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[20:17, 17/Nov/2020 | Spain vs Germany | La Cartuja Stadium, Seville]

[17']

In the 17th minute, Germany finally looked like a European powerhouse, creating something. Goretzka won a second ball in midfield, driving forward like a freight train, bodying defenders out of the way. Before he could get bogged down, he found Sané on the right, who attacked Gayà with direct running.

The Spanish defender looked uncomfortable as he was unable to pin Sané down or slow him down. The German feinted right, getting him to bite, and then cut inside onto his left foot, almost breaking his ankles as he skidded to a stop. Sané didn't get far, though, as Ramos came sliding across trying to block or intercept the shot, but it was too late.

Leory unleashed a shot from twenty-five yards, striking it sweetly, sending it dipping and swerving as it neared the goal. Unai Simón read it, shuffling across to find the correct position to gather it cleanly, without letting it bounce. "Germany's best moment so far," the commentator noted. "But they need more of that."

[22']

Spain's Overall quality began to tell as the match entered a stalemate. The possession numbers shifted to a convincing 61% in Spain's favour, with the Germans losing ground, especially in midfield. Toni Kroos and Leon Goretzka were the only reasons the promising midfield partnership of Rodri, Sergio Canales and Koke failed to convert. Nerves began to grate for both sides as they knew the first goal could set the tone for the rest of the match.

25th minute, following a swift Matthias Ginter slide tackle on Dani Olmo, the Spanish side's attack came to a halt with a throw-in. Left back José Gayà took it, throwing it to the feet of Koke, who dropped his shoulder and glided past Gündogan's challenge. The German midfielder reached out, but Koke had already accelerated away, playing a quick one-two with Canales before finding Olmo at the corner flag.

Olmo's first touch was exquisite, killing the ball dead despite Ginter's pressure. He shifted it onto his right foot, his left leg flashing over the ball, getting the defender to move before breaking through with his right. Pushing past the stunned defender, he accelerated into the box, pulling Leon Goretzka, who was covering the space towards him.

He lazily tapped the ball lightly past the player's lunge into the run of Sergio Canales. The Spanish Midfielder remained strong, holding up Süle at his side, and bent the ball towards goal with a left-footed strike. Neuer, in between the sticks, jumped low, stretching his leg out, and was there again, diving low to his left to parry.

His leg managed to reach it, deflecting it outward, but the rebound didn't go too far, falling to Morata just past teh six tard box. The Juventus striker had to score after being offered such a sitter. Pushing off Koch, he put his foot through the bouncing ball and up it went into the sky.

"Oh my goodness!" the commentator gasped. "Álvaro Morata, how have you missed that? It was harder to miss than to score!" Morata's head dropped, hands on hips. Ramos shouted encouragement, but the striker looked devastated. Germany had escaped.

[30']

The game settled into an uncomfortable rhythm for Germany. Spain probed and probed, Germany defended and defended. Occasionally, Germany would win the ball and counter, but Spain's recovery was too quick, their defensive positioning too sound.

In the 32nd minute, Werner made a run in behind, perfectly timed. Kroos saw it, delivering a measured ball over the top. It looked promising as Werner latched onto it, chesting it down as he continued his run. Then Pau Torres, one of Spain's centre-backs, appeared, reading the play impeccably, shuffling across and sliding to stop it. The young Villarreal defender was having an exceptional match.

"Pau Torres again," the commentator observed. "What a performance from the twenty-three-year-old."

[36]

Germany's frustration mounted, and it showed when Goretzka clattered into Rodri, late and high, after the latter sent Gündogan skidding into the next century. The referee didn't hesitate to pull out a yellow card, giving the German a stern talking to. The midfielder protested briefly before accepting his fate.

Löw gestured from the touchline, urging calm, but the body language told a story. The resulting free-kick was thirty yards out. Ramos stood over it, sizing up his options. He struck it with venom, but the wall held firm, Kroos taking it on the shoulder and grimacing.

[40]

The pressure had been building for thirty-nine minutes, and something had to give. It started innocuously—Rodri receiving the ball from Simón between the sticks, turning away from Werner's press with casual grace. He found Koke, up the field, who immediately looked for the forward pass. Canales dropped deep to receive, drawing Gündogan out of position, opening up the space behind them.

Canales didn't hesitate. His through ball split Germany's defence, perfectly weighted into the path of Ferran Torres on the right flank. Who had timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, gliding past Philipp Max. Süle tried to recover, his long strides eating up ground, but Ferran was already clear as he pierced into the box.

One-on-one with Neuer. The Bayern goalkeeper rushed out, trying to make himself big and cut down the angles. Ferran read composed reading the keeper's movements before side-footing the ball past Neuer's right hand, rolling into the bottom corner at the near post.

**[Spain 1-0 Germany — Ferran Torres 39']**

La Cartuja erupted. The limited crowd, made up of a majority of Spanish citizens, made as much noise as a packed stadium, with whistles and cheers echoing around the vast bowl. Ferran raced to the corner flag, slid on his, as his teammates piled on top of him.

"Spain takes the lead, and it's been coming," the commentator said. "Germany has barely laid a glove on them."

[45+2]

Germany tried to respond before the halftime whistle as Kroos took control, demanding the ball, trying to impose himself. He found Gnabry, who had drifted to the left, the Bayern winger cutting inside and attempting to thread a pass through to Werner.

The ball deflected to Sané on the right, who nipped it before Gayà, who backpedalled frantically. Sané checked inside, then outside, with feints and stepovers, creating a yard of space. He eventually cut inwards at the top of the box, his shot goal-bound, curling past centerback Pau Torres toward the far top corner.

Goalkeeper Unai Simón dug into his bag, shuffling across his line, and threw himself into the air, body fully outstretched. He managed to get a glove to the incoming ball, palming it clear of his goal out for a corner. He landed with a soft thud but jumped up immediately, yelling "Vamos!!" pushing his teammates on.

"Highlight moment for 2-year-old Unai Simón!" the commentator exclaimed. "What a save indeed to keep his side ahead!"

The corner came in, Süle rising highest, his header powerful and directed downward. Unai Simón reacted brilliantly, again catching it point blank before smothering it as he fell to the ground. "Spectacular save! Unai Simón looks impregnable now!"

[45+3']

The referee checked his watch—as Germany pushed forward one last time, desperately searching for an equaliser before the break. Goretzka found Werner with a chipped pass, the Chelsea striker bringing it down on his chest. He turned, but Ramos was already there, timing his tackle perfectly, winning the ball cleanly and launching another Spanish counter.

Olmo received forty yards from the goal, driving at Germany's retreating defence. He played it wide to Morata, who had dropped deep. The striker turned, attempting an ambitious through ball for Ferran Torres, but Neuer read it, sprinting off his line to collect.

*(Fweeet Fweeeeet)*

"And that's the break," the commentator said. "Spain leads 1-0, and truthfully, it could be more. Germany has been second-best in every department."

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To Be Continued...