#THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SENDING UEFA HIGH ASKS I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

[liverpool-enjoyer]

THE CHRISTIAN PULISIC ELECTION HEADCANON 😭😭😭 Do you have any more headcanons for the few American students?

in fact i do!!!

ok regarding the christian election headcanon. i cannot stress enough how fucking EXCITED this boy was to get his fellow students (underage, non-american students) registered to vote 😭😭 bless his heart

ok ive spent a lot of time considering why tf these random ass american kids are at uefa in the first place

so christians mom is actually the mayor of dc!! (a random fictional mayor. i have no fuckin clue who the actual mayor of dc is)

and she knows her public school system is utter dogshit (again idk if thats actually true ive never been to dc) so she pulled some strings to get her son into some cushy private school he technically has no business being at

as for the other american kiddos (weston, gio),,, basically theyre all one big friend group n theyre christians friends from elementary n middle school

and when christian was aboutta start at uefa he was sad that he was gonna leave all his friends behind

so he was like. mom 🥺 im gonna be lonely without my friends at my new school 🥺 can you please use your important person powers so i can take them with me 🥺

and she was like. fine 🙄. n now christian gets to go to school w his friends!!

youll notice i didnt mention tim weah before. thats cause hes a different story

hes also at uefa due to his parents pulling strings. yknow cause his dads the fucking PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA. a fact that makes me do a double take every time i hear it.

stop me if youve heard this one before: gio reynas parents actually blackmailed his fucking VOLUNTEER, SUNDAY LEAGUE SOCCER COACH to get their son more minutes.

in an ironic twist of fate, serigo uses this incredibly embarrassing information to make gios life miserable

the amerigang doesnt even like soccer that much tbh, but all the other uefa students play it n they wanted to feel included

they much prefer baseball, n can be found at nationals park most weekends

the place they most often hang out at is christians house in colonial village

gio and christian find weston and tims stories of the shenanigans of their class (mosty revolving around federico and dusan) wildly entertaining

several students have approached christian asking if he can talk to his mom abt getting sergio banned from the district

kenan likes to follow weston around, so he just,,, hangs out w the american kids sometimes. they fw him.

gio is a freshman, while christian tim n weston are sophomores

none of them are old enough to drive, which makes hanging out kind of a bitch

christian tries to hang out w the croatian kids sometimes bc hes, in his own words, "practically one of them"

yeah they do NOT fw him

[moonbeambucky]

The Price of Gold (Part 1)

Pairing: Lance Tucker x Reader Word Count: 2211 Warnings: sports talk, brief mention of real life gymnastics sex abuse scandal

Summary: As a sports journalist you’ve traveled the world interviewing famous athletes. You’ve loved your job up until you find out your next article is on the last person in the world you ever wanted to talk to, Lance Tucker.

A/N: This is my submission for @green-eyeddragonfanfiction Dragon’s 3k Follower Creative Content Challenge. Congrats!! My prompt was “I can’t be in love with you!” gif source (x)

THE PRICE OF GOLD MASTERLIST

Your eyes blinked a few times to disrupt the strain of staring at a computer screen for far too long. You had almost rubbed them with your fingers but thankfully remembered you were wearing makeup and looking like a raccoon is not something you wanted to do, especially not at work.

You were in the homestretch of making edits to your article In Depth, a monthly feature you were proud to be writing for over the last year. You had come a long way, writing for your high school’s newspaper to today working for ESPN in New York. Your determination to work in sports journalism led you to leave your home of sunny Florida for the bitter cold of Illinois for college. At Northwestern you honed your skills, covering the various athletic games of your school for their website which ultimately led to an internship at the Northwest Herald. After being hired you spent years working up the ranks until you were offered your position with ESPN. Life was good.

Stretching your arms out you yawned deeply, reaching for your nearly empty mug of coffee, but you were relieved to know that you finished ahead of schedule and sent it for review. The publishing date for your Cristiano Ronaldo article had moved up significantly since he became the first player to score 100 goals in the UEFA Champions League.

After a long needed stretch you walked to the office kitchen, pouring a fresh cup of coffee before returning to your desk. Sipping on the warm brew you checked emails, a smile stretching across your face as you replied to Neymar’s agent who was securing dates for your interview with the popular footballer; a trip to Paris on the company’s dime to do so is an added bonus.

