CHAPTER 651: CHAPTER 651 MESSI?

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[17/11/2020 | La Cartuja Stadium, Seville | 18:15 Local Time]

The evening air carried a crisp autumn chill as the German squad emerged from the tunnel for their pre-match pitch inspection. La Cartuja Stadium loomed around them—56,500 empty seats creating an eerie amphitheatre effect. Only essential staff and a handful of media personnel dotted the stands, their voices echoing in the vast space.

Rakim walked alongside Brandt and Goretzka, feeling the meticulously maintained grass beneath his feet. He took mental notes—the surface was perfect, cut short, perfect for ground football that Spanish teams have become known for since the start of the century. He could see their fast-paced tiki-taka being quite effective here, allowing true artists of the game to express themselves.

"It’s a good pitch," Goretzka observed, bouncing slightly to test the firmness. "Spain always maintains their stadiums well."

"They’ll need it for all that passing they do," Brandt added with a wry smile. "It must take a long time to reach a level like Barcelona or Man City and have players just gel."

"I think tiki taka only works if there is a focal player who can either make the most of the system or can break down teams on his own," Rakim observed, as this had been one of the things he had spent years studying when looking at the two players he wanted to reach. "For example, Messi and DeBryne, I’d love to see if he could thrive outside a system catered to him like Barca,"

"You’ve never played against Him, huh?" Kross’ voice resounded from the side casing the trio to notice his presence. "Both of them are monsters, but Messi has this uncanny ability to attract the game towards himself no matter how well you guard him."

"So you’re saying he would do just as well in a system not fully centred on him?" Rakim asked, not quite satisfied with the explanation. "Like for example, if he joined Millan, or Liverpool, or PSG, which like Barce has spent years building around their own wunderkind?"

Kroos let out a quiet breath through his nose in half-laugh as if he was asked a question that was both naïve and insightful. "Rakim," he said, shifting his hands into the pockets of his training jacket, "you don’t fit Messi into a system. Messi becomes the system. Wherever you put him."

Brandt snorted. "Listen to Grandpa Toni dropping philosophy, he’s seen five decades worth of football evolution."

Kroos ignored him. "If he joined Milan? Liverpool? PSG? Doesn’t matter. The game bends around them, not because coaches say so, but because players can’t help it. Your eyes follow him. Your passing lanes change. Even your first touch changes because you expect him to create some magic."

He tapped Rakim lightly on the shoulder. "You’ll see a glimpse of that Messi system when you face Spain tonight. They don’t have him, but they have players like Koke, Rodri, Ferran... they don’t dribble much, but the ball gravitates to them. They control the tempo, the rhythm, the press triggers."

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[19:15 | ZDF Studio, Seville]

The broadcast studio overlooked the stadium, its floor-to-ceiling windows providing a dramatic backdrop as the commentary team settled in for their pre-match analysis. Oliver Schmidt, the lead analyst, sat flanked by former German internationals Stefan Effenberg and Dietmar Hamann.

"Good evening and welcome to La Cartuja Stadium in Seville," Schmidt opened, his voice carrying the practised familiarity of the hundreds of matches he had called. "We’re approximately forty-five minutes away from what promises to be a fascinating encounter between Spain and Germany in the UEFA Nations League."

The screen cut to aerial footage of the stadium, slowly filling with the limited crowd allowed under COVID protocols. "Stefan, let’s start with team news," Schmidt continued. "Joachim Löw has made some interesting selections tonight."

Effenberg leaned forward, the graphics displaying Germany’s 4-3-3 formation materialising beside him. "Indeed, Oliver. Löw has gone with experience in midfield—Kroos, Gündogan, and Goretzka—but he’s retained his attacking trio from the Ukraine match. Werner, Gnabry, and Sané will lead the line."

"Notably absent from the starting eleven is Rakim Rex," Hamann interjected, "who scored a hat-trick against Ukraine just three days ago. Is that tactical from Löw or is there doubt whether the young man is ready for the bright lights against a star-studded squad like Spain have here?"

"Tactical, I’d say," Effenberg countered. "Spain will want to dominate possession—everyone knows this. So I expect this to be a battle of attrition as the two teams look for opportunities to break each other down. Having an extra weapon in the chamber in the form of Rakim Rex may serve him well."

The screen transitioned to footage from Germany’s training session, players going through their routines. "Let’s talk about Spain’s setup," Schmidt redirected. "Luis Enrique has named a relatively young side."

