The All-Around Center Forward

"Holy crap! You passed! You actually passed!"

Suker was extremely emotional, tackling Dujmović to the ground. "That was a damn beautiful pass!"

Modrić, Mandžukić, and others, at the moment they confirmed the goal, visibly became excited and thrilled.

A goal!

A goal in the 82nd minute! Only one goal left to equalize!

There's still hope!

"Awesome!! Tomi! Awesome!"

"Tomi, well done!"

"Hahaha! This is great!"

"How did you think of passing?"

"God! I thought you'd still shoot!"

"Everyone was fooled! Everyone was fooled!"

The Croatian players celebrated inside Germany's penalty area.

But Suker quickly climbed out of the crowd, rushed into the goal to retrieve the ball, and after turning, kicked Mandžukić's backside.

At the same time, Srna, who was at midfield, anxiously shouted:

"Get back for kickoff! Get back for kickoff! Stop celebrating!"

Hearing this, the Croatian players snapped out of it, quickly ending their celebration. In their excessive excitement, they had actually forgotten about it.

They rapidly retreated, with Suker personally placing the ball on the kickoff spot in the center circle.

The German players watched Croatia's swift actions and couldn't help but sigh slightly.

They could have celebrated longer!

That way, they would also be able to waste time.

But Croatia, after only a fleeting celebration, immediately reacted.

Suker's second goal brought Croatia back into the game, now only one goal away from equalizing.

"Time is running out. This is definitely our biggest crisis in recent years. Facing Germany's excellent performance, we have indeed encountered many difficulties, but..." Klausevich said with a spirited expression, "The lads haven't given up, they're still running, and there's still hope!"

Klausevich clenched his fists tightly.

His chest rose and fell, showing extreme tension.

Not only him, but the Croatian fans in the stands also became increasingly anxious.

One more goal!

Only one goal left!

"Hold them!"

"Defend to the death!"

Lahm's voice was hoarse.

At this moment, Löw on the sideline shouted, "Substitution!"

Bešić also immediately shouted, "Substitution!"

Croatia and Germany made substitutions simultaneously.

For Germany, Hummels and Khedira came off; Mertesacker and Schmelzer came on.

For Croatia, Lovren and Mandžukić came off; Ćorluka and Olić came on.

The substitutions by both sides wasted some time, but everyone knew that with these changes, both teams had used up all their substitution slots. The decisive moment was now upon them.

Germany had to hold onto the score!

Croatia, on the other hand, absolutely had to score to have a chance of dragging the game into extra time.

Moreover, for Germany, they had to strengthen their defense.

Löw clenched his fists tightly.

He could feel that Germany's defensive intensity was gradually decreasing.

There was nothing they could do; this was a problem of declining stamina.

But looking at Croatia, Suker's attacking power became even more ferocious.

There wasn't much time left, but he couldn't guarantee if they could hold on until the end of the game.

But they absolutely could not let Croatia score again.

The longer the match dragged on, the more unfavorable it would be for Germany.

On the field, the game restarted.

Bang!

As soon as Suker touched the ball, he was met with intense resistance from Schweinsteiger.

Suker held off Schweinsteiger while looking for an opportunity to break through.

"Don't think about getting past!"

Schweinsteiger was practically trying to hug Suker.

No way!

His stamina was almost at its limit, but even so, he would stop Suker, even if it meant fouling him.

He couldn't let Suker break through, and he couldn't let Suker score.

Suker used the instep of his foot to pass the ball horizontally to Modrić.

Modrić received the ball and immediately transferred it to the other side.

As soon as Rakitić received the ball, his knees suddenly buckled.

"Damn it!"

Rakitić quickly stopped himself.

His calves ached, and his chest felt a burning, painful sensation.

With every breath, his chest was on fire.

Fortunately, Boateng didn't charge forward, apparently, he was also exhausted.

Boateng was breathing heavily.

He was also utterly exhausted.