This is what made the difference in your writing, the reason why your articles were so popular. You didn’t just interview the athlete, you spent time with them, observing the person they truly were outside of the court, field or wherever they had to be “on”, yet you had a natural way of relaxing them, allowing the person behind the athlete to shine through.

The ringing phone is a welcomed interruption from the computer screen. Alyssa, your editor’s assistant, is calling to ask you to come upstairs. Normally being called into your boss’s office would be panic inducing but you quickly learned that was just how Susan Treston was; she wanted to bring the best out in everyone and would often call people in to brainstorm ideas or give them praise.

The elevator doors opened and you made small talk with Alyssa before she ushered you inside the large office with floor to ceiling windows and a beautiful views of Central Park that always knocked you off your feet. Taking a seat in front of the desk you rubbed the chill off of your arms from the cool air conditioning. Glancing around you looked at Sue’s photos with different athletes, chuckling at the height difference of her and Shaquille O'Neal.

Susan walked in briskly, harshly clearing her throat from a gulp of coffee as she greeted you and sat down.

“Ahh Y/N. I just skimmed over the Ronaldo piece. Great stuff!”

“Thanks Sue,” you replied, beaming a smile of pride at her comment. “You’ll get the Brady article by tomorrow,” you said with confidence, knowing you were almost through with it, along with a few more that were close to finishing. Sue smiled back, appreciating all of the dedication you had to your work. “Oh and I think I’ll be packing my bags soon!” you nearly sang, excited at the prospect of going to France.

“Yes that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. You’re from Spring Hill, right?” she asked.

Your head tilted in slight confusion, wondering what your small Floridian hometown had to do with Neymar. “Um yeah,” you hesitantly replied, trying to hide the concern in your voice.

“Do you know Lance Tucker?”

Her question halts time, like a car that stopped short by slamming on the brakes, feeling as if your body bounced back against the seat in slow motion. Your heart began to beat a rapid rhythm as queasiness washed over you. Suddenly Sue’s office feels hot, unbearably humid much like the weather you grew up with. Beads of sweat begin to pool around your hairline and your jaw is so tense you feel as if your teeth will shatter. Your heels dig into the carpet as you mull over her question.

Who doesn’t know Lance Tucker? The gold and silver gymnastics medalist whose cocky face was plastered all over Wheaties boxes and magazines alike after his wins, and again in recent times after the controversies surrounding him. But you know what she’s asking, do you know him.

Lance grew up in Spring Hill too and despite wishing otherwise you knew him. At four years old your family moved across the street from him and you became fast friends. You hadn’t seen him since you were in high school and he was focused on training for the Olympics. You hadn’t spoken since though a small part of you wished the reason was because of the intense training or his newfound celebrity status after winning but no, your friendship ended before that.

Swallowing the lump in your throat you finally replied, “Yeah, of course I know him, he’s famous ‘specially for a small town but, uh, I don’t know him,” you lied.

“You went to Springstead High School, like him?” she questioned though it felt more like an interrogation.

Forcing a relaxed expression to help mask your lies you smiled before answering, “Yeah but I don’t think we were in the same grade. I might have seen him in the halls but I don’t really remember, it was so long ago, you know?”

Sue shrugged, seemingly accepting your answer. “Either way, I want you on this one.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Your next In Depth, with Lance Tucker.”

No. This can’t be happening. You repeat that over and over again as you find yourself stuck in a nightmare. Your trip to Paris has been rerouted to Hell, and truth be told you would rather interview the devil because at least you know his character unlike… You shudder at the thought of that man.

You began to explain and pathetically beg to her about how much work you’ve put in to making arrangements for the Neymar interview, even telling her about your latest inside tip on how he might be traded. “I can bang out a great story. We’ll be breaking major news Sue!” you tried desperately to sell your idea to her but she shook her head.

“I’ll have Josh break Neymar, I need you on this one.”

“Why?” you attempted to hide the anguish in your question. “Why me?” you practically whined.

“Tucker is opening a gymnastics facility in Spring Hill.”

Your head tilted in confusion. Lance had quickly abandoned his hometown after winning, moving to Los Angeles to continue his career and his “brand.” He endorsed everything from sneakers to chapstick, living it up in a cliffside mansion with a rotation of beautiful women before he eventually became a coach for USA Gymnastics Women’s Team until the scandals hit.

