#international players anthem

[ohmyshesintriguing]

Int'I Players Anthem

[bejahimself]

🥡

@bejahimself

[diegopenate]

Guys you know the memes of the construction workers with the Kodak black song playing in the background “Heart Mind”….thats me all day today.

[b14augrana]

Scrubber

Your make your debut in a La Roja jersey

Barça Femení x teen!reader

pt. 7 masterlist

Warnings: mentions of injury / blood

A/N: bebita is back by popular demand!! i wrote this pretty late at night so excuse any grammar mistakes but on the bright side i included lots of vidić references. enjoy! 💝

‘Time goes by too fast,’ you thought, as you stood in the tunnel, sandwiched between Salma and Alexia. Only a couple days ago you were struggling to decide what you wanted for breakfast, and now you were minutes away from playing in a Euro qualifying match against Denmark.

The officials gestured to both teams, beckoning them out of the tunnel and onto the pitch, and Irene led the way.

Your nerves normally subsided when you played for Barcelona, but this was different. This was a place and team you weren’t used to, it wasn’t Barcelona.

As your team lined up and prepared to sing the national anthem of Spain, you could only think about one thing; how were you supposed to play?

That was another thing that made you miss Barcelona all over again. Back in Barça, you had Lucy, Mapi, Ona, Patri and Pina to encourage your advanced tackles. You weren’t very hopeful about the other Spain girls being so supportive.

You were deep in thought as the national anthem rung through the stadium, and the words erupted from your mouth mindlessly. After the song concluded, you followed Alexia off the pitch and shook your jacket off your shoulders.

Over the speakers in the stadium, you barely make out what the commentators were saying. It was something about you, that’s all you could tell.

“…making her international debut tonight at just 16 years old. She’s been pivotal for FC Barcelona this season, scoring a last minute goal in the Champions–” The rest was lost in the sea of roars coming from the crowd.

There was barely enough time for your coach to give her last word, and before you knew it, you were stood in the back with Irene, awaiting the whistle.

You quickly learned that today, Denmark had chosen to take a more passive approach to attacking. You were naturally aggressive in defence, so taking on this more patient style of offensive play wasn’t too much of a challenge.

It was different playing without Mapi. You knew she should’ve been there, playing in your spot because she deserves to represent her national team and enjoy it. It made you sad that the old management failed her and she couldn’t do that.

You missed her. A lot.

“(Y/N), mira la pelota!” Irene yelled, dropping back into the box. Your attention averted to the Danish strikers running towards you, and the midfielder preparing to put a ball through.

Pernille Harder blistered past you as soon as the ball had been kicked. It took you barely a second before you went after her, your legs drilling into the ground with every long stride until you were right beside her going shoulder-to-shoulder for the ball.

Irene was there, you knew that, but you didn’t want to get beaten and let Irene clean up your mess.

Pernille was getting closer and closer to the box with every touch she took, and though you knew she was a world class attacker, you would rather die than let anyone advance on goal.

You lurched, your foot making contact with the ball and cutting it out of her path, sending it somewhere to the sidelines. You slid across the ground on your hip, and it was like everything was in slow motion as Pernille stumbled over your outstretched leg and lunged forwards. The ball found its way to the right back, Oihane Hernandez, who was quick to clear it down the line for Athenea.

When there was too much proximity between a player and the goal, the decision to make was extremely straightforward for you; your body gets hit before the back of the net.

A quick look at the ‘NV15’ written on your wrist gave you all the motivation you needed to power through the first half and continue to produce tackles. When you walked off the pitch for halftime and retreated into the locker room, you slumped beside Irene and took a large sip of water.

“Dios mío (Y/N), fue increíble defender. ¡Tenemos suerte de que juegues para nosotras!” Leila said, smiling fondly at you.

You had properly met her a couple days prior, and immediately liked her. She was a defender, just like you, which meant you got to grow your circle of defender friends.

You returned her smile and mumbled a shy ‘gracías’ while Irene gave you a side hug, “Esa es mi nenita.”

Half time flew by. You were lost in a train of empty thought, too eager to get back on the pitch to concentrate on anything else. You practically jumped to your feet when your coach gave the last word and players started filing out of the locker room.

The second half did not start off much like the first one. Denmark ditched the passiveness for a more fierce approach, which showed from the minute they received the ball. Spain was only up by one goal and the 90 minutes was coming to an end.

Snerle ploughed through the midfield with the ball at her feet and sent a sharp through ball towards the flank. The pass was too quick for Leila to intercept, and the right wing charged past her, leaving Leila behind.

There was an obvious pass to make from the wing; a cross into the box for Pernille to touch and score.

Pernille realised this. Thomsen realised this. You realised this as well.

Pernille came sprinting from behind you into the box and the ball flew over the heads of Spanish and Danish players alike, almost about to land right at the captain’s feet.

The decision to make was extremely straightforward for you.

You can fix a broken nose, but if you let someone score a goal, your pride cannot be fixed.

There was Cata on the near post, and you knew there was no chance she could save a shot from such short distance.

You can fix a broken nose, but if you let someone score a goal, your pride cannot be fixed.

It was hard to not be acutely aware of Pernille right behind you, practically breathing down your neck, extremely desperate for a goal that could change the entire game.

You can fix a broken nose, but if you let someone score a goal, your pride cannot be fixed.

The ball was descending to the ground again, right in front of the goal, threatening to change the momentum of the game entirely.

You can fix a broken nose, but if you let someone score a goal, your pride cannot be fixed.

All it could’ve taken was one big step for Pernille to knock it in the back of the net. You threw yourself forwards and plummeted towards the moist grass as your head blocked the ball from meeting anyone in the box. It ricocheted off your head and bounced away as you fully fell onto your chest, and once again you felt Pernille lose her footing after tripping over your leg.

The last thing you felt before you were overwhelmed with pain in your face was a body landing on top of your head, forcing your face to collide with the ground. There was a barely audible crack, and then the searing pain came into effect. Nonetheless, you scrambled to your feet, clutching your face with your hands as you hunted for the ball and cleared it away from your box completely, which became near impossible as the pain became intolerable.

Liquid trickled down your arm, and the source wasn’t a mystery. You clamped your eyes shut for a moment and when you finally opened them, Alexia and Irene were in front of you with looks of horror on their faces.

There was a swarm of many other teammates, plus a worried looking Pernille standing beside you with a hand on your shoulder, apologising profusely.

You smiled at her, though it must’ve been a horribly bloody one. “It’s ‘kay, not your fault,” you mumbled, shaking your head.

