Chapter 205

The LED screen in mid-air at the Atlantic Stadium displayed the score of 1:0.

The stands erupted with thunderous applause.

Spanish fans were delighted to be leading.

German fans were also satisfied with their players' performance, believing their team was just a bit of luck away from scoring.

Players from both sides slowly walked off the pitch.

De Gea placed his hand on Li Kang's shoulder as they walked, saying: "Li, in the second half, Germany will increase their pressing intensity; remember to remind me when to move forward—previously, Alonso used to remind me."

Li Kang nodded seriously.

De Gea is not a rookie; it's just that Spain's tiki-taka system has rather "unconventional" demands on goalkeepers.

If the goalkeeper can expand their coverage and become an important passing hub in the back line, increasing teammates' passing options, it can enhance the team's overall defense, forcing Germany to commit more players to pressing.

It's normal for him to struggle adapting to the tiki-taka system.

Came through Atlético Madrid's youth academy.

At 18, he was La Liga's most dazzling superstar goalkeeper prodigy.

Facing the "triple crown" Inter Milan, he descended like a god, helping the team win the European Super Cup.

At 21, he transferred to Manchester United for the world's second-highest goalkeeper fee, becoming a nightmare for Premier League strikers.

His early career... was simply the perfect template for a goalkeeper novel.

But Atlético Madrid and Manchester United's tactical systems differ greatly from the Spanish national team's.

Put more simply.

Weak teams and strong teams...

No, it's "teams getting beaten" and "teams doing the beating"; the requirements for goalkeepers' traits are different.

If you let a goalkeeper-forward like Nurinol go to Atlético or Manchester United, he might not necessarily be stronger than De Gea.

If you let De Gea go to Schalke 04 or Bayern, he might not necessarily rise to prominence.

A player's career planning and transfer choices are crucial.

The two walked toward Germany's command area.

Löw seemed to be waiting for something, warmly extending his hand toward Li Kang.

De Gea reacted quickly, grabbing the latex glove he had just taken off and shaking it.

Li Kang politely greeted him.

Even the cameraman felt this shot was somewhat awkward.

Löw smiled, affectionately patting De Gea's head.

Moments later.

Spanish dressing room.

The team doctor and masseur were attending to veterans like Yinniesita.

Miniano adjusted the tactical board's position slightly.

The coaching staff began explaining potential issues that might arise in the second half.

"In the closing stages of the first half. Germany was also resting, and the opponent hadn't committed too many pressing players."

"Our possession buildup hadn't drained most of their players' stamina."

Miniano quickly interjected: "Exactly, I saw that German assistant coach observing while taking notes; in the second half, they will definitely target our slightly weak passing points in the back line!"

"Slightly weak passing points..."

Everyone's gaze unconsciously shifted toward San Jose.

The Basque center-back scratched his head embarrassedly.

Speaking purely of defense, he is in his prime, not weak at all; his steady performance last season hinted at reaching Europe's top tier threshold—no matter how you say it, he's a standout product of Bilbao's youth academy and Liverpool's Kirkby Academy.

It's just that in the previous match against Italy, he conceded a penalty, and in this game, his passing errors have also been somewhat frequent.

Ramos and Juanfran were about to help the young center-back explain.

An aged voice sounded, easing the dressing room's awkward atmosphere.

"There are no slightly weak passing points."

"Our back line and midfield are stylistically disconnected."

"It is precisely this disconnection that allowed us to withstand Germany's two threatening attacks in the first half."

Bosque patted his big belly, speaking lightly.

His gentle gaze swept over the substitute players...

Li Kang stared at the small flag on the tactical board, gradually becoming absorbed.

Beside him, Yin Si Ke quietly shifted position, afraid to disturb.

As usual: contrary to viewership and attention, national team tactics are far behind club level—not because the national team coaching staff is low-level, but because national teams can't easily spend money to buy players to build a team, and players don't have much time to train and gel together.

But there are a few teams that are exceptions.

They transplant the system of their league's strongest powerhouse into the national team...

In this way, it becomes a dimensional strike against other teams.

German dressing room.

No negative atmosphere, nor any uplifting, passionate speech.

Players rested and relaxed in an orderly manner.

Löw gently explained the tactical adjustments for the second half.

He is a stubborn person.

But he does not express his stubbornness through angry emotions.