There was a sexual harassment claim and a former student accused him of fathering her child. He was cleared of all accusations and the paternity test backed that up but in light of the allegations against USAG’s team doctor Larry Nassar, Lance was dropped by the Olympics Committee, stating they wanted to bring in fresh talent when in reality they wanted to distance themselves from anyone with negative press attached to them.

Lance had stepped away from the spotlight over the last year, something that surprised you greatly considering that once Lance had the taste of fame he soaked it up like a sponge. He resurfaced briefly a few months ago when it was reported he was making an appeal against the committee's decision, requesting to be reinstated.

“Sue, I think I’m the wrong person for this. Heather has covered more gymnastics and I think she could…”

“You’re wrong Y/N,” she stopped you mid-sentence. “With the scandals behind him Tucker could still make it in L.A., I want to know the real reason he chose Spring Hill and you’re the best person to get that from him.”

You nod, pressing your lips together, feeling the uncomfortable tension that hung in the air. Your hometown connection is her ticket to getting the story and there was nothing you could do about it. You left her office with a forced smile, resting your forehead against the cool walls of the elevator as you rode it down to your floor.

Alyssa would be sending you Lance’s contact information. You have two months until print, knowing if any major news in his case broke sooner so too would your story. As the doors opened you wondered if you should press the button for Sue’s floor again, confess the truth about your connection with Lance and why you couldn’t do this article. Then again, maybe it would work against you. You prided yourself on your objective journalism, something rare in the media field today.

Your last words to Lance echoed in your head, “I never want to see you again!” You remember the conviction you felt, the fire in your veins, the anger that boiled your blood all masking the sorrow that burned beneath the surface.

“Hey, d’you wanna go to the Knicks game tonight? Chris bailed on me,” the cheery voice of your coworker Heather asked.

Exhaling a sigh you replied, “Wish I could but I have to get started on my next In Depth”. Your response prompted her to ask who the article would be on and swallowing harshly you said his name for the first time in years, “L-Lance Tucker.”

Heather’s eyes widened, her mouth dropped open in surprise growing into the largest smile you’ve ever seen on a human being. “Holy fuck Y/N! Are you shitting me?” she nearly shouted over the quiet office causing a few people to glare in your direction. “I’m so jealous of you right now!”

“You really shouldn’t be,” you grumbled.

“Are you kidding? He’s hot as fuck and you’ll be spending so much time with him. Remember when Twitter thought you were hooking up with Steph Curry?”

You laughed uncomfortably, “Um yeah that was not cool,” remembering how many times you apologized to his wife Ayesha on behalf of the internet and thankfully she understood. “I don’t want anything to do with Lance Tucker!”

“Why not?” Heather nearly scoffed, the typical reaction one might have considering they didn’t know him like you did.

Your emotions where starting to get the best of you, all this talk of Lance making it feel like the walls were closing in. “I… I just don’t like him... or gymnastics okay?!”

“Pffft, well that’s a lie,” she laughed. “We covered Rio together, we went crazy over Simone Biles’ wins!”

“Everyone knows women’s gymnastics are different,” you chuckled. “The truth is,” the truth in part at least you thought, “I’m giving up a huge article with Neymar for this. I even asked Sue if you could have this but no, she wants me ‘cause of the ‘hometown connection’”, you quoted with your fingers.

She gasped, turning a few more heads as she shouted, “You’re from his hometown?!”

“Well, yeah, but I don’t know him,” you firmly lied again.

As Heather rambled on about her crush on Lance Tucker your thoughts drifted you away like a cloud, one that was dark and heavy, ready to burst and rain down on the world below. Your history with Lance was in the past and if it wasn’t for this stupid assignment that’s where it would have stayed.

Heather left you to continue working and you stared at Alyssa’s email with Lance’s contact information for a solid five minutes before composing your own email.

It was past five and you had rewritten what you wanted to say at least fifty times, reviewing it now for the tenth time. You cringed while reading it; the email laced with lies and buffed up language to play to his ego.

Dear Mr. Tucker,

My name is Y/N Y/L/N and I’m a journalist at ESPN. I would be very interested in featuring you and your incredible athletic accomplishments for my feature “In Depth”. I would love to discuss your Olympic wins, the opening of your upcoming training center and of course get a firsthand account of the unjust actions taken against you by the US Olympics Committee. I would be honored to hear from you so we can arrange to meet in person.