“Árbitro, necesita ayuda de inmediato. ¡Mírala! Está sangrando por todas partes, está herida–” Alexia yelled, flailing her hands in the air. The referee was on the sidelines, sending the medical team onto the pitch.

“I’m fine, just m’nose..” you said, but nobody looked convinced. You wiggled past the bunch of women and made your own way off the pitch, heading for the bench.

As soon as you sat down, you were about to go to the locker room and claim your Hay Day login when multiple medics ran towards you, inspecting your nose and figuring out what to do.

To you, it was all worth it, because the last few minutes of the game were approaching and your broken nose had prevented a possible equaliser.

“You can fix a broken nose, but if you let someone score a goal, your pride cannot be fixed,” you told the medics when they asked you what happened, “…in the words of Nemanja Vidić.”

Spain came away with a win against Denmark, thanks to your little accident-causing header. Alexia almost sprinted over to you after the game to bombard you with a million questions, such as ‘How are you?’, ‘How long are you out for?’ and, ‘Are you even out? Will you get one of those special masks?’

When you had answered all her questions, you made your way over to the Danish side, where Pernille was standing. You nervously tapped her on the shoulder, and her expression was one of surprise when she spun around and saw you.

“Hi, Miss Harder, I’m (Y/N),” you said.

“I know you, don’t worry. Please, call me Pernille,” she responded.

“I was wondering if.. you’d want to, maybe, trade shirts?” you asked shyly, “I made sure my jersey didn’t get any blood on it, just for this.”

Your comment incited a laugh from Pernille and then, to your relief, a nod. “I’d love to trade jerseys.”

After you had swapped jerseys and you slipped the Denmark jersey over your head, you smiled at the woman. “Thank you so much, Pernille! I really loved playing with you, even the broken nose part. Thank you!”

You returned to Alexia as you were in the process of zipping up your jacket. “You have a quick press conference to go to, and then we can go back to the hotel,” she informed, and you nodded.

Post-match interviews weren’t your favourite. You normally just wanted to go home, have some dinner, and have the deepest sleep of your life. Today was a little different because Alexia was accompanying you.

“(Y/N), what can you tell us about the medical incident that occurred earlier? Is that a lesson for you?” a reporter asked, and you shuffled about in your seat.

“Not necessarily a lesson, because I will break my nose again if I have to, but definitely an experience,”you responded with a small smile.

“Alexia,” the next reporter spoke, “What are your thoughts about the incident?”

She was in the process of taking a sip of water when the question was asked, so her answer didn’t come immediately. When she placed the bottle back down onto the table and leaned closer towards the mic, she began to speak.

“Que… it is a testament to (Y/N)’s selflessness and dedication to football, no matter if it’s club or country. It shouldn’t be looked at as a bad accident, because it wasn’t an accident — it was a sacrifice.”

[etherealstar-writes]

I WANNA BE YOURS | LIONESSES X READER | PT 9

pairings: lionesses x reader

summary: in which you're accidentally added to a random group chat, not knowing they're all actually famous footballers, and obliviously end up having many of them competing for your love and attention.

part: nine

part one here

✦ ——— ✦ ——— ✦

You were seated on the couch with your best friend, Dani, in her apartment with bowls of snacks stacked in front of you guys. Dani was the one currently obsessed with the women football since England was hosting the Euros, and would be the one spamming you with edits.

She'd begged you to come tonight to watch the quarter finals with her with England versing Spain. And you'd finally given in, hoping to finally get cultured and then flex off to the group chat that you finally knew the names of more players other than just Lucy Bronze.

And so here you were, your eyes glued on the tv screen as the National Anthem had ended and the match was about to start. Your eyebrows had furrowed in confusion when the line-ups had been displayed for a few seconds before the kick-off whistle was blown. The last names of the Lionesses were somehow familiar, but before you could dwell on it more, it went away.

"Okay so," Dani began, pointing to the different players as the match began. "The blonde one with the number 8 on her back is Leah Williamson, my personal fav, and the captain of the team."

You nodded along.

Leah Williamson. Seems familiar.

"And then the one in goals is Mary Earps. There's Lucy Bronze with the number 2 on her back and Mille Bright next to Leah with number 6. Over there running is Keira Walsh and she has 4 on her back."

Your eyebrows furrowed again when you heard the name Earps and Bright, but decided to ignore it.

"Right there is Lauren Hemp with 11 next to Fran Kirby who's 14, and that one is Rachel Daly with number 3 on her back."

Nahhh, it couldn't be a coincidence, could it? Leah, Earps, Bright, Kie, Lauren, and now Daly?

"Oh, and that's Stanway with the ball. She just passed it to Meado!"

Hold on.

Your eyes widened. "Meado?"

"Yeah, Beth Mead. We call her Meado." Dani nodded, glancing at you and saw that you had a shocked look on your face. "You good?"

"Wait, so would Stanway's first name be Georgia by any chance?" You questioned.

"Yeah, you guessed it right!" Dani laughed. "It looks like my edits are helping."

You forced a smile on your face and nodded along, but internally you were screaming. You grabbed your phone and googled all the players on the football squad including the subs, noticing the resemblance to all the names on the group chat.

Leah Williamson. Georgia Stanway. Ella Toone. Alessia Russo. Beth Mead. Lotte Wubben-Moy. Niamh Charles. Lucy Bronze. Mary Earps. And it went on. Some had only spoken once but you had seen their name.

While Dani was focused on the game, you were lost in your own thoughts. It all seemed like a big joke right now.

The times they'd be in the gym and would be training together. The photos they would send on the chat where they were in what you now realised were their football kits, and the football games they would pass off as a bit of fun. And the fact that Lucy Bronze had commented your post.

It all made sense when you thought about it.

These past few months you'd been chatting with them, you'd thought you had gotten to "know" them better, but really you knew practically nothing because they'd continued to hide about who they were and would change the topic when you did try to bring it up, all while knowing basically everything about you.

And suddenly, you felt very stupid and very played, as well as kinda betrayed.

