The Spanish players sprint across the pitch in celebration.
The England players collapse to the ground in disappointment. Kane covers his face, in tears.
Derek Rae shouts, his voice trembling.
"The match is over!"
"The match is over!!"
"Marciniak blows the final whistle!!!"
"England fought all the way to the very last second. They were only a moment away from equalizing."
"With a brilliantly executed set-piece, England once pulled it back to 2 to 3."
"But Spain held firm against England's late surge. United as one, they held on to their 3 to 2 lead until the end."
"England fall just short of the final. Once again, football does not come home!"
Derek Rae brings up the phrase "football coming home."
"The phrase originates from a song. 'Three Lions,' written in 1996, gave England the nickname 'Three Lions' and turned 'football coming home' into the hope and belief of England fans."
"Because the modern game was codified in England, fans believe that if England win the European Championship or the World Cup, it means bringing football back to its home."
"England came very close. Closer than ever before. But they could not stop La Furia Roja."
"Some said England reaching the semifinals was like a wildflower dreaming of being a rose. But with their resilience today, they proved they were always tulips."
"At one point, England were inches away from equalizing. Kane's header was so close, but Leo Lin cleared it off the line with a header."
"A painful moment for all England supporters."
"Youth Storm!"
"Three Lions!"
"England!"
"Eliminated!"
Derek Rae bids farewell to the Three Lions.
Leo Lin stands on the pitch, watching his teammates sprint in celebration all around him.
Cheers.
Roars.
The ecstatic faces of Spanish fans.
Spain shirts waving in the air.
Hierro standing on the pitch, looking at him with a relieved smile.
Is this real?
Is this real?
Leo Lin asks himself again and again. He can hardly believe it.
All this time, his only goal had been to help Spain win as many matches as possible.
But now, as the match ends, he suddenly realizes he has reached the threshold of the world's summit. He is standing right before the final battle.
Without even noticing, he has come this far.
In the stands, Barnett is cheering. He knows exactly what winning this semifinal means for Leo Lin.
"Delores."
"My dream is about to come true."
Delores grips Barnett's hand tightly, feeling the sweat in his palm. Moments like this, where excitement and tension collide, are rare in his life.
"Eliminating Kane means Lin now leads the scoring chart with nine goals. He is three ahead of his teammate Diego Costa, with only the final remaining."
"He has essentially secured the Golden Boot."
"He will definitely be named Best Young Player of the tournament. But I hope he does not win the World Cup Golden Ball."
The World Cup Golden Ball Barnett mentions is different from the Ballon d'Or.
It is awarded to the best player of the World Cup finals, and by convention, it often goes to the standout player from the runner-up team.
That was the case in 2006, 2010, and 2014.
With Cristiano Ronaldo already eliminated, and Leo Lin having won the Champions League and reached the World Cup final in the same year, the Ballon d'Or is practically already his.
Leo Lin now has only one goal left. Win the World Cup, make history, and become the youngest dominant figure in football history.
The Spanish players sing in celebration, thanking the fans who came to support them. Every Spanish supporter looks overwhelmed with joy.
After a brief celebration, Leo Lin heads to the entrance of the tunnel, exchanging handshakes with England players and offering them words of comfort.
Back in the locker room, even the usually composed Hierro cannot contain his excitement.
Reaching the final has already exceeded the Spanish Football Federation's expectations, and those of the fans.
"Guys, you deserve this. Every bit of it!"
"I am so happy to see you reach the World Cup final. You have shown the world just how strong Spanish football truly is!"
"So enjoy this moment!"
"Enjoy everything!"
Diego Costa pulls off his shirt and starts dancing, leading the celebration. The rest of the players line up behind him, forming a chain and celebrating wildly.
On the other side, England's mood is understandably heavy.
Outside the stadium, a World Football News reporter conducts street interviews.
Most England fans refuse to speak. Then an elderly man with white hair, gentle in appearance, stops in front of the microphone.
"I have something I want to say to all the England players."
"Don't blame those young fans who just walked past. They love you so much, that is why they reacted with anger when you were eliminated."
"Believe me, they will continue to support you, just like I do."
"I have supported the England national team for a long time. When I first watched them play, I was a young man, even taller than you, with a strong build."
The old man pats the young reporter, who wraps an arm around him. They both laugh.
"To all the England players, I think you played brilliantly."
"You showed true determination," the old man says, his voice slightly choked.
The young reporter hugs him and asks,
"Why?"
"Why are you so emotional?"
"Even though you did not make the final."
The old man continues,
"Yes, we were eliminated."
"But for a long time, we struggled just to get out of the group stage. Now we have reached the semifinals."
"I am proud of every one of those lads. I am truly moved. They deserve respect."
"I will wait for them in England, and welcome them back with applause and congratulations."
The reporter is clearly touched. He gently pats the old man's white hair.
"So, even though you did not reach the final, do you think football has come home?"
The old man smiles warmly.
"For me."
"Football has come home."
...
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