The All-Around Center Forward

"Don't let Suker get the ball, cut off their passing lanes!"

Montolivo roared.

He actively began to expand his defensive range, but Modrić and Rakitić were also on the move, using their dribbling to create passing space, still able to complete through balls.

And when they pulled away, they could also use precise passing techniques to deliver fast and accurate low-driven balls.

They couldn't cut it off at all!

"Tuck in!"

Montolivo roared!

"Don't tuck in!"

Pirlo shouted from behind in a hurry.

When Montolivo turned his head, he saw Suker starting to drift to both sides.

Once they tucked in, the space on both sides would widen.

Suker's receiving and running space would become even larger.

"Damn it!"

Montolivo gritted his teeth tightly.

"Fall back!" Pirlo shouted.

Upon hearing this, De Rossi and Marchisio had no choice but to fall back.

They needed to build a three-man defensive chain in front of the backline.

But as soon as the two fell back, Modrić and Rakitić exchanged glances.

Modrić: "Push forward!"

Soon, Croatia as a whole began to press forward, forming an encirclement around Italy's backline.

At the same time, the two full-backs began to frequently push forward.

Srna and Strinić made full use of the width on both wings after Italy's defense had tucked in.

And after they attracted the defense and widened the defensive distance, they would immediately pass back, and Rakitić or Modrić would then pass the ball directly to Suker.

Suker received the ball and turned, constantly drilling forward like a drill.

Go on, foul him if you dare!

Beep!

The whistle blew, and Croatia was awarded a free-kick near the edge of the penalty area.

Pirlo had no choice but to directly tackle Suker to the ground.

Suker patted his butt and got up.

Pirlo's expression was solemn.

"This is so difficult to play!"

Nesta frowned and said, "Croatia has utilized all three attacking lines!"

"We can't stop Suker, so we tried to cut off the passes, but Modrić and Rakitić's passing abilities are top-notch, we can't stop them at all. After tucking in, the wings are widened, and Suker has a larger range of activity, so we can't tuck in, we can only fall back!"

Maldini rubbed his temples: "And when we fall back, Croatia directly presses forward, the full-backs start overlapping, and the result is obvious!"

"If we stay deep and don't come out, they will constantly loft high balls into the penalty area, letting Croatia's two forwards contend for headers, and Suker can also apply appropriate pressure!"

"And when we have to close down to block both wings, the defensive distance will be pulled open, and they will use Modrić and Rakitić, these two passing hubs, to constantly pass the ball to Suker. Suker will desperately drill forward; if he drills through, it's a goal, if he can't, he can force us into a foul, getting a free-kick or a penalty!"

Maldini sighed: "We are completely suppressed!"

Gattuso said with a headache: "So, Suker in the attacking midfield position is simply impossible to deal with!"

Croatia played around Suker as the focal point.

Italy knew this!

But they had no choice!

What could they do if they couldn't contain him!

Rely on Pirlo alone to contain Suker?

De Rossi and Marchisio fell back, but if they took even one step towards Suker, Modrić and Rakitić would exert pressure.

Rigorous tactics, layered arrangements!

This was Croatia's suffocating pressure!

Germany was also watching this match, seeing Italy being pushed into their own penalty area by Croatia, Schweinsteiger couldn't help but shake his head and say, "Italy made the same mistake as us, they were confident that their chain defense could contain Suker, but they forgot, that was Suker before 2009, today's Suker is much stronger than he was then!"

"This kind of pressure, no matter how you look at it, feels suffocating!" Lahm couldn't help but let out a breath.

This reminded him of the group stage, when he was blown past on the wing by Suker.

Löw also watched the match with a solemn face.

Croatia still had such tactics?

He hadn't expected this!

Suker's threat in the attacking midfield position also needed to be considered.

However, next time they wouldn't be so lax; they would thoroughly lock down Suker.

This wouldn't cause the tide of the battle to turn just because of Suker alone.

"Croatia's firepower is too fierce!"

Italian commentator Aldo said nervously.

Under her gaze, Croatia had already surrounded Italy's penalty area.

Suker was desperately drilling!