Being one goal behind did not temporarily affect the morale of the German team.

The fifteen-minute halftime break ended quickly.

The player tunnel.

Havertz excitedly gave Li Kang a hug.

Not having seen each other for over a month, he had many things he wanted to say.

Boateng hurriedly reminded: "All the cameras in the world are focused on you, don't act like a little girl! We are representing the national team now!"

The Bayern central defender meant well.

Although the German team is now behind, and although the players and coaching staff morale is unaffected, the fans will definitely feel uncomfortable.

How could you be so close to the opponent?

If they lose this match, anything will become a reason for fans to vent their anger, and there will definitely be many questions and criticisms directed at Havertz.

This kind of pressure will affect the professional growth of young players, and there aren't so many "clear-headed" people like Kroos in the world.

In the national team match, we must set aside club friendships.

Havertz immediately calmed down and slowly loosened his grip.

Li Kang smiled.

He did not expect that his showdown with former teammates would come so soon.

Tens of thousands of spectators returned to their seats.

The Atlantic Sports Arena resumed its noise.

As the players stepped back onto the pitch, fans from both sides were also competing in volume.

"Good evening, viewers, welcome back!"

"Now broadcasting live is the 2016 European Championship quarter-final."

"The second half of Spain versus Germany!"

"Bosque has temporarily made no substitution adjustments."

"On Löw's side, Havertz came on for Götze!"

"What a bold positional substitution!"

"This 17-year-old youngster comes from Leverkusen, and he is a teammate of Li Kang at the same club!"

The live broadcast room.

The number of viewers has returned to its peak.

-【If I hadn't watched this year's European Cup, I wouldn't have known there was a club called Leverkusen in the world.】

-【I haven't watched football for many years, but this Havertz is quite handsome, 17 years old and already that tall and sturdy, is he a centre forward?】

-【Explosive power, strong headers, good vision, high football IQ, excellent technique, but he can't play as a centre forward, he is the perfect product of "positional fluidity," a versatile attacker in the midfield and forward lines, unless, like at the club, there is someone like Li Mingdeng behind him.】

-【Löw has gone mad, letting a 17-year-old with no experience play in the European Cup?】

-【Not necessarily, with a group of German team senior players leading him, Havertz says he cannot explode and upgrade like Xiao Li Zi.】

Accompanied by the referee's whistle.

The second half officially began.

Spain had possession.

Casola passed the ball back to Li Kang.

"We can see that the German team has increased the number of players pressing in the front!"

"Löw's coaching staff combined the first-half match situation, analyzed Spain's weak passing and receiving points, wow! Six players have pressed past the opponent's half!"

"That's crazy!"

"He has the crazy confidence, and the backline is occupied by Boateng and Hummels!"

Duan Xuan and He Wei were stunned.

How come I feel like I'm watching Bayern thrash Barcelona in the 2012/13 season?

Pa!

Li Kang touched the ball with his foot and passed it to the overlapping Carvajal.

Kimmich quickly closed in.

The Real Madrid full-back temporarily could not find a suitable passing lane, even if he forced through, his teammates did not run into space.

He could only pass the ball to the incoming Yinniesita.

At the same time.

Khedira "slowly" approached.

The 32-year-old Yinniesita, plagued by injuries, is far from his former strength.

He is not afraid of being pressured, but he is very annoyed by being "stuck" by the opponent.

Without hesitation.

Likewise, one touch of the ball.

The moment Busquets received the ball, his view was blocked by Müller's face!

Pa!

The Barcelona midfielder made a half-turn, easily shook off the marker, and passed the ball back to goalkeeper De Gea.

Not far away.

Schweinsteiger was active in the area near Li Kang.

He dared not get too close, fearing that after Li Kang received the ball, he would again bend down, lower his center of gravity, and cleanly dispossess himself.

Fortunately, he is now familiar with the opponent's characteristics.

The steel little pig is a man who can disgust Harvey and Messi.

Things like 'the magic circle of love' and 'dream dance steps'... Schweinsteiger is very familiar with.

"The German team's thinking is very clear."

"Restrict these three points of 'Li Bai Bu', push the ball into Spain's backfield! Seize mistakes at weak passing and receiving points!"

"Ordinary teams really can't pull this off, lacking suitable players."

"You see, the abilities of Khedira, Müller, and Schweinsteiger are all exceptionally outstanding."

