Soccer: I have the attributes of Messi in his Prime

Chapter 546: Mind Games Before the Final

At the hotel where the Portuguese team was staying, most of the players didn't go to bed on time. Instead, they stayed up watching the entire match between France and Spain.

It wasn't surprising that they were paying so much attention to this game, as its result would determine their opponent in the final.

From the perspective of the Portuguese players, they were hoping to face France.

While France was strong, they had a weakness: many of their players were young and lacked experience in major tournaments.

Although Portugal might not be as powerful as France in terms of sheer talent, they had plenty of experience in big matches. If they could exploit that, it wasn't impossible for them to defeat France in the final.

But Spain was a different story. This team was filled with experienced players who had been through countless high-stakes matches.

On top of that, Spain had Lin Quan, a player who could break through any defense. The Portuguese players dreaded the idea of facing him and Spain.

In the end, they were disappointed, as France couldn't stop Spain and fell to the Spanish bullfighters.

With that result, Portugal was left with a nightmare scenario: facing the reigning world champions in the final.

"Don't get discouraged. I don't think this Spain team is that impressive," one player said.

"That's right. Their lineup is full of aging stars, many of whom have retired or are injured. Their strength is nowhere near what it once was."

"Although France lost, they exposed some of Spain's weaknesses. If we focus on those weak spots in the final, we could very well beat them!"

"Exactly. No team is unbeatable. Spain may be strong, but they won't dominate football forever. Sooner or later, someone will take them down!"

"Haha, let's be the ones to bury Spain!"

Cristiano Ronaldo, Quaresma, Nani, and other key players from the last match, noticing the low morale among their teammates, stepped up to lift everyone's spirits.

Their words were partially exaggerated, but there was some truth to them.

This current Spanish team didn't have the same dominance as the 2014 version.

With the departure of many veteran stars, Spain's strength had visibly declined.

While La Liga remained prosperous, the golden generation of Spanish talent wasn't being replaced as quickly.

This Spanish squad had plenty of young players, but not many who could shoulder the responsibility of leading the team.

Bosque was still relying heavily on the same old veterans from their glory days.

After battling through the group stage and knockout rounds, these veterans were clearly not in the same shape as they were at the start of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Portugal had the advantage of an extra day of rest, with a younger squad that could recover faster.

Moreover, Portugal had won their last match fairly easily, so they had a clear edge in terms of fitness.

As long as they avoided the mistakes France made—like getting an early red card—they could leverage their fitness advantage in many ways.

Atlético Madrid's success in La Liga had shown the world that if you lack top-tier talent, you can make up for it with fitness and determination.

Despite having a squad far inferior to Real Madrid and Barcelona, Atlético had achieved results comparable to the two giants.

Their success came down to one simple thing—running!

Simeone's system, which emphasized relentless running and pressing, was very effective, especially for teams without as much star power.

Compared to Spain, Portugal was like a more "common" team, so it wasn't surprising that they might draw inspiration from Simeone's tactics.

…

After returning to their base by bus, Del Bosque urged the Spanish players to get as much rest as possible.

With less than three days before the final, time to recover was limited.

The next morning, after a full night's rest, many players still looked tired, moving sluggishly during their recovery training.

This sluggishness worried the Spanish coaching staff, including Del Bosque.

"Coach, the key players are very fatigued, and they don't look in good shape. Should we reduce the training load and give them more time to recover?"

Seeing the players dragging their feet on the training ground, fitness coach Minano suggested an adjustment.

"Hmm, let's cancel this afternoon's outdoor training. Have the therapists give them massages to relax their muscles," Del Bosque agreed.

He knew the team had a lot of veterans who took longer to recover.

Most of these veterans were key players, and if they didn't regain their fitness quickly, Spain would struggle to put together a proper lineup for the final.

"How is Iniesta's recovery? Can he play in the final?" Del Bosque asked, concerned about Iniesta's injury.

Although Iniesta hadn't had the best season at Barcelona, he was still an irreplaceable member of the Spanish national team.

Without him, Spain's attacking threat had diminished, and opponents found it easier to focus their defense.

"I'm afraid it would be risky. If we push him to play, it could have serious long-term consequences," the team doctor said, looking troubled.

From a medical perspective, the doctor didn't want Iniesta to play if he wasn't fully recovered. Doing so would worsen the injury and potentially jeopardize his future career.

However, when it came to the national team, many players were willing to risk their careers, choosing to play through injury despite the consequences.

One notable example was Kaká at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Knowing his meniscus injury hadn't fully healed, he still insisted on playing, which aggravated the injury.

After the World Cup, Kaká's form plummeted, and he soon faded out of the spotlight at Real Madrid.

The memory of this once-great player, who had once dominated at AC Milan, falling at the peak of his career was a source of regret for many fans, especially those who admired Kaká.

Del Bosque remained silent for a while before finally asking,

"What does Iniesta say?"

As a coach, Del Bosque wanted Iniesta to play because the team needed him.

But knowing this decision could affect Iniesta's future career, Del Bosque chose to respect the player's wishes.

