Football Genius Midfielder System

Busquets recognized it immediately. When he had faced Leo as an opponent, this was the exact tactic Leo had used to completely cut off his passing options.

Griezmann, however, spotted the trap at once and escaped before it could close around him. He carried the ball even deeper, making sure every defender stayed within passing range so there was no chance of misplacing the ball.

Leo was surprised. He had used this tactic countless times before, especially against elite midfielders, and it had always worked.

Griezmann was the first player to recognize it without falling for it even once. He really was exceptional.

Still, deceiving Griezmann had never been Leo's true objective. He simply wanted to stop him from helping France play out from the back.

To avoid Leo, Griezmann had dropped so deep that his only way to move the ball forward was with a long pass. At that point, there was no difference between Griezmann doing it and one of France's defenders launching the ball themselves.

France had plenty of players capable of accurate long passes. By retreating so far, Griezmann had effectively removed himself from the role he was supposed to perform in Deschamps' system.

"Griezmann has dropped far too deep to get away from Leo. He can't create anything with short passes anymore. All he can do is play long balls, so what's the point of him dropping back?"

"He might as well push into Spain's penalty area and attack alongside Pogba, then let the French defenders play those long passes instead. The effect would be the same, and France would have another player forward!"

Deschamps could see the problem Griezmann was facing.

But neutralizing Griezmann was only Leo's first step.

Next, Leo began carrying the ball directly toward Kanté, Pogba, and Lenglet.

Whenever Leo started dribbling, Pedri and Busquets would occupy the other French players. If Leo went after Kanté, Busquets would pin Pogba down while Pedri moved toward Rabiot, leaving Leo free to face Kanté one-on-one.

When Leo targeted Rabiot or Pogba in the same way, France's other players were dragged away from them as well.

At first, France could not understand what he was trying to accomplish. He did not beat his man every time, and on some occasions his dribble was stopped and he had to pass backward.

But after Leo repeatedly challenged them one by one, the French midfield began to lose its composure. Every time he drove toward them again, no one knew which player he was going to target next.

Whenever Leo carried the ball forward alone, Rabiot, Kanté, and Pogba all grew nervous.

Spain, meanwhile, became calmer with every passing minute.

This was the kind of unseen influence Hierro had always searched for. He firmly believed Leo could contribute far more than goals, assists, passes, and tackles.

Today, Hierro wanted him to wear down France's entire midfield.

First, challenge them one by one.

Then defeat them all.

No other player in world football could carry out an approach like this.

In the 32nd minute, Kanté was beginning to look anxious. Griezmann could only signal for the French midfielders to avoid Leo's charges as much as possible.

Kanté was the only player capable of slowing Leo down, even temporarily. The others were not so fortunate because none of them possessed Kanté's defensive ability.

Throughout it all, Leo seemed incapable of tiring.

First Kanté.

Then Pogba.

Then Rabiot.

Rabiot had already felt somewhat detached from the match. Now it was as though he had suddenly been dragged straight into the fight.

It was like sitting in a boxing gym as a spectator, only for two furious fighters to spill out of the ring and drag you into the brawl with them.

That was exactly how Rabiot felt.

Leo had left him completely dazed.

In the 40th minute!

Leo carried the ball forward once again. This time, he felt France's midfield had become unsettled enough.

Spain could finally launch their real attack.

Olmo and Pedri surged forward together. Spain appeared to have no center forward, but in reality, they had them everywhere. Every one of their attacking players could operate either up front or as an attacking midfielder.

Pogba and Rabiot both had their own defensive assignments.

Kanté knew Leo was coming for him.

He believed he was ready. This time, he would force Leo backward again.

Then Busquets appeared behind him.

Spain's lone defensive midfielder had joined the attack.

And he was not the only one.

Ferran Torres, Sarabia, and Rodri were all charging forward as well.

Scholes was the first to notice Rodri leaving his position at center back and sprinting forward beside Busquets.

Rodri was clearly faster.

He overtook Busquets.

Then Pogba.

Then Kanté.

He kept running until he reached Varane.

Varane hurried across to mark him without even seeing who it was. When he finally realized it was Rodri, he briefly wondered whether he had lost all sense of direction and somehow ended up inside Spain's penalty area.

Before Varane could adjust, Leo had already sent the ball toward Sarabia.

Sarabia rose above Kimpembe and headed it to Pedri.

Pedri and Olmo attacked Lenglet at the same time.

Varane immediately moved toward Olmo and told Lenglet to block Pedri.

Yet the easiest player to overlook was still standing on the right, watching Pedri.

Pedri instantly sent the ball across.

Ferran Torres had drawn Pavard away, leaving Rodri free to receive it after sprinting all the way forward from center back.

Xavi grabbed Zubizarreta.

The move they had designed was about to be completed.

Rodri met Pedri's pass and struck it with the same power he normally used from outside the penalty area, only with even greater precision.

At last, Lloris, France's god in blue, was beaten.

Hierro turned and applauded the Spanish supporters.

He was telling them to trust his lineup and his tactics.

Rodri ran toward Leo.

Leo smiled as he backed away, waving for Rodri to hurry over.

"That's what makes Leo so great!"

Stam had understood the move.

"Everything Lin did beforehand was designed to convince France that he would be the one to attack!"

"Or perhaps someone else, like Sarabia!"

"But France never imagined that Rodri would be the real threat. No one marked him, and that's how he scored!"