#soccer 2023

[fifaworldcups]

SOCCER: USWNT Opens 2023 Campaign In Wellington/Te Whanganui-A-Tara

The U.S. Ladies' Public Group will start off a gigantic 2023 in Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara, New Zealand, taking on the 2023 FIFA Ladies' Reality Cup co-have Football Plants at Sky Arena. The game will start off on Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. nearby NZT, which will be 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 17 back in the US and will be accessible for review stateside on HBO Max, with pre-game inclusion starting at 9:30 p.m. ET and present game inclusion on follow.

The 2023 opener in Wellington, which will act as the host city and setting for the USA's subsequent gathering stage match against the Netherlands throughout this mid year's Reality Cup, will be the first of two gatherings between the USA and New Zealand during this outing Down Under. The groups will meet again three days after the fact in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau for a standoff at the famous Eden Park, New Zealand's Public Arena. The opening shot for the subsequent match is scheduled for 4 p.m. NZT on Jan. 21 (10 p.m. ET on Jan. 20; HBO Max).

Fans can likewise follow the activity by means of Twitter (@USWNT), Instagram (@USWNT), Facebook and the authority U.S. Soccer Application.

USWNT Nitty gritty Program BY POSITION (CLUB; Covers/Objectives) GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Fortitude), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

Safeguards (8): Alana Cook (Old Rule), Emily Fox (Dashing Louisville FC), Gem Dunn (Portland Thistles FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (Old Rule), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thistles FC), Emily Sonnett (Old Rule)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Sam Coffey (Portland Thistles FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC), Rose Lavelle (Old Rule), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Soul), Andi Sullivan (Washington Soul)

Advances (6): Ashley Trapdoor (Washington Soul), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Soul), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

The 24-player program called up for this outing highlights 21 players who partook in the USA's November Instructional course and matches against Germany toward the finish of 2022. The USWNT will be without advances Sophia Smith and Megan Rapinoe for these games, both of whom scored in the November friendlies against Germany, as both are returning from minor wounds. Safeguard Emily Sonnett and forward Lynn Williams return to the program subsequent to missing huge time in 2022 because of injury while forward Midge Purce likewise is back in camp for the USWNT.

Thirteen players on this program saw activity in the latest gathering between the USWNT and New Zealand, which came on Feb. 20 at Poise Wellbeing Sports Park in Carson, Calif. During the 2022 SheBelieves Cup. Ashley Lid and Mallory Swanson, previously Pugh who will currently be playing under her wedded name, both scored in the success as the Americans additionally constrained three New Zealand own objectives in the 5-0 triumph.

Go THROUGH DOWN UNDER This January camp, which will advertise the very first games for the USWNT in New Zealand, furnishes the USWNT with the extraordinary and priceless experience of getting to remain and prepare in the city in which it will headquarters during the World Cup, as the USA will be situated in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau for the span of the gathering stage.

The USA will likewise get to play at the two its Reality Cup bunch stage scenes this month, as Sky Arena, which will be known as Wellington Local Arena during the World Cup because of sponsorship guidelines, will be the site of the USA's second Gathering E match against the Netherlands on July 27 (opening shot at 1 p.m. NZT; 8 p.m. ET on July 26 in the USA). The USA's Reality Cup opening match against Vietnam (July 22 at 1 p.m. NZT; 8 p.m. ET on July 21) and third gathering stage match against the Gathering A Season finisher Victor (Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. NZT; 3 a.m. ET) will both be organized at Eden Park in Auckland.

Leading the pack up to the 2019 FIFA Ladies' Reality Cup, the USA likewise had the valuable chance to encounter travel and preparing On the planet Cup have country, holding its January camp in France and opening the 2019 timetable with a match against 2019 FIFA Ladies' Reality Cup has France in Le Havre.

SERIES HISTORY: USA Versus NEW ZEALAND The USA and New Zealand have played multiple times beforehand with the USWNT driving the general series 17-1-1. The solitary misfortune for the Americans arrived in a 1-0 loss during the main gathering between the groups on Dec. 15, 1987. From that point forward, the USA is unbeaten in the last 18 no holds barred matchups with the Football Greeneries, scoring at least five objectives in every one of the last four gatherings. The groups attracted 1-1 during a cordial October of 2013.

The latest gathering between the groups came 11 months prior at the 2022 SheBelieves Cup, a 5-0 triumph for the Americans in Carson, Calif on Feb. 20, 2022, behind objectives from Seal and Swanson and three New Zealand own objectives. Preceding that, the groups got down to business in the gathering phase of the postponed 2020 Olympics, a 6-1 triumph for the Americans as Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Dedicate Press and Alex Morgan scored while the USA constrained the Football Plants into two own objectives.

The gathering during the Tokyo Olympics denoted the fourth sequential Olympics in which the USA and New Zealand have gotten down to business, a streak that started during bunch stage play in 2008.

THE WORLD CUP Is standing by The 2023 FIFA Ladies' Reality Cup will start off on July 20 as co-have New Zealand takes on Norway in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau. After an hour, co-have Australia opens against the Republic of Ireland in Sydney/Gadigal. The full competition plan alongside the opening shot times can be seen as here.

The USA, which has equipped for each FIFA Ladies' Reality Cup in history and will look to lift the prize for a fifth time frame, will confront World Cup debutant Vietnam, Netherlands and the Gathering A Season finisher Champ - - either Portugal, Thailand or Cameroon - - in Gathering E, playing the whole of the gathering stage in New Zealand. The U.S. will open Gathering E play against Vietnam on July 22 at Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau and afterward face the Netherlands on July 27 at Wellington Local Arena - otherwise called Sky Arena - in Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara, denoting the initial time in FIFA Ladies' Reality Cup history that the two finalists from the past competition will meet in bunch play. The USA will then finish off the gathering stage against the Gathering A Season finisher Victor on Aug. 1 at Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau.

The Between Confederation End of the season games will decide the last three capability spots for the 2023 FIFA Ladies' Reality Cup, including the USA's last adversary for the gathering stage. The ten-group season finisher competition will happen in New Zealand from February 17-23, 2023, and highlights ten countries split into three gatherings, with the victor of each gathering meeting all requirements for the Ladies' Reality Cup. Bunch A will highlight Cameroon against Thailand on Feb. 18 with the champ taking on Portugal for a billet to the World Cup on Feb. 22.

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND 2023 Gatherings Bunch A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland Bunch B: Australia, Ireland, Nigeria and Canada Bunch C: Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia and Japan Bunch D: Britain, Gathering B Season finisher Champ, Denmark and China PR Bunch E: USA, Vietnam, Netherlands and the Gathering A Season finisher Champ Bunch F: France, Colombia, Jamaica, Brazil and the Gathering C Season finisher Victor Bunch G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy and Argentina Bunch H: Germany, Morocco, Colombia and Korea Republic

Single match passes are accessible among now and Walk third through FIFA's tickets entrance on a the early bird gets the worm premise. Costs will begin at AUD/NZD$20 for grown-ups and AUD/NZD$10 for kids. For more data about the 2023 FIFA Ladies' Reality Cup visit the 2023 FIFA World Cup center point.

2023 SHEBELIEVES CUP, Introduced BY VISA, Just around the corner Following these January games in New Zealand, the USA will return stateside for the February FIFA Global Window, where it will have the eighth yearly SheBelieves Cup, introduced by Visa®. The current year's competition will run from Feb. 16-22 as Brazil, Canada and Japan join the USA for the four-group worldwide competition. Each of the four countries will be taking part in the 2023 FIFA Ladies' Reality Cup the following summer and every one of the four are positioned in the main 11 on the planet with the USA at No. 1, Canada at No. 6, Brazil at No. 9 and Japan at No. 11.

The SheBelieves Cup will get back to its conventional three-setting design with matches played at Exploria Arena in Orlando, Fla., GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tenn. what's more, Toyota Arena in Frisco, Texas. Play starts off on Thursday, Feb. 16 at Exploria Arena as Japan takes on Brazil (4 p.m. ET) and the USA faces Canada (7 p.m. ET). The competition resumes on Sunday, Feb. 19, as the opposition moves to Nashville's GEODIS Park with the USA playing the principal match of the day against Japan (2:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. ET) and Brazil confronting Canada (5:30 p.m. CT/6:30 p.m. ET) in the nightcap. The competition finishes up on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at Toyota Arena in Frisco, Texas, with Canada taking on Japan (3 p.m. CT/4 p.m. ET) and the USA confronting Brazil in the competition finale (6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET). Broadcast data for all the matches will be accessible sometime in the future.

