"The match has now entered halftime, with Croatia leading by two goals.
We must make some adjustments during halftime; only then can we retain hope of victory!"
To be honest, the Belgian commentator had little enthusiasm left at this point.
The pre-match excitement had been drained by Croatia's pressure in the first half.
The imagined beautiful attacking exchange did not materialize; their proud attacking line failed to deliver enough performance.
It wasn't that they had no performance; it was more accurate to say they were severely suppressed.
Hazard couldn't find enough space to dribble past opponents; Croatia's restrictions on him were very high.
They would either foul or directly pull him, not giving him any breathing room.
Even if they received two yellow cards for it, they gained a two-goal lead, which was already a huge gain.
Conversely, Belgium's attempts to restrict Suker were not as effective.
If it were the old Suker, he would definitely go for a solo run down the left wing, either dribbling past or getting fouled.
But the current Suker plays with more finesse.
If he couldn't get past, he wouldn't force the dribble but would instead combine with teammates, acting as a decoy while freeing up his teammates.
And Suker's teammates in Croatia did not let him down; Mandžukić and Rakitić both scored, helping Croatia take the lead.
Therefore, this Croatia team seemed to lack a clear point of focus.
Before, they could target Suker; as long as Suker was effectively suppressed, Croatia would struggle to launch attacks.
But now, after Suker's change in style, Croatia has become more unified.
Suker can both break through and assist, and as the primary threat, Belgium cannot relax their restrictions on Suker, which makes it very difficult.
"A good pass couldn't get through! There's such a big open space in front of me; pass it ahead!"
Hazard was furious; this match was incredibly frustrating.
He didn't believe De Bruyne couldn't make a good pass, but the guy seemed a bit sluggish, or rather, when he passed to him, he always seemed to be watching the show.
He always passed it to his feet, forcing him into a physical struggle with the opponent.
And Croatia loved this kind of close-quarters combat; once stuck, he would either be pulled down or fouled, with no possibility of breaking through.
De Bruyne seemed to have not heard this.
Although he hated losing, he hated Hazard even more!
This guy's arrogant demeanor really annoyed him.
Belgium's coach, Wilmots, looked at Hazard and De Bruyne, and after shifting his gaze multiple times, he finally sighed, "Kevin will rest in the second half!"
De Bruyne frowned but didn't say anything.
Or rather, he was already used to it.
When he was at Chelsea, Mourinho would do the same.
He and Hazard didn't get along; their relationship was very strained.
But when choosing between Hazard and himself, these people would always choose Hazard.
"If Kevin comes off, we won't be able to pass the ball well in midfield!"
Vermaelen, wearing a substitute's bib, spoke up for De Bruyne, but coach Wilmots shook his head, "The midfield needs more defensive strength.
Let Pocognoli come on; he and Alderweireld can restrict Suker together!"
Lukaku quickly said, "Restricting Suker is useless! Croatia's goals weren't scored by Suker!"
Wilmots turned his head and sighed, "This is the second half; don't forget Suker time!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts sank.
Their hearts were filled with bitterness.
They were already behind, and now it was time for Suker's explosive period.
Suker in the second half was the most difficult and troublesome guy to deal with; many powerhouse teams had fallen to Suker's sudden bursts in the second half.
Once Suker was allowed to perform smoothly, Croatia would score again.
And it would be at the cost of blowing up the left wing!
Neither Wilmots nor the Belgium players could allow this to happen.
Clap clap clap!
Wilmots clapped his hands, "The good news is that after the second half starts, we'll have a certain period of preparation.
This period is our chance; we must find a breakthrough and try to score.
Hazard, you'll play on the right wing in the second half!"
Hazard's position was left winger, directly opposite Srna.
Currently, Hazard found it very difficult to get past Vukojević, and even if he did, he would have to face the even more formidable Srna.
Therefore, Wilmots decided to change his position, letting Hazard directly face Croatia's left wing from the right wing.
