Soccer: I have the attributes of Messi in his Prime

Chapter 534: Quaresma's Redemption

Before the match between Germany and Spain even began, the media was already hyping it up.

German media outlets invited several football legends to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both teams.

Even though the analysis came from the Germans themselves, it was quite objective.

According to the German legends, Germany had a clear advantage in defense and midfield, while Spain's strength lay in their forward line.

This German team had a midfield that could only be described as luxurious:

Götze, Kroos, Özil, Reus, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Podolski…

Just looking at this list, it was clear how powerful Germany's midfield was.

Spain has always been known for their strong midfield, but comparing the two teams now, it was evident that Germany's midfield had surpassed Spain's.

In addition to their powerful midfield, Germany's defense, led by Boateng and Hummels, was one of the strongest in the tournament.

However, Germany wasn't without weaknesses—those weaknesses lay in their attack.

They had brought only one center forward to this tournament: Mario Gómez.

Since leaving Bayern Munich, Gómez had struggled with injuries and adjusting to new environments, which caused a significant drop in his form.

After two poor seasons at Fiorentina, he was loaned to Turkish side Beşiktaş, where he rediscovered some of his old form and earned a recall to the German national team.

But despite his improved performances in Turkey, the level of competition there didn't compare to that of Europe's top five leagues.

Thus, Germany's forward line looked mismatched compared to their star-studded midfield. The difference in quality was glaring.

However, this didn't mean that Germany's attack was weak—in fact, their offensive firepower had been anything but weak in recent matches.

With Gómez providing cover up front, Müller had thrived in his role as a shadow striker, scoring frequently and leading Germany's attack.

On the wings, Sane and Schürrle were also serious threats not to be underestimated.

Combine that with players like Özil, Götze, and Reus operating behind them, and Germany had a very well-rounded and dangerous attack.

While Spain had Lin Quan as their star, their overall attacking prowess wasn't necessarily superior to Germany's.

So, in reality, the German analysis had been quite modest.

Given the strength of both teams, most analysts predicted a tight and hard-fought match.

Although Germany had lost to Spain two years ago, this time, the Germans had a real shot at victory.

The highly anticipated clash between Germany and Spain was scheduled for July 3, but the quarterfinals had already kicked off on July 1, with Portugal taking on Poland.

While the Germany-Spain matchup was difficult to predict because both teams were so strong, this Portugal vs. Poland game was equally hard to call due to how evenly matched the two sides were.

Based on their lineups, both teams were almost equal in strength, and the outcome would largely depend on how they performed on the day.

Despite neither team being considered a major powerhouse, the match drew a lot of attention thanks to the presence of two superstars: Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski.

As two of the top strikers in world football, they were inevitably compared to each other.

Compared to the expensive Ronaldo, the younger Lewandowski was seen as a bargain.

His contract with Bayern Munich was also nearing its end, making him an attractive option for any big club looking to strengthen their attack.

This summer presented a great opportunity for any top team desperate for a world-class striker to make a move.

As a result, scouts from several big clubs were in attendance for the match.

Thanks to his outstanding performances at Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, Lewandowski was regarded as one of the top three strikers in the world, alongside Barcelona's Luis Suárez and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema.

Being included in such a list spoke volumes about Lewandowski's talent.

Unlike other superstars who would cost hundreds of millions of euros, Lewandowski could be acquired for around €100 million, making him a top-tier forward who could deliver immediate results for any team.

That's why clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool, both in dire need of a quality striker, were so eager to sign him.

For example, Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp and Manchester United's José Mourinho were both in the stands.

After an unsuccessful season, Manchester United was expected to make major moves in the transfer market this summer.

Mourinho, who was frustrated with Martial's performances, was looking for a powerful striker to solve their goal-scoring problems.

Lewandowski, with his excellent technique and lethal finishing, was one of United's top targets.

Everton's Romelu Lukaku was also on their shortlist, but Mourinho clearly preferred Lewandowski. However, it wasn't entirely up to him—the United board hadn't given him full control over transfers, and he often ended up with secondary choices instead of his top picks.

Lewandowski didn't disappoint the fans and scouts who had come to see him.

Within just two minutes of kickoff, he scored the opening goal, putting Poland ahead early.

This goal ignited the passion of the tens of thousands of fans in the stadium, especially the Polish supporters who had traveled from afar.

If Poland could win this match, they would make history by reaching the semifinals of the European Championship for the first time ever!

Although Poland's chances of advancing past the semifinals were slim, reaching the final four would be a dream come true for them.

This European Championship wasn't just a celebration for Iceland; it was also a moment of joy for the Polish fans.

For the first time, Poland had advanced past the group stage and reached the quarterfinals.

Today, they had the chance to go even further and make it to the semifinals!

Watching their team's success, the Polish fans were ecstatic.

They unfurled a massive banner that covered almost the entire south stand, and more than 20,000 Polish fans chanted in unison, cheering on every player by name.

Buoyed by the support of their fans, the Polish players fought with even more determination, and they pressed Portugal hard after taking the lead, even creating some dangerous moments around Portugal's goal.

This was the most dangerous period for Portugal—if they conceded again, the match could be out of their reach.

Fortunately, with a resilient defense and determined efforts, Portugal managed to hold firm and prevent Poland from extending their lead.