"Hmm... more like Tian Ji's horse race."

"Oh no! Havertz almost intercepted the ball."

"It's fine, it's fine, De Gea is very steady, the starting goalkeeper of a Premier League giant."

"What the German team needs to do next: wait for Spain to make a passing and receiving mistake."

Time passed minute by minute, second by second.

Spain's midfield and backfield possession and control gradually produced mistakes.

Ball possession was lost repeatedly.

Fortunately, there are many receiving points in midfield, relying on local counter-pressing, they always managed to regain possession with a scare but no danger.

Busquets and Yinniesita seemed to recall again the fear of being dominated by Hai Clan Bayern.

The moment 'Li Bai Bu' descended from the altar was precisely from that year when the 7:0 bloodbath tragedy began.

Other teammates, under the high pressure of the German team, gradually found it difficult to maintain passing and receiving stability and triangular running...

Midfield control, is declining.

Relying solely on Li Kang, it is very difficult to stabilize ball possession.

Atlantic Sports Stadium.

Spanish fans gradually fell silent.

German fans grew increasingly delighted.

Minute 53 of the match.

Khedira tripped Yinniesita, then intercepted the football.

The German team's overall attacking formation instantly erupted with extremely shocking impact!

Like a torrent of steel, it wanted to crush the matador's red cloth!

Beep!

The main referee blew the whistle, issuing a verbal warning to the German midfielder.

"Looking at the slow replay, this call was not problematic, it was indeed a foul."

"It's terrifying, if Spain's football were truly intercepted, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Only the German team could bring such a threat to them."

In God's perspective.

Li Kang observed that the German team's midfield and backfield were disconnected, a physical disconnection of distance, not a stylistic disconnection of Spain.

But there was no opportunity to tear open the defense with a pass.

Cazorla, Koke, and David Silva do not belong to high-speed explosive points.

Passing forward would only lose ball possession.

However, if a forward were substituted in, Spain's midfield would have one fewer receiving point, and when facing German pressure, control would decline.

It's a bit difficult.

Schweinsteiger also felt it was a bit difficult.

After several close-body collisions and physical struggles, he truly felt how terrifying Li Kang's physical quality was.

Much harder than Harvey!

He always uses his back or side, touching the ball with a foot while running.

This concealed the weakness of receiving the ball facing forward.

This made the German midfield inevitably feel somewhat lost, feeling like they had become invisible.

"Is there a possibility that whether I stick to Li Kang or not, the result is the same?"

On the sidelines.

Miniaño worried: "Boss, should we substitute in Piqué... we're still leading, low-position defense would be safer..."

Bosque shook his head:

"If we give up possession and play low-position defense, the German team would gain many advantages, including maximally consuming our defenders' stamina."

"Let Morata take off his jersey!"

Miniaño hesitated, then asked: "Boss, if Morata comes on, our midfield control..."

Bosque interrupted: "The connection between Li and Morata can make the German team feel afraid!"

The old man's voice was very loud.

Morata excitedly took off his jersey and walked out from the bench.

On the other side.

Zuerg hurriedly urged the team members to come up with countermeasures.

Löf, with hands crossed in front of his chest, calmly said: "According to the original plan, there's no need to reduce pressing numbers, Morata's characteristics pose no threat to our defense."

Minute 64 of the match.

The pass between Busquets and Yinniesita was cut off again!

The credit goes to Kimmich!

With a heart determined to win.

The Bayern youngster blew the horn of attack.

Once again, he stirred up a steel torrent, madly devouring Spain's half!

With a slap.

The connection between Kimmich and Müller was also cut off.

Li Kang slid in with a flying tackle, poking the ball out of bounds!

"How close!"

"Li Kang's interception was crucial!"

"Oh? At this moment, the referee signaled a substitution!"

"Diego Costa is standing on the sideline!"

Zolger looked a bit dazed.

Wasn't it supposed to be Morata?

How did a Diego Costa come on?

Soon, the German coaching staff became busy again.

Löw furrowed his brow:

"No, that guy will pose a great threat to our defense."

"The connection between Li and Diego Costa is terrifying."

"Prepare to have Khedira drop back, wait! No, that's not right either—Spain brought on a forward, so midfield will also lose a linking point..."

A midfield maestro capable of delivering ultra-long through balls from the back.

A beast-like striker.

