From Arsenal to the Ball God

He also wanted to make a small breakthrough at the start to feel the defensive strength of the opponent.

”Boom!”

After bumping into Aveloya, he smoothly turned towards the center. Seeing the opponent’s numbers densely packed, he first chose to pass the ball to Giroud in the middle and then followed up.

Giroud was clearly eager to score, resisted Ramos to complete a half-turn, and made a low shot towards Spain’s goal.

”Snap!” The football hit against Lord Shui Ramos’s blocking foot, bounced back out of the penalty area, and fell towards the right side in Spain’s attacking direction.

Ma’el seized the chance when the opposing players hadn’t reacted yet, sprinted to the drop point, and met the ball with a violent kick, shooting in mid-air, making his whole body fly up with the shot.

”Boom!”

Due to not noticing beforehand that the ball had intense spin, he didn’t control the touch point well, causing the ball to go off-target by about five or six meters in an exaggerated curve outside the goal.

After completing the shot, he smiled embarrassedly and then jogged back to his position.

In such a big match, the intensity of the confrontation along with the pressure and nervousness in oneself will inevitably cause some technical movements of every player to deform a bit.

He did not get discouraged; a failed attempt like this was nothing to him.

Compared to other players, he is definitely considered stable because external factors don’t influence him much; he always has a baseline.

”Casillas sent out the goal kick! Spain is controlling the ball in the backfield without retreating, instead choosing to press further!

”You can see, Spain is playing more cautiously today. Everyone has come back to help with the ball distribution in the backfield, and they are not in a hurry to break through the high pressure, constantly adjusting to find the most suitable opportunity.

”This is somewhat different from before, as Bosque seems to understand the importance of the championship match and has made slight adjustments.”

”.....”

”Boom boom boom...!”

The football constantly passed close to the ground, rarely showing bouncing scenes, smoothly completing turns and seamlessly transitioning from one player’s foot to another’s.

Ma’el followed the team’s pressing for a while and quickly noticed how Spain differed from other teams.

Their ball control skills and spatial awareness are excellent, with their passing and first touches nearly perfect. The off-ball movement is the same, always appearing in the most suitable positions.

In an area of about thirty-five square meters, the France team usually could deploy 2-3 players to apply pressure, blocking all passing lanes of the ball-holder immediately.

”Boom... Snap...!”

But the Spanish players always masterfully utilized a single pass or a simple move to break through the pressure, taking the ball out and passing it to the other side.

In many scenarios, when France deployed balanced forces to press, the opponent’s midfield and front players were often the first to read the game and join the local battle for numerical superiority.

This isn’t because they are faster, but because their minds turn faster, allowing them to fully predict the situation in advance!

By the time other France players wanted to reinforce, the ball had already been transferred to the weak side.

The suffocating feeling enveloped every France player and their fans from Spain’s initial ball control, experiencing their passing and controlling at close range is definitely different from watching on TV; it’s a completely different concept.

Fast!

Too fast!

Also too flexible!

One player doing this might not be an issue; France has players who can do it too, but when an entire team operates like this, as if sharing one brain, it’s both precise and terrifyingly dreadful.

Ma’el felt unprecedented pressure that no other opponent had ever given him.

If he feels pressured, you can only imagine what the defense-facing players in France’s back line are experiencing against the opponent’s attacks.

Stay focused and wait for opportunities... he had a premonition that his ball-holding chances in this match might be even less than he imagined before the game.

To lead the team to victory through scoring goals, he must seize every opportunity to hold the ball and strive to create danger the moment he gets it!

”Spain easily broke through France’s opening pressing strategy, cracking the pressure and pushing the French players back into their half.

”We’ve seen this scenario many times in this European Cup, but what differs is that due to Ma’el’s threat point, Spain’s attack is slow and patient.

”They might avoid losing possession as much as possible to prevent their backfield from suffering a direct onslaught from Ma’el!”

”.....”

He Wei made his judgment on the opening situation, but quickly realized it was a wrong assumption.

Upon reaching the threatening area in the frontfield, Spain accelerated their attacking rhythm; they never hesitated. As long as there’s a shooting angle, regardless of how good the chance is, they invariably shoot directly.

”Boom!”

”Boom.....!”

Eight minutes had not yet elapsed, and this team had completed three shots.

Although these shots were all from outside the penalty area and none hit the target, they still adhered to the idea of shooting at every available opportunity!

”Ah... I think I might have misjudged. In previous matches, Bosque’s team sometimes overly focused on control, leading to stinginess in shooting.

”However, in today’s game, they aren’t stingy at all and appear very generous when there’s a shooting opportunity!

”I believe this reflects the change in their mindset for the finals! Because, in such matches, it’s not only about threading with the passing but also about decisively seizing openings to drive in and create threats!”