Best,

Y/N

The mouse hovered over the send button and with a quick click it was gone. You felt queasy, knowing he was going to get that email. Maybe he wouldn’t recognize your name, you couldn’t be the only Y/N Y/L/N in the world. Yet a link to your biography on ESPN’s website was part of your email signature. If he didn’t recognize your name he would definitely recognize your photo. Even a pompous, cocky asshole like Lance Tucker could never forget his first love.

PART 2

[ildirigente]

Gerard Piqué Gigi, thanks for meeting me at the training ground here in Turin. I read a lot about you. I read your parents and sisters are all athletes too.

Gianluigi Buffon Yes. I come from a family of athletes. I always knew sport was my future, ever since I was a kid. Mum and Dad were both national-level athletes. My two sisters played volleyball in the first division. One even won the volleyball Champions League, unlike me. I was the only one left. As the youngest in a family of famous professional athletes, I wanted to prove my abilities and show them I could also make it. I was lucky to get into football and become a goalie.

Piqué What’s your first football memory as a child?

Buffon My first memory? I think I was four. The ’82 World Cup that Italy won.

Piqué I wasn’t even born!

Buffon I was too small to understand the World Cup, but I remember seeing all the grown-ups gathered around the TV, excitedly cheering Italy on. I was playing football outside and realised that I enjoyed playing with the ball. I spent the afternoons playing football and listening to them shouting in joy or in despair with the national team.

Piqué You started in Parma, playing your first match at 17 against Milan, and did not let a single goal in.

Buffon Yes.

Piqué A goalkeeper’s dream.

Buffon Yes.

Piqué How did it feel to be so young and starting for such an important team as Parma, one of the best teams in Italy at that time?

Buffon In the mid-’90s, for around 10 years, Parma was one of the best in Europe. In 10 years they won the UEFA Cup twice, an Italian Cup and a UEFA Super Cup. It was a team of the highest level. It was an important match. We were league leaders, drawing on points with Milan, which had some great champions: Baggio, Weah, Savićević, Maldini. I was barely 17 and I had to play. In the morning I was told I would be playing and I’m proud to say I that was not afraid. I remember at that moment I was really happy because it was my chance to show the world who Buffon was, and that he was good goalie. I remember joy beat fear before a crucial match.

Piqué Then at 19 you were capped for Italy’s national team. You went to Russia.

Buffon It was the fifth or the sixth time coach Maldini had chosen me, but I hadn’t played before, because other goalkeepers, like Peruzzi or Pagliuca, deserved it more. It was the qualifiers for the World Cup in France. We were playing Russia in Moscow. In the 25th minute, Pagliuca got a knock on the knee and he asked to be taken out. I was an enthusiastic kid. I feared nothing. But when I saw I was on, I was not so glad because the pitch was covered in snow. It was such an important match in terms of enabling Italy to qualify. I started to warm up and was on in two minutes. Once on the pitch I concentrated hard. Fear left me, and I concentrated hard for an hour. Five minutes after I came on, Russia had a great chance to score, and I made a great save to my left, which helped me really get into the match.

Piqué You’ll go down in history as one who has played in five World Cups. Only three people have done this: you, Matthäus and … yes, and a Mexican.

Buffon A Mexican goalkeeper.

Piqué How do you feel?

Buffon Good. Proud. It’s a long haul. It takes a lot to be continuously up to scratch.

Piqué Is it a lot of work?

Buffon You need talent, but also effort, to be able to suffer as you do sometimes. It is gratifying, as only a few of us have played in five World Cups. It was great to play two in Europe, one in Asia, one in Africa and one in America.

Piqué I hadn’t realised!

Buffon I’ve played on every continent. It would have been special to play in a sixth World Cup, but sometimes you have to be content. I didn’t have the courage to play in a sixth World Cup.

Piqué In your time playing for Italy, winning the World Cup in Germany in 2006 must have been the best. What do you remember about it? How did you feel?

Buffon The way we experienced the final of the German World Cup was special for the Italians, apart from the victory. There were lots of Italian immigrants who made us feel like we were playing at home. I remember a lot of happiness, partying, emotional support. We never felt alone. I have two magnificent memories, the semifinal against Germany in Dortmund.

Piqué 2–0.

Buffon Two-to-zero, but one of the most nerve-racking moments of my life. When I think about it, I feel bad. How can anybody bear such tension and emotion? Against Germany it was terrible. Then winning 2–0 in extra time. When we got to the hotel at 5 a.m. there were 10,000 people waiting.

Piqué Incredible.