The nightmare of all high defensive lines.

The German head coach fell into a brief dilemma, gazing at Li Kang's back, feeling increasingly lost.

"Why does this world have midfield players who leave opponents in a dilemma?"

In the world of football, many people have quirks.

For example, Löw picks his nose, Suárez bites people.

Diego Costa's situation is somewhat better: he likes pulling out others' leg hair.

In the previous World Cup, Alonso suffered greatly from it.

"David Silva is being substituted off!"

"The forward from Chelsea, Diego Costa, comes on!"

"Spain's formation should become 4-5-1!"

Stands on all four sides.

Applause mixed with boos.

Besides Atlético fans, which La Liga fan doesn't dislike Diego Costa?

The match resumed.

Kimmisch threw in the ball from the touchline.

After Kroos received the ball, without too many unnecessary adjustments, he decisively sent out a diagonal pass.

A scalpel-like trajectory, cutting through Spain's half!

"Germany launches a quick attack."

"A pass like a cruise missile!"

Draxler trapped the ball in the rib area.

Taking advantage of the moment when Spain's defensive line contracted its spacing.

He suddenly kicked!

Not a shot.

It was a lofted pass.

The ball left the ground, arcing in midair before plummeting into Spain's penalty area!

Havertz had been waiting a long time.

At this time, he was not yet skilled at winning aerial duels, unable to move earlier than Ramos to seek shooting space.

But his ability to anticipate the situation was strong, his prediction of the ball's path very accurate, and he chose the most comfortable position!

"Too late!"

"Most of Spain's defensive attention this time is focused on Müller!"

"Havertz's positioning was excellent!"

"Header!"

Thud!

Havertz leapt high, arched his back, and headed the ball!

The ball flew straight into the upper left corner of Spain's goal!

The German coaching staff couldn't help but celebrate early.

Miñano clutched his head in horror.

The hearts of both sets of fans were instantly occupied by their respective joys and sorrows.

Could it be... another genius youngster is about to shine in France?

In the midst of crisis.

A pair of platinum-colored gloves interrupted everyone's thoughts!

"God save!"

"De Gea's god save!"

"So exciting!"

"Not falling down to delay time a bit?"

"Throw-in! It's a counterattack!"

"Find Li Kang!"

Havertz was so shocked he covered his forehead.

Before he could even adjust his emotions, he saw the football skim past above his head!

The audience hadn't adjusted their emotions either.

Spain, leading by one goal, actually didn't waste time?

The camera moved rapidly along the football's trajectory.

The landing point.

Two figures were already standing there.

Li Kang and Kroos.

The possession of the ball will determine the continuation of both teams' attacks.

Is it Germany's second attack?

Or Spain's desperate counterattack?

No stunning peak showdown with dazzling skills and romantic flourishes.

Spain's number 6 leaned back against Germany's number 18 with his back.

He stopped the ball with his chest.

In God's perspective, he sensed Schweinsteiger's approach.

The football didn't shift in the slightest.

It landed quietly right in front of him.

The phantom of "Bergkamp" flashed by and vanished instantly.

Li Kang lifted his left foot, and his heel tapped.

Kroos and Schweinsteiger looked horrified: the football slipped out right under their noses!

"So wonderful!"

"He actually found a passing space while surrounded by two German top midfielders!"

"He found the open-running Cazorla!"

Arsenal's two-footed balance monster is no bluff.

The ball reached his feet.

Cazorla stretched his body.

Thud!

Suddenly, a large arc appeared in midair.

The end of the trajectory was Germany's backfield.

Germany's backfield.

Boateng and Hummels weren't so lonely.

Because beside them, there was an extra Spanish forward who talked trash.

The vulgar and lowbrow content made their faces flush red... they almost wanted to pick up the Chelsea forward and beat him.

"Time to work!"

Diego Costa stomped the grass like a mad bull, charging toward the backfield!

Boateng and Hummels' speed isn't slow.

After turning around, they chased back desperately!

"Veins bulging!"

"A scene that makes blood boil!"

"A clash of strength and speed!"

The football fell onto the grass and bounced high.

Diego Costa's left and right shoulders... were sandwiched by the German center backs!

He didn't fall to the ground.

He loves this kind of confrontation the most.

He readjusted his center of gravity and exerted force again!

Hummels staggered and fell.

Boateng pursued relentlessly!