De Rossi tucked in to follow up the defense, Rakitić directly pushed forward, choosing to shoot from distance or loft a pass into the penalty area from the half-space.

Marchisio tucked in to follow up, and Modrić would do the same.

"Damn turtle shell! Why is it so hard!"

Suker shot several times, but just couldn't break through.

Layer upon layer of turtle shell, constantly interfering with him, constantly pressing him, simply impenetrable.

At this moment, Mandžukić leaned over and whispered:

"Shall we link up?"

Suker turned his head: "How do we link up?"

Mandžukić: "When we charge later, charge towards me, I'll clear the way for you!"

Suker thought for a moment, then nodded: "Let's give it a try!"

The two immediately hit it off.

The ball was still under Croatia's control; they had been continuously bombarding Italy's defense for a full 30 minutes.

As expected of Italy's famous steel defense, it was too difficult to break through.

Even Suker felt it was a bit much!

Watching Suker fall back, Pirlo's eyelids twitched.

He actively moved closer to Suker and whispered in Italian: "Can't you rest for a bit?"

"Is it you who wants to rest?"

Pirlo: "If I keep running, I'm going to throw up!"

Suker suddenly stomped his foot, and Pirlo, startled, slipped and fell in a truly embarrassing manner.

"You motherf*cker!"

Pirlo gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath.

Suker smiled happily.

That's what you get for showing off!

After leaving Milan, Pirlo became increasingly concerned about his image.

Before, he and Pirlo were known as Milan's two biggest troublemakers.

But now, Pirlo has grown a beard, and he actively cultivates a public image; the scoundrel who used to make Gattuso run all over the place now wants to create the image of a gentle and refined noble.

A noble?

Suker, who knew Pirlo's dark past, didn't think so.

Just a few of the files on his computer, if they were ever made public, Pirlo's image would plummet.

"Has Filippo changed girlfriends again?"

"How would I know!"

"What happened between you and Milan back then?"

"I don't want to talk about it!"

"Have you had dinner yet?"

"You f*cking shut up!"

"You were the one who started talking to me!" Suker shrugged: "Didn't you say you wanted to rest for a while?"

Pirlo's eyelids twitched; he shouldn't have opened his mouth to this guy.

Whoosh!

His vision blurred.

Pirlo saw Suker suddenly dash to the left.

"Damn it!"

Pirlo couldn't help but curse, immediately chasing after him.

Suker, meanwhile, received a pass from Rakitić. He slightly turned his head, seeing Pirlo following with his peripheral vision.

He couldn't directly drill into the penalty area, so he stepped on the ball with his right foot, suddenly leaned back, blocking Pirlo, separating him from the ball, and at the same time, pulled the ball with his left foot to turn in the opposite direction.

"Marseille Turn!"

Krauhić suddenly stood up and shouted loudly; "Suker has charge into the penalty area!"

Suker rushed towards the goal, and just as everyone was closing in, Suker actually poked the ball with his toe to Mandžukić, who was in front, holding off Bonucci with his back to goal.

Suker's momentum did not decrease; he continued to push forward.

At this moment, the Italian players' minds suddenly conjured 'wall pass'.

They almost simultaneously fell back, then immediately followed Suker again.

But when they started, they realized the ball hadn't been passed.

Even Suker was momentarily stunned.

He saw that after Mandžukić trapped the ball, he didn't pass at all, but paused for a moment after receiving it. Once Suker had drawn the defensive attention away, he directly turned and shot!

Mandžukić's decision was too surprising.

No one expected it, including Suker.

But the ball was kicked into the bottom left corner of the goal just like that.

"Oh!!! Mario Mandžukić!! Goal!!!!!—"

"In the 38th minute, Italy's defense finally couldn't hold on, Mandžukić helped Croatia open the scoring and got the goal!"

"Suker's pass and forward run drew away most of the defenders, which allowed Mandžukić to turn and shoot calmly!"

"A wonderful pass and move combination!"

Mandžukić ran towards the corner flag, excitedly raising his arms in celebration.

The Croatian fans in the stands also erupted in a frenzy.

They cheered and shouted for this crucial goal.