USA List NOTES Starting from the beginning of 2020, the USWNT has played 33 matches in the US and 18 external the country. The USA is 30-1-2 in homegrown matches and has outscored the resistance 130-6 (+124) at home and is 10-4-4 with a 35-16 objective edge (+19) while playing outside the USA. The most covered player on this program is Becky Sauerbrunn at 211, followed Alex Morgan (200), Precious stone Dunn (126) and Lindsey Horan (122) while the most un-covered players are Casey Murphy (11), Adrianna Franch (10), Trinity Rodman (10), Naomi Girma (10), Hailie Mace (8), Taylor Kornieck (7) and Sam Coffey (4). Morgan procured her 200th cap on Nov. 13 in the USA's match against Germany in Harrison, N.J., turning out to be only the thirteenth player in USWNT history to arrive at the 200-cap achievement. Morgan is the top scorer on the list in worldwide play with 119 objectives. Lindsey Horan has 26. Swanson has 25 and Dunn has 24 objectives for the USWNT while Rose Lavelle has 22. Seventeen unique players scored for the USWNT in 2022 - Sophia Smith (11), Mallory Swanson (7), Catarina Macario (5), Alex Morgan (4), Rose Lavelle (4), Kristie Mewis (3), Ashley Sanchez (3), Ashley Trapdoor (2), Trinity Rodman (2), Midge Purce (2), Kelley O'Hara (1), Jaelin Howell (1), Andi Sullivan (1), Taylor Kornieck (1), Emily Sonnett (1), Lindsey Horan (1) and Megan Rapinoe (1). The USA's other six objectives in 2022 came through own objectives, the most ridiculously ever in a schedule year in program history with three on Feb. 20 versus New Zealand, and one each on April 12 versus Uzbekistan, June 28 versus Colombia and Sept. 6 versus Nigeria. Nine unique NWSL clubs are addressed on this program, alongside 2021-22 UEFA Ladies' Bosses Association champs Olympique Lyon, drove by four players each from the Washington Soul and Old Rule, and three players each from Portland Thistles FC, San Diego Wave FC and NJ/NY Gotham FC. IN Concentration: NEW ZEALAND | FIVE THINGS TO Be aware

Current FIFA World Positioning: 24 OFC Positioning: 1 FIFA Nation Code: NZL World Cup Appearances: 5 (1991, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019) Best World Cup finish: Gathering stage Record versus USA: 1-17-1 Last Gathering versus USA: February 20, 2022 (5-0 win for the USA in Carson, Calif.) Mentor: Jitka Klimkova (CZE) Title Respects: OFC Ladies' Countries Cup Champions (1983, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2018); AFC Ladies' Heroes (1975)

NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S Public SOCCER Group Program BY POSITION GOALKEEEPERS (3): 1-Erin Nayler (IFK Norrköping), 21-Murphy Sheaff (Jacksonville College, USA), 23-Brianna Edwards (Wellington Phoenix FC)

Protectors (8): 7-Ali Riley (Holy messenger City FC, USA), 18-Mackenzie Barry (Wellington Phoenix FC), 19-Liz Anton (Perth Magnificence, AUS), 24-Partner Green (Vålerenga, NOR), 30-Ashleigh Ward (Southampton FC, ENG), 31-Anna Green (Sydney FC, AUS), 35-Elegance Neville (London City Lionesses, ENG), 37-Rebecca Lake (Canterbury Joined Pride)

MIDFIELDERS (7): 12-Betsy Hassett (Wellington Phoenix FC), 15-Daisy Cleverley (HB Køge, Cave), 20-Jana Radosavljevic (DSC Arminia Bielefeld, GER), 28-Ava Collins (St John's College, USA), 29-Jacqui Hand (Åland Joined together, Blade), 32-Aniela Jensen (College of the Pacific, USA), 33-Elegance Wisnewski (Wellington Phoenix FC)

Advances (9): 9-Gabi Rennie (Arizona State College, USA), 11-Olivia Possibility (Celtic FC, SCO), 13-Paige Satchell (Wellington Phoenix FC), 16-Emma Rolston (Wellington Phoenix FC), 22-Hannah Blake (College of Michigan, USA), 25-Elegance Jale (Canberra Joined together, AUS), 27-Indiah Paige Riley (Brisbane Thunder), 34-Tayla O'Brien (Eastern Rural areas AFC), 36-Deven Jackson (Eastern Rural areas AFC)

NEW ZEALAND List NOTES The Football Greeneries have equipped for each big showdown since the 2007 FIFA Ladies' Reality Cup. New Zealand showed up at the Olympics the previous summer, having equipped for each Olympic Games since its presentation in 2008, and will play in its fifth sequential World Cup in the late spring of 2023. Practically the aggregate of NZL's list plays club soccer outside the nation and they are spread across the world in Australia, the USA, Scotland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Germany and Finland. As these matches are occurring outside a FIFA window, the Greeneries are feeling the loss of a couple of standard call-ups, yet have a determination of exceptionally experienced players. Group commander Ali Riley, who plays for Heavenly messenger City FC in the NWSL, is the most experienced Greenery on the list with 147 covers and two objectives. Riley, who experienced childhood in Southern California and went to Stanford, has burned through a large portion of her master vocation abroad, spending around seven years in Sweden, one Germany and one in Britain, she returned the USA to play for the Orlando Pride and was exchanged to Holy messenger City FC before last season. Beginning goalkeeper Erin Nayler, who plays for IFK Norrköping in Sweden and has 78 covers, has had a few brilliant games against the USA throughout the long term. Veteran midfielder and previous California Brilliant Bear Betsy Hassett (137/14) acquired her 100th cap against the USA during the match in 2017 in Colorado. Hassett played with U.S. forward Alex Morgan at Cal. Midfielder Daisy Astutely played school soccer at UC Berkeley and Georgetown and presently plays expertly in Denmark. Five players on this New Zealand program are as of now playing school soccer in the USA including Gabi Rennie of Arizona State who scored in New Zealand's 2-1 misfortune to Australia at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan. Rennie was a piece of the New Zealand U-17 group which impacted the world forever by winning NZL's most memorable decoration at a FIFA Word Cup with a third-place finish at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Ladies' Reality Cup. Two different players on this program, safeguard Mackenzie Barry and midfielder Beauty Wisnewski, were likewise in that group. Lead trainer Jitka Klimkova was the lead trainer for the U.S. U-20 WYNT during the 2020 World Cup cycle and was additionally lead trainer U.S. U-19s as well as head scout for the U.S. group at the 2018 FIFA U-20 WWC in Papua New Guinea. She came to U.S. Soccer from New Zealand Football League, where she was lead trainer of the New Zealand U-17 Ladies' Public Group and an associate mentor for the Greeneries U-20 Ladies' Public Group more than 2013 and 2014, likewise filling in as an associate mentor for the senior New Zealand Ladies' Public Group in 2014.

[funground21]

Dream League Soccer 2023 #2 Upgaded Medical Center

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FFunGround21%2Fstatus%2F1671625841720041473%3Fs%3D20%26fbclid%3DIwAR1aEgePYMfj0glvsgxtYakimjIifXJVNQFhm77Mg-7Gu47nuUNo0stwZeI&h=AT3THCeZZapVsGIkUoN_WLaLtpAKix2u-Ax96TnFGdC32CkpKzn44TOSdKNhvMrjcpEHd6SnZYv8XRgfICKy2wfQBLKs1e_8VIredwcjKhLrtHzPYDUAosjNXjRQXAMFC9cH&__tn__=H-R&c[0]=AT2Q8Zr7PztCaqT_UP4wxniI9BzVxOX9hqHIYaJBrgkcUYQ0D6k3iwtg59tutpjrpBPIjsbqrKXI7Z7hNDhd-XarYPBzopABoz6978vtK-3aXAzW4RjwMP5fll-DC0HQTJNAZc5oWepd6zk5AWJIIAykzo6jqpri3Qo4jwNcrg

[maxgirl29]

It should not have taken the entire women’s football community voicing the disgust and wrong doing of the RFEF and the public actions of that bald fool for his resignation.

The Jamaican girls should not have had to create a GoFundMe page to get to Australia to compete.

The Canadian team should not have had to go public about their lack of pay.

It should not have taken the early departure of the USWNT to get Vlatko out.

