Top of the World

Chapter 122: Top of the World

The German team celebrated, and the game resumed.

Though the score was level at 1-1, emotions ran high: the Germans were jubilant to have equalized, while the Brazilians felt aggrieved. Despite the heightened tension on the field, both sides remained restrained, and the bald referee's ability to control the game prevented any major conflicts.

Unfortunately, Edmilson suffered another injury.

Just before the end of the first half, Germany earned a corner kick. Edmilson collided with the goalpost while defending, injuring his left knee.

Thankfully, it wasn't serious this time. After a brief moment on the ground, he got back up.

At halftime, both teams retreated to their locker rooms.

Scolari made a bold midfield decision.

He substituted Kleberson with Juninho.

This was a tactical adjustment based on the first-half performance, specifically targeting Germany's midfield weaknesses.

The impact of this midfield substitution was immediate.

Juninho's presence freed up Ronaldinho and Kaka. They could now focus on their attacking roles more freely.

Klose, who scored the equalizer, and Schneider, along with the sturdy Carlos, were standout players for Germany in the first half. Despite being closely marked, Schneider's battle with Carlos was intense, showcasing his resilience. Klose, although quieter in the second half, made way for another German striker, Neuville.

The Swiss-born French-speaking striker was the first German international player who didn't speak German fluently, but this didn't hinder his on-field collaboration with teammates.

In the 51st minute, Juninho broke through the middle, bypassing Metzelder. Rather than passing to Ronaldo on his left, he fired a low shot with his left foot from 18 meters out. Following this, a significant advance in the front court, where Neuville nearly reached the ball under Gilberto Silva's challenge, before laying it back to the left to pick out a pass.

Neuville controlled the ball comfortably and unleashed a right-footed shot from 25 meters out.

Kahn managed to push the ball out for a corner kick.

The resulting corner kick was taken by Carlos. He left Schneider in a one-on-one situation on the left and delivered a similar cross-field pass to Kaka.

Kaka played the ball back into Juninho's path, then surged into the German penalty area alongside Ronaldinho.

Rather than playing the ball directly to them, Juninho instead passed it right, where Cafu was making a rapid run into the penalty area. He then crossed the ball to Ronaldinho.

Ronaldinho, known for his flair, didn't hesitate to pass the ball again, this time slipping it secretly to Kaka.

Kaka was closely marked by Flins and couldn't execute any fancy moves.

However, after he struck the ball, he was knocked down by Link, but according to the advantage rule, Corina let play continue.

Ronaldo intercepted Kaka's pass and dribbled through Link's legs to face Kahn.

Kahn moved to block, but Ronaldo deceived him at the last moment with a subtle feint and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal.

"GOAL! Ronaldo beats Kahn and scores an empty-net goal! Brazil once again takes the lead against Germany! Ronaldo has scored in every match Brazil has played in this World Cup. His record of six goals in previous tournaments has now increased to eight."

Naturally, Ronaldo didn't celebrate with somersaults or samba dances. Against the odds, his brilliant smile even seemed a touch shy.

And this smile was destined to be the highlight of the summer.

In the 58th minute, the score was 2-1.

Despite falling behind again, Germany meticulously executed their coach's defensive counterattack plan.

As a spearhead in Germany's counterattacks, Klose didn't replicate his first-half performance, but his flexible movements continued to trouble Brazil's defense, creating opportunities for his teammates.

In the 64th minute, Klose headed the ball into Neuville's path, who then laid it off on the left for Jeremias to strike with his right foot from 21 meters out.

In the 65th minute, Cheney launched a long ball. Ronaldinho controlled it well and, after a quick exchange with Kaka, back-heeled the ball to the edge of the penalty area. Carlos made a swift run and volleyed the ball forcefully with his left foot.

The ball struck a German defender and went out for a throw-in. Although Kahn remained composed, he blocked the ball with his right foot.

Ronaldo followed up with a rebound shot that hit the side netting, narrowly missing his second goal.

Germany quickly launched an almost identical long shot against Brazil.

Bode received Kahn's goal kick in midfield. A left-sided long pass found Jeremias, who, without stopping the ball, passed it centrally. Harman followed with a fierce shot.