As Mandžukić celebrated, Suker also suddenly jumped onto Mandžukić's back.

"Well done!"

Even though it wasn't his own goal.

But after scoring, the situation would become much easier.

Mandžukić's expression was a bit awkward.

He wasn't embarrassed that he didn't pass to Suker.

But that he couldn't pass to Suker!

When he intended to pass, Bonucci stepped on the heel of his non-supporting foot, preventing him from making the pass.

But by a twist of fate, it instead delayed and created his own shooting opportunity.

"Stepped on the heel by someone?"

"You lucky guy!"

Suker hooked Mandžukić by the neck, while Modrić rubbed Mandžukić's head.

The latter enjoyed it immensely!

For him, every goal in the European Cup was precious.

He wasn't like Suker, who possessed extraordinary individual ability and, relying on that ability, had unlimited shooting rights within the team.

More often than not, he would pass or set up the ball for Suker.

This accidental goal had already made him very happy.

Croatia scoring first made Italy somewhat anxious.

This was not how they had envisioned it.

Most crucially, they absolutely could not let Croatia score first.

Once that happened, it meant their defense would be repeatedly hammered.

"Lump it forward! Cross it! You can't defend, what's the use?!"

Balotelli roared.

Suker turned his head to look, then looked at the Italian midfielders and defenders with grim faces.

This guy's brain really wasn't working!

Complaining and putting pressure on teammates at this point, completely clueless about the situation.

And Buffon and Pirlo's temperaments were too good; they could tolerate this. If it were him, he would have slapped them already.

Italy was playing very stifled.

Although they decided to play defensive counter-attack, they were almost entirely on the defensive for the entire first half, with hardly any counter-attacks.

And in the limited counter-attacks, they failed to create any dangerous attacks.

This was a huge blow to Italy.

Italy now urgently needed to adjust their state and change their tactics.

Suker, this Sword of Damocles, was almost tearing them apart.

"Pull back! No more attacking!"

Bešić gave the command.

For the remainder of the time, there was no need to continue attacking; instead, the focus would be on ball possession.

Upon hearing Bešić's command, Croatia's style also changed.

Suker dropped back, further tightening his connection with Rakitić and Modrić, with the three of them controlling the midfield together.

Italy wanted to seek attacks after pressing, but on one hand, they were wary of Croatia's counter-attack, and on the other hand, they felt it was better to steadily enter halftime, and then exert effort in the second half after adjustments.

Just like that, both sides seemed to reach a tacit understanding, the pace of the game slowed down, and the match was no longer as intense.

Soon, the first half ended.

Croatia led Italy 1-0!

"Our defense can't stop them at all! Pass it forward! Pass it forward, and we'll have a chance."

Balotelli roared angrily in the locker room.

Throughout the first half, he didn't even have a single proper shooting opportunity.

He played so stifled, constantly suppressed.

"If there's a chance to release the ball, we will!" Pirlo; "It's just that there's no chance!"

De Rossi: "Suker's threat up front is too great. He's dangerous when he runs forward, can control the ball in place, and even organize attacks. Plus, Marchisio and I can't get close, and Rakitić and Modrić are also marking us!"

Marchisio suggested; "Let's give Pirlo a bodyguard! Just like Gattuso used to be!"

But then the problem arose again.

Who would be the bodyguard?

Who had the confidence to do this job well?

Who could limit Suker?

No one wanted to shoulder this terrible task!

Seeing everyone silent, De Rossi gritted his teeth and volunteered: "I'll do it! I'll limit Suker, I'll be Andre's bodyguard!"

Everyone looked at De Rossi.

This was a thankless job.

If he defended well, it would only be taken for granted, and the attack might not even progress.

If he defended poorly, Italy would collapse immediately!

De Rossi also had no choice!

Someone had to take on this job, and he wouldn't trust it to anyone else.

"Italy will definitely play with a double pivot in the second half! De Rossi will drop back to be Pirlo's bodyguard!"

Van Stoyak said urgently.

Bešić looked at Van Stoyak: "But Italy wants to utilize De Rossi's attacking ability, they don't have other better options!"

