and two World Cup titles.
In every international tournament they participated in, they emerged as champions, racking up trophies as if it were routine. Most fans tend to support the strongest teams, and Spain's beautiful, flowing play style, combined with their solid results, naturally attracted a large following. Not only were they dominant, but their football was pleasing to watch, and the team boasted several superstar players, drawing even more fans.
Even teams that shine briefly but fade quickly can amass a lot of fans, so it's no surprise that Spain, who had ruled the football world for nearly a decade, had a huge fanbase—some of whom were devoted Lin Quan fans.
Although the French team had its fair share of supporters, it couldn't compare to Spain's massive fanbase. In terms of sheer volume, the calls for Spain to defend their title were louder.
"Ha, truth is often held by the minority. Just because you're loud doesn't mean you're right."
"I admit Lin Huang is great, but Spain's weaknesses are too obvious. With so many aging players, their chances of beating France are slim!"
"France's lineup is younger, and their overall strength is stronger than Spain's previous opponents. Once the second half begins and Spain's energy drops, they might not be able to hold out against France."
…
Both sets of fans stood their ground, with valid points on either side, but neither could convince the other.
Their arguments were interesting, though. Before the match, the media interviewed some football legends and coaches, asking them to evaluate the two teams' strengths and predict the outcome.
José Mourinho, invited by Russian TV to be a guest commentator, was the first top coach interviewed.
Mourinho said, "Both teams have the strength to win the championship. In the end, it will come down to their performance on the day—whichever team is in better form and can fully play to their tactical strengths will win."
Mourinho's statement was completely accurate but also a bit obvious, which the reporters were not too pleased with.
"So, who do you support more? France or Spain?"
Mourinho, being Portuguese and currently coaching in the English Premier League, had no particular ties to either team, so the reporters hoped for an impartial opinion. Despite a few years of less stellar results, Mourinho was still one of the world's top coaches, and his opinions carried a lot of weight in the football world.
Mourinho thought for a moment, realizing he should offer a bit more substance since he was being paid a hefty fee by the host network. A more serious analysis would look more professional.
"Spain, for well-known reasons, will likely tire in the second half, especially after the 70th minute. So, their attack will be very aggressive in the first half. If they can build a significant lead and withstand France's attack in the second half, they'll win the trophy!"
"So, does that mean you're favoring Spain to win the championship?" one reporter eagerly asked, already preparing to write a big headline.
"Ahem, I haven't finished. France tends to start slow, which is the opposite of Spain. In the first half, they might not be in top form, giving Spain opportunities. But in the second half, when Spain's energy starts to drop and France picks up the pace, they'll launch a full counterattack.
"So, the key points to watch in this game are: How many goals Spain can score in the first half, and how many goals France can catch up with in the second!"
Mourinho's view was one shared by many in the football world. Both teams in this World Cup final were unique—one was strong in the first half, the other in the second. The winner would be determined by which team could make the most of their strong period.
…
After the semifinal, Spain didn't have much time to rest. There were fewer than three days between the semifinal and the final, and for Spain, a team full of veteran players, this was not enough time to fully recover.
They had to make the most of the little time they had to rest and regain their energy so they could face off against France. Given the schedule, Spain's situation was particularly tough. France had finished their semifinal a day earlier, giving them an extra day of rest, while Spain, with an older and more fatigued squad, had to deal with an even wider gap in energy levels.
Spain's coach, Vicente del Bosque, was well aware of this disadvantage. Upon returning to their temporary base, he gathered the players and laid out the next steps, emphasizing the need to conserve energy.
"For the next few days, we'll focus on recovery training. Keep the intensity low and avoid any injuries. You wouldn't want to miss the World Cup final, right?"
The players all shook their heads. The World Cup only happens once every four years, and each team can only play a maximum of seven matches. Having made it this far, overcoming countless challenges to reach the final, no one wanted to miss it.
Due to the short preparation time, Del Bosque didn't give the players any time off and even prohibited them from spending time with their wives or girlfriends.
With training intensity kept low, how could they afford to let the players burn energy elsewhere? Once the final was over and the national team disbanded, the players could do whatever they wanted. By that time, Del Bosque would likely be retired, enjoying his own rest and relaxation.