The Zambian team should not have had to voice their issues of sexual abuse and misconduct of their coach.

So many other issues out there from so many other countries that should not even be in existence.

It should not take the players announcing to the world that there are issues for them to be taken seriously. Players should be able to feel comfortable enough to speak with their federations about problems and know that changes will be made and that they will not be singled out or become a victim of backlash. Treat female footballers with the same professionalism and respect you treat the males.

[hb-but-portal]

I couldn't get this out of my head, so I drew something

Btw I ended up reposting this (from this blog, it's my art) because I didn't know how the tagging system worked (oops)

Close-ups under the cut ↓

[sunshine-theseus]

Apple and Chocolate Muffins | Katie McCabe x Reader

Words: 1.9k Summary: owning a café apparently brings you the girl of your dreams Warnings: fluff

Having your own little book café on a corner of a small street in St Albans, London, brings you things you’d never expect.

I’d first bought the place from an older lady, Ms Nelson, who sold antiques. She’d decided she wanted to spend whatever time she had left travelling. She tried to simply give it to me, but I couldn’t accept and ended up paying her half of what was listed.

She likes to send me post cards whenever she’s about to leave a place. I put the most recent on display on the counter and the rest go in an antique memento box she gifted me before she left.

Ms Nelson also introduced me to my best friend Juniper, one of her old workers who helps run the place now.

“3 years here and you still refuse to tell me what your special recipe is. Whyyy?” Juniper’s favourite item, was my special apple and chocolate muffins. It was an item I refused to take off no matter how many times we changed the menu.

“They wouldn’t be a secret then would they June?”

“But I’m your best friend. And I need these in my life daily.”

“I literally make an extra 3, every night, just for you.”

The ringing of the bell on the door stops her from retaliating, and I approach the counter while June finally makes an order for Mr Byrne, one of our regulars.

“Welcome to the Inkwell Café! What can I get you?” I look at the customer, but my breath gets caught in my throat.

It’s like the Gods just sent down and angel to derail my day. Her eyes were a greyish blue and her skin was sun kissed, freckles scattering her cheeks. And her arms… well fuck me.

“Hello?” I hadn’t even realised I’d stopped paying attention until she waves a hand in front of my face.

“S- sorry could you repeat that?” I let out a nervous chuckle, but she just smiles a magnificent smile.

She starts listing off an order and I momentarily get caught off by her Irish accent, but I manage to take down the 3 different drinks. I’m about to tell her the total when she stops me again.

“Oh! And can I get one of those apple and chocolate muffins? Jonas is going to kill me, but I hear they’re worth it.” I give her a confused look.

“My friend Steph, she comes here once a month as a treat and raves about it at training.” Training?

“Oh! Well, here’s an extra one for her! For free of course. What’s the name for the order?”

“Katie”

“It will be ready soon.” I flash a smile before going to make the coffees.

June comes out of nowhere.

“Why is Katie fucking McCabe in here?” she whispers into my ear.

“Who?”

“Katie McCabe. One of the best Arsenal players ever? Captain for the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Football team? How do you not know her? I talk about Arsenal all the time. They literally train right down the road.” I stare blankly back at her.

“How did she even find us? You don’t casually find this café on your way to work.”

“She said her friend Steph comes here, told her about it.”

“Steph Cately!? I’ve never seen Steph Cately walk through those doors.”

“…Who? And you do tend to not pay attention.” Juniper just groans and I finish making the coffees.

“Katie!” as I give her the drinks, her hand brushes against my own. Tingles run up my arm, but I bid her adieu with a small smile and wave.

~~~~~

Katie begins coming in every Tuesday and Friday, and we slowly get to know each other while Juniper freaks out in the corner. Or sometimes Katie liked to just sit and read in a corner for whatever time she had before she left for training. Either way it was nice.

She loved telling me about her younger sister Lauryn who was on her way to joining Katie on their senior national team, and her crazy encounters on the pitch during games. I tell her about how and why I decided to open a book café and retell the stories Ms Nelson sends me. I also desperately try to repress all my feelings for the Irish angel that blessed my shop every week.

I also find out who Steph is. A very nice Australian woman, who does in fact come in once a month for the Apple and Chocolate muffin. I get to know her a bit too, but she usually grabs her muffin and something for her fiancée and leaves.

The first time Katie misses a Tuesday is 4 months after her first visit. I’m disappointed but don’t think much of it until she doesn’t show up on Friday, or either day the week following. That’s when I decide to visit their training ground, obviously dragging June along to do any talking, to see if I can figure out what happened.

I don’t think about how weird it is until Juniper pulls me out of the car in front of their training centre at 9am on Friday after hurriedly closing the café. And a promise for a free coffee to everyone we had to kick out.

“June this was stupid, this is something you do, not me. Why didn’t you talk me out of it.”

“I’m about to meet the whole Arsenal team just because your huge crush failed to come for her regular coffee a few times.”

“But like it is weird she just stopped coming so abruptly, right? Like we were getting along.”

“I mean sure, but you didn’t freak out like this when Mickie stopped coming. And it took us another six months to find out she’d moved to fucking Glasgow.”

“We should leave shouldn’t we.”

I turn around to head back to the car right as we’re about to enter the reception but come face to face with a slightly shorter brunette. One I’ve seen the face of in some recent team photo Katie had shown me, but was otherwise completely unfamiliar.

“Are you trying to get in? The door can be a little tricky sometimes.” How many Australians did they have here?

“Oh no-“

“Yes! We’re friends of Katie; Y/n and Juniper, and we haven’t seen her in a few weeks. We were hoping to catch her.”

“Oh! I think she’s shown us a picture of you actually! She talks about you both quite a bit. I’m Kyra by the way.”

“I know.”

“Nice to meet you.” I talk over Juniper and hold out a hand for Kyra to shake.

“Well, I’m not quite sure why she hasn’t come to see you, but I can bring you back to the locker room, you’ll just need to fill some forms out probably.” She’s already leading us to the front desk before I can deny her offer.

 Not 5 minutes later Kyra is happily dragging us to the locker room, and I can see Juniper skipping next to me, clearly excited.

“Dude you’ve gotta calm down.” I whisper to her.

“More like you need to stop being so uptight. Kyra Cooney-Cross is literally leading us to the whole Arsenal women’s team.”

“McCaaaabe! Someone’s here to see yoouuu.” Kyra calls out as soon as she opens the door.

“It’s not my bloody mum again is it? I swear she decides to come surprise me far too often.”

I peak out from behind Kyra and give a small wave.

“Hiii” I say meekly as Juniper jumps into talking to her favourite players.

“What are you doing here?” Katie gives me a quick hug.

“Well, you kinda stopped showing up and I just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

“Oh, y- yeah. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I just, I started getting feelings for you and freaked out and thought that cutting you off would help.”

“Y- you like me?”

“Yeah. Like a lot. I obviously totally understand you don’t like me back.” She lets out a sigh and looks at her boots.

“Shh shoosh shut up.” I place my fingers under her chin and tilt her head up.

It was hard to escape the doom of falling in love with Katie McCabe. Her eyes were the perfect shade of blue, her lips the softest of pinks, her freckles like the stars. She had the kindest of hearts and the most beautiful laugh. A creation made by Aphrodite herself.

“I really like you too.” And her lips are softer than you could imagine as she presses her’s hard against my own.

We’re broken apart by an array of whistles and shouts from Juniper and Katie’s teammates and I hide my flushed face in her neck.

“I can’t believe we finally get to meet the girl Katie hasn’t shut up about for like 4 months.” Alessia Russo, one player I am familiar with, comments from across the room.

“You talk about me?” I poke her in the side.

“Y/n you can’t talk you literally don’t shut up about Katie. ‘Oh my god she’s sooo funny and pretty.’”

“Bro what the fuck? That was a secret you were meant to take to your grave.” Juniper simply shrugs.

“As much as I want to stay and tease you about how much you talk about me, and kiss you, we do unfortunately have training.” Katie pouts as she hugs me.

“Oh! Before I forget. I brought you an apple and chocolate muffin.” I pull the baked good from my bag and hand it to her.

“Fuuuck yees! You are literally the best person ever. I need to know your recipe so bad.”

“Mmmm maybe I could teach you how to make them. Tonight, at the café?”

“I’VE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT RECIPE FOR 3 FUCKING YEARS AND YOU’RE GOING TO JUST HAND IT OVER TO HER?” Juniper’s outburst makes the room erupt in giggles.

“How about for your birthday?” She nods solemnly and begins to say goodbye to the other girls as they begin to head out to the pitch for training.

I turn back to Katie.

“I’ll see you tonight…” She leans up and kisses me one more time.

“Girlfriend.” She leaves before I can reply, and I’m left to giggle as Juniper drives us back to the café, to reluctantly reopen for the rest of the day.