The Chelsea forward's right instep first touched the ball.

He then made a violent explosive dribble.

He charged toward Germany's penalty area.

Noise erupted everywhere!

German fans tried to interfere with boos.

Spanish fans shouted excitedly.

"Single sword!"

"Boateng can't keep up? He's about to be left behind!"

"For Diego Costa, this opportunity is foolproof."

"Ah? Ter Stegen's charge came just in time!"

"Neuer possessed!"

Ter Stegen rushed out of the penalty area, charging straight toward Diego Costa.

Boateng has already blocked the angle for my chip shot.

Next.

I will prove it to everyone.

I am no worse than Neuer!

Thud!

Diego Costa fell to the ground!

The football bounced toward the backfield.

German team's base.

Neuer clutched the blanket tightly, furious and shocked: "Idiot, why didn't you clear the ball out of bounds! Watch Li's position!"

"Brilliant clearance!"

"Ter Stegen..."

"Ah?"

Following the football's trajectory.

The Spanish number 6 jersey appeared on screen.

An impeccable run-up posture.

It made every German fan's heart tighten involuntarily.

Sideline of the pitch.

Muniain stared, mouth agape.

Bosque's expression was one of shock.

Löw furrowed his brow tightly.

Is he going to shoot?

That's over forty meters from the goal...

In Li Kang's vision, the phantom of the number 7 in red condensed in the wind.

He subconsciously began to mimic the phantom's movements.

His body tilted slightly.

His left leg lifted lightly.

In his bearing.

As if something was frenziedly seeping into his blood.

It was the striker's instinct!

The moment of the hunt!

The instant of contact with the ball.

The phantom dissipated.

At the Atlantic Stadium, tens of thousands gasped, unable to look away.

It seemed as if all the stadium's spotlights shone only on Li Kang.

A flawless shooting posture.

Without the mighty force of pulling up mountains.

Without the terrifying roar that shakes the night sky.

The football in mid-air spun violently, like a beautiful silk scarf fluttering in the wind, like a dazzling gemstone captivating the soul, like a splendid rainbow arcing across the heavens.

Ter Stegen lifted his head, his face ashen.

He could do nothing.

The German team could do nothing.

No power could stop this goal.

The football seemed to leap across the vicissitudes of time, heavily bouncing on the turf, then lightly bouncing into the German team's goal.

2:0!!!

Everyone's thoughts snapped back to reality in an instant.

"Wow! Beautiful!"

"Goal!"

"A stunning long-range lob that astonished all!"

"Peerless elegance!"

"He is the brightest star of the French midsummer!"

"He has forged another legendary moment!"

"Forty-five meters! A super long-range lob from forty-five meters out! Unbelievable!"

"Flawless height and angle!"

"Brace!"

"The 18-year-old Spanish youngster Li Kang from Lewokusen broke through the German team's goal twice!"

"The German team! His opponent was the previous World Cup champion! The German team!"

"He made people from two countries gasp in astonishment!"

"He helped the Spanish team expand their lead!"

Duan Xuan grabbed He Wei's shoulder tightly.

Hold on, more outrageous lines should be saved for the semifinals and finals.

The livestream room.

The audience was stunned.

-【Damn, that's too awesome!】

-【Li Mingdeng is so handsome!】

-【In this European Cup, how many goals does Li Kang need to score to be eligible for that Puskas Award?】

-【A chip shot isn't that rare, but the opponent is the German team.】

-【Ter Stegen didn't get a chance to be teammates with Li Kang, so he gave an assist instead.】

-【Noynier narrowly escaped disaster.】

-【What's going on? I clearly felt the German team could equalize, but how did Spain score again?】

-【Li Mingdeng's arsenal is too rich, it's off the charts!】

-【How did Spain let Diego Costa start? Wouldn't it be fine to put him on earlier?】

-【Cup matches are different; strong teams talking means both sides play their cards under the premise of not collapsing the basics. If Diego Costa started, the German team might not have given these two scoring opportunities, and Spain would also struggle to stabilize the situation. Tactical probing and attack-defense interplay. If the score remained 0-0, Bosque and Löf might delay substitutions until past seventy minutes.】

Diego Costa pushed Ter Stegen aside, quickly got up, and ran toward Li Kang.

Under the night sky, Chelsea's sharpsmiling face was radiant, that excitement as if he himself had scored.

