Rio de Janeiro gradually came to life in the early morning, quickly getting swept up in the World Cup frenzy.
The Maracanã Stadium, as the final venue, was already surrounded by a large number of fans.
Although the match was scheduled for the afternoon, they were still enjoying themselves.
In the prelude to the World Cup final, many famous retired football stars also appeared at the stadium near this sports venue. They either participated in events or played exhibition matches with fans, all working to build excitement for the final.
Among these stars were players from Brazil such as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, and Cafu.
At the same time, many Italian stars, such as Maradona, Totti, and Inzaghi, also arrived.
Some of them were invited by FIFA, while others came voluntarily.
On the side of a stadium, Maradona and Cafu were also chatting and laughing.
Old friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time naturally had a lot to say.
"It's a pity we couldn't qualify for the World Cup final. When we met Croatia in the quarter-finals, I had this premonition," Cafu said, shaking his head with a look of regret.
For Brazilian fans, that match was not entirely unacceptable, but it was still difficult to look back on.
As the host and a representative team of South American football, they were heavily suppressed by Croatia.
After that match, some dissenting voices emerged within Brazil. For example, many Brazilian legends stated that they should learn from Pelé and re-adopt Brazilian-style tactics, rather than blindly applying European tactics.
But progress was not very optimistic!
"Croatia in this World Cup is really strong!"
Maldini also nodded. After watching Croatia's matches, no one would disagree with this judgment.
"But Germany should not be underestimated either!"
"Of course!"
Maldini said with a smile, "This is what a final should be!"
On the other side, in front of the camera, Germany legend Ballack said seriously:
"This Germany National Team is undoubtedly the strongest team in recent times. I believe they can deliver the performance they are capable of, and they will win!"
Ballack was originally supposed to participate in the World Cup as an Assistant Coach for the National Team, but he ultimately decided to give up this opportunity.
The reason was simple: he left the National Team because he had conflicts with several players on the team.
Although his direct conflict was with Podolski, he knew that there were instructions and support from others behind it.
Therefore, serving as an Assistant Coach was ultimately very awkward for him, so it was better not to go.
At the same time, looking at Germany's performance in the World Cup, he felt extremely melancholic.
This World Cup, Germany truly looked like champions.
Compared to his era, Germany had more skilled midfielders, a more stable defensive line, and a strong enough attacking force.
Ballack felt as if he was born at the wrong time!
If he had this kind of setup during his peak, he wouldn't have ended up with the reputation of being a perennial runner-up.
But that was just a thought!
Different eras have different missions. Perhaps he was the foreshadowing for the emergence of this Germany team.
Regardless, as long as Germany could win the World Cup, he would be very happy.
Of course, the unwillingness in his heart was also just as strong.
The entire exterior of the venue was bustling, with media reporters, celebrity players, and beautiful models gathered together, coupled with a large number of fans creating the atmosphere, making the final atmosphere incredibly enthusiastic.
And in two hotels in Rio de Janeiro, as the two teams in the final, Croatia and Germany also completed their final preparations.
"Everyone pack your bags, we are ready to go. Don't forget, this is the World Cup final!"
Bešić looked at his players, his expression serious.
Since yesterday, he had been constantly reminding them, "World Cup final."
He did not want to see the players too relaxed, as this kind of opportunity might not come again.
He had to be aware; he had to have the awareness that this might be the last chance in his life.
Of course, the Croatian players could not relax either. They awaited this moment more eagerly than anyone else, and therefore could not harbor any other emotions, their minds entirely focused on the match.
The situation with Germany was much the same.
They also waited for this day with a mixture of tension and anticipation.
The World Cup final!
The highest honor in football!
After layers of selection from all over the world, 32 teams were finally chosen to participate in the World Cup, and only two of them could play in the final!
The winner would stand on the podium of honor and lift the World Cup trophy!
This was an opportunity many players dreamed of, and they naturally looked forward to it immensely.
There was no noise; everything proceeded calmly.
Inside the bus heading from the hotel to the stadium, it was incredibly quiet.
Only the sound of the car tires pressing against the asphalt road was clearly audible. Most of the players were closing their eyes and resting, and the overall atmosphere was both quiet and oppressive.
It was like the calm before a storm, with a muffled thunder brewing within this tranquility.
"We've arrived!"
Bešić's voice rang out, and the Croatian players opened their eyes one by one.
Their eyes seemed to carry a sharp edge, and everyone's gaze was both fierce and resolute.
Having reached this point, there was no reason to retreat, and no option to give up.
They could only move forward without hesitation!
Stepping off the bus, both sides were surrounded by Croatian fans.
The moment they got off the bus, a muffled thunder seemed to explode in the sky.
"Victory belongs to Croatia!!!!"
