"Schweinsteiger... long shot!"
"The angle is too central."
"Kroos takes a sudden shot!"
"The ball is parried... Götze follows up!"
"Oh, it's just wide of the goal..."
"Mahrez takes the ball and breaks through, he's past him!"
"Too bad no one followed up..."
"Slimani takes the ball, but is interfered with by Mustafi..."
"The pass is a bit too strong and is intercepted..."
In the first half, the German Team had over 60% possession, but their passing success rate was not high, and most of their threats on goal came from long-range shots outside the box.
Against the Algerians' united and tight defensive formation, the German Team had few solutions.
Even if they wanted to penetrate the threatening area, there was too little space:
Without a center forward as a fulcrum for passing and moving, it was difficult to truly break through the defense, and instead, numerous passing errors gave the opponent opportunities for counterattacks.
The Algerians were also very pragmatic, retreating to their own half, giving up possession, and focusing on defensive counterattacks.
Among them, Mahrez and Feghouli are both wingers with speed and good dribbling skills, possessing outstanding individual abilities.
Each counterattack, although involving fewer players, only two or three.
But each time they effectively advanced into the German Team's threatening area, even completing shots.
Watching the German Team's offense falter, not crushing their opponent as predicted before the match, Löw on the sidelines also frowned deeply.
The live broadcast camera accurately captured the German coach's changing expression, "For the German Team, their tank seems to be stuck in the mud..."
"Fortunately, Löw has quite a few cards to play..."
Along with the commentator's narration, the live broadcast camera also showed the German warriors sitting on the bench.
Finally, the camera focused on Klose and Mark, the forward duo with the largest age gap in this World Cup.
"Klose's fulcrum role on the field is obvious, and there's also Mark Lane, the Super Substitute; the German Team has many tactical changes available."
"Especially Mark, known as the German Elf, his breakthroughs on the wing are completely unstoppable!"
"His two consecutive goals in the World Cup also broke the German Team's embarrassing record of substitute players being unable to score for eighteen years."
In the first half, the German Team pressed Algeria in their own half, attacking from the outside, but couldn't score.
Instead, the Algerians used limited counterattack opportunities to slightly threaten their goal, causing a cold sweat.
With the referee's whistle signaling the end of the first half, both teams returned to the locker room with a score of zero-zero.
Although the German Team had 60% possession and five shots on target.
They were all long-range shots from outside, not absolute scoring opportunities.
As for Algeria, although limited by the players' abilities, they didn't create many chances.
However, besides the offside goal, they also threatened Neuer several times.
Even so, seeing the team consistently unable to break through in the attack, "Little Pig" Schweinsteiger, as vice-captain, cursed out loud the moment he returned to the locker room:
"What the hell were we playing in the first half?!"
This statement was an expression of his dissatisfaction with his own performance, as well as the team's performance in the first half.
Yes.
They didn't expect the Algerians to be so difficult to deal with, and secondly, they didn't expect the team's offense to be unable to penetrate the opponent's core area!
Watching his teammates seriously discussing the situation on the field, Mark, sitting in the corner, pretended to listen while internally complaining:
"Isn't that how a Strikerless Formation is..."
As the saying goes, those involved are confused, while bystanders see clearly.
As a bystander who observed the entire match from the sidelines, Mark naturally saw the team's offensive weakness against a dense defense.
Firstly, without a center forward to act as a pivot, the team lacked a sharp edge to cut through the defense, and crosses from both wings couldn't find a high point to send the ball into the net.
Secondly, this German Team's starting lineup focused too much on midfield possession and passing, lacking individual breakthroughs!
When it's impossible to pass the ball into the opponent's goal, single-point breakthroughs on the wings become crucial.
By tearing open the opponent's defense at a single point, the opponent's dense defensive formation will show gaps, which can then be exploited.
However, neither Özil on the left nor Müller on the right possessed the ability for individual single-point breakthroughs.
Unable to break through the defense from a single point, they naturally found it difficult to truly breach the formidable wall the Algerians had erected in front of the penalty area, and thus truly threaten the goal.
"If I were on the field, I would have scored already..."
What he thought internally, he naturally couldn't say aloud.
He only hoped that Löw would see the predicament on the field and substitute Klose as soon as possible.
