"Hoo-ha…"
After taking a deep breath, Mark stepped onto the stage of the German Cup final.
He jogged directly to the right-winger position.
With Mark, the ball-carrying explosive point, entering the game, Wolfsburg's main attacking direction also shifted to the right side.
After Gustavo completed an interception in midfield, he immediately passed the ball to Mark on the right wing.
Facing Contento, Mark's eyes were like torches, and he already had dozens of ways to get past him in his mind.
If it were Alaba or Lahm, he would still be wary.
However, Contento in front of him was definitely not his opponent!
Without any hesitation, he first feigned a shoulder drop, pretending to break through to the outside.
But he found that Contento didn't move, just continued to stare intently at the ball at his feet.
Oh, he doesn't fall for fakes?
Do you think that means I can't get past you?!
After making several probing steps to confuse Contento, Mark suddenly led the ball forward, stepped over it with his right foot, and then flicked it with the outside of his left foot, directly going past him from the left side!
"Beautiful step-over!"
Before Contento could react, Mark had already created a body-length distance.
"What's going on?!"
"No way?! Didn't the coach say he wasn't fast?!"
Indeed, Mark's absolute speed was not fast.
However, his explosive power was no longer what it once was!
After getting past Contento in one step, Mark immediately played a wall pass with De Bruyne in the middle, then dribbled the ball to the right side of the penalty area, and directly crossed it!
The ball carried a strong arc, flying precisely past Dante at the near post, and arriving in front of Olić, who was between the two center-backs.
The Croatia veteran flicked it with the flow, changing the ball's trajectory and sending it towards the goal.
It was just a pity that the shot angle was too central, and Neuer safely collected it with both hands. Although this attack did not result in a goal.
However, the Wolfsburg fans in the stands still gave a round of applause.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that as soon as Mark came on, Wolfsburg's right-wing attack came alive, full of threat!
Olić also gave Mark a thumbs-up, delivering the first 'like' of the day.
Just five minutes later, Mark came back again!
This time, facing Contento, who was on high alert, Mark first lifted his right foot and probed twice.
Seeing that his opponent remained composed, he directly dribbled forward with small steps using the inside of his foot, then feigned a shoulder drop, flicked the ball with the instep of his right foot, followed by a quick tap with the inside of his foot, and the ball, which should have gone to the right, directly swept past from the left!
"Elastico!"
"Mark once again toyed with Contento!"
After getting past Contento again, Mark advanced with the ball, and coming towards him was the grim-faced Danish youngster, Højbjerg!
Seeing this, Mark was unhurried, like an elegant dancer, he made a sudden stop, then pushed the ball with his right foot, and the ball passed precisely between Højbjerg's legs!
Højbjerg, realizing he had been nutmegged, was even more decisive than Contento, directly charging into Mark, who was about to run past him, with a shoulder barge.
You nutmegged me, and you still want to get past?!
With a "thump," Mark was not directly knocked to the ground as usual, but instead staggered forward, his hands scrambling on the ground a few times, then he regained his balance and straightened his body!
Seeing Mark about to catch up to the ball, Bayern center-back Dante, who was not far away, also shouted out directly:
"Stop him!"
Before he finished speaking, Højbjerg darted forward, grabbed Mark with both hands, and directly pushed him down as he tried to dribble forward.
Whoosh!
The referee immediately blew his whistle!
Immediately after, he pulled out a yellow card from his pocket and held it high towards Højbjerg.
Højbjerg said nothing in response, merely cast a warning glance at Mark on the ground, then turned and walked away.
This was an undeniable tactical foul, requiring no further explanation.
And Mark, sitting on the grass, merely silently tidied his white socks, which were covered in grass clippings.
Originally, Højbjerg's shoulder barge would have been enough to make Mark lose his balance.
However, a month of horse stance and pole standing, coupled with an increase in body weight, had significantly improved his balance and core strength.
So much so that he was not knocked off balance as he would have been in the past.
Getting up from the grass, Mark didn't leave immediately but said to Rodriguez, who was walking towards him:
"Ricardo, let me try?"
Hearing this, Rodriguez was first stunned, then nodded in agreement:
"Okay!"
Having witnessed Mark's free-kick technique in training, he didn't think there was anything wrong with Mark's sudden request.
"Don't leave yet, let's try a tactical play…"
"Alright!"
This set piece was located in the front right area, about thirty-six or seven meters from the goal.
A direct shot on goal would not be very threatening. The right approach was to cross the ball into the penalty area, seeking a header opportunity.
Mark also wanted to use this to verify his inner conjecture.
Seeing Mark and Rodriguez standing in front of the ball, one on the left and one on the right, not only Guardiola on the sidelines but also Löw in the stands couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"What's going on?" — Löw.
"What is this kid trying to do?" — Guardiola.
And the commentators were also a bit surprised:
"Mark and Rodriguez are standing in front of the ball. They seem to have some ideas."
"However, according to the data, Rodriguez is Wolfsburg's primary set-piece taker. So, Mark should just be a feint, and Rodriguez will still take this set piece."
Before he finished speaking, Mark ran back a few meters, striking a realistic pose as if measuring his steps.
"He's putting on a good act, but it's definitely still Rodriguez taking it…"
This was almost everyone's thought.
At this moment, Bayern's defensive leader Neuer was shouting at his defenders to mark their men, while also reminding them:
"Mark the players around you!"
"Rodriguez is left-footed! Watch the crossing line carefully and anticipate early!"
However, the next second, Rodriguez was the first to sprint towards the ball.
Just as everyone held their breath, Rodriguez did not loft the ball into the penalty area with one kick, but instead stepped over the ball!
"What?!"
"Oh no! It's a dummy!"
Immediately after, Mark rushed forward, and with the instep of his right foot, he "thwacked" the ball firmly on its lower-middle part.
The ball flew out with a sharp, fast, and flat arc, tracing a crescent shape in the air, and curving directly into the penalty area.
The ball precisely cleared Bayern center-back Dante, who had jumped high at the near post, then landed perfectly on Naldo's head amidst the crowd. Under Jérôme Boateng's interference, Naldo could only flick the ball with his bald head, and the ball then flew towards the unmanned area at the far post!
And Perišić, lurking at the far post, darted forward and headed the ball before right-back Rafinha could stick out his leg to clear it.
The next second, the ball crossed the goal line and hit the back of the net.
A "whoosh" sound was heard, and a white splash bloomed!
This novel has over 105 chapters on Patreon.com/zeaser