Ever since Ronaldo's decline and weight gain, the football world had lost a dazzling sight on the pitch.
The "pendulum dribble" — a move unique to the phenomenon — became a swan song in football.(Freakish Stepover).
When even Ronaldo couldn't pull it off anymore, it was no surprise no one else could either.
But in this match, Šuker replicated that move perfectly.
Commentator Kraljević could hardly believe his eyes, his voice tinged with hesitation:
"Is that… the pendulum dribble?"
Šuker's body swung like a pendulum, with wide, exaggerated motion. Each feint carried intense deception — and any one of them could suddenly become a real move.
Kolodin felt his scalp tingling as Šuker approached. He had no choice but to try to intercept him.
But his tackle was hesitant — he wasn't confident.
And that hesitation doomed him.
Šuker quickly shifted the ball across and cut toward the right, gliding past Kolodin with ease.
"HE'S BEATEN HIM!!"
Kraljević roared.
After the move, Šuker looked up at goal.
The moment he lowered his head, the ball rocketed from his foot like an arrow loosed from a bow.
It sailed toward the far corner, slipping beneath the Russian goalkeeper's armpit and slammed into the net.
Goal.
Šuker slid along the sideline toward the stands to celebrate.
The stadium erupted.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—
Inter manager Roberto Mancini once said:
"When you're forced into a 1v1 with Šuker… you've already lost."
In a one-on-one situation, how could anyone stop Šuker?
Just like this.
Šuker now had two goals.
Croatia was up 2–0 against Russia on home turf.
Both goals were scored by Šuker.
"Šuker! Šuker! Šuker! My God~~~ most of us only get to see his brilliance through a TV screen, but to witness his impact live…!"
"Look at that goal! Modrić's through ball was brilliant — he saw everything — but Šuker's finishing ability is even more breathtaking."
"In this match, four shots, two goals!"
"That's one goal every two shots — Šuker's efficiency is unreal!"
"He is Croatia's super striker!"
Kraljević's voice rang out with strength and pride as he bellowed:
"The one who scored for us is…"
SUUUUKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Croatian fans roared with wild joy.
Thunderous applause filled the air.
Šuker's second goal had set the stadium ablaze.
For Croatian supporters, they weren't just here to watch a match against Russia — they were here to witness Šuker's goal show.
And Šuker didn't disappoint.
Two clean, clinical finishes, two goals.
Just like Kraljević said — Šuker was the pride of Croatia.
"Russia can't hold him off anymore!"
Croatian manager Bilić sprinted along the touchline in celebration.
He ran all the way to the corner flag, jumping and shouting like a madman.
Despite his usual calm and competent demeanor, Bilić — nicknamed the "Rock & Roll Manager" — had madness in his blood.
When Croatia scored, he became uncontrollable with emotion.
If it weren't against the rules for managers to enter the field, he'd have run up and kissed Šuker on the spot.
Absolutely magnificent.
Russian players looked at each other in disbelief.
Their glances toward Kolodin were full of doubt.
Kolodin hastily defended himself:
"I couldn't stop him! You all saw it!"
Ignashevich sighed.
"We have to double down on marking Šuker."
As Kolodin's center-back partner, he knew Kolodin wasn't normally this bad.
But being beaten that easily could only mean one thing:
Šuker was just that dominant.
After all, with both Champions League and Serie A Golden Boots under his belt — what's the point if he couldn't break defenses like this?
But now came the big question.
How do you stop Šuker?
On the sidelines, Hiddink rubbed his temples. His head was pounding.
Down 0–2, playing away, already at a disadvantage — and now the entire tempo was under Croatia's control.
Looking at it all — Russia had no real counterattack chances.
"Mark Šuker!"
"Three men! Put three men on him!"
Hiddink shouted from the sideline, holding up three fingers.
The Russian players got the message. They immediately closed in on Šuker.
Sanzov stuck to him like glue, finally quieting Šuker a little.
Croatia, now with a two-goal lead, maintained control of the tempo.
With Russia focusing so much attention on Šuker, Modrić took his time, moving around and connecting passes, setting the tempo for Croatia's build-up.
Time ticked by.
Halftime arrived.
"Finally, that half is over…"
Kolodin whispered to himself, exhausted.
That entire first half felt like a personal nightmare.
Both goals came while he was defending.
The first was a brutal mistake — it completely shattered his confidence.
Still, he had to press on.
There was a second half left to play.
Halftime adjustments came from Russia. They increased defensive efforts.
Kolodin wasn't subbed off — clearly, Hiddink still had some faith in him.
Šuker was still under intense man-marking.
Unable to drop deep to receive, Šuker stayed pinned to the back line, waiting.
He believed Modrić would find him.
And sure enough, at the 73rd minute, Modrić suddenly looked up and made eye contact.
In that instant, Šuker understood perfectly.
Boom!
Modrić let fly a long, curved through ball.
It was a move he'd been wanting to try: "Šuker chasing the frisbee."
The ball dropped perfectly into the space behind the Russian defense. Šuker sprinted.
His first touch cut inward, dodging the chasing Kolodin.
He glanced up toward the center and faked a pass.
Kolodin panicked and scrambled to get back, sticking out a leg.
Šuker cut again, this time toward the byline.
"Šuker breaks through again! Kolodin just can't stop him!"
Kolodin reached out to tug his shirt in desperation—
But just as he touched the fabric, Šuker was already gone.
Šuker darted to the byline and whipped in a low cross into the six-yard box.
Russia's keeper guarded the near post tightly — no shooting angle.
The ball zipped across the face of goal.
Mandžukić muscled with Ignashevich and lunged in a sliding attempt — but missed.
The ball slid through…
At the far post, Kranjčar was waiting. He tapped it into the empty net.
"Kranjčar! Given a rare start today, and he made it count with a goal! Croatia extends the lead again!"
3–0.
Croatia led by three.
At 70+ minutes, with a 3-goal cushion, the outcome was essentially sealed.
Russia looked resigned. They used all their remaining substitutions on defense.
They weren't even trying to score now — they just didn't want the scoreline to get worse.
Seeing this, Bilić turned and said:
"Take Šuker off."
Van Stoyak nodded.
"No need to push anymore."
At the 81st minute, Croatia used their final substitution.
Šuker came off, Šimić came on.
"Šuker is being subbed off. Two goals and one assist today — he's kept his red-hot form in the national team as well."
"Šuker's excellent performance is the foundation of Croatia's victory tonight!"
As he left the pitch, the entire Maksimir Stadium stood and applauded.
Tens of thousands of fans gave Šuker a standing ovation.
They weren't just satisfied — they were proud.
"That was amazing, Šuker!"
"Keep it up!"
"Enjoy your vacation, haha!"
"We won! That was brilliant!"
"Take us to the Euro finals!"
As Šuker approached the bench, Croatian fans screamed with all their might.
He pumped his fist in the air, then slapped hands with Šimić and walked off.
"Let's go!"
After he stepped off the pitch, Van Stoyak leaned in close.
"That pendulum dribble — have you practiced it before?"
Šuker blinked, then nodded.
"My idol was Ronaldo. I practiced it on my own years ago. When I trained with him at the club, he even taught me some of the tricks."
Van Stoyak nodded.
"Use it sparingly — it puts a huge strain on your body."
Šuker smiled.
Van Stoyak was concerned about his long-term health. After all, Ronaldo's chronic knee injuries were largely linked to that very move.
He didn't want Šuker to follow in the same path.
But Šuker wasn't worried.
He had recovery cards.
He was Ironman Šuker!