THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
Battle of Underdog I

"Remember what we discussed yesterday" Coach Johansen told the players in the dressing room. "Remember all your training. Remember all the hard work you've done over the past year." He lowered his voice a little. Despite this, his words still carried over to every corner of the room.

"This is the time to move forward and reap the rewards of all your efforts. It all depends on how you handle yourself over the next 90 minutes. Remember, if you stay focused for every moment of the game, we will definitely emerge victorious."

Coach Johansen spent a few minutes reminding the players of the game plan they had discussed the previous day. He reminds them of the individual roles they will take in the game before sending them to the game.

Zachary and his team-mates stepped onto the pitch, full of desire to perform. They want to defeat ADO The Hague completely. Coach Johansen's pre-match spirit talk further inflames their longing to win the game and qualify for the finals.

If they could advance past the semi-finals and win the final, it would prove to be a rare achievement among the Norwegian academy. Winning the tournament meant fame, cash prizes, and increased odds to be taken by professional teams from all over Europe.

Zachary also felt excited to perform. He completed a coin toss with the referee and ADO captain Den Hague quickly and ran back to his half as fast as he could.

Meanwhile, the fans cheered, drowning the stadium with a standing ovation. The commentators made some light jokes about the match that was about to start. It feels like a festival at the Indoor Skonto Stadium, rather than a football match.

Zachary decided to call the team on the field before the game started. Although he disliked the act of commanding around his team-mates, he felt he had to remind them of the coach's instructions before such an important game. Surprisingly, the squad seemed happy when he called them to huddle the team.

"Friends," he started as soon as they formed a circle on their side of the field. “The coach has said everything that needs to be said about the game plan and tactics. I just want to emphasize one thing. We have to focus on the little things, the details that make the difference in a competitive game.the details we have to finish, the details we have to finish perfectly."

"We have to carry out the role given to us by the coach to the best of our ability" he added, slightly raising his voice to achieve the best effect on his team-mates. "Whether defending or attacking, everything is the same. We have to stay focused until the final whistle is sounded. Everyone has to do their part." He stared at his other teammates in the crowd.

"In order for Kendrick to do his part in goal, Robin needs to do his part in defence. And it's the same for every position on the pitch. We all depend on each other. Right?" He stopped, saw the rest.

He continued after seeing them attentively. “Everyone should play their part perfectly so that the next person can do it. That's how we play as a team in this game. Otherwise, we will be devastated and lose the game, even if only one player relaxes for a long time.one minute."

Zachary looked around and noticed that his teammates were listening attentively. They held on to his words as if it was gold or a precious herb that they had hunted for days. Some of them nodded with their eyes closed while others looked at him excitedly, waiting for him to end the team talk.

Zachary's tone changed convincingly. "So, now, let's go out and play like our lives and careers depend on it. Let us be faithful to who we are. Together, unite as one in the field." He clapped his hands to emphasize. The other players joined in chanting the name of NF Academy with a loud voice loud in the ears.

"Should we pray or what?" Kasongo asked as they were about to disperse the team crowd.

"Must," Kendrick and Magnus answered, more or less in unison.

"Then, you should lead the prayer since you suggested it," Zachary said as he pointed at Kasongo.

"Why me?" Kasongo jumped away from the crowd like he was stung by a wasp after Zachary chose him.

The other players laughed at his reaction.

Kasongo raised his hand in a calming manner. "I'm just suggesting a strategy to help us ensure our victory. They say; praying increases the chances of a team to win. Something like that. We don't have to go through prayer if nobody wants to lead it."

Kendrick eventually led a short prayer before the players returned to their positions for kick-off.

Zachary is moving closer to the centre circle as he will play as a half-striker, just behind rjan, the NF Academy centre-forward. He began to observe his teammates in a dark blue T-shirt. They jog and jump around in their respective positions while waiting for the referee to blow his whistle. It seems like the team crowd coupled with Coach Johansen's spirit talk had an effect on their mood. Their body language says it all. They act like elite professionals and approach the game with the right attitude to win. The team spirit is at a much higher level and is unlike at the start of most of the previous games.

He then turned his attention to ADO Den Hague players with their green and yellow striped jerseys. They also looked excited to start the semifinals. He has done some research on their troops. He immediately recognized Catalin Tira, ADO Den Hague centre-forward, who had scored four goals in the tournament. He was standing near the ball, ready to start the game. He also recognized Ibrahim Fofane and Tyronne Ebuehi, two players who caused some problems on the right flank of Skonto Academy.

Zachary sighed and turned his attention back to the referee. He hopes Kasongo and yvind will be able to mark the wing duo. Otherwise, their cross would be extremely detrimental to the NF Academy.

*FREEEE*

The referee blew his whistle. The semi-final between NF Academy and ADO The Hague at Skonto Arena starts at exactly 11:00 on a cold Tuesday morning.

**** ****

"Zachary finally remembered to call the team huddle before the game," commented Coach Johansen, half-smiling, his eyes never leaving the field. "He finally started acting like a captain."

"He also showed mistakes to his team-mates" said Coach Bjorn Peters. "That's an improvement in his leadership skills. I guess he wants to win the game more than anyone in this team."

Coach Johansen did not answer. All his attention was on the game. He tries to gauge whether his players carry out the roles assigned to them in the match. He was happy with what he was observing.

His players started the first half with gusto— closing the ADO Den Hague players every time they lost possession. They then followed his game plan, deciding to sit down and resist the attack of ADO The Hague. They played in a 5-3-1-1 formation and only countered through counter-attacks and long passes to Zachary and rjan.

He aims to defend with eight men behind the ball when he devises a game strategy. He wants to close all attack lines Dutch team—especially the wing. His five defenders should be working with three midfielders to shut down any ADO Den Hague attackers quickly every time they approach the NF Academy box.

yvind and Martin, full-backs, played well in the first fifteen minutes. They kept the ADO Den Hague wing tight, and on many occasions, blocked a cross towards the box. Thanks to their efforts, the Dutch team did not manage to make any effort on goal for the first few minutes.

Coach Johansen said he was satisfied with their performance.

"A really clean tackle," exclaimed Coach Bjorn from the side.yvind, right-wing defender, had just made a clean tackle, snatching the ball from Calvin Valise— left-wing ADO Den Hague. The right-back then runs with the ball and tries to pass an opponent close to the touchline.

Coach Johansen is confident of losing the ball if it keeps running because Robin van der Meer, ADO Den Hague left-back, is closing in on him.

"Use a long ball to Zachary" Coach Johansen shouted at the yvind. "Hurry up" he shouted as he watched the right-back still make the most of his time on the ball.

yvind immediately followed his instructions. From right next to the touchline, deep in the half of the NF Academy field, he lifted his right foot and passed a long ball towards the center circle where Zachary was waiting.

Coach Johansen relaxed as he watched Zachary gore the ball to the ground and turn around, taking off towards the ADO Den Hague box. The two defenders tried to close it immediately, but their efforts did not come to fruition. They had already given him enough space to accelerate away from them and could not win him back. Coach Johansen believes some of the players still in the academy can match Zachary's pace.

His heart pounded like a hammer on his chest as he watched Zachary play one-two with rjan. The prodigy stabbed deeper into the half of ADO Den Haag, passing through the defenders in seconds.

Coach Johansen smiled, calming his overflowing emotions. He had planned a long and grueling match against the Dutch side, with almost no goals. However, if his team managed to score in the first few minutes of the game, it would be a relief. He will find it easy to win.

**** ****