PURPLE - Trent Alexander-Arnold

THIRTY FOUR

22/3/2019

Even though Chelsea had lost the Caraboa cup final a month ago Gareth Southgate had been beyond impressed with the talent Ella Beckham and Callum Hudson-Odoi had shown that night so both of them had made it into his senior team for this international break

But he had admittedly forgotten about the incident involving them and Kyle Walker during the final, and it had been tense during their week of training but luckily there had been no blowups so Gareth was beginning to think nothing would go wrong

He had spoken too soon though

Tonight England would be playing their first friendly game of the international break against the Czech Republic at home and Kyle Walker was in the starting lineup while Callum and Ella were on the bench for the start

And by half time England were already 2-0 up thanks to Harry Kane and Lucy Bronze so Gareth wanted to give his young players a chance during the second half. So he decided to make all three changes at once; Declan Rice for Beth England, Ella Beckham for Raheem Sterling, and Callum Hudson-Odoi for Dele Alli

He knew it was unexpected to put two 20 year olds and an 18 year old on the pitch for some of senior England's most experienced, regular and known players, but these three were right on their heels and they were hungry to play for England

And the truth was that as the older England players played more regularly they were becoming too comfortable in their places in the team and they needed to see that there were younger and more talented players chomping at their heels to be in the team

Gareth's decision looked to be completely paying off as Ella, Declan and Callum worked together to create a brilliant goal. 

Callum tackled the ball off one of the Czech players, and he dribbled around the next one who was near him before sending it up to Declan who had timed his run perfectly. The second Ella saw it meet Declan's foot she sprinted up into the final third of the pitch 

Declan was forced to face the wrong way as the Czech players surrounded him and made him unable to pass the ball the way he had wanted and for a second it looked as though their play had fallen apart. But Declan had played with Ella for 14 years and he knew where she would be so he backheeled it without looking and Ella received it exactly where he had expected it

Ella turned around the Czech player behind her and she smashed it into the back of the Czech goal to make the score 3-0 to England

And all looked to be perfect for England as Jadon Sancho made the score 4-0. Until the 85th minute though. 

Kyle Walker had moved further up the pitch since England would obviously win the game and he wanted his name on the score sheet too so he was attempting to take a shot on goal. He hit it to send it flying over the Czech player in front of him towards the goal

Ella could see the ball hurtling to the goal but she knew it would only reach the crossbar and she wanted to give England an even higher clean sweep so Ella dodged the player in front of her and sprinted out, pushing herself up so her head met the ball and pushed it into the net

Ella sprinted to the nearest corner and jumped up as the England fans roared happily, she was met with her team piling into a hug with her and her smile couldn't have been any bigger in that moment

But then her moment of glory was ruined as she and the team headed back to their own half and her eyes drifted to Kyle Walker who was scoffing, shaking his head and glaring at her. Ella sent him a confused look and this only made him angrier so he stormed over to the younger girl

"You couldn't let anyone else have a goal could you?!" Kyle shouted at her "You had to take the glory for yourself! You're a selfish brat!"

"Your goal wasn't going in!" Ella argued "I headed it so it would go in! You still got an assist so stop complaining!"