After weathering the storm, Portugal launched a counterattack.

With Ronaldo attracting much of Poland's defensive attention, it created space for his teammates.

Taking advantage of this, Portugal's attacking midfielder Renato Sanches latched onto a pass from Nani and scored the equalizer in the 33rd minute.

With that goal, the match was back to square one.

The Portuguese fans, who had been anxious for half an hour, could finally let out a sigh of relief and celebrate.

Meanwhile, Poland's momentum faltered, and they lost the commanding presence they had earlier.

After Portugal's equalizer, the match fell into a stalemate.

Both teams tried everything they could to find a winning goal, but luck wasn't on their side.

Ronaldo, in particular, missed several clear chances, sending Portuguese fans on an emotional roller coaster.

Despite countless attempts, the score remained 1-1, and the match was forced into extra time.

Even after both teams made multiple substitutions, neither could break through the other's defense, leading to a dreaded penalty shootout.

A penalty shootout is always a test of both physical endurance and mental strength, especially after playing 120 minutes.

As team captain, Ronaldo, who had not performed well during the match, stepped up to take the first penalty for Portugal.

The Polish fans in the stands did everything they could to distract him, booing loudly and making noise.

Poland's goalkeeper also tried to unsettle Ronaldo by jumping around on the goal line.

Ronaldo took a deep breath, blocking out all distractions, and focused solely on the ball.

He took his run-up and calmly slotted the ball into the net, giving Portugal the lead.

On Poland's side, Lewandowski also stepped up to take the first penalty.

Like Ronaldo, he handled the pressure well and scored.

After the first round, the score was tied at 1-1.

In the second round, Renato Sanches blasted his shot into the top left corner, while Poland's Milik kept his composure and found the net with his left foot.

2-2!

In the third round, Moutinho calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, and Glik sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, also finding the bottom left corner.

3-3!

The penalty shootout entered the crucial fourth round. Nani, who had provided an assist earlier in the match, coolly scored into the top right corner.

But Poland's fourth taker, Błaszczykowski, saw his penalty saved by Portugal's goalkeeper Rui Patrício, who dove to his left and pushed the ball away!

4-3!

Portugal now had the upper hand. If they could score their next penalty, they would advance to the semifinals.

All eyes turned to Portugal's final penalty taker, none other than the former wonderkid, Ricardo Quaresma—the same player who had once been rejected by top clubs.

In that moment, Quaresma felt the weight of the world's gaze upon him, and the pressure was immense.

Having fallen from the heights of his early career, Quaresma felt as though his legs were about to give out.

He was terrified.

He feared he would let his teammates down by missing this all-important penalty.

There was a time when he was as highly regarded as Ronaldo, if not more so.

But he had messed everything up—first at Barcelona, then at Inter Milan, both times being cast out by elite clubs.

Now, Quaresma was consumed by the same fear that haunted him before.

He was terrified of failing again, of once more becoming the subject of everyone's disappointment and criticism.

Just as Quaresma's face turned pale with anxiety, he felt a pair of strong, reassuring hands on his shoulders.

"Go ahead, Ricardo. Don't be nervous. I believe in you!"

Quaresma turned with difficulty to see his close friend, Cristiano Ronaldo, offering him words of encouragement.

The two had been friends for many years, and even during Quaresma's lowest moments, Ronaldo had never abandoned him. Ronaldo had always been there to encourage him, helping him rebuild his confidence and escape the shadow of failure.

Seeing the sincerity and warmth in Ronaldo's eyes, Quaresma suddenly felt a surge of strength.

Nodding firmly, he replied:

"I won't let you down, not this time!"

Boo!

A deafening wave of boos erupted from the stands, as Polish fans did everything in their power to rattle Quaresma, including shining laser pointers at his eyes.

They knew exactly what it would mean for their team if Quaresma scored this penalty.

For Poland, their hopes of survival hung in the balance.

Quaresma took a deep breath, just as Ronaldo had done earlier, and positioned himself at the penalty spot.

He didn't even look at the goalkeeper; his eyes were fixed on the ball.

In that moment, his mind cleared.

It felt as though the entire world around him had disappeared, leaving only the ball and the goal in front of him.

His one and only goal now was to send the ball into the net and end the nightmare once and for all!

As the referee's whistle blew, signaling that it was time to take the penalty,

Quaresma began his run-up. His eyes remained locked on the ball, never once glancing at the goalkeeper.

Poland's keeper, tense with concentration, watched Quaresma's approach carefully, trying to anticipate which foot he would use to strike the ball.

Left foot!

The keeper finally made his decision and dived quickly toward the bottom right corner of the goal.

But when he landed, he was shocked to realize that the ball hadn't gone in that direction.

Instead, it was headed straight for the middle of the goal—the exact spot where he had been standing moments before.

All that time spent reading Quaresma's intentions had led to nothing.

Quaresma had never intended to aim for the corners in the first place.

"I don't know whether to call this kid brave or reckless. If he'd missed that, his career could have been over!"

In the stands, José Mourinho clapped while shaking his head in disbelief.

During their time together at Inter Milan, Quaresma had caused Mourinho plenty of headaches.

But now, seeing Quaresma complete his redemption, Mourinho couldn't help but feel happy for him.

(End of the Chapter)

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