Chapter 202: Attack and Defense Contest

Atlantic Stadium, cheers rising and falling.

All members of Spain's bench couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

The painful experience of the Confederations Cup and World Cup made everyone realize Spain wasn't that dominant.

The German team is a formidable opponent.

Müller is even more of a "disaster bottle opener".

If they fall behind by one goal at the start, Spain will fall into a passive state in the following match, being rolled into a snowball by the German team.

A simple clearance is extremely inspiring.

Yin Si Ke excitedly grabbed a handful of Morata's **.

Diego Costa excitedly locked his elbow around Saul's neck.

Miniño exclaimed: "Boss, how can Li's defensive recovery speed be so fast? It's as if he guessed..."

Bosque's eyes flashed a hint of wisdom, saying: "He knows Bayern's players well, including Kimmich's passing tendency, and in a short time he deduced the German team's attacking direction and endpoint."

"The German team's attack is about to change again."

On the other side.

Löw put his finger to his nose and sniffed.

He then gestured to the midfield and defensive players.

Near the center circle.

Hummels steadied the ball, and the German team didn't rush to continue attacking.

Kroos withdrew again, organizing the midfield and defense.

The midfield and forward players instantly resumed their formation positions.

The ball slowly passed across the grass.

Boateng waved at the goalkeeper Ter Stegen, indicating his position should move forward a bit, just like Neuer usually does.

Speaking of Neuer, it's just tragic.

He was still lying on the bed in the accommodation bedroom, watching the live broadcast of this match, expression extremely anxious, muttering to himself: "Damn it, don't let the spacing between positions be too far from the back line... Hey! Too close also won't do, that kid Li will tear the defensive line apart!"

Ter Stegen inexplicably showed nervousness unbefitting a professional player.

Very unaccustomed, very awkward.

His chances of playing for the national team are very few.

Fortunately, the teammates in the back line all grew up under the same German youth training system, so there won't be too many loopholes for now.

The German team's midfield and defensive play style is completely different from Barcelona's.

At the club.

Enrique told him: "You're still young; you need not only to reduce mistakes, but also learn from Bravo to become an important passing hub in the back line; as long as you integrate into the system, your footwork can fully make up for deficiencies in rushing out and saving, just like Valdés, helping teammates gain possession advantage, which is the best defense."

In the German team.

Löw told him: "You need to learn from Neuer, master handling threatening balls from a high defensive line, because the German team spends most of the time pressing opponents to attack; also, during goal kicks it's best to directly join the attack, creating chances for the frontline teammates."

"Attack is the best defense."

These are two different concepts.

At 24 years old, Ter Stegen is still young by a goalkeeper's career span.

He might become one of the world's top goalkeepers at some point in the future.

But he still doesn't fully grasp: in top-level contests, a goalkeeper's ability isn't just individual; it also involves blending with the team's style.

"The German team has completely changed its previous impact and speed offense!"

"They are gradually advancing steadily!"

"The Spanish team's forward press isn't creating much effect."

"Kroos and Boateng as two passing points are so solid that in a short time they need not fear the opponent's forward press."

Cazorla and Yinniesita launched a quick press in the front.

David Silva is relatively slower, but his anticipation of the football's second receiving point is very precise.

These three aren't just tackling for the sake of tackling.

But to interfere with the German team's second pass.

Affecting the opponent's midfield progression, organization, and linking.

Teams with a slightly weak midfield generally find it hard to cope when facing these three midfield masters.

Where did Ke Pang go?

He is tightly entangling Kroos.

Even girls who usually don't watch football can instantly recognize who the German team's midfield core is at this moment.

Quite reasonable.

It seems that legendary midfield cores in football history are either handsome... or ugly, and they usually have some charisma.

It's a pity that.

Kroos, active on the right flank... his ability to receive the ball facing forward is too steady.

Koke tried hard, but couldn't interfere with the East German's passing rhythm.

What does "forward-facing" mean, what does "back-to-goal" mean?

Let's understand literally:

One is receiving the ball facing forward while confronting pressure.

One is receiving the ball with one's back to the opponent while confronting pressure.

However, many experts also translate it as: forward-facing and back-to-goal.

Inside, many, many elements were involved...

Time passed minute by minute, second by second.

The German team steadily controlled possession, slowly advancing.

The match gradually turned into a "positional war in motion."

Pressing → counter-pressing → cutting passes → adjusting passing and receiving distances to counter-cut...

"Kroos, Khedira, Boateng, and Hummels easily kept the ball moving."

"Not to mention the national team; even the giants of the five major leagues would struggle to find two centre-backs with super strong ball-playing ability, and Barcelona's goalkeeper Ter Stegen could only stare helplessly."

"Beautiful football belonging to Germany!"

"The two full-backs have pushed up to the forward positions!"

"Müller and Draxler have cut inside to the central lane."

"From our perspective, the German team is like a big net, about to envelop Spain's backline!"

Atlantic Stadium.

Fans from both sides shouted wildly, sparing no effort.

Although no goal has been scored yet, the spectacle is extremely entertaining.

Li Kang did not take part in the pressing.

Instead, he chose to stand parallel to Busquets, waiting for the opponent's furious storm‑like attack to erupt in the thirty‑meter zone.

In God's perspective.

He really couldn't guess who was responsible for speeding up the German team's overall tempo.

Kroos?

Boateng?

Hummels?

These three guys all possess terrifying ball‑playing ability and have determined different attacking directions for the German team.

All we can do is keep waiting.

Waiting for Koke to make a mark and disgust Kroos.

The Spanish team's defensive answer will become a choice between two options.

Do Atlético Madrid players still have anyone who doesn't trash‑talk or pull petty tricks?

Yes.

Young Koke... has not yet fully learned the essence from his older brother.

He is currently spouting harmless "trash talk" alongside Kroos.

The limit is nothing more than "Your shoes are really ugly, your hair wax smells awful..."

Finally.

When Kroos received the ball with his back to goal in the forty‑meter zone.

He slowly raised his finger... that was a signal to speed up the attack!

The reverse forward shake of the "Immortal Points the Way"?

Critical moment.

The Atlético Madrid youngster still produced a flash of inspiration.

Koke charged like a young wild boar, violently thrusting at the German core's lower body, trying to win the ball!

Accompanied by the fierce rush, the effect of muscle building was infinitely amplified.

Pa!

The ball rolled out of bounds.

Kroos sat down on the grass, helplessly raising his hand.

Beep!

Referee Kaoshaoyin decisively blew the whistle, quickly stepped forward and gave Koke a gentle verbal warning.

"This match is very tough."

"The only ones who can match Spain in possession statistics are their students: Löw's German team."

No chaos or conflict arose on the pitch.

Kroos is not only technically superb, his body is as strong as an ox.

He sat on the grass, unhappily reaching out his hand toward Koke.

The Atlético Madrid youngster embarrassedly grabbed him and pulled him up.

This little snippet also triggered nearby neutral fans in the stands to burst into rounds of applause.

By the pitch.

Minianyuo anxiously said: "Boss, this doesn't match the pre‑match deployment... our situation is now very dangerous, very passive!"

Busquets wore a kind smile: "Where is the danger? A strikerless formation isn't advantageous just by holding possession; look closely, the German team finds it hard to advance into our danger zone."

"Don't rush, football isn't a sprint."

The other side.

Löw stood in the technical area, involuntarily rubbing his eyes.

His gaze fixed firmly on Spain's midfield and defense.

The coaching staff behind him was busy.

Assistant coach Zuolge was frantically simulating: in different zones of the Spanish half... if possession is lost, what should be the response; if possession is lost... how to restrict Li?

This is a German team armed to the teeth.