~~~~~

The clock shows 6:13 and I begin to think Katie flaked, but right as I’m packing up the ingredients, the bell rings and in rushes a flushed, panting, Katie McCabe.

“I’m so… sorry! Caitlin could only… drop me… a few blocks away… so I had to… run.” She pants out.

“It’s ok.” I peck her on the cheek and take her coat, then offer her some water which she sculls down.

We spend hours baking and messing around. Mostly kissing.

~~~~~

Another 6 months pass before Katie and I decide to move in together in a small apartment down the street from the café.

She now helps me bake my apple and chocolate muffins once a week, insisting she has to always be in a simple cropped singlet after I had made a comment about how good her arms looked when she mixes the batter.

There was something so domestic about baking together that made it hard not to just scream to the world how much I loved the woman. Instead, I stick to wrapping my arms around her waist and whispering it in her ear, periodically kissing her while she cuts the apples or mixes whatever needs mixing.

I can’t wait to tell Ms Nelson her apple and chocolate muffins brought me the most beautiful girl in the world. She and her wife have been begging for a new post card.

[arsenal-womens-1]

Mama mom and auntie Caitlin

 

 My mom has been acting weird; they have been fighting a lot. Mom has been staying with Auntie Shebahn for the past 2 days, and Auntie Caitlin has been over a lot. 

 

I have asked Mama what has happened, but she won't tell me. I'm not Ruesha and Katie's biological daughter. I was at the Arsenal U10s program, and Katie had an interest in me because I was apparently a good player. I was put up for adoption when I was 3 days old, but the adoption never went through, and I was placed in foster care. 

 

I'm now 17, and I play on the Arsenal senior team. I play as a striker and defender. I'm currently sitting on a chair. I knew what my mama wanted to tell me, but I didn't want it to be true. I was snapped out of my thoughts by Mama talking, "y/n, I need to tell you something because you need to know... me and Ru." I know what's about to come out of her mouth. 

 

It was like slow motion: "We have decided to break up, "I just staired at her, "Did you cheat on her with Caitlin?" A look of guilt goes over her face. " "I-" . I get up and walk out of the room. A few of the girls were standing there. Caitlin was one of them. She reaches out to stop me from going. The rest of the girls look confused. "Get the fuck off me. Why the fuck did you do it?" I get out of her grip and go to the car. and drive off. I drive to the London City Lionesses trying ground, and I park. I can see everyone on the pitch; they are in practice. I sit for 10 minutes, then get out and go in. They know me because I've been there before. 

 

I knock on the door to see if anyone is in there. When I don't get an answer, I go out to the pitch, and the boss sees me. I stand off to the side. She comes and stands next to me. She looks at me with sad eyes, telling me she knows why I'm hearing "Hey, sorry, I don't know why, to be honest." 

 

"It's all good. I guess you know now." 

I look at the players on the pitch and say, "What I'm meant to do, I can't look at them without feeling betrayed; she was my aunt.". 

 

Time skip: 3 weeks later 

 

Not a lot has happened except the fact that I've stopped talking to everyone. I'm now staying with Viv Beth and sometimes mom, but mostly Viv and Beth. I don't want to be at Arsenal anymore, so I've decided to have a meeting with the managers and other people to see what I can do to get out of here, even if that means I have to go to the USA. If I want to get out of here, I need to. 

 

It's like I'm suffocating while staying here. 

 

After the meeting (I can't be bothered to write it), 

 

So that was eventful for the first part of the meeting. They did want to let me go, but in the end, after I said I would quit football, they decided to lone me out to Gotham; it's a team in the USA. 

 

I don't really want to leave mom, and to be honest, I don't really want to leave mama, but I need a new start and a fresh slate. I want to go and be able to breathe. Maybe mom will follow me to the USA. I don't think Mama would, and to be honest, I haven't talked to Mama. I'm still angry at her, but she's still my Mama, and I still love her. 

 

It's been three weeks since we made the deal with Gotham. I have yet to tell anyone I need to tell them because in two days it's the end of the season. Then it's the World Cup, so I need to tell them today, but I don't know how to tell them. 

 

I'm sitting on the pitch, and a bunch of the girls next to me are all talking about the next game. the World Cup and the new signings that will happen Leah was talking about people transferring, and everybody was saying who they thought would go where. 

 

I say in a hushed tone, "I'm going to Gotham." I guess it wasn't quite, and Beth said loudly, "You're moving to Gotham!" 

————————————————————————————

There is a part two but I’ve not finished it it’s not my best work but I’ve got a few more from another app that I think I might post here the alexia one will be out when I write it which  will probably be soon

[jenjen4280]

Much needed date night with the Hot Wife. 24 years together and we still hold hands with each other. She’s my best gal. ❤️

[beyondthepitch]

Women's game keeps growing and we are here to stay ✨

[leveloneandup]

“Raise it up.”

[fifaworldcups]

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Playoffs: 10 Teams Vie for 3 Spots

Saturday denotes the beginning of the intercontinental end of the season games in New Zealand for the last three Women's World Cup billets. Yet, as the greater part of the countries included aren't conventional Women's football powers, you may be pondering who's included and the way in which likely it is that they'll break through to book those last spots in this mid year's competition.

Here is a more critical look the impending capability end of the season games for the Women's World Cup, which will be facilitated in Australia and New Zealand in July.

Bunch A: Thailand, Cameroon, Portugal Thailand play Cameroon on Feb. 18, with the champ of that match playing Portugal on Feb. 22. The champ of this gathering will confront the USA, the Netherlands and Vietnam in Gathering E at the World Cup in July.

SOCCER: USWNT Opens 2023 Campaign In Wellington/Te Whanganui-A-Tara

Thailand Neglecting to progress past Japan in the Asian Cup quarterfinals, Thailand completed rearward in the three-group season finisher to guarantee they'd confront one more season finisher situation to arrive at the World Cup. Thailand are positioned only 41st on the planet by FIFA, and many might recall Thailand's excursion at the 2019 World Cup when they, rather sadly, got dismantled by the USA in the gathering stage by a 13-0 edge.

Should Chaba Kaew advance, Australia/New Zealand would be the third World Cup for the country that additionally highlighted at the 2015 competition in Canada. Truth be told, Thailand had a superior appearance at the World Cup in Canada, dealing with a gathering stage prevail upon the Ivory Coast.

The 2019 World Cup was more troublesome, notwithstanding. Not a customary force to be reckoned with in Asia, Thailand's Women's football battles were factual during their trip in France: three games, three losses, one objective scored and 20 yielded. Albeit the country has improved since, they are probably going to battle to move beyond Cameroon in the main match.

Cameroon In the interim, Cameroon are one more group associated with every one of some unacceptable reasons during the 2019 World Cup as the African side have additionally battled in the background with routine disturbance.

In spite of the issues that have tormented the Unstoppable Lionesses, Cameroon stays a country that produces quality footballers like midfielder Genevieve Ngo Mbeleck, winger Ajara Nchout and commander, forward Gabrielle Onguéné.

Having staggered against African stalwart Nigeria in the WAFCON quarterfinals, Cameroon barely saw off Botswana to arrive at the end of the season games - - yet they stay a ridiculously conflicting group. To arrive at the World Cup for a third time frame, the Dauntless Lionesses should appear two times in New Zealand as the champ of the elimination round in bunch A will confront Portugal in the last.

Portugal Then there's Portugal, an as yet arising country in European football on the Women's side. With 12 capability matches currently added to their repertoire, Portugal put in the hard yards to be allowed one more opportunity to meet all requirements for their very first World Cup, in any event, taking their absolute last UEFA season finisher game against Iceland to additional time. The development of the homegrown association in Portugal (Campeonato Nacional Feminino) has facilitated the improvement of the players, pushing the expert norms to the advantage of the public group.

With youthful players, for example, forward Kika Nazareth coming through alongside laid out going after stars, for example, Jéssica Silva, Portugal like to play on the front foot and will be a harsh test for whoever they face in the last. Anticipate that the European country should be top picks notwithstanding.

Bunch B: Senegal, Haiti, Chile Senegal play Haiti on Feb. 18, with the champ of that match confronting Chile on Feb. 22. The champ of this gathering will confront Britain, Denmark and China in Gathering D of the World Cup in July.

