Soccer: I have the attributes of Messi in his Prime

Chapter 543: Mikhailovich-style Free Kick Returns, Pogba Sent Off

After Spain scored, the team's morale increased significantly, and the players played with more confidence and composure.

In this state, they even dared to attempt some risky front-line plays that they previously wouldn't have tried.

In the 33rd minute of the first half, Spain got an opportunity on the right side.

Cesc Fàbregas, Álvaro Morata, and David Silva used a series of quick passes to move the ball to the edge of France's penalty area on the left, attracting a large number of French defenders.

France learned from the last goal and strengthened their defense in the middle this time. N'Golo Kanté stuck to Lin Quan like glue, never leaving his side.

Morata didn't pass to Lin Quan this time but instead switched the play to an open spot on the left.

Jordi Alba, who had surged forward, quickly dribbled to the byline and sent in a cross before the opposing defender could close him down.

Samuel Umtiti tried to clear it at the near post but couldn't get the ball far enough.

The ball fell to Sergio Busquets, who smartly spread his arms to block Paul Pogba charging from the side.

Pogba, seeing that Busquets had shielded the ball, pushed him.

Busquets, who was still deciding how to deal with the ball, screamed and fell to the ground dramatically. As he fell, he pressed the ball under him to prevent the referee from allowing play to continue and giving France a chance to counterattack.

Pogba was furious. He felt he hadn't pushed Busquets hard, and yet Busquets fell with an exaggerated cry, clearly faking it.

Seeing Busquets on the ground, Pogba ignored him and kicked at the ball Busquets was holding, seemingly trying to steal it and continue the attack.

If the first push wasn't serious enough to be a foul, this kick certainly was.

Busquets cried out in pain again, clutching his stomach and rolling on the ground.

The big screen's slow-motion replay showed that Pogba hadn't kicked the ball but had hit Busquets in the stomach.

Seeing this, the Spanish players rushed over, surrounding Pogba and demanding an explanation.

The French players saw their teammate surrounded and hurried over to defend him.

Tensions flared on the pitch, with players pushing and arguing. The referee had been lenient so far, but things were spiraling out of control.

Both teams had committed several fouls in the first half that could have easily warranted yellow cards had the referee been stricter, leaving both sides frustrated.

Now, emotions boiled over, and the players pushed and argued more fiercely.

The tallest players on the pitch, Olivier Giroud and Gerard Piqué, even pressed their foreheads together, looking like they were about to fight.

Sensing things were getting out of hand, the referee finally stepped in.

He quickly separated the players and issued yellow cards to both Piqué and Giroud to defuse the situation.

Then, he approached Pogba and showed him a red card, sending him off the pitch.

Pogba was stunned. With his arms outstretched and an innocent expression, he looked at the referee as if to ask:

"Is this red card really for me? Surely there's been some mistake?"

The French players, forgetting their argument with the Spanish, rushed to the referee to plead for mercy.

France was already trailing, and if they went down a player now, the match would be over for them.

The referee's decision would significantly impact the game's outcome.

They hoped the referee would reconsider and, even if he didn't reverse the decision, at least change it to a yellow card instead of a straight red.

But the referee, Italian Nicola Rizzoli, stood by his decision. He gestured for Pogba to leave the field immediately.

In the stands, French fans were in disbelief, holding their heads in their hands. When they saw the referee insist on the red card, they began to protest loudly, booing and insulting him, trying to pressure him into being more lenient in future calls to favor France.

On the field, some referees try to compensate for harsh decisions by giving the affected team a break later, and the French fans were counting on this.

But their plan might have backfired!

Rizzoli was one of the top referees in football. He had been named the best referee in Italian football for three consecutive years and was also voted the world's best referee in 2013 by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.

Although he had a relaxed style of officiating, he was known for his firmness and wouldn't easily change his decisions, even under immense pressure.

In a previous UEFA Euro semifinal, it was Rizzoli who, under heavy pressure, awarded France a penalty against Germany, allowing them to turn the game around and advance to the final.

For the Spanish, Rizzoli was a familiar face. He had officiated two of Spain's matches during the 2014 World Cup, including their group-stage opener against the Netherlands and their final against Germany, both of which Spain won convincingly.

From this perspective, Rizzoli could be considered a lucky charm for Spain.

Judging by the way this match was going, things were also turning in Spain's favor.

Some Spanish fans in the stands couldn't help but start celebrating early.

Pogba's dismissal was a significant blow to France's midfield and would greatly hinder their attack.

Moreover, Spain would have a numerical advantage, easing their defensive pressure.

French coach Didier Deschamps didn't look happy—Pogba's actions had been reckless.

Even if Busquets had exaggerated his fall, as long as Pogba hadn't kicked him, the first push might have only drawn a verbal warning. Given the lenient refereeing, he might not have even been warned at all.