Van Stoyak; "But their more urgent priority is to activate Pirlo."

"The first half has already proven that without Pirlo, Italy's counter-attack simply cannot materialize. Even if the ball is barely kicked into our half, they cannot launch a threatening counter-attack!"

"They need Pirlo's passing, so they must add a bodyguard for Pirlo, just like the old Gattuso + Pirlo combination!"

"They cannot let Suker continue to pressure Pirlo!"

Looking at the anxious Van Stoyak, Bešić pondered for a moment, then reached out and patted his shoulder.

"You've convinced me, but I still won't make any adjustments or substitutions at halftime. Our substitution node will be at least 55 minutes!"

Van Stoyak breathed a sigh of relief: "Do you have a countermeasure?"

Bešić looked at Van Stoyak; "No!"

The other party was stunned.

Bešić smiled; "However, since you brought this up, you obviously have a countermeasure, right?"

Van Stoyak finally smiled, he clenched his fist, and said excitedly; "Using our most skilled method, tear them apart!"

"What about Suker?"

"Let him play left winger! Not left midfielder, but left winger. We need his speed and explosiveness!"

"What about the right side?"

"Rakitić and Perisic are enough, and if not, there's Srna!"

Van Stoyak said seriously: "The most crucial thing is not to let Suker continue to play as an attacking midfielder, not to be continuously trapped, intercepted, and pressed by their double pivot and defense!"

"Utilize Suker's breakthroughs on the wing, utilize Mandžukić's headers, let Rakitić wait for opportunities near the edge of the penalty area, let Perisic look for opportunities at the far post, raise Modrić's position, and let our formation further press them!"

Bešić couldn't help but say; "What an extreme attack!"

Van Stoyak; "To secure a definite victory, we must play a bit more extremely. If not, we won't be able to break Italy's defensive chain!"

Bešić nodded: "I understand!"

In the second half, both sides switched ends.

When they looked at Italy's formation, they were stunned.

"Christmas Tree?"

Van Stoyak couldn't help but exclaim.

Since that batch of Milan players disbanded, the once popular Christmas Tree Formation was almost never seen.

Occasionally, it would still appear in lower Leagues, but it was completely absent in higher Leagues.

Mainly because the Christmas Tree Formation was too demanding on the midfield!

Where could you find players to gather four number 10s!

Let alone four world-class number 10s!

The reason Ancelotti brought out the Christmas Tree Formation again back then was because Suker, Kaka, Pirlo, and Seedorf, these four all had extremely strong control over the game.

Plus Suker and Kaka's frantic running, to a certain extent, covered up the Christmas Tree's problem of being strong in attack and weak in defense.

But in Ancelotti's later period, he also abandoned this somewhat lackluster formation and turned to a normal formation.

But unexpectedly, Italy's coach Prandelli suddenly pulled out this formation in the European Cup semi-finals.

This gave the fans present a feeling of reliving a classic!

But that was all.

The question is, can this Italian team play out the power of the Christmas Tree Formation?

Cassano, Marchisio, Montolivo, Pirlo!

This could be considered a makeshift, low-spec version of the four great number 10s!

With these four, they just looked weak!

The Milan of back then, Suker, Kaka, Seedorf, these three were all number 10s with explosive individual ability, giving a solid sense of security.

But these guys… can you guarantee they won't lose the ball?

Suker was also dumbfounded!

Prandelli must be crazy, right?

Does he really think the Christmas Tree Formation is that easy to use?

These few guys simply can't support it!

Moreover, besides the four number 10s, the Christmas Tree Formation, to put it plainly, requires a super strong defense!

Back then, everyone thought the four number 10s were amazing because they received more attention.

But few understood the truly amazing defense!

In a situation with absolutely no support, relying solely on the defense to repel the opponent's attack.

This itself is a formation strong in attack and weak in defense!

If the defense plays like trash, how can you play offense?

Cafu, Nesta, Stam, Maldini!

The truly amazing part of Milan's Christmas Tree Formation back then was this defense!

The later transition to other formations was also because the defense grew old and couldn't run anymore.

Suker shook his head and sighed; "Italy is waiting for disaster!"