If he had even a little strength left, he would have still rushed to press Rakitić when his legs buckled.

But now, he couldn't!

On one hand, it was a stamina issue.

On the other hand, it was about playing it safe; he couldn't allow any unexpected situations. If he pressed, his fatigued body might be bypassed by Rakitić, which would be disastrous.

Boateng shook his head vigorously.

His eyes were starting to glaze over!

His concentration was also slipping!

Focus!

Bang!

At this point, Rakitić didn't try to break through but directly chipped the ball with his left foot into the penalty area.

"Olić!"

Olić leaped up fiercely.

But he was sandwiched by Hummels and Badstuber and couldn't touch the ball.

Badstuber headed the ball out of the penalty area.

Modrić moved forward to receive the ball and passed it, all in one smooth motion.

Suker, after receiving the ball on the left wing, immediately dribbled forward.

"I'll take him!"

"I'll take him too!"

Lahm and Schweinsteiger closed in from both sides, and Suker accelerated again.

Seeing this, both of them suddenly slid tackled.

From both the left and right sides, they simultaneously slid tackled. Suker, due to his momentum, couldn't stop suddenly and was directly tripped by the two of them, falling forward and even doing a somersault.

"Are these two playing 'century dual tackle'?"

Suker couldn't help but complain.

He propped himself up on his knees, but faintly heard a retching sound.

Suker turned his head and saw that Schweinsteiger's face was pale.

White people's skin is naturally fair, but because of that, it usually appears more rosy.

But the problem was, at this moment, Schweinsteiger's face was ashen, which was a sign of his stamina reaching its limit.

Throughout the entire match, Schweinsteiger's duties were incredibly demanding.

He had to participate in the attack and constantly ensure he tracked back to limit Suker.

Moreover, in Germany's fast-paced, high-pressure game, it further drained the stamina of midfield players.

It was already very difficult for him to last until now, not to mention that Germany only had two substitution slots left. They had to ensure the defense while also considering potential extra time issues.

That's right!

Neither Löw nor Bešić disrupted the team's overall balance with their substitutions.

Germany simply had an extra defender, Schmelzer, but they could also pull a player from the defensive line to play in midfield.

This was also Germany's plan to prevent any surprises.

Time had already entered the 89th minute.

Croatia had a free kick in the attacking third.

Suker naturally had to take this free kick.

Germany was also on high alert at this moment. They had held on until now and could not afford to lose the chance of victory here.

Suker also took deep breaths under the gaze of the entire stadium.

Suker's gaze was fixed on Germany's goal as he slowly walked back to take his run-up.

Suker's figure was projected on the stadium's big screen.

At this moment, all of Europe's eyes were focused on Suker.

Whoosh!!

Suker let out a short, forceful breath, then immediately started his run-up.

"Suker's run-up! The shot!"

Klausevich suddenly stood up, craning his neck to watch.

He watched the ball arc, fly towards the goal, and then narrowly skim the crossbar and fly out.

Ah~~~~~~~~~!!!

Klausevich clutched his head and shouted regretfully, "Just a little bit off!"

The Croatian fans, however, were startled.

That free kick was too dangerous.

Suker also shook his head and continued to retreat.

"There's still time, keep pressing!"

Suker shouted!

Soon, the game entered injury time.

The fourth official held up the board: five minutes of injury time!

With these five minutes, Croatia's offense became even more intense.

Conversely, Germany stubbornly held their fortress, absolutely refusing to let Croatian players break into the penalty area.

Suker and Rakitić were frantically breaking through on both the left and right sides.

Dujmović was also constantly attempting long-range shots!

Olić was also engaging in physical battles inside the penalty area!

The game was incredibly intense!

Croatia's entire formation was also actively pressing forward, with defenders already stepping into the opponent's half, and Goalkeeper Subašić also running out of the penalty area to expand his defensive range.