But Pogba did kick Busquets while he was down, which counted as a serious foul with intent to harm, warranting a card for sure.

Deschamps had hoped for a yellow card, but instead, Pogba received the harshest punishment, putting France in a desperate position.

This wasn't the first time Pogba had lost his cool. Back in 2013, in a World Cup qualifying match, Pogba had done something similarly foolish. After coming on as a substitute, he picked up two yellow cards within just two minutes and was sent off, leaving everyone stunned.

And ironically, the opponent in that match? Spain!

Pogba's exit severely disrupted France's attacking system, making it much harder for them to score. Deschamps held his head in his hands, already thinking about how to adjust at halftime to minimize the impact of losing Pogba.

While Deschamps wrestled with this dilemma, Lin Quan grabbed the ball and approached the spot of the foul, preparing to take the free kick.

At this moment, both teams had 10 players on the field, as Busquets was genuinely injured and was being stretchered off for treatment.

With numbers temporarily even, France's defense was holding strong.

They lined up their wall nervously at the edge of the box, preparing for both a direct shot and Spain's taller players near the penalty area.

The foul occurred about 38 meters from the goal, slightly left of center and about seven or eight meters from the sideline.

The French players didn't think Lin Quan would shoot directly from that distance, so they focused on marking Spain's players in the box.

But the Spanish players, seeing Lin Quan's hand signal, knew he was going for goal directly.

Though aware of his intention, the Spanish players didn't stand idly by. Instead, they moved around the box like slippery eels, trying to distract the French defenders and create space for Lin Quan.

Lin Quan took seven or eight steps back, took a deep breath, and started his run-up.

With a loud "bang," the ball soared towards the box.

Seeing the trajectory, the French players quickly realized it was a direct shot.

The French wall jumped in unison, trying to block the shot with their bodies.

But they didn't jump high enough. The ball flew over their heads with a sharp whistle.

Hearing the ball whizz past overhead, the French players were relieved.

That shot was terrifyingly powerful!

Luckily, it didn't hit them—if it had, it might have knocked them out!

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was fully focused, positioning himself near the center-right of the goal.

Judging from the ball's flight path, he determined it was headed for the right corner.

It was an impressive free kick from nearly 40 meters out, but Lloris felt confident.

However, just as Lloris sprang into action, he saw the ball suddenly change trajectory as it dipped.

Lloris was shocked—the ball's landing point was different from what he had predicted, and there wasn't enough time to adjust.

With a crisp "swish," the ball grazed Lloris's right arm and flew into the net.

"Incredible goal!"

"Lin Quan's free kick completely fooled the French goalkeeper, leaving Lloris utterly outplayed!"

"This is Lin Quan's second free-kick goal in this Euro tournament, both from long range!

Even with all their efforts, the French couldn't fully contain Lin Quan because he always has his free-kick magic!"

"He's a genius of this era, a gift from God to Spain!"

The Spanish commentators were frantically shouting praises, practically worshiping Lin Quan.

And they weren't alone. After seeing Lin Quan score such a difficult free kick, commentators from other countries echoed similar sentiments.

It was over!

Seeing the ball go in, Deschamps's mind went blank as he collapsed into his seat on the bench, stunned.

On the other side, Vicente del Bosque leaped up in excitement, rushing onto the field before the substitutes even had time to react.

Lin Quan's second goal was almost a match-winner for Spain.

A two-goal lead is much more comfortable than a one-goal lead, as it gives the team more room for error.

Even if France managed to pull one back, Spain would still have the upper hand.

Not to mention, Spain had a significant advantage, leading by two goals and with an extra player on the field.

Del Bosque couldn't imagine how France could possibly turn things around!

And he wasn't alone. The Spanish players on the pitch, the fans in the stands, and even the commentators all shared the same thought.

"Though this outcome is cruel for French fans, I must say, they're cornered now!"

Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler expressed some feigned sympathy for the French. Given the long-standing rivalry between England and France, he would have been popping champagne if he didn't have to maintain his neutral commentator role.

"Indeed, time is running out for France. They must find a way to score quickly!"

If the commentators could see it, how could the French not?

After the restart, France launched a desperate counterattack, hoping to pull one back before halftime.

But being a man down made it difficult to execute their offensive strategy, especially in midfield, where they were now outnumbered.

Pogba's red card left France with only one holding midfielder, and the entire midfield was relying on Kanté to cover.

If it weren't for Kanté's tireless effort and incredible defensive abilities, France might not have been able to attack at all. They might have conceded even more goals.

Despite his efforts, France gradually found themselves overwhelmed. Their counterattack quickly fizzled out, and the match turned into a Spanish siege of the French goal.

(End of Chapter)

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