The Spanish formation appeared—4-1-4-1, with Morata isolated up front. "This is classic Luis Enrique," Hamann analysed. "Rodri sits deep as the anchor, Koke and Canales provide the passing range, while Olmo and Ferran Torres offer width and penetration. And Morata..." he paused, "Morata needs to perform tonight. He’s been under pressure."

"The key battle will be in midfield," Effenberg said. "Can Kroos and Gündogan wrestle control from Spain’s technical midfield? Or will Rodri and Koke dictate the tempo? That will decide this match."

The broadcast cut to their field reporter, Laura Wontorra, standing pitch-side in a coat, microphone in hand. Behind her, German players had begun emerging for warm-ups, jogging in organised lines. "Laura, what’s the mood in the German camp?" Schmidt asked.

"Confidence and a hint of anticipation for the future, Oliver," Wontorra replied. "I spoke with Leon Goretzka about thirty minutes ago, and he emphasised that while the Ukraine result was positive, Spain represents a completely different challenge."

The camera panned to show Goretzka stretching, then cut to a pre-recorded interview segment. Wontorra stood with Goretzka in the stadium tunnel, both maintaining social distance as per protocols. "Leon, three days ago, you dismantled Ukraine 4-1. How do you approach a match against Spain differently?"

Goretzka’s expression was serious, remaining professional. "Ukraine and Spain are not comparable. Spain will have about 65-70 per cent possession on average in their games. Our game must be about maintaining discipline, organised transitions, and clinical finishing when opportunities arise. We won’t have many chances."

"Rakim Rex’s hat-trick has generated significant attention. What impact does a performance like that have on team morale?"

"It’s excellent for the squad," Goretzka said with a slight smile. "Young players bringing energy and goals—that’s always welcomed, no matter what team you play for. But Rex understands, we all understand, that every match requires different solutions. Tonight might be Serge’s night, or Timo’s, or Leroy’s. That’s football."

[LIVE]

The broadcast returned to Wontorra, now with Timo Werner visible in the background, going through dynamic stretches. "I also had the opportunity to speak with Timo Werner," Wontorra continued, cueing another pre-recorded segment.

[PRE-RECORDED INTERVIEW]

Werner stood in his warm-up gear, the German crest visible on his training top. "Timo, you’re facing Sergio Ramos and Pau Torres tonight—two exceptional defenders. What’s your approach?"

"Movement," Werner replied immediately. "Ramos is experienced, reads the game brilliantly, but he’s not the fastest anymore. Torres is quick but young. If we can isolate them in foot races, especially on the counter, we have chances. But it requires perfect timing—offside against Spain’s high line is an easy trap to fall into."

"You’ve played against Spanish sides in the Champions League. Does that experience help?"

"Absolutely. Spanish teams defend differently—more about position than physicality. They trust their technical ability to win the ball back. For a striker, that means you can’t force things. You have to be patient and wait for the moment, then execute."

[LIVE - STUDIO]

The analysts watched footage of both teams warming up, players going through shooting drills and tactical patterns. "Looking at Germany’s form this season," Schmidt said, pulling up statistics, "they’ve been inconsistent. Three wins, two draws, one loss in their last six matches across all competitions."

"The transition is clear," Hamann observed. "Löw is trying to blend the old guard—Neuer, Kroos, Gündogan—with emerging talents like Rex, Werner, and Gnabry. It’s not seamless yet. You can see moments of brilliance marred by periods of disorganisation."

Effenberg nodded. "Spain has the same challenge, but they’re further along in their transition. Most of their squad is under 25. They’re building for the future while remaining competitive now. Germany is caught between eras."

The screen showed Rakim on the touchline, wearing a training bib, going through a passing drill with the other substitutes. The camera lingered on him as he flicked the ball over a chasing Mahmoud Dahoud.

"Rakim Rex," Schmidt said, reading from notes. "Seventeen years old, A name that has quickly become a common topic in the past two years among clubs and pundits alike. 8 goals in the Bundesliga, 2 in the Champions League and 4 for the national team. Stefan, what do you make of his rapid progression this season?"

Effenberg folded his arms, watching the slow-motion replay of Rakim gliding past Dahoud with effortless finesse. "Many have said it last year when he was a boy among men at just sixteen. But I think it’s time we consider where his ceiling lies." He paused for a moment, looking at the camera as if contemplating. "Now don’t shoot the messenger, but if he completes whatever metamorphoses he’s undergoing this season, the league and by extension the fans may have a monster on their hands once they rejoin us in the stadium."

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To be Continued...