Mark was not surprised that his name wasn't on the starting lineup.
Although he had performed exceptionally well in two warm-up matches, he was, after all, just a rookie who had been called up to the team for the first time.
He lacked big-game experience, hadn't built chemistry with other players, and certainly wasn't Löw's favorite.
Moreover, as it was the World Cup opener, Löw would undoubtedly stick to the familiar starting lineup used in previous preparations and wouldn't rashly introduce a new player.
In his opinion, getting playing time in the latter stages of a match where the outcome was already decided would be a pleasant surprise.
Anyway, he had originally planned to just 'lie down and win the championship,' so he didn't have high expectations or hopes for starting.
If, in a certain match, the team found itself in a deadlock or trailing, and Löw could think of him, the "Super Substitute," that would be enough…
However, to his surprise, after the starting lineup was announced, Löw specifically called him to his office and explained why he wasn't starting: "Mark, your talent is outstanding, and I appreciate your attitude and ability in training and matches."
"However, the team's lineup is very stable, and there's no place for you temporarily. As long as you wait patiently for your chance, you will get your opportunity…"
Considering Mark's excellent performance in the warm-up matches, Löw hoped Mark would understand his decision and embrace the role of a Super Substitute.
In short, Löw was saying that Mark's performance in the warm-up matches was good, but not starting him was due to tactical and experience considerations.
Löw didn't have to do this, but he did.
This made Mark's impression of Löw multiply!
He was just a newcomer, yet Löw, as the head coach, specifically explained to him why he wasn't starting.
Of course, he didn't know if Löw had only appeased him or if he had also appeased other players who hadn't gotten a starting spot.
Regardless, such a gesture was enough to prove Löw's Pay attention to of him!
On the 15th, Mark followed the team by bus to the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.
An hour before the match, Portugal's starting lineup was also released.
Among the Group G opponents, although Portugal had the superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, their overall strength was even inferior to Ghana and the United States.
Not to mention compared to the star-studded German Team!
At this time, Portugal was in a transitional period, with a midfield and attack that, apart from Moutinho, Nani, and Cristiano Ronaldo, consisted of mediocre players like Veloso, Meireles, and Almeida.
Besides the lackluster midfield and attack, the defense was severely aging, with the average age of the four defenders being over thirty!
The center-back pairing of Bruno Alves and Pepe, one 33 and the other 31, were both excellent at frontal defending but slow in turning.
Whether the two could maintain their defensive positioning against the German Team's frequent positional changes in attack was a concern.
Pre-match predictions from various media outlets also suggested that Germany would defeat Portugal.
As for Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players in football today?
No matter how strong he was, he was still just one person.
And football is a team sport!
The famous loudmouth and England legend, Lineker, also posted his classic quote on his Twitter:
"Football is a game where twenty-two men run around for ninety minutes and at the end, Germany wins!"
"This time, I believe it will be the same."
And the course of the match unfolded exactly as the pre-match media had predicted.
Although Portugal naturally had many supporters in Brazil, which shares the same language, the mere seven thousand Portuguese fans seemed a bit outnumbered compared to the more than twenty thousand German fans present.
What decided the match, however, was still raw strength!
In the eleventh minute of the match, the German Team broke the deadlock.
Götze received a pass from Özil, broke into the right side of the penalty area, and was pulled down by João Pereira; Serbian referee Mažić decisively awarded a penalty and showed João Pereira a yellow card.
Müller converted the penalty, giving Germany a dream start.
And Portugal's nightmare had only just begun.
In the thirty-second minute, the German Team extended their lead; Kroos delivered a corner from the right, and Hummels leaped high seven meters in front of the goal, heading the ball into the net to make the score two-nil.
Just five minutes later, Pepe, in a challenge, raised his hand and hit Müller's face, then headbutted Müller who was sitting on the ground.
Müller stood up to argue with him, and Mažić deemed Pepe's actions as deliberate provocation, sending Pepe off with a direct red card.
With the appearance of this red card, the outcome of the match was largely decided.
In first-half stoppage time, the in-form Müller scored again, extending the lead to three goals!
At this moment, the live camera focused on Portugal's captain, Cristiano Ronaldo.
He raised his proud head, yet his brows were tightly furrowed, his lips pressed together, wearing an expression of "willing to kill the thief, but powerless to turn the tide."
Seeing Cristiano Ronaldo in such a state, Mark, who was once a Chinese fan, could somewhat understand his inner feelings.
No matter how hard he tried, no matter how much he ran, he couldn't stop the team's goal from being breached again and again.
That feeling of helplessness, stemming from deep within, must have been more painful than death for a man who valued victory and defeat so highly!
With the referee's whistle, the first half ended.
Both teams returned to the locker rooms.
Evidently, the German Team's locker room was filled with a relaxed atmosphere.
Even though he didn't get to play, seeing the team leading by a large margin, Mark also had a faint smile on his face.
Löw was also satisfied with the team's performance in the first half and highly praised the players.
After the halftime break, the second half resumed with the teams switching sides.
With a three-goal lead and the opponent playing with one less man, the team was practically dominating Portugal in their half, and Löw began to consider substitutions.
At such a time, if not to let new players get some experience, then when?!
When the match reached the sixty-fifth minute, Löw waved his hand, sending several players to warm up.
Finally, he called Mark to the sidelines and gave him direct instructions:
"Mark, once you're on, take the ball more often, make breakthroughs, and tear apart their defense!"
In the previous warm-up match against Armenia, Mark performed exceptionally well as a left winger, contributing one goal and two assists, and earning the highest rating of the match.
Löw was eager to see if Mark's incisive breakthroughs could create an opening for the team against a ten-man Portugal, who were retreating into a compact defense in their own half!
"The German Team is preparing for a substitution; the eighteen-year-old youngster Mark Lane is about to make his World Cup debut!"
"This will make him the youngest player to appear for the German Team in a World Cup since 1958!"
After waiting two minutes on the sidelines, Mark was finally substituted on in the seventieth minute.
He replaced the prodigy "Super Mario" Götze.
After high-fiving and hugging Götze, Mark took a deep breath, stepped onto the pitch of the Arena Fonte Nova with his right foot first.
The next second, his eyes became incredibly sharp.
"World Cup, here I come!"