Buffon The special thing was that after beating Germany we were calm, like we’d already won the World Cup. It was crazy.

Piqué It’s not easy to get to the final and celebrate as though you’ve won the World Cup. Yeah, that’s the worst!

Buffon It was madness. Twelve years later I look at France and can see how strong they were. We thought we’d won, but we had to play a really strong team. A team that makes you think you can beat them gives you the enthusiasm, the strength to beat any opponent. We were on a streak. We feared no one and thought we could beat anyone. Surprisingly, I was less nervous for the final against France. I slept six or seven hours before the match against Germany, and only two before playing France. I remember the discomfort, because of the strong emotions that were hard to take in, so it was hard to rest. It’s not easy. I clearly remember that after our victory we were not able to feel happy — because we had placed so much energy and emotion on the sacrificial altar, so as to speak. The joy of winning the World Cup came long after our victory.

Piqué Then there was South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014, when Italy didn’t do well, and you didn’t qualify for 2018. Do you think calcio, Italian football, needs to reassess and look for different solutions to return to the top?

Buffon I think … something’s wrong. I can’t believe Italy is not producing talent like before. When I joined the national team, there was Baggio, Del Piero, Totti, Inzaghi, Montella, Vieri — great, talented players. In the last 10 years Italy has had a good team. We’re not a bad team at all, but without the talented players we used to have, without a certain class of players, it is difficult to get results, victories. Pride and the sense of belonging have improved over the last 10 years. We have had a poor record, but we did get to the European finals in 2012, a good presence in 2016. Our pride helps us do more than we could hope for.

Piqué Do you think Serie A, in competition terms, is a bit below, say, the Premier League or La Liga, and that Juventus is the only Champions League team that could win it?

Buffon Maybe. It might be true. But I also think there are teams and national teams, like France, who always had players abroad. Spain too, they always had plenty of players abroad. Our problem is not the competition, but an individual one, especially for the players.

Piqué Lack of talent?

Buffon Yes. Serie A might be lower level, but if you continue to produce good players, they’ll go off to play for Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid. The national team stays high level. But except for Verratti, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, we don’t have players, except on Juventus, who play for the great teams in Europe. That’s the issue.

Piqué A turning point in your career, talking about Juventus, is when you were downgraded to Serie B, but you decided to stay with the club. It looked like you stayed at Juventus out of love. But it was also a huge risk. You could have chosen other clubs and competed to win the Champions League, yet you chose to stay and play Serie B. How was it to stay in Serie B? Was it the right decision?

Buffon When I decided to stay in Serie B I was glad to do so, because I think there are some men, some players, who have the opportunity to give the sport some hope through their decisions, for the public, for the fans. It was a time when somebody like me needed to send a message: That players have feelings too and there is more to life than popularity and money. I would do it again. Then we won Serie B. It was a fun year. And after two good years being second or third came two or three very bad years, when Juventus was unrecognizable. We lost our spirit, our identity, our work ethic. Some years we finished sixth or seventh, and I would say to myself, “Why on earth did I choose this?” But I said that quietly, because I’m usually a positive person, an optimist. I am sure that hard work and good behaviour always do the trick. I’ve always said so. Six years later, when I wore the championship shield again, I was so happy. It was a tough choice. Six very rough years. When you are used to winning … six years not playing much in the Champions League. I didn’t get to play much in European competitions. With a bit of effort, we made a comeback.

Piqué Did you ever think about leaving during those six years? It is surprising that in your 23-year career you’ve played for only two teams, and both in Italy. Didn’t you think about playing abroad?

Buffon I would have liked to because I like being around different people, other ways of life, of thinking. It sounded appealing. But deep down I feel very Italian. I know Italy has its limitations, but the world I know makes me smile and I like it. As a figure in sports, I didn’t and still don’t want to leave Italy as long as I don’t have to.

Piqué You’ve been playing professionally for 23 years. Football has changed a lot, and as a goalkeeper you’ve seen how goalies now play more with their feet. You’ve seen this transition, goalies using their feet more and more, but you don’t really need it.

Buffon It has been a good change for me, a just change, because football has improved. It is more exciting and less time is wasted. I also think that, personally, it has made me improve, because all goalkeepers have to play more with their feet and play differently. You have to be able to kick and move out to the field. It’s a more complicated job than before. It is better for me, because I’m 40 and I’m still playing, because I like to compete and to improve.