✦ ——— ✦ ——— ✦

liked by danisterling and 140 others

yourusername: me raiding all of dani's snacks while trying to understand football. england national football team or national diving team? who knows 🤷‍♀️ is it coming home lionesses?

danisterling: it's coming homeeeee ↳ yourusername: let's hope so

laniangelo: maybe you'll get lucky and another of them will see this post and you can finally become a wag ↳ yourusername: new fear: unlocked

chasejackson: looking flawless l/n 😩 ↳ yourusername i know 😌

✦ ——— ✦ ——— ✦

THE NATIONAL DIVING TEAM

the imposter well done on the match girls! you guys played great loved the goals toone and stanway

elton

thank you so much y/n!

stairway ahh thank you y/n really appreciate it wait .... HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT ITS US

neev oh no

the imposter have fun messing around with someone else and hiding your identities from them! xx

the imposter left

meado what were you guys expecting? you were literally going to be on tv playing football she was bound to see and find out soon you should've told her sooner

stairway we messed up didn't we?

willybum yeah

neev we gotta fix this

the REAL karate kid how she probably hates us

elton i got an idea

✦ ——— ✦ ——— ✦

leahwilliamsonn started following yourusername alessiarusso99 started following yourusername ellatoone started following yourusername stanwaygeorgia started following yourusername niamhcharles17 started following yourusername lottewubbenmoy started following yourusername lucybronze started following yourusername 1maryearps started following yourusername and more started following yourusername

✦ ——— ✦ ——— ✦

part ten here

[hcsiqs]

| ALLIE’S MASTERLIST ! 🖇️

200 CELLY MASTERLIST

| WNBA

: ̗̀➛ # 20 KATE MARTIN, las vegas aces

˚ෆ rockin around the christmas tree

summary: after a long night of being at sofia’s parents’ christmas party, kate can’t wait to be back in their own home celebrating the holiday together.

˚ෆ bad idea, right?

summary: upcoming singer!reader is on live and kate appears in the background, causing all fans to go crazy

˚ෆ we really were timeless

summary: part two to bad idea, right? singer!reader and kate move to vegas together after kate is drafted by the aces. reader is on live giving a house tour with kate.

˚ෆ life’s better on saturn

summary: kate and reader travel together to go to an away game for the aces in minnesota.

˚ෆ we both still young

summary: kate martin with a girlfriend whose a dancer for university of iowa

˚ෆ wanna listen to the sound of you breathing

summary: kate cuddles with girlfriend!reader after an aces practice and practically crushes reader

˚ෆ i could be a good mother

summary: picking baby names with kate

˚ෆ my girl

summary: kate is super drunk and is shy around girlfriend!reader, because she forgets you two are together. but when it’s time to go home she realizes that reader is her girlfriend and gets starstruck.

˚ෆ i see kismet sinking in

summary: kate martin head cannons with a volleyball girlfriend

˚ෆ love me like a sailor

summary: kate unexpectedly shows up to andi’s house to see if there’s a future with her

˚ෆ the love club

summary: you take your daughter to a las vegas aces game, but before it can even start she runs to her favorite player, kate martin

: ̗̀➛ # 22 CAITLIN CLARK, indiana fever

ᥫ᭡ the right side of my neck

summary: you and caitlin babysit your older sisters twin boys

ᥫ᭡like a fever, like i’m burning alive

summary: you and caitlin dated in high school but after decided to go to a college hours away you break up. you two don’t see each other during college at all until and then she’s drafted by the indiana fever, which just happens to be where you’re a medical intern.

: ̗̀➛ # 1 NIKA MÜHL, seattle storm

☾ coming soon

| WCBB

: ̗̀➛ # 5 PAIGE BUECKERS, university of connecticut

✩ slut!

summary: influencer!reader who gets called a bop and is slut shammed for no reason. paige comes to her side to comfort her and reassure her.

✩ i love you, i’m sorry

summary: inspired by gracie abrams song: i love you, i’m sorry

✩ she hold me down like gravity

summary: paige bueckers with uconn dancer girlfriend

✩ you could be my silver spring

summary: the first time paige sees you is when you sing the national anthem for opening night her sophomore year. then after getting a record deal and moving away she sees you performing for the wnba all star half time.

: ̗̀➛ # 2 KK ARNOLD, university of connecticut

𖦹 pretty girl

summary: doing skin care with kk

𖦹 hit me hard and soft series masterlist

summary: aurelia’s team decides that due to her love of women sports and how much attention she had brought to it last year during march madness, they want her to fake date KK arnold in order to keep the same momentum for this upcoming season.

𖦹 begin again

summary: based on taylor swift’s begin again

: ̗̀➛ # 35 AZZI FUDD, university of connecticut

𐙚 coming soon

: ̗̀➛ # 25 ICE BRADY, university of connecticut

𖤓 coming soon

: ̗̀➛ # 23 MORGAN CHELI, university of connecticut

𓆸 now that you know me so well

summary: morgan has a crush on you but doesn’t know how to tell you, so every time she’s around you she’s internally freaking out

: ̗̀➛ # 3 GEORGIA AMOORE, university of kentucky

❉ coming soon

: ̗̀➛ # 8 JANA EL ALFY, university of connecticut

❀ coming soon

| MOOD BOARDS

: ̗̀➛ kate martin x cheerleader

[nytb]

The Final Nail In The Coffin

Click Here first <3

Y/N's choice to join Lyon brought its reward soon enough, ruling the French league - undisputed - lifting all possible trophies. Up next, the Champions League. Semi-Finals ahead, the return game against Fc Barcelona at a packed Spotify Camp Nou.

The French team had previously been beaten at home 1-3. Starving for the European trophy, the French team would surely throw everything into the match, needing to redeem themselves.

Luck had struck the Spanish side as Y/N had been injured the week prior to Lyon's home game. She wasn't able to get her revenge back then, but now? It was staring her in the face.

The days prior to the game were madness, interview here, photo-shoot there. Y/N Y/L/N and Caroline Graham Hansen were the perfect players to promote the Semi-Final.

A pre-match press-conference where both players sat alongside their managers. Reporters fed them questions as conflicts arose.

'How are the teams doing?', 'The 3-1 win sure sends Fc Barcelona to the final, what are your plans to stop them?', 'As a born and raised culé, how does it feel to play against Fc Barcelona at the Camp Nou?' - that was it - that was the question.

Y/N had been emotionless throughout the whole press conference, but that question; it forced Lyon's new star signing to draw the line in the sand. "Me? A culé? You're mistaken" Y/N's tone carried as much arrogance as the statement itself.

Quite the contrast. On one side, a Norwegian - who was signed from Wolfsburg - expressed her devotion for the club at every turn. On the other side, a La Masia graduate that once bled blaugrana declared what all culé feared. Y/N's return was scratched. She was no longer their star.

The best part was the reaction. Y/N knew that Barcelona's dressing room was holding on by a thread. Her statement would cause waves to form, distrust to build. A storm approached and it had Y/N's name all over it.

