Monday, November 28, 2022
My friends and I skipped the first two games because we weren't too interested in them, but there was no chance I was missing the Brazil game again. I was currently in my room with a Cris, Nessa, Kai, Sophia, Frankie, and Cooper getting ready for the Brazil game. Portugal was playing after so everyone decided to have a spare jersey to change into for that game, it was either a Portugal jersey, or an Uruguay one.
We finished getting ready and headed towards the stadium. When we arrived at the stadium, we made our way to the box my family would be in for the Portugal game, since we could take those seats now and waited for the game to commence. Hugo arrived just before the game begun to join us.
6:00PM B R A Z I L V S S W I T Z E R L A N D
In the first half so far, Brazil has had several chances to score but has just fallen short because the goal keeper is on it and center back Nico Elvedi has had some great saves already. Halftime approached, and us football players discussed what Brazil had to do in order to score, we all agreed that Rodrygo had to come in.
After halftime, Rodrygo was subbed in on the 46th minute while we had to say goodbye to Paquetá. In the next few minutes, there were some more changes, and a yellow card handed to a player on each team due to fouls. In the 64th minute, Vini scores with an assist from Casimiro, but two minutes later, it is revoked due to bad placement on Richarlison's part.
"That wasn't an offside was it ?" Cooper asks. Ever since João taught him the offside rule, he's been very engaged trying to pinpoint offside goals.
"Well no, but," I start as the replay begins and I point at the screen. "Richarlison is in an offside position," I sigh.
"But he didn't even touch the ball, let alone score," Cooper says confused.
"He technically was involved in the play," João explains catching my attention.
"What are you doing here ?" I ask, "aren't you supposed to be in the locker room ?"
"Yeah," he nods, "so are you though, I was sent to get you," he shrugs.
I roll my eyes and sigh waving goodbye to my friends, and walking out of the room towards the viewing room with João following behind.
"Can we talk ?" He asks catching up to me.
"I'd rather not," I groan, speed walking to the room.
"Please," he pulls my arm back.
"I have nothing to say to you," I yank my arm out of his grasp.
"Then listen, because I have so much I want to say to you," he pleads.
"No, não, no," I smile. "In English, Portuguese and Spanish in case you didn't understand," I say continuing to walk.
"Vai, vai, vai," I hear a few Brazilian fans chant and turn my attention the the field.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL," the crowd cheers on Casimiro as he puts Brazil in the lead.
After celebrating Casimiro's goal, João and I continued on our way. I walked through the door of the viewing room and he pulled me back.
"We're in the locker room, everyone is ready to go, I just need my boots," he says zipping his jacket down to reveal he's ready to go.
"Okay we'll I need to change," I say and he points me in the direction of the bathroom.
I go into the bathroom to change and walk out to see João is waiting for me and I roll my eyes. Why can't this man just take a hint, I don't know how many times I have to tell him I don't want to be around him for it to stick.
"Sofia incoming," I knock on the locker room door.
The door swings open and I'm allowed in as Portugal players start making their way into the tunnel while the Brazilians begin to infiltrate the locker room.
"Bom jogo," I tell the guys, "nicely played."
"Beautiful finish," I walk over to Casimiro and hug him. He takes his jersey off and hands it to me.
"Thank you," he smiles, "for you, I'll have it washed first," he laughs taking it back and I agree. I say my goodbyes to the rest of the players and head under the tunnel with the Portugal team to wait for us to go out.
S C O R E: B R A Z I L S W I T Z E R L A N D
1 0
Once it's time for Portugal to go out, I wait until I'm introduced and go out to sing the national anthem again. After I finish, I wish the starting XI good luck and sit on the bench by Antonio Silva.
9:00PM P O R T U G A L V S U R U G U A Y
So far, not many chances have been created in the first half. Right before halftime, Nuno goes down and stays down for a bit, medics approach him on the field and he's ushered out and under the tunnel back into the locker room.
"I'm gonna go check on him," I tell Antonio and he nods.
I head back under the tunnel following the medics and Nuno. "Are you alright ?" I ask Nuno.
"I'll survive," he smiles at me as the medics continue to check him out.
The first half ends in a zero, zero tie and I hang back in the locker room with Nuno as the rest of the team join us. During halftime, I make small conversation with Nuno since he won't be playing anymore while the rest of the team strategizes.
It's soon time for us to head back out to the field and I sit next to Antonio again and Nuno sits next to me. The second half begins and a few minutes in, Neves goes down and there's people checking up on him but soon enough he's up and playing. A few minutes after that, we're all on our feet cheering on Portugal as there's a chance and there's our first shot on target for the night.
"BRUNOOOOOOOO," I scream watching him score. The crowd goes crazy.
In the next few minutes, there's a few changes but for the time being, only one for Portugal as another striker joins the field. I wish Rafael good luck as he steps onto the field replacing Ruben Neves.