However, even seeing that the "Strikerless Formation" was struggling to open up the opponent's goal, Löw still had no intention of adjusting his tactics.
In his opinion, the team had the advantage in the first half, and in the second half, they would continue to use their possession advantage to wear down the opponent's physical strength and concentration, which would surely create gaps in the opponent's formation.
At that time, his team would be able to create better opportunities and break the deadlock!
Therefore, upon returning to the locker room, Löw merely re-emphasized the importance of positional interchanges among players and taking more shots, without giving too many tactical instructions.
In the second half, after the change of ends, the German Team gradually took control of the game's rhythm, increasing their possession to 70%.
They also created many passing and moving combinations, bringing the ball into the heart of the attacking third.
However, they were consistently unable to truly tear open the opponent's defense and create absolute scoring opportunities.
On the Algerian side, in the second half, as their physical strength and concentration declined, it became very difficult to organize effective counterattacks.
They were merely relying on fighting spirit and sheer will to maintain the integrity of their formation.
All the Algerians retreated to their own half, and even Mertesacker of the German Team came to the vicinity of the halfway line, serving as a deep-lying playmaker.
The situation on the field had clearly turned into a half-field attacking and defending drill.
It wasn't until the seventy-fifth minute of the match that, at Flick's suggestion, Löw finally made a decision:
"Miro! Mark! Go warm up!"
Upon hearing this, Mark and Klose, who were sitting together, exchanged glances and immediately stood up.
As the two left the bench and began their warm-up exercises on the sidelines, they also attracted the attention of the live broadcast camera.
"The German Team can finally no longer hold back!"
"The only center forward, Klose, and Mark, currently the dribbling king of the World Cup, are also ready to warm up and come on."
Seeing this scene, Wolfsburg's official social media account also timely posted a photo of Mark sliding on his knees after scoring in the previous match.
And captioned it:
"The dancer is preparing to enter, the show is about to begin!"
As soon as this post was published, it received likes and comments from Wolfsburg fans and many German fans:
"Löw should have put Mark on earlier!"
"Özil on the wing has no breakthrough, no confrontation, and is slow; he should have been substituted long ago!"
"The combination of Klose and Mark is surprisingly good."
"I have a feeling a goal will come very soon!"
A few minutes later, the two, having finished warming up, stood on the sidelines, receiving their final instructions before entering the field:
Löw looked at the two with a serious expression, then said in a deep voice:
"Listen, I don't want to drag this game into extra time!"
"I only need you two to go in and do one thing, and that is to score!"
"So, once you're in, do what you're good at!"
"Mark, just take the ball and break through!"
"Miro, just put that ball into the net, no matter how!"
Upon hearing this, Mark and Klose both nodded, indicating that they understood.
Taking advantage of a dead ball situation, the German Team finally made two substitutions in the seventy-eighth minute:
Götze was substituted off, Klose was substituted on!
Özil was substituted off, Mark was substituted on!
They had less than fifteen minutes left to decide the match... However, upon entering the field, Mark immediately observed a favorable detail.
After the German Team's movements and pulls for most of the match, the Algerian players' physical and mental states had reached a critical point.
And as a fresh force entering the field, he possessed an absolute advantage in physical strength!
Mark went to the left wing and unceremoniously raised his hand to demand the ball.
Schweinsteiger in the middle didn't hesitate and passed the ball directly to him. This was the tactical instruction Löw conveyed to the players on the field during the substitution:
Give the ball to Mark, let him break through!
As soon as he received the ball, a bald man wearing the number ten jersey aggressively rushed towards him. Upon seeing the bald man, Mark's mind instantly brought up the opponent's relevant information:
Feghouli, Valencia winger, decent dribbling ability, very ordinary defense, likes to tackle.
Mark didn't hold back, feinting an inside cut, then deceiving Feghouli at the moment he twisted his body, executing a wide 'roulette' to break through on the outside!
"Beautiful dribble!"
After easily beating Feghouli, Mark advanced with the ball and quickly met Algeria's right-back:
Mostafa, a full-back playing for Ajaccio in Ligue 1, good physical qualities, rough defense. Compared to Feghouli, Mostafa directly took a sideways stance, defending Mark's outside, retreating while defending, waiting for the midfielder to come and assist.
