From Arsenal to the Ball God

”It’s still Spain’s ball control! Iniesta, passes to Fabregas! David Silva is making a forward run asking for the ball!

”Very dangerous! France team’s midfield defense has been continuously penetrated by the one-touch passing! The defender line is completely exposed!

”A through pass! Ah... Klich reacts quickly and intercepts the ball! Beautiful! It’s a counterattack opportunity for the France team; Klich is struggling to find a passing option!

”.....”

In the France team’s backfield, Klich makes a quick turn to keep the ball, ending Spain’s attacking rhythm.

”Dun-dun-dun!”

Javi and Xiaofa press him quickly, while the other Spain players choose to retreat quickly to prepare for the France team’s counterattack.

”Boom!” But Klich’s choice surprises them, as he uses the instep of his foot to send the ball towards Maie and Aveloya.

No hesitation!

No time for retreat!

Aveloya, marking Maie, is caught completely off guard, merely watching as Maie charges towards the ball’s landing spot, stopping the ball without interference.

”Pap!”

The ball slams heavily into Maie’s chest; he stops it instantly and turns, directing the ball towards the offensive direction, and then puts it on the ground with his right foot, dribbling forward at high speed.

Looking up, all he sees upfront is Aveloya; Pique and Ramos are marking Giroud far away, not daring to rush over to help.

This is the chance he’s been waiting for!

It looks like his teammates did listen when he talked earlier in the midfield, and they’re willing to trust him.

Now, he’s about to start a solo tactical breakthrough and venture alone!

He can stop a pass with a shot, and he can make dangerous breakthroughs past opponents!

”Boom-boom... boom!”

Facing Aveloya’s defense, Maie doesn’t use any flashy moves; he takes a couple of small steps before suddenly speeding up towards the center.

Just bulldoze through!

”Screech!” Aveloya can’t keep up after two steps, his center of mass uncontrollably falling forward; he’s left scrambling as he clings onto Maie’s shorts, attempting a tactical foul.

Maie’s white underwear is exposed, amusing many fans, but he doesn’t stop, wrenching himself free from Aveloya, continuing his drive forward.

Don’t want a free kick; he aims to penetrate the most dangerous area of the opponent!

”Boom-boom-boom...!”

As he dribbles closer to the center, some France team fans slowly stand up, while Spain fans cover their faces, not daring to watch this defense effort.

”A good opportunity for a counterattack! Aveloya has a hard time handling Maie one-on-one!

”Now all the pressure is on Pique; he must slow down Maie’s breakthrough to give his teammates time to get back!

”We see several substitutes have rushed out of the France team’s bench, joining Deschamps in standing on tiptoes to watch Maie’s back; Bosque is holding his head, unable to believe how the France team suddenly got such a good chance!

”Pique! Can he hold on?”

”.....”

Pique lowers his center of gravity, his eyes locked on Maie’s knees, trying to judge Maie’s next move from changes in his balance.

He sees Maie start a Bicycle Kick, and in the last step, clearly shifts his weight to his right leg, seemingly intending to push the ball with his right foot towards the outside baseline.

”Boom...!”

But when Maie actually moves towards the baseline, Pique only feels a gust of wind sweep past, then sees the opponent already within two or three meters of the penalty area.

He anticipated it, but couldn’t keep up!

So fast!

Pique bitterly mumbles a Spanish curse, not knowing if this moment will hit the headlines as ’Pique gives way’.

”Oh.....!” Cheers rise from the stands, with all France fans seeing a glimmer of scoring hope.

”Maie easily gets past Pique; this kind of playstyle must be his favorite, his most comfortable way of playing!

”He’s in the penalty area! Casillas is charging out fast, and Ramos has no choice but to come over for defense!

”This is a good chance to score! Is Maie about to make history?!”

”.....”

In the penalty area, Maie glances at the goal as he runs at high speed, becoming incredibly excited, feeling the chance to score in the finals is upon him.

But Casillas throws a bit of cold water on him, as he almost blocks every angle; the only decent shooting angle left is straight down the middle, between Casillas’s legs.

He lifts his left foot, aiming at the ball’s center, but suddenly brakes just before contact.

”Bang!” Casillas quickly clamps his legs, obviously a trap he deliberately left open.

In that flash of a moment, Maie doesn’t have time to be relieved about not acting impulsively, having tricked Casillas into revealing his trap, because he sees Casillas quickly recovering, diving for the ball at his feet.

Now he has to go all-out!

”Boom... boom!”

Maie neatly nudges the ball to the left, evading Casillas’s first tackle, then flicks his ankle to push the ball towards the goal with the quickest and most proper connection.

In less than a second, he has had multiple duels with Casillas... now he feels it is time to deliver the final strike!

Maie’s eyes follow the ball, watching it roll towards the near corner, and he sees Casillas, after a save, quickly spring back up, reaching out for another save.

He also sees the panic-stricken eyes of Ramos and Busquets, who are racing back, while Giroud and Nasri have their hands poised as if ready to celebrate early.