Uruguay has another shot on target but Costa is quick to make sure they don't score. A few minutes after Suarez is subbed in, João carelessly fouled him and is rewarded with a yellow card. There's a few more shots taken but no goals and soon enough there's some changes again as my dad, João and Carvalho are subbed off and Uruguay makes a switch too.
The game seems to be coming to an end, but on the 90th minute, after a VAR revision, there's a penalty awarded to Portugal due to a handball on Uruguay's behalf. Bruno steps up to take the penalty and soon enough has Portugal fans on their feet chanting his name again as we celebrate another one of his goals. In the last additional minutes, there's a few more shots but no more goals ending the game in Portugal's favor.
S C O R E: P O R T U G A L U R U G U A Y
2 0
"Turn that frown upside down," Ruben says as he steps off the pitch, "we won."
I wanted Portugal to win, I'm rooting for them this World Cup, but it sucks to see Uruguay's chances of moving on slipping from their grasp, the sad faces weren't nice to look at. I stay still ignoring Dias.
"Sofia," he shakes me.
"Honey what's wrong ?" My dad asks.
"Fede," is all I can say before I'm sprinting to the other side of the field to hug him.
"What's wrong," Valverde asks as he hugs me tightly.
"What if you don't move on ?" I whisper hugging him for dear life.
"Your dad will win this one for us," he pats my head, "I know he will, but we still have one more chance, let's make the most of it."
I nod in agreement and we pull away as he walks me back to my dad and the rest of the Portugal team.
"Do you mind if I take her off your hands tonight ?" Valverde asks my dad.
"As long as she makes it to practice in the morning that's fine," he smiles at him and they hug, "what plans ?"
"Maybe walk around for a bit," Federico tells my dad.
My dad nods non agreement, "don't keep her out too long."
Federico nods, "I'm gonna get showered and I'll meet you by the locker rooms ?" He asks me hugging me goodbye and kissing the top of my head as I nod in agreement. He lets me go and walks over to the locker rooms.
"I'm happy you guys won," I say looking over at Dias. "It's just, it sucks to see my friends and their nations slowly falling out of the World Cup," I sigh.
"Unfortunately, that's the name of the game," Bernardo says coming up behind me hugging me. "You'll be okay ?"
"Yeah," I nod, "it's sad, but not enough to get me as upset as I was the other night," I sigh.
"That was something," the team laughs.
"What'd you guys see ?" I ask.
"Enough," Dias laughs.
"I fear I actually would've hit him had Edson not pulled me back," I laugh and so do they. I follow them behind as they too make their way to the locker room. I text my friends while I wait asking if any of them want to join Fede and I but they're all tired; how am I the one that wakes up the earliest, goes to sleep the latest, and they're tired.
I wait for Fede outside and soon he's out and we're walking towards the populated streets of Qatar that were full of people partaking in the various activities. We walked around for a bit and I spotted an ice cream shop and we went inside. After we got out ice cream we went and sat down at a bench.
"How's everything with you ?" He asks me trying to catch up.
I laugh nervously, "oh you know," I tell him all about João, I feel like this is the first time I let it all out start to finish, yes I told Kai and Sophia but with people around, I couldn't tell it to detail. Federico being Federico, the older, wiser and more mature of the two of us, advised me to speak to João, hear him out.
"Who is João though ?" He asks.
"Number eleven," I tell him.
"Ahhh yes, the one giving me death stares," he says and I laugh, "oh if looks could kill, but things may not have been what they seemed bird," he nudged me, addressing me by a common nickname most football players used for me. Mostly the older players, it was given to me by Kaká, it started off as Canary, he said I reminded him of his mother's bird upon meeting me, but he's the only one that called me canary, it was special, to everyone else it was just 'bird.'
I hum knowing he's right, but I'm extremely stubborn and I know what I saw.
"I've had more experience with this relationship stuff," he smiles at me.
"True, how's Mina, and the baby ?" I ask.
"They're good," he smiles at me, "they keep each other company, while they wait for me, and when I get back we wait for the new addition."
"She's pregnant ?!" I squeal and he nods "Fede congratulations !!" I hug him, "I'm so excited for you both."
He thanks me and then we hear someone scoff. I ignored it thinking it was a jealous João but I was surprised when a voice spoke up.
"Da pena ajena la mujer que anda con uno y con otro," (a woman that is with multiple men gives second hand embarrassment) the voice spoke.
I laugh knowing exactly who made the stupid comment. "Da pena ajena el morro que da su opinión sin que se la pidan," (the dude that gives his unsolicited opinion gives second hand embarrassment) I say. "Ala única que le debería dar pena ajena es a mi, porque tu comentario, solamente surgió de que si ando con uno y con otro, no es contigo," (the only one that should have second hand embarrassment is me, because your comment only came because if I'm with multiple men, none of them are you) I say standing up and snatching Fede's almost finished ice cream cone. "Truth is, you couldn't even land me if you had no competition," I say placing both ice cream cones on his head and smearing them all over.