Violent cheers resounded through the sky, like a sudden clap of thunder.
These fans had fervent expressions, their voices somewhat hoarse from shouting. They clapped their hands continuously, constantly cheering for the players.
It was as if they wanted to transmit every last bit of their strength.
They knew that these young men in front of them might very well create new history for Croatian football.
One by one, the Croatian players stepped off the bus and entered the venue amidst the cheers.
Suker was one of them.
The moment they entered the venue, the cheers gradually faded, becoming less intense.
At this moment, Suker couldn't help but let out a breath.
He tightly clasped his hands. Even with the biggest heart, a tense atmosphere couldn't help but rise at this moment.
Suker felt his hands tingling, and only by rubbing and massaging them could he find some relief.
"Nervous?"
Modrić leaned over and teased him.
It was the first time he had seen Suker like this. Logically, this guy was incredibly carefree; he was the type who slept well and ate well even before the Champions League final.
But upon reaching the stage of the World Cup final, this guy was also nervous.
"Take care of yourself!"
Suker turned his head and said.
Modrić smiled. He slightly adjusted his breathing, his own damn heart also pounding incessantly, as if it was about to jump out of his throat.
Everyone else had similar symptoms!
After all, reaching the stage of the World Cup final, this concerned their efforts of four whole years, and even determined the height of their professional careers. How could they not be nervous?
It could be said that the victory or defeat of this match would have a decisive and different impact on their place in football history.
On the other side, Germany also arrived at the stadium.
Their situation was the same as Croatia's; everyone remained silent, and Löw repeatedly reminded them, "This is the World Cup!"
Muller, who was usually very lively, also became very quiet and well-behaved at this time. Clearly, at this moment, even the joker couldn't withstand this immense pressure.
The pre-match preparations were the most tense!
Although the soundproofing of the locker room was very good, they could still hear the stadium DJ's voice and the music being played. Moreover, after a large number of fans entered, the intense waves of sound penetrated through various gaps into their ears.
As the cheers gradually changed from sparse to deafening, everyone's heart was pounding violently.
Clap, clap, clap, clap!!
Bešić clapped his hands forcefully, boosting morale: "Alright! It's time for us to go out and warm up!"
At this moment, the players suddenly stood up, their expressions incredibly resolute. They knew that the moment of the decisive battle had truly arrived.
"The upcoming match in the World Cup 2014 final, with Croatia facing the strong Germany team!"
In the broadcast booth, Skeletip served as the host, warming up the atmosphere before the match.
And next to him was a familiar face, former Croatia head coach Bilić, serving as the guest for this match.
As for the main commentator Krauchivich, he would provide live commentary for the fans from the front line, meaning the Maracanã Stadium, once the match began.
"This is our first time reaching the World Cup final, which is an unfamiliar yet tense moment for us. How do we overcome this emotion?"
Skeletip naturally asked Bilić.
Bilić exhaled and said, "There's no need to deliberately suppress this emotion. Tension is part of the game. This emotion can quickly get players into game mode, and how to use it becomes crucial!"
"However, our players are very good at this. Most of them have experience in top-level competitions, and we even have the support of several Champions League winners. They can help other players digest this emotion!"
Skeletip nodded and continued, "Germany, as a traditional European powerhouse, has twice won the World Cup. Facing such a strong opponent, what do you think we should do to prepare?"
"I believe we only need to adjust our mindset. Germany's last World Cup title dates back to 1990, which was more than twenty years ago, when it was still West Germany. So we don't need to fear anything. In recent confrontations, Germany hasn't won a single match against us. They should be the ones who are nervous!"
Bilić's voice was strong and powerful!
"Secondly, in the final, we also have many advantages. For example, in terms of stability, we are more stable, and we also have Suker as an explosive point. So we can fully expect the players to perform well and enjoy the game, instead of worrying about useless things!"
Bilić's words were comforting to hear. Although they knew he was avoiding the main issues, they were still willing to listen.
However, they also understood that this Germany was different from before.
This would undoubtedly be an intense match, allowing for no carelessness.
Bilić's explanation continued: "I believe we cannot adopt an overly conservative tactic; instead, we must actively confront Germany!"
"Germany's tactics show that constant retreat will only put us in a disadvantageous position, whether in terms of rhythm or other aspects. Therefore, I believe we should confront them. If Germany doesn't let us play comfortably, then we won't let them play comfortably either, and we are quite good at these things!"
"So… I think this match will immediately pick up pace after the probing phase ends!"
It must be said that after gaining experience at the grassroots level, Bilić's professional ability had improved significantly.
He was no longer the boastful amateur he used to be, always prioritizing conservative tactics. He could now read the game and predict its development.
"So, do you think we will attack first?"
