After the match, Löw proactively sought out Marc and gave the Super Substitute a big hug!
"Well done!"
It's no exaggeration to say that Marc's goal saved the German Team, and it also saved him, the head coach.
"Thank you, Coach."
Looking at the black-haired teenager in front of him, Löw's heart was surging.
He never expected that after Reus withdrew from the World Cup due to injury, the one to fill his vacant position would not be Götze, nor Schürrle, Draxler, or Podolski.
Instead, it was the eighteen-year-old prodigy Marc, who was originally only brought along to experience the atmosphere of a major tournament!
After four matches, Marc's performance was simply astonishing!
His unique single-point explosive ability, his game-reading ability far beyond his age, his big heart in the face of adversity and difficult situations, and his finishing ability in crucial moments...
All spoke to one fact:
Eighteen-year-old Marc was the most indestructible sword of this German Team!
If the team couldn't break the deadlock on the field, then sending both Klose, the German Team's sharpest battering ram, and Marc, its sharpest sword, onto the field would solve everything!
After comparing Marc's performance as a starter and as a substitute, Löw had made up his mind.
After celebrating with his teammates, Marc also went to the mixed interview zone.
As the biggest contributor to the match-winning goal after coming on as a substitute, he was, of course, once again the Man of the Match!
"First of all, congratulations, Marc! You won the match!"
"Thank you."
"As the hero who scored the winning goal, your performance after coming on as a substitute was very eye-catching. How do you feel about your own performance?"
Marc casually ran a hand through his black hair, flashed a charming smile at the camera, and then continued to answer the reporter's question:
"I first want to thank the coach for giving me the opportunity to come on as a substitute, and then the support of my teammates, especially Miro's pass, which led to that goal..."
Originally, Marc didn't want to steal the spotlight.
However, his strength didn't allow him to be low-key!
Moreover, seeing himself tear open the defense and pass the ball, his teammates just couldn't put the ball into the net.
If it continued, and they had to play extra time, it would also be a variable for Germany.
So, he decided to try to attack the goal himself.
He just didn't expect that this attack would lead him to break into the penalty area and score the winning goal.
In fact, his ability to move through the defense as if unopposed was also thanks to his teammates' efforts in wearing down the Algerians for the first seventy-plus minutes.
The Algerian players' stamina and concentration were at their limit after playing for most of the match.
Coupled with their unfamiliarity with his style of breakthrough, and not expecting him to be so fast, it allowed him to easily penetrate the penalty area.
Just as Marc was being interviewed, "Müller" suddenly burst into the camera, then put his arm around Marc's neck and kissed him on the head.
Then he said to the camera:
"I love this guy!"
Immediately after, he turned and left, waving his sleeve, taking nothing with him.
Leaving only a slightly helpless Marc and reporters with strange looks in their eyes.
"He's usually like this, don't pay too much attention to it..."
Defeating Algeria was an expected outcome for the German Team.
However, the difficulty in securing the victory was unexpected.
This match also served as a wake-up call for Löw!
Upon returning to the base camp, Löw immediately called an emergency tactical meeting.
Of course, besides the coaching staff, no one knew what they discussed.
That evening, Marc also didn't forget to call De Bruyne to share the joy of the team's advancement.
"Buddy, thanks to your intel!"
"Oh, you're playing against the US tomorrow, right? Let me tell you, I know them really well..."
Over the phone, Marc fully revealed his understanding of the US team's tactics and players.
And in the end, the two even agreed to meet in the final!
That night, Marc slept soundly.
And in his dream, he had already envisioned himself holding the world cup trophy.
The next day.
With the last-minute winning goal against Algeria, Marc's popularity and fame in Germany once again soared.
Bild, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Sport Bild, and many others, all dedicated the front page of their sports sections to the eighteen-year-old.
Especially his celebration after the goal, jumping onto Klose's back, evoked a strong sense of déjà vu with Ronaldinho carrying Messi years ago.
And Sport Bild, while using this photo as its front-page cover, also came up with a very traffic-attracting headline:
"New and Old Legacy! Klose's Successor!"
"Just like Ronaldinho's celebration after assisting Messi's debut goal, this time, Klose, after assisting Marc's winning goal, also carried this suddenly emerging genius teenager..."
"Perhaps in Klose's eyes, Marc is the one who will, in the near future, take on the heavy responsibility of scoring goals for the German Team."
"Just like he did in his prime..."
While his social media followers surged, football fans around the world learned that Germany had produced a super talent even better than "Super Mario."
It's worth mentioning that German football legend Sammer, who was present at the match, also stated in a post-match interview, "At just eighteen years old, he possesses the immense influence to change the course of a match as soon as he steps onto the field. Such an astonishing performance, I have only seen it in Ronaldo when he was eighteen."
Who is Sammer?
He is one of only three German legends in German football to have won the Ballon d'Or!
But he also holds another title: the sporting director of Bayern Munich!
Therefore, many people believed that his remarks, in addition to praising Marc, also had a deeper meaning of showing goodwill towards Marc.
And in Sammer's social media comment section, as well as on Bayern's official channels, many Wolfsburg fans flooded in with messages:
"Stop enticing our little dancer!"
"Marc won't go to Bayern! Give up!"
"Go as far away as you can!"
Although Wolfsburg fans were fiercely protective.
However, Marc's contract renewal with the club was also a concern for many Wolfsburg fans.
One must know, this was no longer the Bundesliga, but the World Cup!
Besides Bayern, many media outlets also reported news that various giants were interested in Marc.
In addition to Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern, Premier League clubs like Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Ligue 1 clubs like Paris and Monaco, were all rumored to be interested in Marc.
Especially Arsenal's manager Wenger, who openly expressed his admiration for Marc, believing that watching him play was like appreciating a work of art.
After the baptism of the World Cup, eighteen-year-old Marc had already become the most dazzling and coveted super rookie of this World Cup.
If Wolfsburg didn't complete Marc's contract renewal soon, then the major giants would make their moves.
At that time, even if Wolfsburg was backed by the wealthy Volkswagen Group, it would be difficult to refuse the generous offers from the giants.
...
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