On June 26, local time, at the Frankenstadion in Nuremberg, the knockout stage of the FIFA Confederations Cup officially began.
The huge stadium was packed, with fans from around the world pouring into the stands to witness this heavyweight clash in person.
Hosts Germany against the star-studded Brazil national team!
As usual, Kaka pulled on his arm sleeve and followed his teammates onto the pitch.
The moment he stepped onto the soft grass of the Frankenstadion, deafening cheers erupted from the stands.
He instinctively looked up.
What greeted him was a sea of yellow Brazil number 8 shirts mixed with red-and-black Milan number 22 shirts.
All of them belonged to his supporters.
Of course, there were also plenty of fans wearing Ronaldinho shirts, not to mention the enormous contingent supporting the host nation.
Even so, looking around the stadium, Kaka’s supporters seemed almost numerous enough to hold their own against the other two groups.
In a good mood, Kaka raised a hand and waved toward the stands.
The response was immediate.
The cheers grew even louder.
Amid the roar of the crowd, the referee blew his whistle.
The match began.
For this game, Parreira once again used Brazil’s familiar 4-2-2-2 formation.
Dida, Kaka’s teammate at Milan, started in goal as Brazil’s last line of defence.
The back four consisted of Maicon, Lúcio, Roque Júnior, and Gilberto.
In midfield, Kaka lined up alongside Emerson, Zé Roberto, and Ronaldinho.
Up front, Brazil retained the partnership of Robinho and Adriano.
It was a balanced lineup capable of both attacking and defending.
As for the threat posed by the front four, there wasn’t much that needed to be said.
Brazil’s three group-stage matches had already taught their opponents some painful lessons.
At left-back, Gilberto had a tendency to push forward aggressively and occasionally leave space behind him, making his flank a possible weakness.
But in central defence, Lúcio was the unquestioned pillar of Brazil’s back line.
The Bayern Munich centre-back was the defensive leader of the entire team, and his performances throughout the tournament had fully justified that trust.
Alongside him, Roque Júnior was another experienced and reliable defender.
And then there was the twenty-three-year-old Maicon.
He wasn’t yet the world-class right-back he would later become, but the potential was already obvious.
If history remained unchanged, Inter Milan would bring him to the San Siro the following year, and he would eventually develop into arguably the best right-back in the world.
As for a certain man who would later dribble past Maicon so badly that all that remained were his pores…
Better not mention it.
Definitely better not mention it.
Compared with Brazil’s well-balanced mixture of established stars and emerging talent, Germany’s squad looked noticeably younger.
Head coach Klinsmann, the former striker nicknamed the Golden Bomber, also deployed a 4-4-2.
Lehmann of Arsenal started in goal.
The defensive line featured Arne Friedrich, Robert Huth, Per Mertesacker, and Thomas Hitzlsperger.
It was a relatively inexperienced defence.
Throughout the tournament, they had shown the typical problems of a young back line: occasional lapses in concentration, mistakes under pressure, and moments where emotions got the better of them.
Germany’s midfield, however, was considerably stronger.
It featured Frings, Deisler, Ballack, and Bernd Schneider.
Frings was the midfield workhorse, aggressive in the tackle and tireless without the ball.
Deisler possessed exquisite technique and was widely regarded as one of Germany’s most naturally gifted players.
Unfortunately…
His body seemed to have been assembled from glass.
Then there was Schneider, an intelligent and technically gifted midfielder who could operate in several positions.
And finally…
Ballack.
The collector of runners-up medals.
The eternal second-place specialist.
Germany’s iron-willed captain.
Their spiritual leader.
Their tactical core.
An all-action midfielder and one of the finest midfielders in world football.
Up front was the young Podolski, the Prince of Cologne.
Although a certain famous training-ground slap involving his beloved captain was still years away, the foundations of their touching relationship had already been laid.
Beside him was Kurányi, Stuttgart’s first-choice striker, known for his finishing ability and intelligent movement inside the penalty area.
On paper, however, Germany still looked weaker than Brazil.
Whether it was defensive quality or pure star power, the hosts were clearly a step behind.
And once the match started, that difference quickly became visible.
Following Parreira’s instructions to seize control immediately, Brazil launched an all-out assault during the opening ten minutes.
Wave after wave crashed into Germany’s defensive line.
The young German back four were stretched almost to breaking point.
Spaces opened everywhere.
Brazil broke through their shape several times.
Unfortunately Robinho and Adriano appeared to have forgotten their shooting boots at the hotel.
The chances created by Kaka and Ronaldinho either smashed against the woodwork, were saved by Lehmann, or ended up flying into the stands.
Brazil were clearly on top, but the goal simply refused to come.
After keeping Germany under siege for quite some time, Ronaldinho finally slowed things down, and Brazil’s shape dropped back slightly to give everyone a chance to breathe.
Kaka retreated toward the centre circle with the rest of the team, raised a foot to control Zé Roberto’s pass, and immediately felt the German captain crashing into him from behind.
Ballack pressed his whole body into Kaka’s back.
His forehead occasionally bumped against him.
His hands tugged at the shirt.
A little shove here.
A poke in the ribs there.
The small fouls came one after another.
“You’re not getting past me.”
Ballack’s expression was intense, and his tone was even fiercer.
The German captain had clearly decided to give the hottest young star in world football some proper attention.
In truth, Kaka had always liked Ballack.
Back when he’d simply been a football fan, Ballack had been one of those players whose career and story he would occasionally stop to follow.
The iron-willed German captain.
Tough.
Resolute.
Never willing to back down.
But that was when he had been watching from the sofa.
Now that he actually had to play against the man…
God, he was annoying.
Ballack’s mouth never stopped moving.
One moment he was speaking German.