Chile Having made their World Cup debut in 2019, Chile have demonstrated the way that they can blend it at significant competitions yet with three misfortunes to their name at the 2022 Olympics, it's unmistakable La Roja need profundity across the pitch. Known for their confounding chief, goalkeeper Christiane Endler, the South American country frequently wind up depending on her heroics between the presents on keep them in games, as opposed to attempting to play on the front foot. The uplifting news for José Letelier's group is that when they truly do advance into going after positions, the objective scoring is imparted across the group to a heap of players ready to spring up and contribute.

Given a bye to the last, the inquiry for La Roja will be the group that Letelier fields against the elimination round victors, with various youthful and invigorating teens accessible to the mentor like advances Ámbar Figueroa, only 15 years of age, and Sonya Keefe, 19, who play with the kind of fervor that accompanies their childhood.

Senegal Positioned 84th on the planet, Senegal are verifiably the longshots of gathering B - - however with a hodgepodge of results finally year's WAFCON, the West African country demonstrated they're on the up. Arriving at the intercontinental season finisher via a punishment shootout prevail upon Tunisia in their last match of the capability competition, Senegal have been building a head of steam this year with a few successes over different countries in the WAFU (West African Football Association) Cup.

As a matter of fact, nonetheless, a large number of their rivals offered little obstruction. Albeit the resistance wasn't so burdening as it might have been, Senegal showed great going after strength, not least through adolescent forward Hapsatou Malado Diallo. In the event that the African country are to have any desire for advancing through the end of the season games, they'll have to rest on their assault against Haiti.

Haiti All around used to areas of strength for facing in CONCACAF against any semblance of Canada and the USA, Haiti will be the reasonable top picks to advance to the last in bunch B. However, they're entering these end of the season games in unfortunate structure, having battled against the vast majority of their new adversaries.

Another country that plays their best while proceeding and (luckily) flaunting more ability in offense, Haiti will depend on skipper and forward Nérilia Mondésir, in addition to youthful midfield superstar Melchie Dumornay, to bear the vast majority of the weight front and center. Arising in CONCACAF notwithstanding as yet being an exceptionally youthful crew, their childhood could fix Les Grenadières, in spite of the fact that with a coordinate against Chile on the cards for the champ, Haiti might well like their possibilities.

Bunch C: Chinese Taipei, Papua New Guinea, Panama and Paraguay The champ of Chinese Taipei versus Papua New Guinea (Feb. 19) will meet the champ of Panama versus Paraguay (Feb. 19) on Feb. 22 for a spot On the planet Cup. The champ of this gathering will play France, Jamaica and Brazil in Gathering F at the World Cup in July.

Chinese Taipei

Bunch C is just gathering in the end of the season games with four groups in it, and this gathering is likely the most un-simple given that every one of the four groups are positioned in basically the same manner by FIFA - - aside from Chinese Taipei who are, hypothetically, the top picks at No. 39 in FIFA's reality rankings.

In the primary elimination round, Chinese Taipei, which addresses Taiwan, will confront Paraguay. A backbone in AFC, Chinese Taipei haven't been seen at a World Cup starting from the main version of the competition in 1991. They address a little country that has reliably battled against the could of their neighbors - - China PR, the group addressing central area China, has proactively qualified for the World Cup - - and in this way has neglected to meet all requirements for more than thirty years.

Paraguay

With Chinese Taipei flaunting just locally established players, they should be on structure to pound an and-coming Paraguay side who have started to develop pace in the cutthroat scopes on CONMEBOL.

With players who carry out their specialty across the globe, La Albirroja have figured out how to work out some kind of harmony across the pitch and are seldom destroyed by more experienced resistance. With midfielder Ramona Martínez and forward Jessica Martínez on the pitch, Marcello Frigério's side won't ever need danger in assault.

Papua New Guinea

The subsequent elimination round sees Panama set in opposition to Papua New Guinea. With New Zealand the predominant power in OFC, there's little space for any other person to sparkle, which makes Papua New Guinea's new ascent is to be noted. In spite of the fact that with the alliance having dropped out with their past mentor, New Guinea are scrambling to be ready for the tests that look for them and it's normal that they will battle against more experienced resistance.

Panama

Like Haiti, Panama have begun to make clamor on the global scene after a couple areas of strength for of in CONCACAF capability. In spite of the fact that they don't flaunt similar profundity crew as different countries in the locale, Panama can profess to have one of the seriously thrilling youthful goalkeepers in their positions looking like Yenith Bailey, who has more than once grabbed the attention for her country in territorial competitions.

In a precarious season finisher bunch, Las Canaleras' capacity to keep the resistance out may very well be the distinction. However, Gathering C, more than different gatherings here, feels totally open.

[hertwood]

They say in football, you get one goal and then the goals start coming, do you reckon that’ll be the same with the points?

I hope so!

[tumbleweed-run]

Puppet On a String

(18+, Explicit) Kinktober 2023 Day 14 Selfcest/Cloning

“He’s a bit like a doll,” Gale said looking over at you. 

You were focused on him, well another him. 

“ A puppet?” You offered, hand straying to the necklace you wore. 

Real Gale’s head cocked to the side in consideration before giving a short nod. “Yes, I suppose so.” 

The puppet just stood there in the center of your bedroom and blinked. You hadn’t activated control yet so this very accurate puppet Gale was more or less a lifeless toy. 

You’d met a version of him back in the Shadowlands, one that beckoned you to a clearing and to Gale. It had piqued your interest that night, he’d been corporeal in a way that most mirror images weren’t. But you’d forgotten about him for some time, other things taking precedence. 

After about the tenth question regarding this puppet, Gale had offered to create him. It was more than an incantation, something requiring numerous ingredients to create the shell. You could now appreciate the work Gale had put into him while on the road, all an effort to make that night special. 

The form wasn’t permanent, Gale assumed he’d last about a day unless dismissed. He also couldn’t withstand much in the way of damage, that didn’t matter tonight. Because as soon as Gale had offered to recreate him your mind had turned down a far less academic road. Which Gale had, of course, realized. 

What he didn’t realize was that the reason you wanted to control the puppet was for a far more depraved reason than desiring a two-person threesome. You’d get to that. 

“He’s very accurate,” you mused taking the time to appreciate that little fact. 

The puppet was conjured naked (which explained why he’d worn Gale’s armor that night) and was very accurate in all ways. Gale seemed amused by your reaction. He was also the only one in the room with any clothes on. You’d stripped and climbed onto the bed not long after the puppet was made. 

“So I just repeat the incantation and I’ll be in control of him?” You wanted to be certain.

“One must think in directives but yes,” Gale agreed, but he paused, “Are you sure you don’t wish me to control it?”

You shook your head, “I’m very certain of what I want.”

Your wizard had the sense of mind to look concerned.

You repeated the incantation as Gale had taught you and almost immediately you felt the link. It was not unlike the link the tadpoles had formed between you and the others, this felt more like being linked to emptiness. 

All you had to think was about walking and he did. You were impressed, you’d assumed it would be clumsy like other magical creations but he did a very passable job of imitating Gale. Or maybe that was because your mind had given the puppet that knowledge. It was a strange thought and one you didn’t wish to focus on right now. 

The puppet came to a stop before Gale once more. 

“Shall we start?” Gale asked looking to you. 

You nodded but the puppet didn’t move. 

Gale glanced between the two of you for a moment. “Dear, what exactly did you have in mind?” His voice had risen. 

You did your very best to adapt a wide-eyed pleading look, which was admittedly difficult given how turned on you were getting. With great joy you realized the puppet was doing the same. “I was thinking,” you drawled, “I could watch.”

Gale swallowed harshly. You didn’t know how to read the flush crawling across his skin, he didn’t seem angry though. 

“Do you really think me that conceited?” He asked sounding offended. 

Immediately, you shook your head. “No, it’s not you,” you reminded him rising up on your knees, about to go to him, “It’s me, I control him. So it would just be us, like normal.”

“This is very not normal,” Gale asserted. 

“Is it really any different than when you pleasure yourself?”

“Yes.” Gale was very firm in that belief apparently. 

You pouted. “I want to watch you fuck yourself,” you did your best to make it sound like the most normal request. 

Gale froze and you breathed.

“If I say yes,” he began. 

“Oh please,” you begged.��

“If I say yes, you cannot breathe a word to anyone.” 

“I will keep this locked in my head forever,” you promised. 

Vaguely, you realized Gale was giving in rather quickly. Too quickly. It occurred to you, not for the first time, that this may not be the first time he’d considered fucking himself with this puppet. Or maybe it hadn’t been him those other times, maybe he’d created puppets of someone else. 

Either way, his quick consideration left you with a million questions.  

“He doesn’t feel,” Gale reminded you, “I had considered trying to find a way to give sensation feedback to the controller, but I haven’t gotten there yet.”

Now you were certain he’d at least considered this. 

“He can speak though,” He continued unaware you were on to him, “try.”

You drew on the experience from your former parasite. 

“Hello.” The puppet spoke. 

“Oh,” you said breathlessly, “I can do a lot with this.”

Gale, again, had the sense of mind to appear a bit alarmed by your reactions. You grinned at him, wickedly. 

The puppet reached forward and place a hand on Gale’s hip, fingers holding on loosely to the material of his shirt that hung there. 

“Are you sure?” The puppet spoke. 

Gale was enraptured by the puppet now, eyes skating over its form. Then he nodded, licking his lips as he did. You smiled, and the puppet did as well. Wizards and their egos. 

Gale was unusually passive as the puppet removed his shirt. Not resistant just not participating as you’d hoped. 

“Touch me,” the puppet said, and delighted you realized his intonation changed at your whim. 

Gale’s eyes dashed to yours. You pouted rather dramatically, very careful to not transfer this to the puppet. Gale reached out and resting his hand against the puppet’s chest. It wasn’t much, but it was certainly enough for you to continue. He was pliant as the puppet pulled down his pants, instead of letting them fall to the floor he knelt, guiding them the whole way. 

Gale’s brain may have been unsure, but already his cock was interested. 

The puppet remained kneeling, though he braced his hands on Gale’s thighs, looking up at him. 

Your breath was stolen for a moment, immensely distracted by the tableau in front of you.

Slowly, giving Gale all the time in the world to back out, the puppet leaned towards his cock. When Gale didn’t object, the puppet pulled him into it’s mouth. Gale moaned, his head dropping back. This part would be a little tricky, you realized, normally, this was done by sensation. Not knowledge. 

“I need you to help here,” you warned him, “don’t hold back.”

Gale nodded, Adam’s apple bobbing as he did. 

The puppet began working it’s tongue. Gale moaned, a hand immediately coming up to thread through it’s hair. His hair. 

You drew on every memory where you’d been in the puppet’s place. It seemed enough because Gale was moaning freely. The brief glimpses you caught of his cock when the puppet pulled back confirmed he was completely hard now. 

“This is very, very wrong,” Gale groaned, in contrast to his words though, his grip in the puppet’s hair had tightened. 

You saw an opportunity. 

The puppet pulled back. “Fuck my mouth?” it pleaded, turning overly familiar puppy dog eyes upwards. 

Gale looked down, eyes blown wide before looking to you. “Is that… is that how I sound?” he was torn between the two of you.

You laughed, “yes and no. But,” you supplied helpfully, “that is how you look.”

Gale swore but gripped his cock. He led it back to the puppet who eagerly swallowed it down. Both of Gale’s hand went to it’s hair though he paused. You worked hard to remember the feeling of your own throat when you went pliant below someone. Subconsciously your own muscles did just that. It worked, it seemed, because Gale slowly began thrusting into the puppet’s mouth. 

As you watched Gale fuck his own mouth, you slid your hand between your thighs. Unsurprisingly, you were wet, you had been just at the idea of this little venture. But to see it actually come to life was lighting things within you that could not be normal. 

You’d never been normal. 

Gingerly you began rubbing your clit, careful not to lose focus on the puppet’s controls. You moaned, and then the puppet did. Gale followed, enjoying whatever sensation the sound had brought on. He was fucking into the puppet’s mouth far rougher than he’d ever dared to do to yours. 

You rolled your flattened tongue, imagining the weight of Gale’s cock on it. Gale cursed under his breath, hips slamming into it in a way that would have damaged a real person. 

You were thrilled to see him this uncontrolled. 

“I dont…” Gale began, and immediately, the puppet stopped it’s ministrations with it’s mouth. “I don’t want to come in his mouth,” Gale continued after taking a moment to catch his breath. 

“Do you want to fuck me, or him?” You asked breathlessly. 

“You, always,” Gale answered pulling away from the puppet. 

Quickly, you straightened your legs, and then he was there. Gale’s fingers found your center before he’d even gotten onto the bed. One digit immediately slid into you. 

“You’re so wet,” He said sliding his finger in and out of you, you whined, falling back onto your elbows. “There is so much wrong with us,” Gale said softly before adding a second finger. 

You smiled, happy he hadn’t singled you out in the wrongness of this situation. Instead, it was the two of you together, as it would always be. You moved the puppet behind him, taking care for it to walk noisily so as not to take Gale off guard. 

“Oil on his fingers,” you directed, the puppet lifted it’s hand.

Gale pivoted slightly and then there was as sheen across the puppet’s fingers, dripping down it’s palm. 

“You inside me first” you directed breathlessly.

Gale grabbed your hips and dragged you further down the bed. In the same motion, he slid into you. You moaned. Locking your legs around Gale’s thigh you shook your head in an effort to focus. The puppet inched forward a little and when Gale’s head dropped down into your shoulder you knew you’d been successful. 

For a beat the slick sounds in the room came from only the puppet as he worked his oiled finger into Gale. You felt when he hit home, Gale’s cock twitching inside you. A short time later Gale began to move inside you finally. Almost immediately he was fucking you hard, no doubt slamming his hips back onto the puppet’s fingers. 

You moaned at the thought, desperately wishing you could see. Gradually it became difficult to focus both on the puppet and your own arousal building as Gale fucked into you. 

“Fuck,” You moaned, hand gripping his shoulder as your head fell back onto the bed, “I can’t keep-” 

Whatever else you wanted to say was lost as Gale grabbed your leg to pull it up, thrusting into you deeper now. 

“Let go,” Gale ground out through his teeth. 

And you did. You came with a yell hips snapping up to meet Gale’s. He followed not long after, spilling into you with a groan, head buried into your shoulder. 

As you came back to yourself, you moved the puppet away. Gale keened into your skin as the puppet pulled his fingers from him. You reached up and pulled the necklace from around your neck, it dragged through your sweat-slick skin. 

“I would not be opposed to doing that again,” you said breathily. 

Gale, the real one, groaned. 

[olvaheiner]

Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Opening Ceremony

[sunshine-theseus]

World Cup Loses and Transfers | Frido Rolfö x Reader

Words: 3.2k Summary: you get knocked out of the wc but you meet the woman of your dreams (I’m giving Kristie the playing time she deserved at the wc), please pretend frido never got injured Warnings: slightly suggestive. i think that's it. barely proof read. Requested by - @realsociadadferminofan

Being called up to the national team for the first time when you’re 27, right before the world cup, was unexpected and terrifying. I only knew Kristie, Lynn and Kelly from playing with them at Gotham, closest to the Mewis due to both growing up in Boston and playing with her sister Sam for a few years in North Carolina. It was a national team that was relatively skilled and fluid with one another, and I felt like an unnecessary part in a smoothly working machine.

“This has to be a, a joke, right? It’s four.” Kristie runs her hand down her face as she holds her phone in a deadly grip. I stare out the window, looking across the city, trying to ignore the way my gut drops when her phone rings before mine.

“Is Y/n there too? It might be easier to do you both at once.” I hear the accent from across the room and solemnly stand, dragging my feet across the floor, and sit on the couch beside Kristie, waving at our coach.

“I wanted to talk to you, and just let you both know, that you’re both selected to go to the world cup.” I choke on the words of thanks I was about to spew out and don’t even try to hold the tears back.

I turn toward Kristie, who has a similar expression, and I pull her into me.

“We did it.” I whisper in her ear and she rubs a hand up and down my back before we pull away.

“Thank you so much, I’m so excited.” Kristie gives her thanks and I repeat a similar message.

“You deserve this, you both bring something to the team on and off the field and it’s exactly what we need for the world cup.” We thank Vlatko once more and bid him goodbye, and I break down.

Kristie pulls me back into her and I cry, I can feel her tears drop on the top of my head but neither of us say anything for a moment. We hold each other and feel the relief and excitement of it all.

“You deserve this more than anyone Kristie. We’re going to go to the world cup and show people we are worth it.” I wipe away her tears and we both agree to separate and call our respective people.