Piqué A few months ago, you said this might be your last year. But I’ve talked to Chiellini, and he told me that Buffon is not done yet. Any news on this? Am I missing something? Will we be seeing Buffon for another two years?

Buffon No surprises. I think that at my age you have to evaluate the situation a month, a week, at a time. Because it is important for athletes like you and me, who have always played at the top, to be doing our best, struggling to be the best, to stay at the top. You have to be physically well, because you don’t want poor results for the sake of your pride. I’m Buffon, and that is who I want to be till the last minute. And when I’m not myself anymore, I’ll go. In a couple of months, I’ll meet with the president and we’ll evaluate the situation calmly. I’m very happy at the moment. I’m happy playing, because I love the atmosphere — I’m with my friends and I know I can help on the pitch. The day I can’t, no problem. I’ve had a great career anyway.

Piqué Are you afraid of retirement? You’ve been a professional for longer than you have not. Are you afraid of retirement, leaving football and starting a new life that is unknown to you?

Buffon I would be dishonest if I told you I’m not afraid. But deep down I feel calm and at peace because I know I’m naturally curious. And the day I stop playing football I will find a way not to get bored and I’ll stay busy. After all, players like us, who have lived the game intensely, have to keep their minds occupied and have a reason to get up, something to fight for. I’ll never get bored or miss being in the public eye. The only problem is that my life has been organised for me for 23 years. Every morning you are given a timetable. But when you have 24 hours ahead of you with nothing to do, that could be a problem.

Piqué Will you stay in the profession? Is there a role you’d like to take when you retire?

Buffon I’d like to take courses to become a director, a manager or a trainer, and then choose an option without rushing.

Piqué Lastly, you said football has made you a better person. What would you have been if not a footballer?

Buffon I surely would have been a worse person. I probably would have been a P.E. teacher, like my parents. I was heading in that direction. I’ve always liked sports and being around children, but football has made me a better person because I’ve always thought the group is more important. It is nice to be part of a group and share victories and defeats. It makes you less selfish. I find that truly beautiful. Being more altruistic and sharing with others is the best thing in life. Being popular has positives and negatives. Negative like when you do something wrong, and it is exaggerated on the TV, in the newspapers. Those consequences from that exaggeration make you think and say to yourself that you don’t deserve to suffer this outcome. “I must try not to provoke them, behave better and be a better person.” These years of confusion with so many problems have helped me improve.

Piqué As a player, I know football is better with you in it. It was a pleasure having you here today and talking to you. Did you know that when I was 21 I had to choose between Barça and Juventus? I could have shared a changing room with you.

Buffon Really?

Piqué Yes. Thanks, very much.

[bongaboi]

Revons Plus Grand, Chapter 15

Revons Plus Grand

Chapter 15:

Shangri-La

The apartment room in Saint-Germain-en-Laye for Alex Hunter and his mate Danny Williams, two young footballers on loan from Manchester United and Newcastle United, was a comfy, spacious apartment that had two bedrooms with baths, a kitchen, a laundromat and a living room that included an XBox One, sofas, a table and a high definition television with every major channel in France and the world minus the adult channels. The key for those two players was to ensure that their collective focus was on training and playing for the club so that they could eventually have some minutes in the UEFA Champions League tie against FC Barcelona.

After a busy day at training on Thursday, Alex's iPhone rang. "Hello?" he asked as Danny was busy simming a match between PSG and Bordeaux with Paris as the road team.

"Good afternoon, Alex," said Jose Mourinho's right hand man, Andy Butler.

"Andy, how are ya?"

"Good. So, how are you integrating into Unai's system?"

"Pace is slightly different, but they run a 4-3-3 with Edinson, Angel and Julian up front. They're bullish about control, possession and tempo. I make a nice fit, according to them."

"Good. So you need to study their system and when your name is called during a match, listen to his instructions and follow it to the smallest exact details. You and Danny, understoof?"

"Got it, Andy."

"Also, if you turn on the news..."

"What's going on?" He turned on the news. "Oh my..."

"It seems, as you can see, that there has been unrest in the impoverished northeast portions of the city, and the suburbs there, due to what happened to be a crime committed by the local police. Be mindful of where you travel. You're based near the Camp, within walking distance. Stay with your mates and if you need to travel on free time outside of training and matches, make sure your have a team staff member with you. The two young ladies who do the housekeeping can help you in that department. Have you already met them?"