Then English.
Then something else entirely.
At some point, Kaka couldn’t even tell what language the man was using anymore.
All he knew was that Ballack was talking nonstop and probably spraying saliva at him while doing it.
And his mouth wasn’t even the worst part.
His hands were everywhere.
Pushing.
Pulling.
Bumping.
His feet kept clipping at Kaka’s heels too.
After several rounds of this, Kaka was starting to get genuinely irritated.
He had managed to release the ball cleanly every time, but his emotions were clearly being affected.
The way he looked at Ballack gradually changed.
“You really do deserve to be the eternal runner-up…”
Bang!
The next time Kaka received possession, Ballack immediately closed in again.
This time, Kaka was prepared.
He planted himself and leaned backward, ready for the physical duel.
But suddenly his foot met nothing.
Ballack had stretched out a toe and poked the ball away.
Deisler reached it first, carried it forward a couple of steps, then played it across to Frings before Brazil could close down.
Frings drove forward at speed.
Kaka frowned sharply.
His emotions had affected his concentration.
That was undeniable.
After all, in his previous life he had only ever been a fan.
He didn’t possess the original Kaka’s elite competitive mentality.
But now wasn’t the time to reflect.
Germany were already counter-attacking.
The moment the ball was won, Ballack shoved Kaka aside and surged forward.
Kaka immediately sprinted back, dropping into shape and trying to block the passing lane.
Seeing Brazil recovering quickly, Frings released the ball toward the advancing Ballack.
Ballack lifted his head as though checking the movement ahead of him, but his stride never slowed.
He carried the ball all the way toward the edge of the penalty area.
Kaka recognised the movement instantly.
He’s going to shoot!
Before he could shout a warning, Ballack’s left leg had already swung through.
His instep smashed into the ball.
Boom!
It flew toward the top-right corner like a cannon shell.
Dida launched himself across goal, stretching his left hand as far as he could.
The ball skimmed past his fingertips.
Dida’s heart sank.
Then came the sweetest sound imaginable.
CLANG!
The ball smashed violently against the crossbar and flew out of play.
Dida landed on the grass and clapped his hands together in relief.
“Haah..” Kaka, who had tracked all the way back, also let out a long breath.
He stared at Ballack’s back as the German captain held his head in frustration.
There really were monsters everywhere at this level.
He couldn’t afford to underestimate anyone.
Play resumed.
Having learned his lesson, Kaka settled himself down.
Ballack’s antics no longer affected him.
Together with Ronaldinho, he began controlling possession and patiently probing Germany’s defence again.
Ronaldinho received the ball.
Kaka moved laterally, dragging a defender with him.
Ronaldinho used a series of feints to beat Deisler, then slipped a pass toward the left before Germany could crowd him out.
Robinho collected it, burst past Schneider, and unleashed a long-range effort.
Straight into the stands.
Germany regained possession.
Within only a few passes, the ball found its way back to Ballack.
This time, Kaka immediately stepped up to press.
Ballack was an excellent all-round midfielder.
Strong in the tackle.
Excellent vision.
Dangerous from distance.
But his close control wasn’t especially delicate.
And under aggressive pressure from Kaka, he didn’t look entirely comfortable.
His usual physical advantage wasn’t much help either.
Not against this version of Kaka.
After being forced backward several times, and with Zé Roberto arriving to help double-team him, Ballack finally tried to release the ball in a hurry.
Kaka reacted instantly.
He stretched out a foot.
The tip of his boot barely touched the pass, but that was enough to alter its direction.
The loose ball fell perfectly to Zé Roberto.
Kaka was already turning.
Already running.
Zé Roberto played a first-time pass into space.
Kaka opened his stride and chased it down.
Behind him, Ballack sprinted after him desperately.
“Kaka pressing Ballack!
The duel between these two has been intense all match!”
“Zé Roberto comes across to help!”
“Ballack…
loses possession!”
“Zé Roberto finds Kaka!”
“Kaka is away!”
“He’s accelerating!”
“Frings is beaten!”
“He’s still getting faster!”
“Germany’s defence is being dragged across!”
“Kaka takes on Huth!”
“Mertesacker is coming over too!”
“Kaka…”
“Oh my God!”
“BALLACK FROM BEHIND!”
“That’s dangerous!”
“Oh!
Ballack brings Kaka down!”
“The referee blows immediately!”
“He’s going to the pocket!”
Kaka suddenly felt his legs taken out from under him.
His momentum carried the rest of his body forward, and he crashed heavily onto the turf.
The moment he went down, several Brazilian players charged over with dark expressions.
Germany’s players immediately rushed in as well, forming a barrier between them and Ballack.
Ronaldinho ignored the confrontation and sprinted straight toward Kaka.
He crouched beside him, concern written all over his face.
“Ricardo, are you all right?”
“Huff..” Kaka stayed down for a moment and carefully moved his ankle.
A little pain.
Nothing serious.
He flexed his calf.
Hmm..
Strength was normal.
Movement was fine.
It seemed Ballack had realised what he was doing at the last second and pulled out of the challenge.
Kaka shook his head and took Ronaldinho’s hand.
“I’m fine, Ronnie.
He held back.”
He stood up and stamped his foot against the grass several times to prove it.
Seeing that, both Ronaldinho and Ballack, who had been watching from behind the crowd, visibly relaxed.
On the touchline, Parreira nearly collapsed from stress.
If Kaka got injured here, Parreira felt like he might be unemployed before the tournament was even over.
Even though the challenge hadn’t caused an injury, the referee still showed Ballack a yellow card.
Brazil were also awarded a free kick in an excellent position, just outside the left edge of the penalty area.
“Free kick to Brazil…”
“Ronaldinho standing over it…”