"When did you kid practice that chip shot!"

"I still thought this ball was gone!"

Yinniesta and Busquets looked at each other in blank dismay: Nou Camp seems to be getting further and further from its heir apparent.

De Gea ran excitedly across half the field again, joining the celebration.

Spanish fans came to their senses, cheering excitedly.

"Lee!!!"

"Lee!!!"

"Lee!!!"

Ter Stegen sat on the grass, burying his head deep in his knees.

He considered himself not inferior to Noynier.

Why did he concede two goals in such an important match?

Why did he have to face Li Kang?

Boateng sighed deeply, comforting: "No time to be sad, if it were Noynier... the result would be similar."

German team's base.

Noynier's expression was very complex.

He kept complaining in his mouth about Ter Stegen's carelessness.

But in his heart, he inexplicably felt somewhat... fortunate?

No!

If I were on the field, I definitely wouldn't lose so badly!

Sideline of the pitch.

Bosque and Miniñano raised their fists high, continuously cheering.

"Boss, aren't we supposed to substitute Morata?"

"Is that so? I've always said Diego Costa, uh... all the same, as long as it helps Li create opportunities."

"Boss, the German team is the previous World Cup champion! Does this mean we've half-raised the European Cup trophy with one hand?"

"Cherish the present, in a few years, Li's national teammates will have to be replaced again."

Another side.

Löf rubbed his face, adjusted his mindset, then hurriedly urged several substitute players to warm up.

Zolgr stared blankly at a few pages of data report, muttering:

"Impossible... how can that kid's shooting be so exquisite?"

Catalonia Television.

Enrique seemed to have aged several years in an instant, feeling lost.

"Ter Stegen..."

"His sortie wasn't problematic, just bad luck."

"Such a mistake..."

"Well, one million euros..."

VIP box.

Staff carefully covered the sleeping Krüjin with a blanket.

Beckenbauer smiled, shook his head lightly, and walked away slowly.

German football didn't lose to Spain.

But lost to...

The match continued.

The German team was very passive.

Trailing by two goals, with no other options, they had to give it their all!

The "shield" formation was reorganized again.

The four ball outlets were restored to their original state, like four wheels, the German war machine roared as it rolled toward Spain's half.

Unfortunately.

The attack kept stalling in the thirty-meter zone.

Schweinsteiger realized at this point:

Li Kang's interception and defense without the ball was even more terrifying!

He was like a pulley, constantly moving laterally in front of Spain's backline.

With his teammates' coordination, he always appeared at the most crucial moment in the most crucial position, completing a clearance or disruption.

"A brilliant positional battle."

"His defensive positioning was deliberately slower than Busquets'."

"But his timing for interceptions and tackles was faster than San Jose's."

"This Spanish team's defense has been elevated to a new level!"

"Beautiful!"

"Spain's counterattack!"

"The connection between Li Kang and Diego Costa!"

"Phew, Boateng came through!"

Live broadcast room.

-【The German team's situation is dire, caught between a rock and a hard place.】

-【Why does Spain's possession play feel more dangerous than positional defense?】

-【Because from the start, Spain's midfield and backline have been stylistically "disconnected."】

-【In-game tactical adjustments during the match are very rich.】

-【Bosque's double insurance: he fears repeating Barcelona's fate against Bayern, and also fears excessive physical strain on his defenders... but with a two-goal lead and the match nearing its end, he no longer fears Germany using attacking rhythm changes to wear them down...】

-【I feel the whole team is serving little Li, including bringing on Diego Costa.】

-【After getting past Germany, the next two matches will be much easier.】

Finally.

Beep! Beep-beep~

The main referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the match.

Spain 2:0 Germany!

"The match is over!"

"Congratulations to Spain, congratulations to Li Kang! They marched on triumphantly, advancing to the semifinals of the 2016 French European Championship!"

"They sent off Italy, they sent off Germany."

"Let's think: right now, in Madrid, by the Manzanares River, at the Ronda bullring, in the Balearic Islands, surely countless Spanish fans are rejoicing; and in Berlin, in Munich, in Hamburg, at Cologne Cathedral, surely countless German fans are also feeling heartbroken."

"German players don't need to apologize to the fans, because they already lifted the World Cup two years ago—a trophy many could only dream of—and historically, no team has remained at the peak forever."