The second half kicked off with a renewed energy in the stadium, the crowd's roar swelling as the players took to the pitch with an almost tangible sense of urgency. Elian adjusted his stance, eyes locked on the ball as it was rolled back to Milo. He could feel the subtle shift in the air—this was the moment they'd been waiting for. No more holding back.
Meta's voice echoed once more in his mind, low and insistent. "You know the drill. Let's see what you've really got, kid. They won't give you another chance."
Elian nodded slightly, the weight of the words settling in. Italy had been solid in defense, but there had been cracks. There always were. The challenge was finding them, exploiting them. He was ready to do just that.