Pre-match, everybody could see it. Heated discussions, warm ups without a single smile. The Barcelona locker room had finally been divided, but their hunger to win - that one was unbeatable, or so they thought.

As a great military strategy states; divide and conquer - and that's what Y/N did.

Warming up with her new teammates, Y/N further fueled the rumors. Y/N purposely hovered over the Dutch international, her potential new love interest - Danielle Van De Donk. 

A few meters away the blaugrana team warmed up. Hearing how the Camp Nou roared as their names were announced. All focus should be on the match ahead, but Mapi Leon? The defender’s eyes wandered off into the distance. All her attention stuck to Y/N’s figure. Alexia Putellas? A carbon copy of the Spanish defender.

Who would have thought, once upon a time best friends craving Y/N’s attention and neither of them receiving any of it. 

Y/N had struck Barcelona's strongest pillars, turned them to dust. The dressing room was now divided. All woman for themself.

Nobody was aware of it, but Lyon won the first battle. 

The loud Champions League anthem in the background, the Spotify Camp Nou roaring. It was now or never.

A game worthy of a final. The Catalan's game plan was executed to perfection until disaster struck.

The defense had temporarily gone to sleep, a through ball that put Ada Hegerberg through on goal - and as the world class striker that she is - Ada buried the ball into the net. 30 minutes in and the cracks started to show. 

Barcelona’s attacks had become dull and as they left spaces open, Lyon’s counter attack was made possible. The French celebrated quickly, wanting to keep their momentum going. 

Y/N took her opportunity to offer a further blow to the Catalan team. Smirking at Mapi, sending a quick wink towards the Barcelona captain, Y/N knew that she was in their heads now.

The score? 3-2 on aggregate. Was Lyon about to cause a major upset? Would this be the first defeat of the Catalan team at their packed home stadium? Surely not.

Making her way towards goal, Y/N picked the ball up in midfield, helping Van De Donk as Barcelona pressured to get possession back. Lyon's star signing dribbled down the flank, sending Rolfo packing with a beautiful nutmeg - Mapi was up next.

Focused on her next move Y/N failed to see Patri's challenge. The Lyon player was sent flying. For the first time, Y/N’s teammates ran to her defense - demanding a red card that never came, shoving players away from the Spaniard.

That was it, Y/N's game seemed to be over, her substitution warming up as the medical team feared for the worst. It looked like her vengeance would never come.

"I'm fine" Y/N stood up, there was no way that she would sit out the game of her life. Pushing through the pain, the agonizing needle sensation that her right ankle caused as she put the slightest weight on it - Y/N wasn't giving up just yet. She still had a lot to offer.

For a while, Barcelona seemed to get the game under control. Half time came and with no substitutions, their game plan remained the same - dominate possession and create as many goal scoring opportunities as possible. A move that would soon backfire.

As time passed, substitutions came and thus, play after play, the French team started to get into their usual rhythm. Soaking up pressure, taking advantage of Barcelona's tired hybrid fullbacks, they sent balls in behind - the second goal was inevitable.

Y/N's link up play with Damaris, quick switch up as a long ball headed towards Carpenter's boot, the perfect control. Lyon was knocking on Barcelona's doors as the Catalan defense crumbled - failing to defend the cross - Ada Hegerberg's header made it 3-3.

Lyon fans went crazy. This was it. They were back in the game and with 15 minutes left, the momentum on their side - their dream was becoming a reality. The possibility of a treble was alive.

Rage in Alexia's eyes, displeased at her substitution, she was headed to the bench and Y/N's face painted the full picture. A smile that spanned from ear to ear, mocking her ex-lover. Barcelona's queen wasn't good enough to save them, but Y/N? She was Lyon's salvation.

Build up play from their defense, Van De Donk's through ball finding Cascarino, a perfect back-heel that left the ball dead on the edge of the box. An absolute screamer of a goal. The ball left Y/N's boot, hitting top bins.

That's when it happened; the final nail in the coffin - not even the devil dared to do such acts - Y/N kissed the Lyon badge. The whole Camp Nou watching, their hero had turned: she was now their worst enemy.

Van De Donk lifted Lyon's newest star and as Y/N posed like the Jesus statue in Rio De Janeiro, she could practically touch the sky. 

The Camp Nou whistling, Lyon fans going crazy. They did the impossible. An 89th minute screamer sent them to the Champions League final.

[jflemings]

— like ribbons in your hair

pairing: kyra cooney-cross x raso!reader part 2

summary: kyra finds herself filled with envy whenever she thinks about her fellow matildas player. a chat with charli clears a few things up for her

warnings: none

a/n: fics inspired by songs might be my fav thing to write !!

kyra just couldn’t understand it. it didn’t matter that the two of you were close, how good you were with harper or even if you had scored a game winning goal, there was just a bitter envious feeling that she couldn’t shake.

at first she had thought that maybe it was because you were just a more naturally gifted player than she was. the way you effortlessly glided across the pitch with the ball at your feet seemed almost superhuman to her, almost like you had actually been given powers by the football gods that made you this unstoppable player. the fact that raso was the last name printed on your back didn’t really help, either.

at first, people had asked if you could even live up to hayley as a player, wondering if you could keep up with your older sister on the pitch. you had proved to everyone that you were not to be underestimated when you scored your first international goal from a distance, giving the matildas the win. kyra still remembers how she felt when she watched you score that goal. the pride that she felt had been so overwhelming that she needed to catch her breath and it only got worse when you ran at her with a wide grin, throwing your arms around her in celebration.

she also won’t forget the sight of you jumping into hayley’s arms after the penalty shootout against france in the world cup. matching hair ribbons fluttered in the air amongst the excitement, kyra’s eyes always managing to find you through the adrenaline.

even now, sitting in the change rooms before the first qualifying match in perth, kyra’s stomach is in knots. as hard as she tries to avoid it, her eyes keep finding you and that damn ribbon in your hair. usually she found it endearing that you and hayley wore matching ribbons every game. except for right now when all it’s doing is drawing her eyes to you.

kyra huffs in frustration before wringing out her hands and wiping them on her shorts in an attempt to let loose some of the pent up energy. charli, ever observant, sees kyra’s actions and furrows her brows in confusion. she takes note of the nerves that have settled themselves on the young midfielder’s shoulders but chooses not to say anything, deciding that after the game would be a better time for that conversation.

soon enough the team is walking out to the screams of keen fans, every player hyper-aware of all the eyes that have been on them since the world cup. even through the screams, anthems and kick-off that stupid yellow ribbon still catches kyra’s eye.

