Date: June 25th Location: Bahia Base Camp As Löw walked into the conference room with a piece of white paper in his hand, the German Team players all sat up straight.
Among them, the substitutes' eyes were filled with anticipation and determination.
They all hoped their names would be on that paper.
"Tomorrow is the third group stage match against the United States. Next, I will announce the starting lineup..."
Having already secured qualification, Löw, with a grand gesture, decided to rotate half of the squad!
This gave players who hadn't had a chance to play in the previous two rounds a starting opportunity.
The goalkeeper position went to veteran Weidenfeller.
The four defenders were Jérôme Boateng, Ginter, Mertesacker, and Großkreutz.
The defensive midfield duo consisted of the returning Schweinsteiger, who was back from injury, and Kramer, who was making his first start.
The three attacking midfielders were Podolski on the left, Mark Lane on the right, and Draxler in the center.
The lone striker was still Müller!
This combination of starters and substitutes had never appeared in training before!
Clearly, in the third group stage match, where the outcome was not particularly important, Löw wanted to assess the form of his substitutes.
Of course, he didn't believe this lineup couldn't defeat the United States Team.
As for moving Mark Lane, who had played as a left winger in the first two matches, to the right, it was partly to observe his performance on the right flank.
On the other hand, he hoped Mark Lane would create opportunities for Müller after breaking through the opponent's defense.
Müller was the team's top scorer, having scored three goals in the first round, and was a strong contender for the World Cup Golden Boot.
Müller was the Golden Boot winner in the last World Cup. If he could win the Golden Boot again in this World Cup, he would become the first player in World Cup history to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice.
He would also be the reigning World Cup Golden Boot winner!
Such an honor, not just Löw, but every German hoped to keep it in Germany.
And Mark Lane was also about to make his first World Cup start!
Mark Lane was not surprised by this.
This was the reward for his excellent performance!
In his first World Cup match as a starter, Mark Lane had only one goal:
To complete as many match tasks as possible!
In the first round against Portugal, he completed the [Dribble] match task, earning one potential point.
In the second round against Ghana, he completed four match tasks: [Dribble], [Goal], [Brace], and [Man of the Match], earning four potential points.
That added up to five potential points.
He still needed five more potential points to reach the ten points required to raise his [Speed] attribute to ninety.
However, Mark Lane didn't save his potential points. Instead, he directly added four of them to [Speed], increasing it from 85 to 87!
He found that it was better to add points little by little rather than saving them up for a one-time addition.
Because, when the attribute increase wasn't too significant, he could adapt more easily to his body after the attribute enhancement!
As a player who had recently exploded in popularity in Brazil, Mark Lane also received a task on the day of the match:
To attend the pre-match press conference!
Having come on as a substitute in the first two matches, Mark Lane had already captured the world's attention with his stunning performance.
He was the player with the most news buzz and Topic in this German Team, bar none!
Therefore, following the press officer's recommendation, Löw entrusted Mark Lane with the task of facing the reporters.
Many players become nervous and hesitant when facing the media's barrage of cameras and microphones.
However, Mark Lane displayed a composure beyond his years, whether in post-match interviews or at his first press conference.
This time, facing numerous media outlets alone, Mark Lane was as self-assured and articulate as ever.
Sitting in the locker room, watching Mark Lane talk eloquently with the media on TV, Löw couldn't help but say to Flick beside him, "This kid has a born big heart!"
"Yes, although he's young, I always feel like he handles everything with composure. Whether on or off the field..."
"Perhaps, this is what they call leadership quality..."
Of course, if Mark Lane knew about Löw and Flick's conversation, he would just laugh it off.
You try getting hit by a dump truck, then witnessing your own soul leave your body, and having the story of transmigration and rebirth happen to you.
You wouldn't be surprised by anything that happens either... The next day.
At the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Group G leaders German Team faced second-placed United States Team.
Although both teams would qualify for the next round with a draw.
Furthermore, German Team coach Löw and United States Team coach Klinsmann had a very close personal relationship, so the possibility of a 'friendly' match could not be ruled out.
And judging by the German Team's starting lineup, the media's speculation was not unfounded.
The rotation of half the squad made many gamblers who had placed heavy bets on Germany's victory feel their hearts pound in their throats.