"No!" Bilić shook his head and said, "Confrontation and attack are not the same thing. Counter-attacking is also a way of responding, and it's also full of confrontation. What I've always emphasized is proactivity; we must never lose the initiative!"
Bilić said solemnly, "In World Cup matches, many things are full of variables, especially in the initial stages of the game, where both teams slowly integrate into the match in different ways. In this process, any successful dribble, tackle, or shot can boost morale, which can accelerate the integration into the game!"
"This is also what I consider essential: controlling the initiative means who gets into form first. Of course, this is just my personal opinion!"
Skeletip pressed his headphones and suddenly began to speak: "Yes! We also look forward to the brilliant performance of the lads. The stadium has now entered the warm-up phase, and we're handing over the broadcast to our old friend Krauchivich!"
The camera switched, and what filled their ears were intense cheers and chants.
These sounds intertwined, deafening them.
And amidst these sounds, Krauchivich was practically shouting at the top of his lungs:
"This is the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro! This stadium, which can accommodate 200,000 people, is already packed to the brim, and the atmosphere in the entire stadium is like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment!"
The camera panned across the frenzied stands.
Dense crowds could be seen, jumping like a giant pulsating wall.
They raised their arms like a forest!
Accompanied by shouts echoing throughout the stadium.
The camera began to focus on the players warming up on the field.
After all, it was a final, so almost all important players had to be covered.
However, the most attention was undoubtedly on Suker, and only on Suker did the camera give the most close-ups and spend the longest time.
Even during several camera transitions, it quickly returned to Suker.
And whenever Suker's image appeared on the big screen, the entire stadium erupted in a mix of cheers and boos.
Germany fans were booing Suker, while Croatian fans desperately tried to drown out that sound, wanting Suker to hear more supportive voices.
In the camera, Suker looked the same as always.
The only difference was that his eyes were sharper and fiercer, and he would occasionally take a deep breath. These details indicated that Suker's emotions were also not entirely calm.
Of course, it would be problematic if he were calm facing a final; this was a very normal emotional reaction.
Suker was handling it quite well; there were others who were doing worse.
For example, youngsters like Kovacic and Brozović were a bit too nervous.
"Sorry! Sorry!"
Kovacic mispassed the ball and immediately apologized.
On the other side, Brozović also looked nervous, constantly licking his dry lips, and even his movements were stiff.
Srna saw all this and couldn't help but sigh slightly:
"They're not up to it!"
Suker grinned.
Srna exhaled and said, "After all, it's their first time participating in the World Cup, and they've gone straight to the final. It's understandable that they're nervous, and their chances of playing in this match aren't high!"
Unless the veteran players couldn't continue, or the match went into extra time, they might have a chance to play.
But according to Croatia's tactics, they intended to finish the match within 90 minutes.
The longer the match dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for them.
After all, in terms of bench depth, they still had a certain gap with Germany.
"Once the probing phase ends, I'm going to start applying pressure. Pay close attention to my position!"
Suker said to Srna.
Srna said with some concern, "Isn't that too early? In a 90-minute match, bursting too early can lead to stamina problems!"
Suker smiled and patted Srna's shoulder, saying, "I think you've forgotten my nickname: I can't be run to death!"
Seeing Suker's confident appearance, Srna also found some psychological comfort.
For Croatia, Suker's tactical importance was undeniable.
As long as Suker played strongly, they believed any situation could be overcome and they would emerge victorious.
Soon, the warm-up session ended.
At this moment, the match atmosphere became incredibly heavy, as if the air itself carried a sense of oppression.
Inside Croatia's locker room, Bešić stood in the middle, and the rest of the players sat on the benches.
The tactics had been emphasized, the starting lineup had been set, and all counter-measures had been completed. Now, all that remained was to wait for the match to begin.
Looking at the players before him, their faces were both familiar and unfamiliar.
These were the talented players he had scouted from all over the world, who had grown step by step, stood on the stage of top-level competitions, and were now gathered for the World Cup final.
As the coach who discovered them, Bešić was naturally proud.
But at the same time, he also felt immense pressure.
Sometimes, he wondered if he was worthy of these gifted players.
Conflicting thoughts flashed through his mind, but he quickly cleared them away.
Bešić took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:
"I'll emphasize one last time: this is the World Cup final. We must have the realization that if we miss this chance, there might not be another!"
"Therefore, I hope you all deliver your best performance and your best form in this match. I believe you can overcome the pressure, just as you usually do."
Bešić's eyes were shining as he said, "I believe in you, because you are the children I personally selected from all over the world. No one trusts your abilities more than I do!"
Bešić pointed to the locker room door.
"Go! Go win the match! And then embrace the cheers that belong to you!"