At this moment, everyone was anxiously looking into Germany's penalty area.

It had become a fierce battlefield.

Pushing and shoving.

Dull thuds emanated from the intense physical confrontations; every scramble was a clash driven by conviction, with no one holding back.

Sweat was splashing everywhere.

90+4 minutes.

Beep!!

A sharp whistle sounded, and the Referee pointed to Germany's left half, signaling a free kick.

Croatia has another set piece, this might be their last set piece of the match, or even their last attack!

On screen, Goalkeeper Subašić vigorously waved his hands!

"Go up! Go up! Everyone go up!"

Subašić took the set piece, while all other Croatian players pushed forward for a header.

Suker was still constantly looking left and right.

Mertesacker and Schweinsteiger almost surrounded him, making him unable to move.

Just as Subašić was about to kick, Suker suddenly lunged forward.

Mertesacker held his ground.

But this lunge made Schweinsteiger run a few steps forward, and Suker actually turned and broke free.

Coincidentally, Subašić's pass flew right to his head.

"Suker!!!!!!!—"

Klausevich almost used all his strength to roar.

The Croatian fans in the stadium fell silent in tension.

Bang!!!!—

A dull thud echoed in the massive Kyiv Olympic Stadium.

The Germans' pupils slightly contracted as they watched the ball fly towards their goal.

The Croatians slowly stood up, watching the header.

Swish!

The ball went into the right side of the goal, hitting the net.

The stadium was quiet, Suker and other Croatian players didn't celebrate, and the Croatian fans didn't cheer.

Their eyes were all fixed on the Referee!

The Referee's expression was also clearly a mix of surprise and shock.

But the next second, he mumbled a few words, covering his ears, then took a deep breath, sharply turned, and pointed to the center circle!

Goal valid!

"Goal!!!!!!!!!!—"

Klausevich suddenly stood up, his face flushed with excitement, roaring into the microphone:

"An equalizer in stoppage time! Suker! It's Suker again! We can always trust Suker!"

"A hat-trick + equalizer, Suker helped Croatia turn the tide three times with three goals, and earned us a chance for extra time!"

"Oh my God! I can hardly believe it!"

"Suker! Croatia!" Klausevich clenched his fists tightly; "This is football! This is football! How can you not love football like this!"

"Facing the final moments, Suker didn't give up. He scored a magnificent header, successfully sending the game into extra time!"

"We still have a chance! We still have a chance!"

The moment the whistle blew, Suker spread his arms and lay directly on the ground.

He was panting heavily; although he hadn't reached his limit like some others, the intense confrontation and breakthrough in the final stages had indeed taken a toll on Suker, and now he could finally catch his breath.

Bang!!

Modrić rushed over and pressed down hard on Suker.

Soon, the others also rushed towards Suker, their faces filled with concern.

Not just them, but even the substitutes on the sidelines were cheering with raised arms.

Van Stoyak knelt on the ground, roaring excitedly.

He was hysterically shouting, releasing all that damned pent-up frustration.

Bešić stood quietly to the side, but his fists were tightly clenched and trembling violently.

Bešić looked at the pitch.

He looked at his disciples piled together, celebrating wildly.

They had just completed a miraculous comeback.

How could he not be proud, looking at these kids!

He had discovered and nurtured them all himself!

Whew~~~~~~

Bešić slowly exhaled, suppressing his excited emotions, and patted Van Stoyak on the shoulder:

"We need to prepare our tactics for extra time. This time, we can't let the Germans get away with it again."

Van Stoyak also nodded vigorously.

Croatia, Zagreb, Ilica Street.

This area is home to numerous shopping malls and supermarkets.

At the crossroads of Ban Jelačić Square, people walking under the night sky gradually slowed their pace.

They looked up at the large screen on the mall wall.

The European Cup final was being broadcast on the large screen, and Klausevich's almost despairing tone made their hearts ache.

