Journey to glory

Chapter 32

We are now going out for a warm up. Which has absolutely flown by. The stadium is about 3/4 full which we were told that's what it would be. We headed back inside and did our final changes before getting a speech from sarina and Leah. We headed out to the tunnel and stood which felt like ages. You could hear the crowed above our heads. When the referees and Spain came out the subs went to the benches and we walked out to the the national anthems. I have never heard such a loud crowed. Not like I've played for many years yet but still coming from a small town if you could even call it that to this, this is massive.

After the anthems were sung and Leah got us tip off. It started and damn were we under pressure very quickly with mapi with the long balls, Ona with the pace coming from the back and of course alexia doing her normal skills. But we adapted well with Leah and Millie being an absolute brick wall and Keira having her great vision. I managed to understand the game a lot better. Keira and Georgia saw this after a while and started to give me a lot more passes to my feet which than I would do a quick skill and move the ball. I even managed to megs patri at one stage and me being me yelled megs before carrying on.

Unfortunately for us Spain managed to score the first goal with an unlucky attempted pass from bronze. And bonmati scored it. It was then half time. We went back into the dressing room and the words from sarina that stood out the most were "how much do you want to win, how much do you want to inspire the young girls who want to play, how much do you want change for woman's football" that's all she really needed to say. Yes she said to play more balls through the middle which meant I needed to get on the ball more and go forward.

We went back out and we desperately fought for every ball. At the 50 min I somehow won the ball back and drove with it. I passed it to beth who than crossed it in to Beth England who score a lovely first touch goal. We knew we were back in it. Around the 60 min Beth England came off for alessia and beth mead came off for chloe Kelly. We now had a corner and I was taking it for some bizarre reason. I took a few steps back looking around at the crowed amazed I'm here before curling the ball onto Millie's head who banged it into the goal. She ran straight over to me "what a ball" she screamed over the noise "what a head" I replied laughing.

At the 80 min rach committed and unlucky tackle because of a slip right outside the box and she got a yellow. Alexia being Alexia managed to get it right under the crossbar top left corner. Sarina subbed daly off as precaution for another yellow and Alex greenwood came on. Unfortunately we couldn't score so it's going to extra time at 2-2. We stayed on the pitch for the break while sarina was giving us more tactics. Main thing is don't give away fouls and don't let Spain have possession for a lot of time.

We went back out for extra time and we were always so unlucky. I even managed to hit the cross bar 3 times like how does that even happen. Spain were also playing very well. I could feel my muscles start to cramp. I believed I would have been taken off by now but clearly not. The referee blows his whistle to signal for penalties. Hopefully I won't take one, I do well in training but I won't be able to do one here, on my senior debut against Spain no way the pressure is way too high. Our first 5 was Georgia, Keira, Millie, Leah, alessia Russo as they volunteered to take one. I didn't even look up so I think they got the hint.

Leah went for the coin toss and won the home end side. So all the England fans were behind the goal. Georgia went first and scored hers of course. Alexia scored for Spain. Keira scored hers and patri scored as well. Millie scored and so did mapi. The pressure is absolutely building. The stadium goes silent for a minute and than a reaction happens. Leah's unfortunately got saved and Ona scored hers. Alessia has to score hers. I'm standing next to hemp who is practically shaking. Alessia makes a run up and bangs it straight down the middle into the goal. Now Mary has to save bonmatis shot and she doesn't need to as it hits the bar.

We are now onto sudden death alex scores hers but so does Garcia, Lucy scores but so does pina. Chloe unfortunately missed hers but it's okay as gonzalez shot got saved. Our 9th taker is hemp who is too nervous so she hits the bar. Lucky Mary's save Leilas shot somehow. And now either goes me or Mary. I should take one I believe I can but what if I miss. I just can't. Leah walks over to me and looks straight at me "I'm proud of you y/n, you can do this" she says while giving me a hug "what if I..." "no you won't" is all she says before giving me a shove towards the goal. I heard a small series of encouraging words from the girls behind me. I meet Mary before reaching the box "you will be fine go bottom corner like you always do" she says I give her a nod and a "thank you" I feel my hands shaking. I pick up the ball and place it at the edge of the penalty area. I take a few steps back before looking up at the crowed who have gone silent. Or maybe that's just me. I feel my heart beating out of my chest. I look down and than take a glance to the right side of the goal.

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Ya sorry for stopping it their I had this saved already and I think I'm dying of heat exhaustion. It's not funny.

But will u score? I have only missed 2 penalty's in my life and I have taken a lot of them.