Chapter 631: No-Look Pass
The French players were visibly shaken after Ronaldo's equalizing goal. Center-back Umtiti and goalkeeper Lloris even exchanged heated words. Lloris criticized Umtiti for neglecting his defensive duties by not marking Ronaldo, a player with immense threat, and failing to close him down after he received the ball.
While Lloris wasn't wrong, Umtiti felt humiliated being scolded publicly. After all, he was the hero in the semifinal against Belgium five days ago, scoring the decisive goal that secured France's place in the final.
That goal had turned Umtiti into a French national hero, boosting his confidence significantly. But now, being publicly reprimanded by Lloris—France's long-standing goalkeeper and captain—hit a nerve. Despite Lloris's seniority, Umtiti argued back.
This only enraged Lloris further. He didn't stop at Umtiti; he lashed out at the entire defensive line until his teammates intervened, pulling Umtiti away.
Lloris, already frustrated by conceding the goal, was further aggravated by the public argument. Even after Umtiti walked away, he continued muttering complaints under his breath.
...
After venting his frustrations at the defense, Lloris turned to Pogba and said, "Once you intercept the ball, release it quickly. Don't give him any chance to win it back."
Pogba nodded solemnly.
The goal stemmed from his earlier mistake, making him arguably the most frustrated player on the team, second only to Lloris.
In the first half, Pogba had found defending Bruno surprisingly easy, leading him to underestimate the Portuguese midfielder. The sudden shift in the second half caught him off guard.
Bruno's ability to recover possession after losing the ball was something Pogba hadn't fully appreciated. Unlike many playmakers who rarely engage in defensive work or who give up after losing the ball, Bruno's tenacity was unrelenting.
Bruno's strength, exceptional tackling ability, and "never-say-die" attitude made him a nightmare to dispossess. Even when he couldn't reclaim the ball cleanly, he would disrupt the opponent's counterattack through a tactical foul.
This blend of offensive creativity and defensive tenacity made Bruno a player every coach dreamed of having—someone who didn't need protecting but could protect others.
...
When the match resumed, Ronaldo's goal reignited Portugal's fighting spirit. The team's new tactical approach—centered around Bruno—began to click, creating a fast-paced rhythm that unsettled France.
Even commentators noticed the shift.
British pundit Andy Gray remarked, "Portugal has clearly ramped up their attacking tempo. I counted four consecutive one-touch passes just now!"
This fluid passing game, spearheaded by Bruno's vision, began to trouble the French defense.
In the 74th minute, just five minutes after Ronaldo's equalizer, Bruno orchestrated another slick move. After a series of quick one-twos with Bernardo Silva and Moutinho in midfield, Bruno switched play with a diagonal pass to Quaresma on the opposite flank.
Quaresma opted for an early cross rather than a dribble. Ronaldo rose majestically in the penalty box and directed a powerful header toward goal, narrowly missing the crossbar.
Having finally broken his two-game goal drought—and on the biggest stage, no less—Ronaldo was now brimming with confidence. Every touch carried an air of menace, and every shot seemed capable of breaching the French defense.
Moments later, Bruno was fouled by a combination of Kanté and Pogba just outside the French penalty area, earning Portugal a free kick from 29 meters out.
Ronaldo stepped up and unleashed a venomous "knuckleball" strike that whizzed just wide, leaving the French supporters gasping in relief.
...
In the 75th minute, Portuguese coach Santos substituted Bernardo Silva for Gonçalo Guedes, signaling an all-out attacking intent.
As Guedes took the field, he relayed the coach's instructions to his teammates:
"Keep attacking! Play like this—we're going for the win!"
Portugal's game plan was straightforward: press for the win, score another goal, and settle the match within 90 minutes.
Buoyed by Ronaldo's equalizer and riding high on momentum, Portugal's aggressive strategy further galvanized their players, as if adding rocket fuel to their determination.
France, however, faced a dilemma. Should they shore up their defense to weather Portugal's relentless attacks or counter with an offensive strategy of their own?
Portugal's onslaught was relentless, leaving France momentarily dazed and uncertain. This was when the team needed their coach the most.
In response, Deschamps made his first substitution, replacing Matuidi with Corentin Tolisso.
Though seemingly a like-for-like change, the switch subtly shifted France's balance toward a more attack-minded approach. Tolisso, an offensively inclined midfielder, brought a different dimension to their play compared to the defensively oriented Matuidi.
Upon entering the field, Tolisso conveyed Deschamps's message to his teammates:
"We need to attack. If we keep letting them pin us back, it's going to cost us."
...
From a tactical perspective, Deschamps's decision made sense. By merely defending, France risked conceding the psychological edge to Portugal. Football, after all, is as much about momentum as it is about skill. Losing the upper hand often leads to losing the match.
The final 15 minutes became a showcase of end-to-end action as both teams traded blows in an exhilarating duel.
In the stands, the fans—whether Portuguese, French, or neutral—were on their feet, swept up in the electrifying atmosphere.
"Portugal's chance… Bruno's pass to Cristiano Ronaldo! But he's tightly marked. Ronaldo doesn't shoot—he passes instead! Quaresma with the shot—saved by Lloris! That was close!"
"Giroud holds up the ball in Portugal's half but can't turn. He lays it off to Tolisso, who finds Mbappé on the wing. Lovely interplay! Mbappé crosses it—Kanté with a header! Just wide!"
"Bruno collects the ball in midfield, once again under pressure from Kanté. A clever backheel! Magnificent!"
"Quaresma skips past his man! Before Hernandez can close him down, he slips the ball to Moutinho. Moutinho feints a long shot, dribbles into the box, and fires—straight into Lloris's gloves!"
Neither side held back. Both committed most of their resources to attack, resulting in numerous goal-scoring opportunities that kept fans on edge.
...
Bruno noticed the French defense easing its grip on him. With just six minutes of regulation time left, they were more focused on securing a decisive goal for themselves.
Glancing at the scoreboard, Bruno saw 84 minutes had passed. With three minutes likely added for stoppage time, there were roughly nine minutes remaining.
Nine minutes to avoid extra time, Bruno thought. The idea of playing another 30 minutes to decide the champion frustrated him. Why prolong the agony when the match could be won in regulation time?
He remembered Santos's advice: Take your chances and shoot when the opportunity arises.
Bruno, however, was not one to take unnecessary risks. He wouldn't resort to hopeful, long-range efforts unless a clear chance presented itself.
...
As France pressed high, Bruno dropped deeper to receive the ball. With France focusing their press on Moutinho, Bruno had more space to maneuver.
Moutinho passed the ball to Bruno, who turned to face the advancing Kanté.
Kanté didn't engage aggressively, instead positioning himself to block potential passing lanes. Bruno feinted a pass to the left, where Guedes was making an overlapping run.
France's defenders shifted accordingly, anticipating a pass to Guedes.
But Bruno suddenly pivoted, sending a precise, diagonal ball across the field to Quaresma on the opposite flank.
Before making the pass, Bruno hadn't even glanced in Quaresma's direction.
(END CHAPTER)
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