Are the people expecting a block a vocal minority or do the majority really think that?
Title. This match has been a strange one as it's betrayed everyone's expectations and been a lot tighter than predicted. The situation actually reminds me of Kunigami in the PXG match where a group of the fanbase were adamant until the very end that he was going to awaken and have a big moment, despite him never really getting much focus during that arc. In the same vein, France have never looked totally dominant in this match and Loki has had little narrative relevancy; it's been closely fought throughout, with both Loki and Rin barely getting involved, and Hugo taking the spotlight. Honestly, I've felt for a while now that people need to adjust their expectations and instead look at what is happening rather than what they want to happen.
Personally, I don't understand the confidence in Loki at all. Not because he can't do it, but because the ongoing narrative doesn't support him doing it. There's no reason/justification for him blocking the goal other than "it feeling like he should in order to raise the stakes and provide growth opportunities for Isagi/Rin". I do agree with that perspective, for the record, but there's more than one way to write a story. I don't believe Loki's trajectory has him doing something that decisive.
As Loki is, he has next to no relationship with Isagi/Rin, he doesn't believe Japan can create the world's best striker, he felt no pressure during this match, and he has an unshakable god complex believing in his destiny. This isn't like Rin being challenged for the first time in the 4v4 and sweating his ass off to win. Loki still thinks he's above all this and crucially, Loki has no reason to believe Isagi would beat Hugo in the first place.
Meanwhile, Isagi and Rin had two very important scenes together in this arc. Right before the match, with Rin reaffirming their rivalry, and during the match, with Rin sticking up for Isagi to Hugo, saying his destiny isn't 2nd best but instead to rival him. This is of course off the back of the "double aces/two #1s" NEL conclusion. I'm confused how, in this context, people see the twin volley as some problematic outcome for the two. Kaneshiro loves pairing them together as "equal" rivals. This outcome reads to me as an extension of the PXG match (destiny of the ultimate TL x ultimate genius) - licky Rin and white Isagi embodying this.
This is an unprecedented situation with a game-deciding moment being split across chapters, so there isn't really something to compare it to. Barou (1-1 vs Bastard) and Kaiser (2-1 vs PXG) both scored goals with the scene being split across chapters, but those were in the middle of a game. Anything can happen, but I'm surprised to feel in the minority on this. Let me know if I'm wrong lol.