"Iniesta said he's willing to get an injection and play," the doctor replied.

Del Bosque was stunned, and the assistant coaches also showed surprised expressions.

…

As the final approached, the media hype surrounding the match reached fever pitch.

Spain vs. Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lin Quan.

A simple headline like that was enough to grab the attention of fans worldwide.

As neighboring countries on the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal and Spain didn't have much to boast about economically. In fact, they were often mocked as part of the "PIIGS" of Europe.

But in football, both nations were powerhouses.

Spain, in particular, was famous worldwide for their intricate footwork and exquisite teamwork.

Spanish midfielders had become synonymous with top-tier quality.

In recent years, any top club without a Spanish midfielder almost felt embarrassed to compete.

A flood of world-class talent had propelled Spain's national team to dominate world football.

If you start counting from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Spain had ruled the football world for six years.

They were arguably the most dominant team since Brazil's golden era.

Before the final, TV networks conducted random interviews on the streets of Paris.

Among the fans interviewed, most neutral supporters, except for Portuguese fans, believed Spain would win the title.

Spain's recent record was nothing short of brilliant, and they had amassed a massive global fanbase.

Moreover, Spain had already won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. If they could win this one, it would be an unprecedented three consecutive titles.

Many fans from around the world had traveled to Paris, hoping to witness this historic moment.

Compared to the media attention surrounding Spain, Portugal was clearly in the shadows.

Even when there was attention, it was mostly focused on Portugal's star player, Cristiano Ronaldo.

This lopsided coverage frustrated the Portuguese players, who were eager to prove themselves on the pitch.

Portuguese coach Fernando noticed this frustration among his players but chose not to calm them down.

Instead, in interviews, he heaped praise on Spain.

"This match will be very difficult for us. They are world champions, the best team in the world, with players like Lin Quan, a top-tier talent. We will focus on defending and do our best to protect the goal," Fernando said.

A journalist, puzzled by his statement, asked,

"Do you mean that Portugal will park the bus in the next match?"

Fernando nodded. "Yes, against a top team like Spain, parking the bus is the best strategy. Even if we don't score, if we can drag the game to a penalty shootout, the odds of winning are equal."

Fernando's remarks shocked fans around the world.

"It sounds like Portugal is throwing in the towel before the game has even started!"

"Yeah, it's like they're hoping to win on penalties!"

"This guy is dreaming if he thinks Spain won't score on them over 120 minutes of play."

"With Spain's recent attacking power, it'll be really hard for Portugal to win just by defending!"

Most fans didn't believe in Portugal's strategy.

Against the old Spain team, this might have worked. Back then, even with the world's most luxurious midfield, Spain's attack was famously weak.

But since Lin Quan joined, Spain's attack had been fully unleashed, and they were now the most potent offensive force in the world. Spain had yet to be held scoreless in any match.

During the World Cup in Brazil, several teams tried to park the bus against Spain. None of them succeeded, and most conceded plenty of goals.

Portugal had Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the world's top forwards, yet they were choosing to park the bus and defend? It seemed like a hopeless strategy.

Fernando's pre-match comments didn't just affect the fans; they also influenced the players.

The Portuguese players were outraged by the implication that they couldn't match up to Spain and would have to resort to defensive tactics.

Determined to prove themselves, they entered the game intent on showing Spain what they were made of.

On the other hand, Spain's players, seeing how low their opponents had set their expectations, became a bit overconfident. It was as if victory was already within their grasp.

Lin Quan and some of the veteran players noticed this creeping arrogance among their teammates. They immediately alerted the coaching staff and warned their teammates not to fall into the trap.

"This is a psychological tactic by Portugal, trying to make us lower our guard. If any of you actually think they'll be easy to beat, we're in for a rude awakening next game," Lin Quan and Casillas warned the team sternly.

Portugal's journey to the final may have seemed shaky, but a closer look at their recent performances showed that they were building momentum.

Their form and confidence had been steadily improving, and they were a much stronger team now than in the group stage.

Anyone who still thought of Portugal as a weak team would be in for a shock.

"Lin and Iker are right," Del Bosque added.

"Don't fall for their mind games. If Portugal is trying to use psychological tactics before the match, it means they're taking this game very seriously."

Del Bosque, an experienced coach, wasn't fooled by Fernando's little tricks.

Outwardly, Portugal's coach might be playing down their chances, talking about defending and playing for penalties.

But Del Bosque suspected it was all a smokescreen. Portugal could be planning to surprise Spain with an all-out attack at the start, catching them off guard.

If Spain were complacent and underestimated Portugal, they might fall right into the trap.

If Portugal managed to score early and then retreat into defense, it would be incredibly difficult for Spain to turn the game around.

After listening to their captain and coach, the Spanish players quickly discarded any thoughts of underestimating Portugal.

"Tomorrow's match will be tough. Portugal will be fresher than us, and they'll use their fitness advantage against us. Everyone needs to be at their best. This is the last match, and for many of you, it's your final game for the national team. I don't want any of you to leave with regrets," Del Bosque concluded.

(End of Chapter)

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