Chapter 619: Japan vs Colombia
Chapter 619: Japan vs Colombia
Appearing seemingly troubled, a lean individual with short hair was seated in a quiet locker room. He was adorned in green-colored training bibs, and white tape was wrapped around his right wrist.
Tilting his head against the locker behind him, he sighed, "What am I going to do?"
For a while, he stared at the ceiling. Then he lowered his head, his brows knitted into a frown, and his amber eyes fixed on his ankle.
He caressed his left ankle gently and muttered, "Will I be okay?"
Apparently, he had been feeling a stinging pain whenever he sprinted. Every time he tried to
shift the direction of the sprint, a stinging pain would assault him, making him unable to continue.
For an inverted winger like him who liked to cut in from the flanks, the discomfort Luis felt could be a huge issue if left untreated.
However, given the scenario, Luis couldn't even bring himself to talk about the discomfort he felt. What if they found some problem and sidelined him?
At this juncture when the World Cup was ongoing, he didn't want to miss out on the tournament.
"Luis, what are you doing here?"
A familiar voice knocked him to his senses while Luis was deeply engrossed in his condition. Startled by the voice, he immediately withdrew his hand from his ankle.
Curling his lips to reveal a smile, he answered in a rather flustered tone, "I... Uh..., I was about to leave too."
The individual before him upon hearing Luis's response squinched his eyes. He felt a little uneasy about the hurried response. But before he could bring himself to ask, Luis followed up with a question.
"What about you captain? Why haven't you left yet?"
After training, James, the team captain, was asked to meet the coach.
"I had a few things to discuss with the coach," James responded. "But why haven't you left yet? Is something troubling you?"
Having known the man before him for quite a while, James could tell that something was bothering Luis. Perhaps Luis might be feeling anxious about the World Cup.
However, given Luis's status as the star player of Liverpool, James immediately thwarted the idea.
Luis shook his head, "No, no. I'm fine. I was just thinking about the match with Japan."
"Well, honestly, I can relate with you. Everybody thinks of Japan as underdogs but I... think differently."
Hearing the words of the captain, Luis's eyes gleamed with curiosity. So, he couldn't but ask, "What do you mean by that?"
He couldn't tell if James didn't even view them as worthy opponents. After all, no matter how he looked, they were a fierce competitor.
James rolled his eyes to Luis and announced, "I think they are a strong contender for the title. If anyone underestimates them, they're bound to fall."
Luis's brows raised in astonishment. He didn't think that James thought so highly of them. It was the first time, he had heard such bold statements from him.
However, as he began to ponder, he couldn't help but agree with James. After all, the team consisted of Yamada, the ace midfielder of Real Madrid, Endo, the heart of Liverpool, Aya, the starting keeper of Bayern Munich, and many other talented ones.
With such depths, they could be considered one of the favorites to win.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
While pondering, Luis's gaze fell upon his ankle. Once again, a doubt emerged in his heart.
Will he be able to perform under such conditions?
********
Wisps of clouds drifted lazily across the vast blue sky while the sun sat high, casting its warm light over everything below.
The stadium resonated with cheers, a palpable blend of excitement and anticipation filling the air. Enthusiastic supporters moved in waves, creating a sea of energy in the stands.
Meanwhile, Hiro and his teammates stood lined up in the tunnel, waiting patiently for their names to be announced.
The air inside the tunnel was thick with tension.
Hiro's heart pounded rhythmically, his breathing a little more hurried than usual, 'Finally, I'm going to make my World Cup debut.'
He had been visualizing this moment for a long while. Yet still, when it came to the actual moment, he found it hard to maintain his composure.
Most of the people around him looked fine. Some of them were even chatting freely a moment ago. However, after that, it had gotten relatively quiet.
Endo stood at the front with his chest puffed.
On the opposing side, James stood at the front, appearing equally composed.
For a moment, it felt as if he was the only one who was nervous about the moment. Maybe he
might have been thinking too much about it.
So, Hiro tried to shift his attention elsewhere.
'I only have time left until the group stage. I have to do well.' Hiro said to himself,
encouraging him.
Stabilizing his heartbeat, Hiro exhaled deeply.
'This is your moment, Hiro. This is the moment you can compete against the world. This is an opportunity to grow and you must seize it under any circumstances,' Hiro tightly squeezed
his palms into a fist.
More than a tournament, Hiro viewed it as an opportunity to learn and grow. It was the only moment, he could test himself against the world.
For him, it was both a stage to display his worth and a stage for him to grow.
Finally, after a while, the announcement rang and the queue began to progress. In a single- file procession, they entered the field.
The bright light of the sun fell on Hiro's eyes, making him squinch.
At the same time, the enthusiasm of the fans assaulted him, sending a wave of excitement. Listening to their cheers, Hiro felt mesmerized.
Yet he kept himself composed.
Vigilantly, Hiro rolled his eyes while maintaining his composure. He could see a sew of
supporters both excited and anxious.
Hiro wasn't new to this scene. However, the atmosphere was different than what he was used
to. So, he felt a bit overwhelmed.
The festival of football had started and he was participating in it.