—

the game against iran had done a bit of a number on the team. with play constantly stopping and starting, everyone had been growing frustrated and tired by the end, just wanting to wrap it up.

kyra felt sluggish the whole way back the hotel, wanting nothing more than to have a shower and crawl into bed. her head rolls on her neck tiredly as she gets settled into her seat on the bus, her eyes wandering over all the faces of her teammates until it lands on yours.

despite being visibly tired, you were still smiling as you talked with mary, alanna and mackenzie. the lopsided grin currently spread on your face only widens as you laugh and alanna and macca’s tired banter, the four of you giggling at practically nothing.

maybe it’s the way kyra’s eyes soften, or the small smile that was slowly creeping onto her face, but something about kyra catches charli’s attention.

the blonde elbows the girl sitting next to her, evidently snapping her out of the trance you had put her under

kyra’s brows furrow in confusion “what?” she asks, rubbing her left bicep “what’d you do that for?”

charli tilts her head “what’s wrong with you today? it’s like you’ve just been going through the motions”

adjusting her sleeve, kyra leans further into her seat and away from her friend “it’s nothing” she mumbles, embarrassed that she’s obviously been caught.

charli clicks her tongue “you were fiddling before the match and as soon as it ended you were stuck to mini’s side like glue” she points out, lowering her voice “do you have a problem with y/n?”

kyra’s eyes go wide and she immediately squeezes charli’s wrist before trying to subtly look at the rows behind them, conscious of the fact that your older sister sits just two rows behind her.

she spots hayley drifting off, airpods in and eyes half-lidded and sighs deeply, turning back to look charli in the eye

“it’s not a problem” she emphasises “it’s just… a feeling”

the defender frowns in confusion “a feeling?” she questions “what type of feeling?”

kyra seems to lean further into her seat, now sitting with her back leaning against the window next to her “not a good one? i don’t know!” she exclaims as quietly as she can, trying to hide her embarrassment “it’s like everytime i look at her my stomach ends up in knots! i get this, like, jealous feeling in my chest and i hate it.”

you can practically see the lightbulb go off in charli’s head “jealous?” she asks “why didn’t you tell me you felt like that?”

“because it’s embarrassing!” kyra rushes, keeping her voice hushed “it makes me feel weird knowing i’m embarrassed of one of my close friends”

charli leans her head on her seat, now almost fully facing kyra side-on, and she smiles “are you sure it’s jealously, kyra?” she asks softly, not wanting to confuse or freak her friend out.

kyra scoffs and shakes her head in disbelief “i don’t know what else it could be” she grumbles “like, for instance, whenever she laughs with sam or when she ran straight to mary after she scored in the world cup my heart feels like it’s folding in on itself” kyra explains dully, clearly ashamed of this negative feeling she holds towards her friend “i hate it.”

charli soaks up kyra’s words, wary of what she says next “wanna know what i think? i think that you’re not actually jealous of y/n” she says softly, ducking her head in an attempt to catch kyra’s eye.

kyra looks at her confused “you really aren’t making any sense”

huffing, charli shift her weight “maybe you’re just trying to convince yourself that you’re jealous of y/n because you don’t want to admit that you actually have feelings for her.”

a pregnant silence overcomes the duo as kyra processes what charli has just suggested. her brain is completely frozen and she can’t meet charli’s eye, choosing to instead direct her attention elsewhere.

her eyes once again find you, because of course they would, and she begins tracing your facial features with her eyes from afar. she follows the line from the top of your forehead to the bottom of your chin, focusing on how peaceful you look even when you’re half asleep.

the revelation comes slowly, charli’s hushed words turning over and over in kyra’s head until she’s dizzy. her eyes widen ever so slightly, and her mouth goes slightly agape as kyra reminisces on your friendship and everything that has lead to this conversation in the quiet of the bus. unfortunately, as quick as it comes, it goes. the bus coming to a stop pulls the midfielder out of her crisis and back into reality, the quiet now slowly being filled with tired groans and moans of players stretching their limbs and shaking the pins and needles out of their legs.

charli’s eyes don’t leave kyra’s face as she stands, careful not to bump into mackenzie behind her. the blonde leans down, getting right in kyra’s personal space, and whispers delicately “just think about it, okay?”

all kyra can do in that moment is nod, aware that she probably looks more dazed than she feels, and stand in her place. she gathers her things and waits for charli to begin to walk down the isle of the bus, following her teammates into the comfort of the hotel with you on her mind.

[feminist-space]

"EviCore markets itself to insurance companies by promising a 3-to-1 return on investment — that is, for every $1 spent on EviCore, the insurer would pay out $3 less on medical care and other costs. EviCore salespeople have boasted of a 15% increase in denials, according to the investigation, which is based on internal documents, corporate data and dozens of interviews with former employees, doctors, industry experts, health care regulators and insurance executives. Almost everybody interviewed spoke on condition of anonymity because they continue to work in the industry.

An analysis of the company’s own data shows that, since 2021, EviCore turned down prior authorization requests, in full or in part, almost 20% of the time in Arkansas, which requires the publication of denial rates. By comparison, the equivalent figure for federal Medicare Advantage plans was about 7% in 2022.

...

EviCore is not alone in engaging in the denials-for-dollars business. The second-biggest player is Carelon Medical Benefits Management, a subsidiary of Elevance Health, the health insurer formerly known as Anthem. It has been accused in court of wrongfully denying legitimate requests for coverage. The company has denied all charges. Several smaller companies do the same kind of work.

...

Insurers do not make explicit demands for more denials, a former EviCore sales executive said, Instead, they asked about “controlling the spend” — the amount of money paid out on certain procedures, he said. Nor would EviCore always use the word “denials” — they employed circumlocutions like “inappropriate determinations.”

Aetna and Cigna are two of the companies that have requested “high touch�� plans — those that would send more cases to clinical review and thus generate more denials, according to the former employee involved in data issues.

...

Holding the companies legally responsible for their decisions is also difficult. In 2022, Carelon settled a lawsuit for $13 million that alleged the company, then called AIM, had used a variety of techniques to avoid approving coverage requests. Among them: The company set its fax machines to receive only 5 to 10 pages. When doctors faxed prior authorization requests longer than the limit, company representatives would deny them for failing to have enough documentation. Carelon denied the allegations in court and admitted no fault. A spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit."