Croatia's left wing was composed of Suker, Modrić, and Strinić.
The overall tendency was offensive; with Suker not retreating, they had more attacking opportunities.
Of course, this was also out of his helplessness, hoping that this change could bring some opportunities to Belgium.
At the same time, Croatia's locker room was also making strategic deployments.
With a two-goal lead, Croatia's pressure wasn't great, but Bešić still showed no signs of relaxation.
"At the beginning of the second half, we'll test them first.
Belgium will definitely make changes during halftime, and we need to be prepared to respond."
"And once we understand the general situation, then it will be time for our left wing to explode!"
Upon saying this, everyone looked towards Suker.
At this moment, Suker tucked his shin guards into his socks, pulled his socks high, and after looking up, said confidently, "Leave it to me!"
The Croatian players all smiled.
Suker had always been their source of confidence; it could be said that as long as Suker was on the field, they retained hope of victory.
No matter how difficult the situation, Suker could always respond.
Since joining the National Team in 2006, for a full seven years, Suker had proven this through countless matches and two European Cup titles.
Therefore, all of Croatia's team had extreme faith in him!
"I'll set you up in the second half!"
Mandžukić raised his hand and said loudly.
After scoring a goal in the first half, Mandžukić was satisfied.
Of course, it would be even better if he could score more, but he also knew that the second half belonged to Suker.
Throughout the entire first half, Suker had been providing cover for them, acting as a decoy.
Their team's star voluntarily sacrificed, so they naturally had to cherish it!
But once he needed to contribute himself, he would do so without hesitation.
"I can also tie them up," Rakitić also stated.
The two goal-scorers from the first half both expressed that they would help Suker, to which Suker waved his hand, "Just do your own thing.
As long as the left wing isn't triple-teamed, they can't stop me!"
Upon hearing this, Mandžukić and Rakitić both grinned.
Look!
Such arrogance!
However, Suker was indeed amazing; he wasn't exaggerating.
The truth was, if he wasn't triple-teamed, they really couldn't stop Suker.
This was the ability of the current number one player!
'Modern Alien' - that wasn't a title given for nothing!
Suker, like Ronaldo, earned that title by blowing up countless defensive lines in their respective eras.
It could be said that this was a reputation earned through real play!
Halftime ended, and both teams' players entered the field.
At this moment, the Belgian fans throughout the stadium were extremely nervous.
Whether it would work out depended on the upcoming match; they hoped that some positive adjustments could be made during halftime.
They believed that the Belgium players simply hadn't displayed their individual strengths; the entire first half looked like a disorganized mess, and Croatia's charge threw them into disarray.
Therefore, someone needed to stabilize the midfield.
However, it was regrettable that De Bruyne had been substituted.
The conflict between De Bruyne and Hazard was nothing new.
In Belgium, the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking regions had conflicts, to the point where they didn't communicate with each other.
Even among the fan base, it was the same!
Just like the current Belgian fans, they were more willing to cheer for certain players.
"In the second half, we must be careful of Croatia's left wing, especially Suker's explosion!"
"Throughout the entire first half, Suker didn't engage in too many intense dribbling breakthroughs.
Compared to Suker being out of form, I'm more willing to believe this is part of Croatia's tactics.
They let Suker rest, allowing this most threatening player to explode at a crucial moment!"
"Never underestimate Suker's ability to score a decisive goal.
As long as you give him a chance, he will kill this game!"
The Belgian commentator said earnestly.
On the other side, the Croatian commentator's tone was high, forming a stark contrast.
"The second half is about to begin, and we can look forward to even better performances from the lads.
Throughout the entire first half, we were suppressing Belgium, which is not an easy feat, but the lads executed Bešić's tactics very well.
What kind of performance will they deliver when the match enters the second half?
Let's wait and see!"
Croatia kicked off the second half.