~~~~~

The beginning of the tournament is nerve racking, but we beat Vietnam 3-0.

Then we play the Netherlands, and Vlatko doesn’t sub on a single person, and I begin to get nervous for our time at this tournament. We tie 1-1 and no one is happy. We have to at least tie with Portugal to get through to the knock-out rounds.

Lynn starts, I get subbed on at half time for Andi Sullivan, and Kristie gets subbed on in the 54th minute for Lindsey Horan. We’re still 0-0 in the last 3 minutes of the game, but Rose makes a pass to Kristie, who manages to slip the ball to me, and I make a powerful shot from just outside the penalty box. The goalkeeper’s hand grazes the ball as it spins, but it still hits the back of the net.

I scream as I make a run for Kristie, jumping into her arms as Rose and Lynn and whoever else hugs us.

The whistle blows to continue, but barely a minute later it blows again, indicating the end of the game.

I fall to my knees and weep, players patting my back as they pass. Emily is the one who lifts me off the ground and hugs me.

“You fucking did it.” I cling to her for a long time.

I’m surrounded as we celebrate, and I finally feel like I belong. Being hugged and congratulated by veterans of the team, singing kid’s jerseys and signs. People care about me.

~~~~~

Neither Kristie nor I start for the game against Sweden, which hurts considering how well we played the other day, but we keep our hopes up.

In similar fashion to the game against Portugal, I’m subbed on at half time, Kristie joining me.

“Go out and make a fucking difference! We’ve got this girls!” Lindsey yells as we run back out onto the field, ready to win this thing.

We take our positions, Alex kicking off. I follow the ball with my eyes as I make my way to mark my player, almost running into her as she heads toward me. Fridolina Rolfö is one of the best players in the world, with a versatility that isn’t seen all too often, and she’s standing right beside me. I also try to desperately ignore my raging crush on the tall Swedish player as the ball falls to my feet and I try to manoeuvre around her.

I kick the ball through her legs and take on down the field again, making a pass to Kristie. She passes to Alex who takes a shot, but Mušović catches it and falls to the ground with ease.

After the full 90’, neither team yet to concede a goal, we prepare for an extra 30 minutes, possibly even penalties. Vlatko gives us the order before the extra time begins, and I begin to get nervous again.

We fight as hard as we can for a goal, while simultaneously trying to keep Sweden away. By the time the final whistle blows to indicate the extra time is over, we’re still at a stagnant nil-nil. Penalties will be the decider. We line up, Andi stepping forward to take the first kick for us. It drifts into the goal with ease, and I hug Kristie to my side in short celebration.

Frido steps up next, taking her spot in front of Alyssa. I try not to think about how arguably good she looks as she takes a deep breath. She lets it go and runs, slotting the ball into the right corner.

1-1.

Kristie takes our 3rd. In a calm fashion I’ve witnessed from her many times before, she places the ball on the spot, closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, and kicks. It flies into the top left corner, and I don’t waste a second in running out of the line and picking her up, spinning her around.

3-2.

Both teams struggle to convert another goal for a few shots, but we eventually end up 4-4. Then it comes to me. It’s up to me to get us through.

I line up with the ball, glancing to the left side of the net in hopes of confusing the keeper. I take three steps back, run, and kick the ball. It flies forward toward the right side of the goal and the goalie jumpers to the left. The ball looks like it’s about to go in, when it makes contact with the post, diverting it away from the net. I try not to fall to the ground, instead silently crying as Kristie holds me at her side, watching Lina Hurtig line up.

The world moves in slow motion as she kicks the ball. Alyssa gets her hands on the ball, but it flies back in the air and toward the net. She makes a dive to stop it before it crosses the line, sweeping it away. Both teams begin to celebrate in a moment of confusion, us hoping for a second chance to get through, Sweden believing they’ve knocked us out.

We wait in anticipation as the ref checks with the VAR, and I fall into Kristie’s arms, pulling us both to the floor as she announces the ball crossed the line.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I whisper apologies in her ear as we both cry, watching Lina run to her team.

“It’s my fault.” I can’t lift my head to look anyone in the eyes. I failed this team.

“It’s not your fault, it was bad luck. You did everything you could.” She comforts through her own tears.

“You should go talk to Lynn and the others.” I say, pulling away. Kristie nods curtly, hugging me once more before standing up and leaving me to wallow by myself.

“Ursäkta mig?” (excuse me). I turn toward the person looming over me and come face to face with Fridolina Rolfö.

“You played very well today. I’m sorry for your loss. It’s not your fault.” She offers me a hand which I take nervously.

“T- thank you. But I should’ve been able to make that penalty. You played well too.” I stare at the ground, far too nervous about who I’m talking to, and disappointed in my performance.

“Would you like to swap jerseys?” my head whips up to look at the tall blonde.

“W- with me? Frido Rolfö wants to swap jerseys with me?” I stutter as she smiles down at me.

“If you don’t mind.” I waste not a second more in pulling my jersey off and handing it to her, Frido copying me. We pull them over our heads and some photographer takes a picture. I smile despite my puffy eyes and the tears that have yet to dry.

“You really should be proud of your performance today. Despite missing the penalty, you played the best you could. Maybe we’ll see you at Barca one day.” She pats me on the back and heads back to her team. I do the same.

~~~~~

A few weeks later I get a rather shocking email. The world cup ended about a week ago, Spain taking the trophy over England, and the NWSL was about to start back up. This email put a stop to my plans.

“Dear Y/n L/n,

Barcelona Femeni has deeply reviewed your performance at the world cup and at Gotham FC, and we wish to extend an invitation for you to transfer to Barcelona before the start of our 2023/24 season.

Please get back to us as soon as possible. We may be open for discussion on your salary.”

I try not to scream in excitement, hyperaware of the newly engaged couple sleeping in the room next to me, and decide to take a day to think about it and discuss the idea with Kristie and my family. I get up and begin to make breakfast for the three of us, a simple poached eggs on avocado toast, to keep me distracted.

Eventually Kristie and Sam emerge, and I present them with the idea.

“You have to take it.” Sam tells me deadpan.

“Well hold on a second. Maybe you should take a few days to think about it.” Kristie counters, and I begin to get nervous.

“Offers like these don’t just hang in the air Kristie. It’s the best move for her career.”

“What about her family? And the NWSL? We’re so close to the final.”

“What about what’s best f-”

“I’m doing it.” I interrupt what’s inevitably going to become a fight if I let it drag on.

“I’m moving to Barcelona. Sam’s right, these opportunities don’t just wait for me to be ready, and they rarely come more than once. My family will understand and so will the club. I hope. I have to do this Kristie.” The girl simply nods in understanding, and I smile at Sam before heading back to my room to reply.

~~~~~

A week and a half later I’m stepping out of a taxi and standing in awe in front of the Joan Gamper training grounds. I came in yesterday to put myself in their system and take the signing announcement photos but being here for training made it seem much more real.

I stand watching the likes of Aitana Bonmati and Keira Walsh walk past me and into the building when a hand lands on my shoulder. Once again, Frido Rolfö towers over me with a wide, welcoming grin that spreads across her face.

“They took my recommendation!”

“What do you mean?” I begin to walk alongside her.

“I strongly suggested that Jonatan watch your performances at the world cup and the NWSL after we versed each other. We need a strong midfielder like you who can also make goals. Very similar to Alexia.”

“Me? Like Alexia Putellas? You’re lying.” The Swede simply smiles again as she pushes open the door to the locker room.

“Hola!” a chorus of voices greet us as we enter. We’re clearly the last here.

-

It takes me a few days to start gelling with other players. These people were the best of the best and I had to prove I belong here, so I did just that.

-

“Mapi, Mapi! Here!” I yell to the centre back, pointing to where I want the ball. 5v5s could be hard but they made it seem easy.

It flies through the air and lands against my chest before falling to the ground. I seem to be in an impossible situation, but I spot a gap and hit the ball through, managing to run around Lucy and tap it into the goal past Sandra.

“VAMOOOS.” Mapi, Frido, Ona and Aitana run toward me.

“You’re so good.” Frido taps me on the head affectionately as she pulls me into her side in some sort of hug. I blush and roll my eyes when I make eye contact with Pina, who was very aware of my crush on the forward.

“Thank you Frido.”

There must have been something in the air because I continued to bang in goals all session.

I tap the ball back behind me to navigate around Alexia and chip it over Sandra, right into the goal.

I make a shot from the boarder of the penalty box, and it lands in the top right corner.

Aitana shoots the ball into the air and before I can think, I’m jumping and throwing my leg in the air behind me. It connects with the ball, and I turn my head to watch if it goals in as I fall to the ground. The net ripples behind Sandra and I’m at the bottom of the dogpile before I can say anything.

“You just flawlessly executed a bicycle kick what the fuck?!”

“How’d you do that?”

“Can you do that again?” a new question is presented before I can answer the previous and I just laugh. Eventually everyone gets off and heads to lunch, but Frido helps me up.

“You’re performing goals like that but you’re not a striker? Why?”

“It just feels right. I’ve always been told I’m best midfield even though getting goals has always been something I loved doing.” She hums and takes my hand as we follow the others.