Especially a certain Mr. Cheung from Hong Kong, who had bet thirty million on Germany to win, and immediately cursed:
"Damn your mother!"
Moreover, a sudden heavy rain added a lot of drama to the match.
Even with half the squad rotated, the German Team's lineup was still far superior to the United States Team's.
From the very first second of the match, the German Team dominated the field, pinning the United States Team in their own half.
Splash, splash...
The sound of rain echoed in his ears. Mark Lane, soaked to the bone, received the ball on the right wing. He glanced at Müller's run in the middle and feigned a cross.
The United States Team's left-back, Beasley, fell for it and immediately raised his leg to try and block the crossing route.
Little did he know, this was just Mark Lane's feint!
Due to the rain, he didn't choose overly flashy or elaborate dribbling feints. Just a simple change of pace, followed by a fake pass and a real dribble, and he easily got past Beasley.
At this point, with no one in front of him, he finally delivered the cross!
The ball in the air perfectly curved around the United States Team's central defender, Gonzalez, at the near post, flying towards the penalty spot.
Müller, who had arrived in position, headed the ball towards the far corner.
Unfortunately, United States Team's national goalkeeper Howard reacted quickly, diving to parry the ball out for a corner kick.
Seeing this, a collective sigh of regret arose from the stands.
Müller, who almost scored with a header, also gave Mark Lane a thumbs up.
And this was already the fourth cross Mark Lane had delivered for him in this match!
After learning he would start, Mark Lane had already planned how to play this match.
Without the [Super Substitute] card effect, his shooting skills were not reliable.
Therefore, assisting his teammates was his best option.
This was why, in the first thirty minutes, whenever he had the ball, he would choose to cross as much as possible to find Müller in the middle.
However, sometimes, when the luck for a goal comes, you can't stop it...
Due to the rain in this match, Löw had reminded his players before they took the field to take more long-range shots from outside the box.
It's important to know that rainy weather is very favorable for long-range shots.
The slippery pitch and the heavier, water-soaked football both increase the difficulty for goalkeepers to save, and the ball's trajectory also becomes harder to judge.
Many times, even if the goalkeeper gets a hand on the ball, it can slip out due to the wet surface.
This is why more long-range shots should be taken in rainy weather.
And when the match reached the thirty-fifth minute, the German Team broke the deadlock with a long-range shot!
Podolski on the left wing received the ball, took a look, and played a horizontal pass to Little Pig Schweinsteiger, who was making a run into the middle.
The latter didn't hold back and unleashed a powerful shot!
Accompanied by splashing rainwater, the ball shot out like a cannonball!
United States Team's national goalkeeper Howard didn't dare to be slow, clapping his hands together to parry the ball away.
However, the ball flew directly to the right side, where Mark Lane stopped it with his chest, intercepting it.
"Go up!"
"Don't let him shoot!"
Amidst the shouts of the United States Team players, Mark Lane, facing such a gift, did not hesitate and directly pushed the ball into the near corner of the goal!
The next second, the entire stadium erupted in thunderous cheers!
"GOAL!!!"
"It's him! It's him again!"
"Mark Lane!!!"
"This is the eighteen-year-old's third goal in his second match!"
"Who would have thought that this youngster, called up to the National Team for the first time, would become the team's dark horse!"
"He's as if he knew the ball would appear there!"
Watching the ball roll into the net, Mark Lane paused for a moment before turning and running towards the corner flag, executing a smooth, effortless knee slide!
In this weather, not doing a knee slide would be a disservice to the heavy rain!
Accompanied by splashing water, Mark Lane slid several meters on the ground, leaving three clear streaks. Then, he rose gracefully, spreading his arms, striking a calm pose as if to say, "Who else is there?!"
Two games, three goals. As a National Team newcomer who originally just wanted to experience the atmosphere of a major tournament and perhaps ride along to a championship, Mark Lane had contributed far too much.
However, I admit, this goal was truly a fluke!
The next second, he was surrounded by his teammates.
"Hey, don't touch me there!"
"My butt..."
"Not my abs either!"
After a wave of celebrations, the crowd dispersed, but Mark Lane felt a sense of being drained.