Read the full article here: https://www.propublica.org/article/evicore-health-insurance-denials-cigna-unitedhealthcare-aetna-prior-authorizations

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

Israel’s National Cyber Directorate (INCD) stated on Thursday that Iran is running a cyber campaign against members of the Israeli delegation arriving in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

In its investigation, the INCD revealed that Iranian hackers have created social media channels and published personal information about the Israeli team members to send them threats. The INCD is working with the Cyber Unit of Israel’s State Attorney to shut them down. 

As part of their anti-Israeli campaign, the hackers reportedly pose as the French organization GUD. INCD authorities are continuing to coordinate both with the Israeli Olympic Committee and the Security and Emergency Department of the Culture and Sports Ministry to make sure that Israel’s athletes and other delegation members remain safe during the Paris international sports competition.

INCD Dir.-Gen. Gabi Portnoy said Iran was exploiting the Olympics to terrorize Israel.

“Iran is exploiting an apolitical international sporting competition to promote digital terrorism against Israel and its right to participate in these competitions,” he said.

Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar echoed Portnoy’s remarks. 

“We are witnessing attempts by the Iranian regime to intimidate Israeli athletes and carry out psychological terror against our amazing delegation. We are here in Paris, continuing with full force, and nothing will stop us,” he said.

“Our athletes are more prepared and determined than ever to achieve great results, and our security apparatus is ready for any scenario. We will not relent until we topple the Iranian regime,” Zohar added.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on Thursday that while cyberattacks on the Paris Olympics are inevitable, France will do all it can to limit the effects of such attacks.

“We are a target. There will be cyberattacks. The key thing is to limit their impact,” Attal told reporters at the headquarters of France’s ANSSI software security agency.

In the meantime, Israeli tourists in Paris face escalating threats.

On Sunday, Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) advised Israeli nationals traveling to the Olympic Games in Paris to exercise increased caution due to anti-Israel threats, warning that it believes Iranian-backed terror organizations “are seeking to carry out attacks on Israeli/Jewish targets around the Olympics.”

Earlier this week, a masked man with a Palestinian Authority flag on his shirt threatened the "Zionist regime" participating in the Olympic Games, saying, “Rivers of blood will flow through the streets of Paris.”

Despite the threats, the Israeli delegation traveled to Paris on Monday with their heads held high and the support of the entire nation.

“We feel like emissaries of the State of Israel – our athletes, every one of them are here to achieve their dreams, but there is another layer, of a national mission,” the President of the Olympic Committee of Israel Yael Arad said ahead of the flight to France.

French authorities have reportedly dispatched around 1,000 elite anti-terrorist officers to provide security and a "ring of steel" for Israel’s Olympic athletes. The first competition involving Israelis, a soccer match between Israel and Mali on Wednesday, passed without major security incidents, despite the presence of anti-Israel activists who held Palestinian Authority flags and demonstrated against the Jewish state. Some activists wore “Free Palestine” t-shirts and booed when the Israeli national anthem, "HaTikva" (The Hope) was played before the game. Israeli players were also met with initial boos when they touched the ball during the game.

On Friday, despite heightened security, France suffered attacks targeting the country's train networks in what authorities described as "coordinated sabotage," including arson. No organization has claimed responsibility. The attacks are expected to negatively impact around 250,000 travelers today and 800,000 over the weekend.

[covercyano]

Players of Italy sign the national anthem before an International Friendly match between Italy and Bosnia & Herzegovina at Stadio Carlo Castellani on June 09, 2024 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

[felassan]

Article: 'Exclusive: Connie Booth, One of the Chief Architects of PlayStation's First-Party Studio System, Is Joining EA'

Veteran executive spent more than 30 years at Sony before her departure in 2023.

Excerpt:

"Former PlayStation executive Connie Booth, one of the chief architects of PlayStation's first-party strategy before her unexpected departure in 2023, is joining EA to help lead its studios amid its ongoing restructure. Booth's title will be Group General Manager, Action RPG, with a portfolio that will include EA Motive (Iron Man), Cliffhanger (Black Panther), and BioWare (Dragon Age, Mass Effect). She will report directly to EA Entertainment head Laura Miele. "Connie spent more than 30 years helping to build Sony Interactive Entertainment’s internal studios and is responsible for guiding the development of some of their biggest franchises, including Marvel’s Spider-Man 1 & 2, The Last of Us, Ghost of Tsushima, Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank, to name just a few," Miele said in a statement. "She is known for having created an incredible developer-first culture and supporting creative vision while driving innovation. I have known Connie for many years and have always been impressed by her love and commitment to games. She especially cares about game developers. She has an impeccable reputation within the development community and will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our games." [...] Booth's hiring points to EA's desire to replicate some of PlayStation's current exclusives strategy, in which it has found success with large-scale single-player games such as God of War and Spider-Man. In initiating its current restructure, EA has said that it is prioritizing its own franchises and that one of its pillars is "blockbuster storytelling" — an area in which Booth has considerable experience. One of Booth's major tasks will be revitalizing BioWare, which is hoping that Dragon Age: Dreadwolf will reverse its fortunes after Anthem and Mass Effect: Andromeda. BioWare suffered painful layoffs in 2023 and its next entry in the Mass Effect franchise remains in pre-production."

[source]

[source]

[femininenachos]

Well it’s July 1st which means Wimbledon has officially started but more importantly it time for my annual (at least) reread of GSTYM!

With the Olympics coming up I was wondering… does Lexa ever make it to the Olympics? Is that something she is even interested in? (Apologies if you have already answered this)

I’m thrilled to hear you’re doing a reread!

Y’know, I was sure I’d written a headcanon about GSTYM Clexa at the Olympics, but I can’t find it for the life of me. But to answer your question: yes, eventually!

Lexa didn’t get the call after winning Wimbledon (others were ranked higher and had better form), but in the intervening years between then and the next Olympics, after she wins a few more grand slams and a bunch of prestigious titles on the tour, she does get selected to represent the USA. She goes on to win gold in the singles and mixed doubles, and even Anya gets a bit choked up when Lexa climbs the podium during the medal ceremonies, overjoyed (internally) to see that formerly scrawny kid reach the absolute pinnacle of athletic achievement. As Lexa stands proud and tall while the anthem plays, hands linked behind her back and her chin held high, basking in the glory and glowing with happiness, her eyes seek Clarke in the players’ enclosure. Clarke is on her feet with the rest of the spectators, but Lexa could pick her out of any crowd, drawn to her like a beacon.

And the sloping little smile Lexa wears grows bigger and brighter by the second, because despite the distance she’s able to read every thirsty thought on Clarke’s face as if it’s being broadcast on a jumbotron.