The ball whizzed through Brazil's penalty area. Cheney reacted swiftly and intercepted the ball, but his shot lacked power, and the ball slipped away.

Klose pounced on the loose ball and aimed it towards goal before Lucio.

The Germans erupted in celebration, but Cheney miraculously recovered in an almost impossible situation and cleared the ball off the goal line.

As the ball seemed destined to cross the line, Edmilson made a crucial clearance.

Gilberto Silva and Metzelder contested for the loose ball, but neither could secure it, and Kaka pounced.

Kaka settled the ball, adjusted his position, and took a long-range shot from about 36 meters out.

Kahn was tested but managed to parry the ball away with both hands. Link won the ensuing battle with Ronaldo.

Resulting in a corner kick for Brazil.

The game's pace was frenetic; both goalkeepers were the busiest players on the field, while Corina raced up and down, nearly exhausted.

At this juncture, Scolari wanted to make a substitution, intending to bring on Rivaldo for Ronaldo. However, Ronaldinho signaled to the sidelines to wait until after this corner kick, aware that it might be his final performance of the World Cup.

Perhaps sensing this could be his last appearance in the tournament, Ronaldinho delayed taking the corner until Corina signaled for it to be taken.

The ball arched dramatically and dropped towards the left side of the goal.

Initially, everyone thought Ronaldinho intended to pick out Cafu at the far post, but Kaka sensed something was amiss.

Having trained together on free kicks frequently, Kaka was well-acquainted with Ronaldinho's technique.

The ball was too high to aim for the back post; it was destined for the upper left corner of the goal.

This was a shot.

Kahn reacted, diving towards the left side of the goal, but it was too late.

The ball struck the junction of the goalpost and crossbar before rebounding out.

Cafu attempted a follow-up shot, but the ball was easily gathered by Kahn, with the German defenders blocking his path.

As Ronaldinho departed, the German team also made a substitution, with Asamoah replacing Jeremias.

Rivaldo had an immediate impact upon entering the game.

Kaka initiated a break in the midfield but was dispossessed, winning the ball back from Harman before playing it sideways to Rivaldo.

Rivaldo calmly struck a left-footed shot from 20 meters out.

It was a low shot, fast and direct, and looked destined for the goal. Kahn, however, managed to get a hand to it, making a sliding save to push the ball away.

The Germans breathed a sigh of relief, but Ronaldo surged forward at high speed, leaving defenders in his wake and arriving in front of the ball. He then calmly slotted it home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area, the ball nestling into the lower right corner of the goal.

In the 80th minute, Brazil led 3-1, with one foot already on the podium.

"GOAL! Ronaldo scores his second! He has finally emerged from the shadows of four years ago and returned as the king with nine magnificent goals!"

Ronaldo ran to the sidelines with arms wide open, celebrating like a child.

After the game resumed, Germany launched a desperate counterattack.

In the 82nd minute, Link fired a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area, striking the ball squarely at Lucio's face. Lucio was forced to leave the field briefly for treatment. Germany took advantage of the break to substitute Klose.

Klose's first World Cup journey ended abruptly, despite his struggles, German fans still applauded their hero.

In the 83rd minute, Bierhoff seized an opportunity as soon as he entered the game.

Receiving a pass from Schneider on the right, he turned past Junior and took a shot, which Cheney saved, conceding a corner kick to Germany...

Minute by minute passed, with Germany's attacks growing more intense, yet still failing to breach Brazil's defense. Instead, they risked being caught on the counterattack.

As the game entered stoppage time, many anxious German fans were already in tears, photographers busily captured the scenes, occasionally focusing on football celebrities and figures like Klose, Ronaldinho, etc., on the sidelines.

In the 92nd minute, Scolari made his final substitution.

Denilson came on for Ronaldo.

Ronaldo left the field to applause, staying close to the team bench and coaching staff, waiting for the final whistle.

There were no further twists. In the 94th minute, referee Corina blew the final whistle.

The Brazilian players, draped in national flags, rushed onto the field, transforming the battleground of seconds before into a carnival stage.

Back in Brazil, the entire country erupted in joy.

"Congratulations to Brazil for winning their 5th World Cup title. They won all seven games, becoming the only team