"Damn it, which bastard grabbed my nipple just now? That's too perverted..."
In the first half, thanks to Mark Lane's goal, the German Team led the United States Team.
In the second half, after the change of ends, the German Team continued to press.
Mark Lane, meanwhile, transformed into a relentless crossing machine, constantly delivering balls to Müller.
Unfortunately, perhaps due to his technique or the weather, his crosses were always just a little off.
Even though each time he created a flurry of activity in the United States Team's penalty area, he couldn't score again.
Until the sixty-seventh minute of the second half, when Mark Lane was substituted by Löw.
In this match, the German Team pressed the United States Team throughout, so the physical exertion was not too great.
Although he felt he could have played the entire match, Mark Lane knew very well that it wasn't up to him.
After Mark Lane was substituted, the German Team still maintained the upper hand, creating many chances, but they couldn't extend their lead.
Finally, with the referee's whistle, the match ended!
Thanks to Mark Lane's sole goal, the German Team narrowly defeated the United States Team one-nil in the heavy rain, advancing confidently to the Round of 16 as group winners!!
Thus, after the Netherlands and Colombia, the German Team became the third team in this World Cup to win all three of their group stage matches!
And the eighteen-year-old German talent, who was named Man of the Match for two consecutive games and scored three goals in two matches, had already become one of the most eye-catching players in this World Cup!
It's worth noting that scoring in a World Cup at the age of eighteen is already quite remarkable.
However, Mark Lane scored three goals in a total playing time of just over a hundred minutes!
Moreover, his average successful dribbles per game reached an astonishing 5.5 times, which was 1.2 times more than Messi, who ranked second!
He was currently the World Cup's Dribbling King!
Of course, such a dazzling performance doesn't yet make him the most brilliant player in the entire World Cup.
Because there were even more outstanding players in this World Cup!
In terms of the top scorers, Argentine King Messi and Samba leader Neymar were tied for first with four goals.
And there were three players who also scored three goals.
They were Colombia's number ten, James Rodriguez!
The German Team's last World Cup Golden Boot winner, Thomas Müller!
And the suddenly emerging "German Ronaldinho," Mark Lane!
Among them, J-Rod temporarily ranked second with an advantage of two assists.
Three group stage matches, three goals and two assists. The 23-year-old Colombian magician showcased his magic to the world on the World Cup stage.
It can be said that he single-handedly led Colombia to advance confidently from Group C as group winners!
Of course, this is one of the great charms of the World Cup.
Supernovas from various countries display their talents on the world-renowned World Cup stage, some even achieving overnight fame with a single goal.
Moreover, the drama of glittering stars, competing talents, and warring heroes plays out almost daily from start to finish!
Speaking of which, the World Cup is like the world's number one TV series, airing once every four years!
With its captivating plot, star-studded cast, and over a billion viewers...
June 27th.
With the conclusion of all group stage matches, the Round of 16 matchups for this World Cup were also revealed:
"Samba Army" Brazil VS "Red Army" Chile "Coffee Nation" Colombia VS "Three Lions" England "Orange Army" Netherlands VS "South American Butterflies" Mexico "Caribbean Pirates" Costa Rica VS "Mythical Nation" Greece "Gallic Roosters" France VS "African Eagles" Nigeria "German Team" Germany VS "North African Foxes" Algeria "Pampas Eagles" Argentina VS "Sabre" Switzerland "European Red Devils" Belgium VS "Uncle Sam" United States And various betting companies also released new odds for winning the championship based on the performance of the sixteen teams in the group stage.
Host Brazil led the pack, with three-time winners Germany ranked second. Argentina, led by Messi, was third, while the attacking-minded "Tulips" Netherlands and France were tied for fourth.
In the odds for the World Cup Golden Boot, Messi topped the list with odds of 1 to 3, Müller was second at 1 to 3.75, Neymar was third at 1 to 6, and J-Rod was fourth at 1 to 7.
As for Mark Lane, he was only ranked eighth.
Ahead of him were superstars like Benzema, Van Persie, and Robben.
No one believed that this young man, who had not yet secured a regular starting position in the German Team, could contend for the World Cup Golden Boot honor.
Even though he scored three goals in two matches...
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