In Clarke’s defence, she’s always been an enthusiastic supporter of her wife in sports apparel, but Lexa in that Team USA tracksuit? The jacket unzipped halfway? A medal around her neck?

Clarke is going to need a minute. Or thirty.

Actually, she might never recover.

(She’s also going to have to insist the medal stays on when she congratulates Lexa in private later.)

[jokerlennon]

chess the musical through (vaguely) the lens of mass media and fame and the mismatch and unclear lines between image and real life person. im listening to the concept album but referencing other versions bc #whatever

the citizens of merano trying to sell their little town, delighted by the publicity

the American shows up - already he is referred to without name in the concept album, his identity as a person irrelevant compared to his nationality, his role in the great game - to an adoring crowd.

even when he is not in front of the eyes of the world, he is concerned with his image above all: the first time we see him in private, he reads news about himself. the ego is not an act.

he gives an interview. we learn about his negative press, his tactic of being controversial to stay relevant. how much of it is real? can he even tell?

like the rest of the world, molokov thinks he's mad. the Russian does not. he calls it "third-rate propaganda". he is anxious to reinforce himself as a person and not a symbol of a country, singing about his personal experiences and struggles with being famous. ("times have been good, fast, entertaining. but what's the point if i'm concealing not only love, all other feeling?")

the opening ceremony is our next look at chess through mass media: a long, creative history of cheating, as well as the reinforcement of the idea that this is a match for the ages: the men are no longer merely players, but the two sides on a small-scale proxy war. "we don't want the whole world saying they can't even win a game" etcetera. another opportunity for merchandising cannot be passed up, consumerism swallowing up even the most ancient and intellectual of sports. finally, another feeble insistence that this is just a game.

finally, the game! accusations of cheating fly around from the American - who, as we later find out in some versions, was faking outrage to give himself time to think, playing on the preconceived notions at play that a) chess players cheat b) he is prone to drama (c) the ussr is less trustworthy than the usa?)

in "quartet", even the Russian refers to the American as a nut/fruit, realising that perhaps the media was right for once. as they attempt to calm the tensions the characters all lament that such a game has become a "battleground for rival ideologies to slug it out with glee", all but abandoning the pretenses they keep up in front of the cameras in the name of international cooperation.

"mountain duet" is about Florence and the Russian realising that the other is more than what the media and their preconceptions have made them out to be, that they have more in common than they thought.

"florence quits" shows that the American hasn't always been quite this awful.

when the Russian defects, he is swarmed by reporters. Walter laughs and says "Welcome to the West." anthem shows his complex feelings about his country, which cannot simply be summed up by "defector". the embassy workers think it "boring".

apart from playing into contemporary western perceptions of the city, "one night in bangkok" showcases the American's new image: unaffected, cool, and defected to the side of the many-headed media monster.

i need to put this here somewhere i think. walter as the reporter who is secretly a cia agent

"the interview": the American is well and truly a reporter now, asking similar barbed questions as the unnamed reporters asked him early in the show, but with a more personalised flair. this interview is, too, a spectacle: former opponents on camera together again for the first time in a year. a bizarre reunion, indeed, but one that will draw crowds to Global TV's broadcast. "what's your true motivation?" the American has always been in control of his own narrative more than the Russian, but now he is exerting control over the Russian's image as well. "I won't discuss my private life in public," the Russian says, but as we will soon see, "it's the lead on the news".

Florence and the Russian's relationship is publicised entirely, and while Florence desperately wants him to acknowledge it, his tactic is to ignore it until he's secured the win - an unbreachable rift starts to open between them. he suggests she "watch TV, read the paper, have the miserable time of [her] life" - showcasing how important mass communication has become in the daily life of an average person by the 1980s.

labels get thrown around - communist, democrat, refugee, total shit, silly boy, woman he should have not have let walk out. partner. the truth in any of these varies - they aren't complete hogwash, but they are the same simplifications that have appeared in the media.

"pity the child" gives us some insight into the American's character, and how he came to be like this - a lonely childhood turning into desperate thirst for approval and fame. and yet he doesn't dare seek his mother's approval even now, when he lives his life on television.

miscellaneous highlights of endgame: "prostituting themselves chasing a spurious starlight" "[the sirens of fame and possessions] will destroy you, not rivals, not age, not success" "they all think they see a man [...] whose private life caused his decline, wrecked his grand design"

i don't even know what else to add to this one. just

[writingonleaves]

and there are some days when i think that, somewhere, you're watching - the blue au

universe: the blue au

warnings: cancer, grief, sadness, the usual with anything to do with the blue au's premise lol

title: "chemtrails" by lizzy mcalpine

word count: 1.1k

author's note: lol hey!! there are a million other wips i should be working on but here we are! if you haven't read at least the first part of this au yet, you probs should for context. we are also manifesting here all three hughes brothers make it to the olympics. inspired by the beautiful players tribune article kevin hayes wrote for his late brother jimmy. i thought a lot about which brother would write something like this and ended up settling on quinn <3 enjoy and let me know your thoughts!

*****

The Ones We Play For 

for The Players Tribune 

by Quinn Hughes 

Written February 4, 2026

I’ll never forget the first time I put on a USA jersey for an international competition. 

It was for the 2015 World Under-17 Challenge when I had just turned 16. I didn’t think much of it at the time. The only thing I thought about was playing well, but it was an honor nonetheless. 

Every time you get the opportunity to represent your country in any way, it’s an honor. I know everyone says it, but it’s true. The whole nation is looking at you and cheering you and your teammates on. The playing of the anthem means more than ever. You look at the jersey and feel like you’re part of something bigger.

Next week, hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina will begin. I’ve always dreamed of being about to play at the Olympics, but now that it’s actually here, it’s surreal. 

The team is great, and I feel lucky to even be here. As I look around at my teammates, I feel confident that we can bring home a gold medal. But it’ll take hard work. That’s nothing that we don’t know though. 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to put on the jersey and who we wear it for. Of course, I think I speak for every single person at these Olympics when we say we wear it for our country and the fans watching us, whether here in Italy or back home. 

But we’re all playing for someone in our own support group. The village that has brought each of us here.

First, my parents, who have been there since the very first day. My mom, who taught me how to skate and my dad, who taught me how to see the game. My extended family: my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and family who aren’t technically family but who might as well be. Everyone in my life who’s always offered support and encouraging words, who has sat in cold rinks and watched me play. Whether they’re here in Italy or watching from various parts of the world, I’m playing for them. 