However, would Mark let him have his way?!
Two consecutive shoulder drops and feints, followed by a small 'bicycle' skill, and then he directly used the instep of his foot to push the ball and cut inside!
Seeing this, Mostafa, whose center of gravity was already facing the outside, was startled and immediately turned.
However, his declining physical strength made his movements seem like slow motion.
Before he could complete a 180-degree turn, Mark seemed to have pressed an accelerator button, like a white blur, and had already dribbled past him!
"Mark is through!"
This easy and artistic consecutive dribble past two players left the fans of both teams in the stands dumbfounded.
They had been attacking for most of the match, but the opponent's defense remained unyielding.
Why did Mark come on and so easily tear open the opponent's defense?!
And many German fans in the stands and watching on TV couldn't help but wonder:
With such a skilled winger, why did Löw only field him now?!
Or was it a tactical arrangement?!
First, exhaust the Algerians' physical strength, and then send Mark on to tear open the defense?!
They didn't know the answer.
They only knew that after Mark came on, it was as if he had entered a no-man's land!
No sooner said than done!
Mark dribbled to the edge of the penalty area, glanced at the Algerian center-back Bougherra who he had attracted, suddenly feigned a shot, but it was a fake shot and a real pass, sending a short through ball to Klose in the penalty area.
Klose, with his back to the other center-back, stopped the ball with his left foot, half-turned, and swung his leg to shoot!
With a "bang", the ball shot out!
Unfortunately, this powerful shot was too central, and the Algerian goalkeeper parried it with both hands, sending the ball over the crossbar.
Although this attack did not result in a goal, it made the Algerian fans break out in a cold sweat.
The German fans in the stands, however, immediately gave a warm round of applause.
Everyone could see that as soon as Mark and Klose came on, the German Team's offense immediately changed.
There were breakthroughs on the wings, allowing them to tear open the defense;
And in the penalty area, there was someone who could hold off defenders with his back and complete shots.
Klose, who had just completed the shot, gave Mark his first thumbs-up of the match.
Subsequently, Kroos took the corner kick, and Klose also demonstrated the deterrent power of a center forward, tying up two defenders in the penalty area, ultimately resulting in a header from Höwedes that went slightly over.
With Klose, the tall center forward, acting as a fulcrum in the penalty area, the midfield passes also had a target.
The entire German Team was like an oiled steel war machine, relentlessly crushing the exhausted Desert Foxes.
In the eighty-fifth minute, Klose was fouled outside the penalty area while dropping back to receive the ball.
The referee blew his whistle.
The German Team was awarded a free-kick in a good position.
However, the foul was too close to the goal, only about eighteen meters away.
Schweinsteiger called Kroos, Mark, and Müller over, then covered his mouth with his hand and said in a deep voice:
"For this free-kick, we can either shoot directly, or we can execute a tactical play, like we do in training?!"
Facing "Little Pig" Schweinsteiger's question, Kroos, as the primary free-kick taker, spoke first:
"The distance is too close, Mark's knuckleball might not be easy to shoot. I think we can try a combination play."
Müller, beside him, also nodded in agreement:
"We've tried it in training, and it works well. We can give it a try!"
Immediately after, the three men's gazes simultaneously turned to Mark.
As a newcomer to the National Team, Mark naturally dared not object.
"I'll follow your lead!"
Immediately after, the few of them stood in front of the ball and discussed the details carefully.
This scene also left the commentator somewhat puzzled:
"The German Team has a good free-kick opportunity."
"Among the German Team, the primary free-kick taker is Kroos, but Mark's free-kicks are also extremely threatening. Against Portugal, he almost scored a brilliant knuckleball..."
"However, this position is too close to the goal; it might be difficult for a knuckleball to get enough time and space to drop."
"Who will take it in the end..."
Finally, after deliberation, Kroos and Schweinsteiger stood on the left and right sides of the ball, then Müller stood behind the ball.
Mark, on the other hand, stood behind Müller, a bit further from the ball.
Immediately after, under the gaze of fans worldwide, Müller was the first to rush towards the ball.
Then, he performed a self-directed and self-acted fall!