"Yeah, I have met Jose and Sadako. They are very nice people who are my age and got my back in case anything goes down. They cook some really good food too, according to what I've been told."

"Good to hear. They are more resourceful than you think and might even save your life so be very nice and grateful to them. Other that that, make sure to always eat, train and sleep well and don't let any of the recent events on the news distract you or Danny."

"Yes, Andy."

"Right, so with that, I'll let you two be. Good luck on Friday against Bordeaux. This is an important tuneup match for Tuesday, and you know who they are facing."

"Barcelona and Messi, of course," Alex said.

"Good lad. See you then, talk to you later."

"Bye-bye." And Alex hung up.

"Was that your boss Andy?" asked Danny.

"Yep. He told us that some crazy stuff is happening in another part of Paris, on the other side. That's not our issue. We gotta get ready for training tomorrow, that's our focus. You know what to do, eh bruv?"

"Got it, bruv."

"Well done."

"Such a pity," said Georgette Lemare to Sadako Shimohara back at the Camp the next day. "If rioting is the only way the marginalized can think of to address the crimes committed by the police, the future of Paris may be bleak as a stiff peak."

"Peak. Stiff. You mention such mysterious rhetoric and that can only send chills down my spine as I watch our boys hold the line," she replied.

"Okay, we can stop with the rhyme and call time." Laughter followed a confused pause that refreshed. In the distance, some of the players taking a knock were jogging, trying to shake off the niggles and naggles. "Look at Alex. Look at him, look at him. He just likes to juggle that ball, this way and that, then freestyle with the dribbling before passing it to others."

"Really?"

"Watch this."

With a passionate volley of burning love, the ball caressed the net with ease. Swish. It eluded the stagnating, struggling, stumbling and bumbling netminder, the young Alphonse Areola, he who had it tough late against Lille in a howler worthy of a blooper reel, a shocker that made the young man bow towards Mecca in shame, although he was prostrating gratuitously in the other direction, perhaps towards Rome or Davy Jones' Locker. He would have had hell to play if the score remained 1-1. Fortunately, the officials had sympathy and allowed Lucas Moura to rectify matters to keep Alphonse's composure in line.

"Create, destroy, provide, produce. That's what an attacker needs to do, and Alex just knows those elements since his schoolboy days, it seems." Sadako remarked. "But what about us?"

"What about us?" Georgette mused.

"Jose! We are embracing the game more than ever. It's like we almost forget that we are still members of the military on the other side, you know?"

"Never forget the big picture, Sada." She was glancing over the training schedule for the women.

Monday, February 6th 2017

Training session closed to media

Tuesday, February 7th 2017

No training session

Wednesday, February 8th 2017

Training session closed to media

Thursday, February 9th 2017

Training session closed to media

Friday, February 10th 2017

Training session closed to media

Saturday, February 11th 2017

Training session closed to media

Sunday, February 12th 2017 - Stade Georges Lefèvre (Saint-Germain-en-Laye)

03:00 PM: Paris Saint-Germain - AS Saint-Etienne

D1 Féminine - Week 14

"And another thing my dear: I hate people who have spouses that have fake jobs," said Georgette as they continued their conversation amidst observing the intensity of the players during their drills, the cat tracker filming the scenes to be transmitted on the other side. "My work is genuine. I don't do fake jobs."

"Fake jobs? Whatever do you mean by fake jobs, Jose?" Sadako asked. "I mean to find out. Tell me!"

"There is this one politician named Francois Fillon, a conservative from The Republicans who is up for election as President. He is under attack because apparently he had been paying his wife for a job she never did."

"Goodness, Jose! That's terrible to hear."

"Furthermore, Ms. Marine Le Pen is gaining massive support. She is a far-right leader that is, more or less, our country's version of Mr. Trump in this timeline and dimension."

"The attacks by Muslims, the immigrants, the impoverished seems to have sowed the seeds for the Neuroi possibly making another attack on the city, with cooperation of who they are fighting in the Levant, no?"

"Sada. We may be in a more privileged part of the metropole, but now I can sense why this city was attacked months ago and why there is violence in the northern part of the metropole the past few days. The need to revolt and seek justice through violent means is something the Neuroi feed off of."

Sadako looked at Georgette with a concerned look. "What about Hikari and Takami?"

"We already got wind of the situation regarding Hikari's changed to her body. She is still a she, not a he, only she now is able to satisfy her sister's wish to pleasure...the parts of a male companion that she prizes, to put it modestly."