As the whistle blew, Suker pushed the ball past midfield, and Mandžukić immediately passed it back.
At the moment of kickoff, Belgium instantly pressed forward, actively engaging in high pressing.
After entering the opponent's half, Suker did not run towards the wing but rather moved inward towards the center, and not just Suker, Perisic did the same.
This was to increase the receiving points in the midfield, as the second half had just begun, and Croatia would mostly conduct some probing, checking for changes in Belgium.
Belgium charged fiercely; perhaps they had been too stifled in the first half, and their overall momentum was strong.
Even Hazard, who rarely participated in defense, sprinted left and right, constantly disrupting Croatia's passes.
But Croatia would not lose the ball so easily.
Regardless of individual ability, their one-touch passing was equally excellent, and the passing rhythm was well-connected.
With just a few passes, the ball began to advance forward.
Suker received the ball in the rib area.
The moment Modrić threaded the ball to Suker, he immediately felt someone pressing close.
Suker took no risks and immediately passed the ball back.
The next second, Modrić's shout followed closely.
"Danger!"
However, the moment Modrić spoke, Suker had already passed it back.
Modrić received the ball and immediately shifted it.
Suker then turned his head and saw the Belgian players around him rushing to the other side.
"Belgium's pressing rhythm is very fast; since the start of the second half, their overall aggressiveness is very high, and they also want to use this time to close the score gap, but our lads are still very stable!"
Klausevich nodded with a look of satisfaction.
He felt that Croatia's strength was not only reflected in their attacking prowess but also in their ability to change rhythm.
They could be fast or slow!
And they played extremely steadily, not taking too many risks.
To put it bluntly, they gave the opponent no chances!
How long could Belgium keep up the charge?
This aggressive pressing was a great test of Belgium's stamina; it would be difficult for them to last even ten minutes.
After ten minutes, they would inevitably have to stop and rest.
And Croatia only needed to hold out for these ten minutes!
Bang!
Rakitić's long-range shot attempt from a distance was collected by a well-prepared Courtois.
Belgium quickly launched a counterattack; they passed along the wing, and Hazard made a diagonal run forward.
Just as Lukaku was about to receive the ball, Lovren suddenly pressed, poking the ball away first.
"Oh~~~ Another shot not taken!" The Belgian commentator frustratingly scratched his head.
They should have shot!
They passed too much, which led to missing shooting opportunities.
It happened several times; when there's a chance to shoot, they should shoot, not dither.
Belgium's attack was intercepted, and Croatia regained possession.
However, at this moment, Suker dropped to the wing.
He noticed that Fellaini had not tracked back in time after pushing forward, and he prepared himself to receive the ball accordingly.
Indeed, Srna also saw this, and he looked across to Suker on the diagonal, directly launching a long pass.
A classic diagonal 45-degree long pass looking for Suker!
This was a very distinctive tactic for Croatia!
The moment Srna passed the ball, Suker also suddenly burst into action.
The ball's landing spot was at the sharp angle of the left side of the penalty area, and as Suker made his diagonal run forward, Witsel and Alderweireld immediately rushed over, and the substitute Pokonjoli also hurried to the landing spot.
They ran while judging the landing spot.
But only Suker had already jumped early.
"Stop him!"
Witsel shouted, then immediately rushed towards Alderweireld, hoping the two could form a closing movement.
But Alderweireld's reaction was a step slow, creating a slight gap, and Suker flew through that gap.
In the air, Suker leaned back slightly, using his chest to firmly cushion the ball forward.
That's right!
He did not choose to cushion the ball in place but carried it forward for a distance.
This could further widen the distance gap with the defenders behind him.
"Suker!!! He's broken through!! A brilliant first touch and dribble!" Klausevich pounded the table.
Throughout the stadium, a small number of Croatian fans also suddenly stood up and erupted in thunderous cheers.
This distance was already within Suker's shooting range.
Van Buyten saw Suker enter the penalty area and panicked; he immediately rushed towards Suker without a word.