~~~~~

“We’re playing truth or dare! No complaints!” Claudia shouts over the groans spewing from everyone’s mouths.

“It’s the ultimate team bonding experience. Come on.”

“I’ll go first!” Ona volunteers and we all wait to see who she picks.

“Mapi. I dare you to knock on your neighbours door, accusing them on stealing Bagheera.”

“But Señorita Ruiz is so nice, and old.” Despite the complaint, Mapi gets up and walks out of her apartment, Ona following her, and knocks on Ms Ruiz’s door.

“María Pilar! How dare you accuse me of stealing Bagheera! I look after him every time you go away and take good care of him! I would never do such a thing.” The sounds of what one could only assume to be a handbag hitting Mapi, echo down the hall.

“Lo siento, lo siento Señorita! Por favor my friend made me I’m sorry!” the subject of the quabble meows and struts out of the apartment and toward Señorita Ruiz’s.

“Never accuse me of such things again or no more buñuelos.” Eventually the two come back, Mapi red faced with Bagheera in her arms, and Ona giggling in joy.

“My turn I suppose.” Mapi seethes jokingly.

“Y/n. I dare you to play seven minutes in heaven with Frido.” I stop, but Frido is already standing, and I can’t say no.

“Let’s do this.” I whisper, apparently loud enough for everyone to hear, as they cheer and laugh.

I follow Frido to Mapi and Ingrid’s bedroom and close the door behind me. As soon as I do, I’m pushed up against the wood. My breathing stops and I flush red, trying not to look at her lips.

“If you don’t want this, tell me now. Otherwise, I’m going to kiss you because I’ve wanted to since I first saw you.”

“I want you to kiss me so bad.” She surges forward, pressing her lips against mine, and I grasp at the loose fabric of her shirt to pull her closer.

I don’t even try to talk as we continue to make out against the door. I try not to think about how hot she looks with dishevelled hair and ruffled clothes, my lip-gloss smudged against her own lips, otherwise we won’t be leaving this room.

Then comes an aggressive bang from the other side, Mapi yelling time is up.

“This isn’t over.” She whispers in my ear as she reaches around me to open the door and walks out. I stand still in awe as I watch her walk away, and Mapi has to usher me back to the circle where I sit next to Frido.

~~~~~

I went home with her that night and woke up the next morning buried beneath satin sheets with an arm around my waist, skin on skin. Despite the deep want inside of me to freak out, I take a breath and take in the world around me. The sun streams through the window and lands perfectly on the face of the woman beside me, making her skin light up and her hair seem like liquid gold.

I spot the pile of our clothes on the floor and giggle at the memory of how hard they were to take off last night in our rushed kisses. But then I remember how the rush slowed down. There was no other word to describe it except love.

Frido’s eyes slowly open and she grins at me, leaning forward and pressing soft kisses to my shoulder and neck. I sit up urgently and reach a hand toward the spot she just kissed, then stand and head toward the bathroom linked to her room. There on the side of my neck, is a row of small, dark purple hickies. Frido follows me in and wraps her arms around my waist, resting her chin on my shoulder, and continues to kiss every inch of skin she could reach.

“I have no way to cover these up before training.” I groan and throw my head back.

“Good.” She shrugs before kissing me on the lips, and then goes back to her room.

“You did it on purpose!” I whine.

“I will never admit that. Now join me.” She pulls me into the shower before I can protest.

Let’s just say we were nearly late to training. And I had to borrow her spare kit. And everyone most certainly knew what happened.

Ingrid was the first to point it out, poking a finger into the bruises on my neck and pointing them out to Mapi. I swat them away but it only brings more attention to us. Alexia is the next one over and she gracefully points out the 16 that replaces my usual 3. I look over to Frido for help but she just laughs.

“You know what? At least I’ve got a girlfriend. More than some of you can say.” I laugh along with some of them but Frido seems shocked. I tilt my head to the side in confusion, running my sentence through my head.

My smile drops but she leans over and kisses me.

“Yeah at least she has a girlfriend.”

[alessioa]

Kiera Walsh x Lucy Bronze x Leah Williamson x Reader (Platonic)

Sickly

In which the reader gets sick but doesn't tell anyone, when Kiera, Leah and Lucy finds out they help them.

Warnings: Sickness

Words: 750+

You hated being sick, especially when you were about to play your debut for England in a few days. You knew that you probably wouldn’t be able to do so because it felt as if you were on fire and what little you ate for breakfast was on its way up again. It was not a pleasant feeling. 

You had thought that your teammates hadn't noticed anything, but that was far from the truth. From the few days they had talked to you before you became sick you had been pretty outwards, with lots of energy and thrived in feeling seen and talking to your new teammates. But now you were nowhere to be seen, they had seen you at training but as soon as it was over you were quick to leave and you showered in your room instead of in the changing rooms. 

This worried Lucy and Kiera, your teammates as Barca, they knew you as the person to never miss teambonding activities. Such as the one they were on now, without you it felt wrong. Quiet even. 

So with a bit of convincing they had managed to get the key to your room from Leah, she had been assigned copies of all the keys if something were to happen someone had a spare key to their room. (Pretend she’s not injured)

Lucy knocked on the door to your room. “Hey Y/n, it’s me Lucy, Kiera and Leah are also here. We wanted to check in on you kid” you heard her voice through the door but decided to stay quiet because you knew that your voice was not  as it normally was, your voice was quite hoarse after coughing alot. 

The knocking came again, this time a bit harsher. You couldn’t stop the gran that left your lips as the pounding in your head got worse with each of the knocks. The loud sound seemingly didn’t agree with your head. 

At that the three girls outside your door looked at each other, worried that something was wrong with you. As you were quite young the three had taken you under their wing both at Barcelona and in the lionesses squad. Lucy and Kiera had known you  for quite a while as you were signed for Barcelona at the same time as them, Leah because she often took care of new and younger girls in the team. 

“Y/n please open the door, or we will” this time it was Leah that spoke, even though you didn’t want them to come in you didn’t have the energy to get out of bed or even speak. Leah waited and listened to hear if you moved in your room. When she didn’t hear anything she took it as a sign to open the door. 

In the room they found you lying curled up in bed, with both the covers and a blanket covering you. It was clear that you were still freezing. Your back was turned to them and you didn’t react when they entered, so Lucy walked towards you. When you felt the bed dip beside you - you slowly turned towards her. 

The sight that greeted Lucy hurt her, you looked so miserable, your eyes drooped as if you had a hard time keeping them open, your cheeks were a deep and sickly red. Lucy laid down next to you, and opened her arms as an invitation for you to come closer to her. So you did, slowly you shuffled closer to the older woman, letting her wrap her arms around you.

While this was happening Leah had filled a bath, if you felt like you had the energy to take one and Kiera had rushed out of the room to inform Sarina that you weren’t feeling too well and that you would rest, and also get some light food so that you could get some energy. 

Lucy laid there next to you, she  was having a little hard time doing so as you had forced her under the covers so that  you could use her body heat too, your skin was burning. It  was something that concerned Lucy. So when Kiera came back with the tray of food she sent her to get a thermometer. 

–

Soon you were put in a slightly warm bath, not too hot, to try and get your body temperature down as you had quite a high fever. 

After the bath you cuddled up with Leah, Kiera and Lucy, you were fast asleep and the older women made sure that you were well taken care of.

[one-time-i-dreamt]

My friend and I were building IKEA Furniture in a full soccer stadium. There was a game going on. We were in the middle of the field.