Maria's post quickly racked up likes and comments from Spanish fans and shot to the top of the trending charts. Soon after, waves of Moroccan and Spanish fans flooded into the comments, and some extreme Moroccan supporters even issued death threats toward Maria.
[Remember not to go out after dark. Otherwise, no one can guarantee your safety.]
Just five minutes later, Barnett stepped in and replied.
[Are you talking to Maria?
I want to see a screenshot of you apologizing to her in private messages within five minutes. Otherwise, I guarantee I will track you down within an hour, find you, and send a letter full of friendly greetings to your home.]
If anyone else had said it, no one would believe it. But coming from Barnett, people took it seriously. Even if it sounded like a joke, he had the means to make it real.
Three minutes later, Maria replied under the thread. She posted a screenshot showing the same fan apologizing to her in private. It all happened that fast.
No one expected Maria to step up at a moment like this, openly standing her ground against waves of abuse aimed at Leo Lin.
Spain had its share of extreme fans too. These individuals had nothing to do with the team itself. Their behavior came from excessive obsession or personal issues, turning them into radical elements within football culture. The Spanish Football Association had been working to keep this from escalating.
Both the Spanish and Moroccan Football Associations issued statements calling for calm, urging fans on both sides to avoid anything unrelated to football.
While Maria was confronting the backlash online, Leo Lin was in the cafeteria with his teammates.
"Rice."
"Same as always. Just a small bowl."
Leo Lin set down his tray and sat among his teammates, ready to eat.
Diego Costa suddenly handed him his phone.
"Lin, Maria posted in support of you!"
The moment he said it, everyone nearby crowded in to look.
Leo Lin took the phone and read carefully. He was about to scroll through the comments, but stopped. After hesitating for a moment, he sent a heart emoji.
The room immediately burst into cheers and applause.
Diego Costa was grinning when he suddenly froze.
"Wait."
"Lin. That is my account!"
Leo Lin went completely still.
Diego Costa hurriedly grabbed the phone back and deleted the comment just in time, avoiding what would have been perfect material for The Sun.
Leo Lin then used his own account to post a heart and a flexed arm emoji, thanking Maria for her support. That comment quickly shot to the top with the most likes.
A surge of energy filled him. The only way to repay Maria was with performance. He had to beat Morocco.
With qualification on the line, neither Spain nor Morocco could afford to lose. Only a win would guarantee progression.
No one could fully grasp the pressure on Spain's four-man coaching staff. Hierro's cigar never went out.
Xavi, Raúl, and the others stayed in the analysis room, reviewing Morocco's matches over and over, refining both attacking and defensive plans. There was no room for error.
Hierro had never felt pressure like this. As a player, even poor performances only affected his personal reputation and, at most, the team's results.
Now, he carried the expectations of an entire nation and Spanish fans across the world.
For a team like Spain, failing to get out of the group would be a disgrace.
This was a match they could not lose.
Absolutely could not lose.
June 30, 8 a.m.
"We need to consider rotation. Against a team like Morocco, with their pace and physicality, Iniesta should not start."
"He is getting older, Hierro. Look at the gray in his hair."
"We still need control and passing. Lin can provide that. Let David Silva partner Busquets, with Lin ahead. That midfield will give us better control."
At this crucial moment, Xavi and Hierro disagreed.
Hierro still wanted Iniesta in the starting lineup. Xavi did not.
"Iniesta's intelligence and control are still top level. But we need a lineup tailored to Morocco."
"I think it is better to start him on the bench this time."
Raúl sided with Xavi. Hierro looked to David Villa, who gave a small nod.
Hierro's expression hardened. He pulled out the tactics board and wrote down the final starting eleven.
The four coaches stared at the lineup. There was uncertainty in their eyes, but also hope.
The final decisive clash.
A do or die battle Spain could not lose.
Media and fans from around the world, especially in Spain, were locked onto this match.
Everyone was watching, waiting to see if Spain could make it out of the group.
Spanish social media buzzed with discussion.
[This feels familiar. Opening match, do or die match, battle for pride, train station. All four in one. Unstoppable.]
[Morocco are really tough. Physically strong and very typical of a North African side.]
[After this World Cup, a lot of their players will be picked up by top clubs. Achraf, Ziyech, and others.]
[The brutality of the World Cup is already showing. Germany facing elimination. Can you believe it? They might not even get out of the group.]
July 1.
On the World Cup Daily special program for the final round, even the six-member panel did not expect things to be this chaotic.
"Right now, several groups are still wide open."
"There have been many upsets. Germany lost 0-1 to Mexico, then survived with Toni Kroos's late winner in the second match, but they could still be eliminated."
"Poland have lost both games and are already out. Their final match is only for pride."
"Argentina drew 1-1 with Iceland and are under huge pressure. They must win their last match, just like Portugal and Spain."
"This World Cup feels unpredictable. Upsets everywhere."
"The third round will decide whether several top teams can advance. Germany, Portugal, Spain, Argentina, African sides and more all have the quality to reach the knockout stage."
"But from the current situation, some of them will definitely be eliminated."
"Several decisive battles are about to begin!"