"Vulgar term for that: dickgirl. In Japanese, as they say, it's called futanari and is a trope in adult doujinshi and media in the modern day Fusou, or Japan."

"She seems to have accepted that she is a girl AND a boy. Gender-neutral and gender-inclusive. The best of both worlds, all in a new world. Hikari is fine with this. She got what she wants, Takami got what she wants, and we don't need to judge them because that is their issue and prerogative. You have me anyway to be with, so neither you or me should have ideas regarding the two of them, understand?"

"I do. Thank you." Some more showboating from Alex and Danny, with Alex simply hotdogging to the goal. "Alex again. He's just like Zlatan, isn't he?"

"Who?"

"Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Alex is emulating him. He's so smooth with the ball, as if he is a conductor holding a baton. The ball explodes into the net. He is a gun with a gun of a leg typical of a son of a gun and the grandson of a rifle."

"An expert shooter. Cute looking too."

"Really, Jose?"

"Sada, listen." Georgette whispered, pointing to the dashing young lad juggling with the ball and passing it to his mates. "Boys like him don't come around very often, so we need to treasure his... geste technique." With a sigh, Georgette was reading off a list of matches from another leaflet, disclosing the Coupe De France Round of 16 fixtures.

Coupe de France – Last-16:

Tuesday 28 February 2017 at 18:00 CET

CA Bastia (NAT) - Angers SCO (L1) (en direct sur Eurosport 1)

EFC Fréjus Saint-Raphaël (CFA) - AJ Auxerre (L2) (en direct sur Eurosport 2)

Tuesday 28 February 2017 at 21:00 CET

Girondins de Bordeaux (L1) - FC Lorient (L1)

Wednesday 1 March 2017 at 18:30 CET

US Avranches MSM (NAT) - RC Strasbourg Alsace (L2)

Chamois Niortais (L2) - Paris Saint-Germain (L1) (en direct sur Eurosport 1)

US Quevilly-Rouen Métropole (NAT) - EA Guingamp (L1)

Wednesday 1 March 2017 at 21:05 CET

Olympique de Marseille (L1) - AS Monaco (L1)

Thursday 2 March 2017 at 21:00 CET

Bergerac Périgord FC (CFA) - LOSC (L1)

"So our guys get to be on Eurosport 1, huh Jose?" said Sadako as they looked at the matches. "Chamois Niortais? Who's that?"

"Chamois Niortais Football Club are a Ligue 2 team based in Niort, a town in the west of the country, located in the same region as Bordeaux, who our guys travel to while we stay here to cater to the ladies. A chamois is goat-antelope, or a goat with some attributes of an antelope. Just think of it as a type of goat native to the area."

"Shirley, I reckon, would call that a gantelope. But that would sound too much like a canteloupe."

"I see what you did there, Sada. You need to stop making me hungry, my dear. That. Was. Clever."

"Very." Alex scored again in training, scorpion kick style, the two footer. "Oh stop it, mon coeur, mon coeur!" Sadako cried dramatically, sinking to her knees, hyperventilating comically before receiving a headbump.

"Get up already," Georgette said as Sadako got back up, laughing. "You think we are at a drama audition. We're at work! Be professional, please! Please!"

"Won't argue with you there."

"But...as I was saying, regarding Ms. Marine, who I will refer to her as, her party, the National Front, is located up the road in Nanterre."

"Nanterre?"

"It's a 10-20ish minute taxi ride away from our flat. Most opinion polls have said that Mr. Francois will win the second runoff over Ms. Marine but historically, the media around the world have made the wrong decision a number of times regarding key events, according to what I understand in this timeline. The fake job accusations will no doubt end Mr. Francois's political career."

"When is the first round?"

"Late April. Runoff is in early May. We are currently in early February. I don't think we need to worry too much about this yet. Our minds should be on assisting these players. You know what I mean?"

"I know what you mean." They exchanged a fist bump.

"Just like the boys." Sadako winked. "Let's leave them alone. Help me move some stuff, will you?"

"You got it!"

"Follow me..." Thus Sadako followed Jose to another room to move some important inventory as they continued to work around the facility while the players continued to maintain their focus for a worthy tuneup match to Valentine's Day at home to the world-famous Football Club Barcelona, led by the living legend from New Karlsland, a.k.a. Argentina, known the world and dimension over as... Lionel Messi.

END CHAPTER 15