"This is the last attack. The Croatian lads have fought until now, and they have already put in a sufficiently excellent performance. We cannot ask them to do any better."

"Whether this goal goes in or not, whatever the outcome, they are heroes in our hearts!"

The pedestrians on the street remained silent, looking up at the large screen, their eyes filled with tension.

The streetlights at the intersection lit up, and cars slowly drove, but the moment the whistle blew, they slowed down, even stopping.

The drivers also looked at the large screen.

Goalkeeper Subašić took the kick.

A beautiful arc accurately found Suker.

The ball went in!

Boom!!!!!—

Whoosh!!!!!!!!!!!!—

Clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!!————

Beep beep beep beep!

Cheers, applause, and honking intertwined.

Zagreb, which was once quiet, suddenly erupted.

Not only Zagreb, but the entire Croatia also burst into loud cheers at this moment.

Equalizer!

It's an equalizer!!!

"Holy shit!!—"

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo.

Boame suddenly stood up, his face filled with shock; "That could go in?"

Skolke, standing nearby, also exclaimed in surprise; "What kind of stamina is that!"

They were surprised by the Croatian players' stamina; under such high-intensity play, if it were Bosnia and Herzegovina, they would have collapsed long ago.

But Croatia not only persevered, but apart from a few individuals, the rest of them showed no problems with their stamina.

Especially Suker, that guy's stamina was monstrous.

"Germany is really frustrated. They were about to win, and suddenly they were equalized. This goal is too big a blow to their morale!" Skolke shook his head.

Boame: "Croatia clearly has an advantage in terms of stamina. The longer the game drags on, the more advantageous it is for Croatia."

"So it's extra time now, right?" Skolke exhaled, "I don't want to play against Croatia anymore. Germany had a two-goal lead, and they were forced to concede two goals."

"And Suker's hat-trick!" Boame grinned; "A hat-trick in the European Cup final! This guy's Ballon d'Or is secure again!"

"Is this his fifth?" Stkoke couldn't help but ask.

Boame nodded.

Skolke sighed, comparing oneself to others only leads to frustration.

Ukraine, Kyiv.

The celebration on the field was relatively long, but no one urged them.

After all, the regular time was basically over, and they were about to enter extra time.

Therefore, after Germany kicked off, they didn't pass many balls before the Referee blew the whistle for the end of regular time.

The match went into extra time!

"I'm exhausted!"

"Damn it! We almost screwed up!"

"Suker! Awesome!"

"Quick, rub my legs, I feel like I'm going to cramp!"

One by one, the Croatian players went straight to the front of the coaching bench and lay down.

At this point, they were drenched in sweat, their jerseys already soaked and sticking to their bodies.

Due to the short rest period, they would not go into the locker room but would rest directly on the sidelines.

Suker rushed over, and a physiotherapist ran towards him.

Suker waved his hand; "Don't massage me, I'm fine!"

With that, he pointed to Rakitić: "That guy's about to cramp, massage him first!"

Bešić also walked towards Rakitić and asked; "Can you still hold on?"

Rakitić grinned: "Ten minutes at most."

Bešić nodded. There was one substitution slot available in extra time.

At this moment, it could be used to replace Rakitić.

But who should replace Rakitić?

"We have to play offensively. Germany might drag us into a penalty shootout!"

Van Stoyak said.

Germany was caught up by Croatia's two consecutive goals, and then equalized in the final stages to go into extra time.

This itself was a huge blow to morale.

Moreover, Germany's condition was not good at this time; their physical exertion was greater, so expecting them to attack was impossible.

Therefore, they would likely play defensive counter-attacks, and might even drag the game into a penalty shootout.

Germany should also be aware that even though Croatia was also suffering from physical exertion, they were slightly better than Germany, and the longer the game dragged on, the weaker Germany would become.

Once they attacked proactively, they would most likely be unable to retreat.

And in this situation, Suker would take off.

Therefore, Germany would play more cautiously.