After Suker landed, Van Buyten had already arrived.
At this moment, Suker suddenly nudged the ball outwards with his right foot.
This horizontal flick not only shook off Van Buyten but also nutmegged Witsel, who was coming from behind.
Witsel was nutmegged, his footwork became chaotic, and he directly collided with Van Buyten, falling in a heap.
At the same time, Suker had already caught up with the ball again, taking small, quick steps.
"Shoot!!"
Mandžukić shouted excitedly.
Other Croatian players also stared intently at Suker, their eyes gleaming.
Suker swung his right foot fiercely, his thigh driving his calf, and powerfully struck the ball.
In almost any non-confrontational situation, Suker's shooting accuracy was terrifyingly high.
Even though Courtois was positioned near the post, the ball still grazed Courtois's supporting leg and found its way into the goal.
In the 53rd minute, just eight minutes into the second half, Suker's continuous breakthroughs on the left wing brought Croatia their third goal.
And this goal completely shattered Belgium's confidence.
"They've conceded again!" The Belgian commentator's voice was hoarse, his tone carrying a hint of despair: "It's the third one!"
Having conceded the third goal, Belgium could be said to have no hope of a comeback at this point.
Throughout the stadium, Belgian fans were also at a loss.
Before the match, they had excitedly discussed the game, imagining they could suppress Croatia at home.
But none of those scenes appeared!
Croatia, with three consecutive goals, told them why Croatia was the 2012 European Cup champion!
Why they were currently the number one team in the FIFA National Team rankings!
"Awesome!!!!" Mandžukić cheered, rushing towards Suker and tackling him to the ground where he was celebrating near the corner flag.
Suker's sequence of trapping, dribbling, horizontal flick, nutmeg, and shot—it was all full of intricate details and skillful execution.
As a fellow striker, Mandžukić couldn't be as calm as Suker.
When he got in front of the goal, he eagerly wanted to shoot, while Suker patiently waited for the best moment.
Perhaps this was what it meant to be bold due to superior skill!
But regardless, Croatia secured their third goal, and this match was stable!
"World Cup! World Cup! Brazil, here we come!!"
Srna cheered excitedly, rushing over and throwing himself onto his teammates.
At this moment, the entire stadium was left with only the celebratory cheers of Croatian fans.
Facing a three-goal deficit, and with the game heavily suppressed, Belgium had lost their will.
Their morale was completely gone!
It was truly too difficult for them to come back!
One by one, the Belgian players stood with their hands on their hips, shaking their heads repeatedly.
If there were no surprises, they would have to honestly compete for the second-place qualification spot.
Although they would have to play additional playoffs, and it wouldn't be as stable as direct qualification.
But if their skills weren't as good, if they couldn't win, they just couldn't win!
The good news was that Croatia would not be in the playoffs, and they wouldn't have to play these cursed matches against Croatia anymore.
In the 60th minute, Croatia made a substitution.
Bešić reinforced the defense, but Suker was not substituted out.
Bešić's intention was simple!
Having Suker on the field was a deterrent!
Even if Suker was just strolling around in the front, it would still force Belgium to allocate some energy to deal with him.
In the final moments, Belgium also stopped attacking.
They retreated to defend, essentially conceding the match result.
At the same time, they couldn't let Croatia score any more goals.
After all, not all second-place teams in the group could participate in the playoffs; points and statistics were also very crucial.
Belgium had little fighting spirit left, and Croatia was happy to relax.
Finally, the 90-minute match ended!
The 2014 Brazil World Cup, European Qualifiers, Eighth Round.
Croatia defeated Belgium 3-0 away, securing victory, and also became the first team to qualify for the 2014 Brazil World Cup with an eight-game winning streak.
Belgium currently stands at 5-1-2, ranking second in the group; if they win their last two rounds, they can participate in the playoffs to further contend for World Cup qualification.