The night before the big quarterfinal match against France, the hotel was alive with a quiet energy. The players were scattered throughout the building, preparing in their own ways for the biggest challenge they had faced together as a team. The future of the English national team rested on this match, and every member knew that the pressure was mounting.
Elian sat alone in his room, staring out at the neon-lit city skyline. The world was different now—soccer had evolved, but the thrill of competition, of representing your country, had remained unchanged. He had trained for years, fought through doubts, injuries, and failures, but tomorrow, all that mattered was the game.
His phone buzzed on the desk, and a message from Aria flashed across the screen.
Aria: "I'm thinking about you. Stay focused, okay? Just remember why you're doing this."
