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[11/11/2020 | 21:01 | Red Bull Arena,| International Friendly: Germany 1 vs 1 Czech Republic]

[73']

The strike left Rakim's boot like a whipcrack, resonating in a booming sound. The ball tore through the frigid Leipzig air, skimmed just above the slick turf, like a heat seeker missile gathering speed with every metre. Defenders tried to lunge in its way, but they reacted too late, missing it by mere inches.

Pavlenka saw it late as it broke past Jemela—his body moved, but not fast enough. The ball kissed the wet grass, took a wicked skip, and smashed off the outside of the post before ricocheting behind for a goal kick. "OH, THAT WAS CLOSE!" Derek Rae exclaimed, his voice rising with the moment. "What a strike from Rakim Rex! The seventeen-year-old nearly announces himself in spectacular fashion!"

"Brilliant confidence from the young man," Robson added. "Didn't hesitate for a second—took that on instinct. Pavlenka was completely beaten." Löw clapped slowly on the sideline, a faint smile tugging at the edge of his usually reserved expression.

[76]

Germany didn't let up. If anything, Rakim's near-miss seemed to galvanise the entire team. The ball moved faster between their ranks as the passes became crisper, their movement sharper, and suddenly the Czech defence—which had been resolute for so long—looked vulnerable. In the seventy-sixth minute, Neuhaus won possession in midfield with a crunching but fair tackle on Ondrasek.

Without hesitation, he played it forward to Brandt, who had dropped slightly deeper to offer an outlet. The Dortmund man flicked the ball onto Rakim, who spun forward, taking a touch to control the ball, as his head scanned the pitch. He could see Gosens making an overlapping run down the left, as Brandt drifted to cover the space centrally, and Waldschmidt holding his position up front, pinning the Czech centre-backs.

Rakim feinted to go right, selling the dummy perfectly to Holes, who had stepped up, sending him lunging that way. In one fluid motion, he dragged the ball back with his left foot, performing a quick L-Turn accelerated into the space that had opened up. "Rex again!" Rae's voice lifted. "He's got space!"

Two Czech defenders converged on him—Jemelka from the left, Barák tracking back desperately from midfield. As the distance closed, he swung his right foot, sending a chipped ball between the two defenders. The players turn towards the box, watching as Waldschmidtwho, who had been breaking to the left side of the box, came to a sudden stop.

He instinctively wanted to chase it, but a burst of white caught his eyes as the figure of Henrichs burst into the box with Novak, the Czechian left back trailing. The ball dropped perfectly into his run two meters ahead, with a bit of backspin rolling into his run. This caused Pavlenka, who had been charged out to the edge of his six-yard box, about to dive, to stumble back to recompose.

Henrichs did not need an extra touch as he met the ball in full stride — his right foot slicing through it cleanly. The strike rocketed low and true, fizzing across the slick turf toward the far bottom corner. Pavlenka, still adjusting his footing, dove late but in vain. The net bulged with a satisfying thump.

"GOOOAAAAL!" Derek Rae's voice cracked with excitement. "Benjamin Henrichs finishes with a clinical strike!"

The German bench erupted as Löw could be seen pumping his fist lightly before turning to Marcus Sorg, sharing a few words. Rakim, meanwhile, raised both hands and pointed toward Henrichs, who jogged back with a grin. The full-back slapped his hand as they exchanged a brief embrace.

[Germany 2–1 Czech Republic — Henrichs 76']

"Wonderful football from Germany," Robson added. "And what composure from Rakim. Incredible Vision to pick out the perfect ball for Benjamin Henrichs."

[80']

The Czech manager, seemingly remembering his powers as the coach, quickly signalled for a substitute in the 80th. Germany looked like they would pack on another goal as Gündogan's long-range strike narrowly blitzed by the bar. The Czech Republic made a double change to steady the ship — Darida and Souček came on for Dockal and Holes, adding more steel and structure to the midfield.

It had some effect as in the eighty-second minute, they won a corner after Gosens deflected Cerný's cross behind. Darida took the corner, raising his hand to signal his teammates in the box. The delivery was whipped in with pace toward the near post, where bodies converged.

Vydra, the Burnley striker who had come on minutes earlier, attacked it with aggression. He got ahead of Koch, meeting the ball with a powerful downward header. Trapp reacted quickly, diving to his right, but the ball was struck with too much pace. It bounced just in front of him before nestling into the bottom corner.

"VYDRA!" Rae roared. "The Czechs have pulled one back frightfully quickly! Game on in Leipzig!"

[Germany 2-2 Czech Republic — Vydra 82']

The small crowd stirred with renewed interest. The Czech substitutes rushed onto the pitch to celebrate, while the German players looked momentarily stunned. Löw immediately gestured from the touchline, urging his team to stay compact and not panic.

"That's exactly what the Czech Republic needed," Robson observed. "And now Germany's composure will be tested in these final minutes."

[85']

Germany tried to regain control, but the Czech Republic were energised now, pressing with much more urgency, contesting every ball. In the eighty-fifth minute, Soucek, another substitute, won a header in midfield, flicking it forward to Cerný.

The Ajax winger drove at Henrichs with pace, executing a quick stepover before cutting inside onto his left foot. His strike from twenty yards was powerful and dipping, forcing Trapp into action. The Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper dove to his left, pushing it away with a strong hand.

"Good save from Trapp!" Rae exclaimed. "Germany needs to wake up and quick, or this could easily end in a loss!"

The rebound fell past the penalty spot, where Darida rushed to claim it, but Rüdiger threw himself in the way, the ball cannoning off his outstretched leg, sending it out for a corner. "Brave defending from Rüdiger!" Robson added. "They escape conceding late yet again!"

[87']

The corner was cleared by Tah's towering header, sending the ball back toward the halfway line. Germany immediately looked to counter, with Henrichs collecting the loose ball near the flank. He saw space opening ahead and charged forward, trying to outrun the chasing defenders. With Waldschmidt making a cut wide up a head and Brandt drifting to the middle, he flicked the ball inwards.

Brandt picked up the ball, carrying it forward under the pressure from Brabec, but he managed to remain upright. Lifted his head, eyes darting across the advancing Czech back line. To his left, Rakim came speeding up the flank, quickly catching up and even surpassing them.

Brandt didn't hesitate; he slipped a perfectly weighted pass into his path. Rakim took it in stride, cushioning the ball with the outside of his boot before bursting forward. Mateju, who had stayed back during the corner, drifted over trying to block him, but the winger wasn't to be stopped.

He feinted a cut inwards before knocking the ball up the flank, before sprinting past on the other side. The defender held onto his shirt, trying to yank him backwards, but a short rip was all that was heard as Rakim broke free. Flicking the ball inward as he caught up to the ball, he hopped over the slide tackle from Darida.

Landing with a light hop, he leaned his body inwards, looking as if he would square the ball across. He drove inwards, freezing Jemelka for a second as he drove into the box. Pavlenka couldn't even get close as Rakim fired off a shot from inside the box.

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To Be Continued...