…
Although the players weren't allowed to leave, Del Bosque didn't prevent family members from visiting the training base. After each day's training, family members would wait outside, often leading to tearful reunions through the iron gates.
Pep Guardiola also brought Serra and Lin Quan's three younger siblings to visit him.
Ten-year-old Valentina's eyes sparkled with excitement when she saw Lin Quan. She leaped into his arms, and he warmly embraced her, gently patting her head.
"Did you miss your big brother?"
"Yes, yes, I missed you! I spent all my pocket money betting on you to win!"
"Really?" Lin Quan was surprised. Although betting was legal in Europe, having a ten-year-old girl involved seemed a bit too early!
"Really! Maria said that betting on you was like supporting you. The more I bet, the easier it'll be for you to win, so I spent all my pocket money!"
Lin Quan couldn't help but laugh. Valentina clearly didn't understand the situation. She thought the betting odds were directly tied to the outcome of the match. In reality, odds are just bookmakers' predictions, not something that determines the actual result.
"Don't worry, she didn't bet much," Guardiola reassured Lin Quan, seeing his concern. Valentina's pocket money was limited, and even if she lost it all, it wouldn't be a big deal. As his little darling, Guardiola would make sure she was compensated.
However, if Valentina lost her bet, Lin Quan might be the one most affected! Since it was Maria who encouraged her, she had definitely placed a bet too. Lin Quan asked, and sure enough, Maria, Marius, and even Guardiola and Serra had all placed bets.
Now, the whole family was tied to the outcome. If Lin Quan messed up, everyone would lose out.
"So, big brother, you'd better do your best! You're the hope of our entire village!" Maria, now 18, had a look of devoted admiration. Four years ago, she had been a casual fan, but since then, she had become a die-hard, following her brother's career with unwavering support.
If Lin Quan lost, Maria would probably be heartbroken.
"You're not just saying this because you bet money, are you? If that's the case, maybe I should throw the game to teach you all a lesson."
Lin Quan wasn't a fan of gambling and didn't like seeing his family get involved in it, even if it was legal. Gambling could become addictive, and once hooked, it was hard to quit.
As the saying goes, "Gamblers always end up with nothing."
…
Although Del Bosque was careful to manage the players' training load, he didn't waste the time he had. In the three days leading up to the final, he focused on preparing the players in other ways—mainly by showing videos of the French team's matches, explaining their tactical style and the characteristics of certain key players. This would help the Spanish players understand their opponents better and prepare accordingly.
Del Bosque also emphasized the importance of scoring in the first half. He was well aware that Spain would need to break through early in order to avoid a disastrous second half.
"Lin, in the final, if the opportunity arises, don't hesitate to take direct free kicks."
Del Bosque wanted Lin Quan to play a bit more selfishly in attack, rather than focusing too much on the team's overall play. However, Spain's midfield heavily relied on Lin Quan, and moving him up as a forward would leave gaps in the midfield. The solution was for Lin to take advantage of any set-piece opportunities.
Lin Quan's free kicks were very dangerous, and he had a wide array of techniques in his arsenal, making it difficult for goalkeepers to predict how he would strike the ball, increasing the difficulty of defending against him.
"Got it, I'll seize every opportunity," Lin Quan nodded. In fact, even if Del Bosque hadn't instructed him to do so, he would have done it anyway.
This final was different from any previous match. To defeat France, they needed to score quickly and score often. Only by breaking their opponent's spirit and preventing them from gaining momentum could Spain avoid a disastrous second half.
Once on the field, Lin Quan wouldn't hold anything back. He would go all out to defeat their opponents as early as possible.
Unlike the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where Spain still had a strong overall squad, this time around the team relied heavily on Lin Quan. In 2014, Lin Quan was the core player, but the team didn't need him to carry them—they all worked together. Even if he didn't step up, his teammates could solve the problems themselves.
But four years later, this Spanish team was essentially being carried by Lin Quan. If he didn't step up, it was unlikely anyone else could. Without him, they would probably lose.
It was clear that Spain's golden era was coming to an end, and the rebuilding process would likely take a long time. It could be like France in 1998—they won the World Cup but didn't fully recover and rise again until 20 years later.
Some teams fall to the bottom and never rise again.
Lin Quan couldn't predict the future and didn't know if Spain would ever make it to another World Cup final. He had to treat this opportunity as if it were the last World Cup final he would ever play in.