I’m also playing for my brothers, who will be on the ice with me. That’s still crazy for me to think about. We never could’ve imagined this when we were playing mini sticks in the basement as kids. Of course, we dreamed about it. But to see it come to reality? I feel very grateful. In the locker room, I look at Jack on my right and then Luke at my left. We’re playing for each other. 

But most importantly, I’m playing for Miguel Sandoval. 

I don’t talk about Miguel often, but he was one of the most important people in my life. Still is. He met my parents before I was born and automatically became a second father to me. To be honest, I don’t think I talk about him often because it still hurts to think about. 

Miguel was one of my biggest cheerleaders from the beginning. The fact that he’s not alive to see me take the ice next week is, well, it’s a lot of things. Sad is the first word that pops to mind. Unfair is another. The one who was at the rink next to my father in the stands before I even really knew how to play hockey isn’t alive to see me play in the Olympics? There’s no words to describe how devastating that is. 

He never got to see me play in any USA jersey, even though he was always confident I would put one on eventually. He died of pancreatic cancer on New Year’s Day, 2015. 

It’s been over 11 years without him, but he’s still in everything I do. A huge part of the reason I wear 43 is because of him — his birthday is April 3. I still remember his boisterous laugh and his kind eyes. He wrote Jack, Luke and I letters before he died that were specifically addressed to be given to us on our draft days. I still carry mine with me on every road trip. That’s how long and how strongly he believed in us. Somehow, he just knew that we would be drafted long before it happened. 

I have every word of that letter memorized. Sometimes, I trace over his handwriting with my thumb, and it feels like he's still with us.

During his brief battle with cancer, even when his body had almost no strength left, he always greeted us with a smile and an enthusiastic greeting. Even when he was advised not to, he made it to the games he could until his last days. To the very last day, he lived life with the biggest smile on his face.

If anyone should be here to see his “talented boys” take on the ice, it’s him. Not everyone is lucky enough to have someone like Miguel who loved them so unconditionally. I’m grateful for the time I had with him, even if I desperately wish it was more. We weren’t his sons by blood, but he treated us like family. But sometimes life is unfair, and we have to hold on to the fact that everything happens for a reason.

Here’s a reason: Miguel’s wife, Maeve, who is like a second mother to me, will be watching from Boston. Maeve is the best, always keeping it lighthearted and reminding me that life is supposed to be lived to the fullest. She has this youthful energy that’s just so infectious. She’s the one who always reminds me that hockey is supposed to be fun. I wouldn't be half the person I am today without her support.

And then their daughter, Clementine. Clem, I call her. Jack calls her Clee and Luke calls her Clemmy. Clem’s my best friend / older sister — the universal older sister, to be honest. It doesn’t matter if our last names aren’t the same. She’s been there for me ever since I could remember. Even when we were states, sometimes countries, away, I knew that if I called her, she’d always pick up. Currently on the journey to becoming a doctor, Clem is the kindest, most intelligent, most selfless and strongest woman I’ve ever met. She was the one who lost her father, but she made sure that all of us were okay. Even now, she can’t ever seem to take off the big-sister hat. But I wouldn’t have her any other way. 

Miguel, wherever you are, I can tell you a few things. First, I promise that we’re taking care of your wife and daughter as best as we can. We’re gonna try our best to get to the final rounds of this tournament so that they can fly out and watch us play. We love them and they’ll always be family. Second, whenever I feel a bit lost or need to be grounded, I think of you and your calm demeanor and bear hugs. I wish I could have just one more hug. Squeeze you one more time.

Miguel, when I put on that USA jersey and step on the ice, I will be playing for you. Jack, Luke and I will all be skating for you.

We miss you. 

We love you.

This is for you.

Yours, 

Quinn

[onboardsorasora]

I had a few random thoughts about your kawaii otaku twitch streamer Daniel and sim racer/ fifa god twitch streamer Max maxiel au.

Max, Yuki and Daniel are finally doing a collab and are reacting to highlights of euro cup games (or any ongoing football cup) so that Max can maxplain football rules, historic beefs and maybe some lore behind the players. Yuki is listening attentively at first but Daniel immediately switches it to a game of smash or pass when the national anthems are played at the beginning of each match. And maybe Daniel avoids saying smash to any blond dudes on screen because he doesn't want Max to know that Max is very much his type. But Max is internally screaming because does this mean he needs to go dye his hair???

Max is super proud of himself when he finds a compilation of football players being weebs. However, Max immediately regrets showing Daniel the video when in the subsequent weeks Daniel becomes a fan of Borussia Dortmund, one of Max's least favourite club. Daniel is obsessed with Adeyemi and Brandt's One Piece celebrations. Maybe months later, Daniel even gets to do an interview with some of the players and Max almost cries when he sees Daniel giggling with every men on the pitch and impressing them with his bizarrely good juggling skills.

Daniel is on a mission to find the right introductory anime for Max. It proves extremely difficult because Max turns out to be extremely picky about the type of media he likes to consume. Daniel feels a little dejected when Yuki finally manages to find something Max likes before him.

I don't know these are just thoughts that I summoned while I was walking my dog yesterday :D

Oh my GOOOODDDDDDDDD Lef I love these!!!!

Ok so I do have Daniel being good at FIFA but maybe he also doesn't actually watch football lmao. Here's a snippet from where Max is watching one of Daniel's streams and his FiFA team is physically hurting him

Daniel chose his team and Max groaned at the selection. His team was completely unbalanced, there was no way it would be any good. He wanted to log onto his account and hop into Daniel's game, but that would be way too conspicuous.  [couple more paragraphs of stuff] Daniel cheered when he scored, his fucked up team winning against someone else’s super team. Max bit back the urge to go toe to toe with him.  “Does anyone want to play me? I think it could be kinda fun.” Daniel asked, leaving the screen on his room code. Max felt like he was being tested, he stood up to throw his trash in the bin. He wouldn't play Daniel, he had no interest in it. Max booted up his system and logged into his personal account. The one he played his friends on, not the one known online.

So I absolutely can see Max trying to teach him or at least show him what the players actually are supposed to look like lmao. Max having an existential crisis about it is icing on the cake. Yuki being a menace as always

Oh Daniel would imprint on those players immediately!! add them to his fucked up squad lmao. oh these are amazing!!!

Daniel thinks he has the best idea and Max makes a comment about a show Yuki showed him and he thinks it cool. Maybe its one of the sports anime when Daniel was thinking a fighting anime would be a good start. Daniel is grumbling the entire time Max maxsplains the plot and animation to him

naur these are amazing i crrryyyyyy. thank you thank you thank you!!!!