"Who is that guy ?" Fede asks me as I reach for his hand and pull him away from Jeremy before he retorted. Valverde is older than me, wiser, and more mature, but he's also very hot headed, and I was one of his best friends, if Jeremy said another word, he wouldn't be playing tomorrow, because of Valverde, not because of lack of talent.
"Some loser I met at the club a couple weeks back," I sigh, "you think with João on my mind I'd even look at another man with heart eyes ?" I laugh, "he's delusional."
"So you are gonna talk to João ?" He asks.
"I don't know Fede, but I know I can't just shut my feelings for him off," I sigh, "I still love him."
My phone rings and I quickly pick it up seeing Is Piqué. I know Shakira left, but she left the kids with him, and I'm one of the only people they both trust to look after their kids, especially in Qatar. We agreed no contact, he can reach me through my dad, but my dad is probably sleeping, so I answer immediately thinking it's about his kids.
"Hello ?" I say.
"Pedri says you have his location, you need to come quick," he says a bit panicked.
"What's wrong with the boys ?" I ask worriedly checking Pedri's location, grabbing a hold of Fede, and walking back to the area we just left.
"The boys ?" He asks, "my boys ? They're fine, they're spending the night with your parents."
"Then what's this about ?" I say stopping dead in my tracks, running out of breath. I laugh at the sight before me, Hugo, Gavi AND Pedri holding João back while Piqué effortlessly holds Jeremy down, holding his phone in one hand, and his (Jeremy's) hands with the other while his knee is digging in his mid back keeping him down.
"Sof this isn't funny," Hugo says, "help."
"Let him go," I tell the three youngsters.
"Oh yeah, while I'm down and can't fight back," Jermey argued.
"Oh relax, he's not gonna touch you," I tell him.
"What makes you so sure ?" He asks.
"Because it's me that's asking," I reply as the guys let João go.
"I won't touch him, not because you're asking," he tells me, "but because he's down, that's not how I fight, let him up," he demands.
I place a hand on his chest, "relax Mohammad Ali," I roll my eyes.
"You'd let me at him if you knew what he said about you," João argues.
"What'd he say about her ?" Fede asks as he becomes interested.
"No, Federico, we're not doing this," I huffed, "stand down," I say placing my other hand on his chest as he stepped forward.
"But he said something about you," Fede argues.
"Who gives a fuck, he's a loser that doesn't deserve your attention," I say, "or yours," I say turning my attention to João, "you shouldn't have hit him."
"Bird if it wasn't him, it was gonna be one of us," I hear Piqué say.
I roll my eyes at his use of my nickname, "don't call me that," I sigh, "and would you get off him."
Pique does as told and I tell Jeremy to run away because my word was the only thing that was holding back what looked like a pack of wild dogs from tearing him to shreds. He does as told and sprints off. I calm things down and after some convincing, everyone heads to their hotels.
"What the hell was that ?" I ask João after we dropped off Hugo.
"I don't wanna talk about it," he huffs.
"I don't care," I roll my eyes, "talk."
"I know daddy's little girl isn't used to hearing no, but you're so good at dishing it out, you should take it just fine... no Sofia," he says as I'm standing there kinda hurt. "It's not always what you want, just because you say talk doesn't mean I will, because I don't want to."
"Fuck you," I say shoving him and opening the door to my room. I slam my door and go to sleep just the way I am.
João's POV
- E A R L I E R -
I was walking around with Hugo since everyone wanted to go back and Sofia ran off with that Uruguayan. I roll my eyes at the sole thought of it. I don't know why she currently hates me but I'll figure it out. I spot Pedri and Gavi in the sea of people and they wave us over.
I was standoffish with Pedri after hearing him and Sofia had history, but got over it when he explained they shared a kiss, on a date they went on, and agreed to stay friends after that. They're friends and that's it, just friends. The four of us are just hanging out, when all of a sudden I see the boy from the club approaching me, the same boy that was flirting with Sofia.
"Man, if you and that whore were just fucking, you shoulda let me know when you were done, you could've passed her to me," he chucked. Why'd he chuckle, what the fuck is funny ?
I didn't take a second to think about the consequences to my actions, as soon as my brain processed what he had said and that it was about Sofia, all I saw was red. Blinded by rage, I punched him. He went down and Hugo, Pedri and Gavi stood in front of me trying to hold me back while someone came up behind the Ecuadorian, held his hands behind his back and placed his knee on his mid back to keep him from getting up.
Sofia showed up and let him get away, she then practically dragged me back to the hotel demanding an explanation but I wouldn't give it to her. I was angry, and in the heat of the moment I said some things that maybe I shouldn't have. Hopefully she'll let me explain tomorrow, all I want to do is talk to her and when she asked me to talk I refused. I was angry, and I took it out on her, I feel stupid, I should've explained myself, maybe she would've told me why she's upset and we can get back to normal again. I let my emotions get the better of me and now I'm left alone in the hallway, I huff and hurry in to my room to get ready for bed.