THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
Tactics

In the NF Academy locker room in the first round...

Coach Johansen could not help his smile as he watched the players sitting in front of him. They have beaten themselves through sheer focus and discipline on the pitch. Thanks to their persistence, they were two goals ahead of VfB Stuttgart in the Riga Cup Final.

To his delight, they have maintained the atmosphere of seriousness required for the final— even after they returned to the dressing room with the lead on the half-time break. All the players quietly sipped water from the bottle without chatting amongst themselves, just like they did in the previous game.

They seem to be well aware that a lead before halftime does not guarantee a win in a game. Coach Johansen nodded in satisfaction. That is the right attitude for a competitive football game.

However, he still felt doubtful about the game plan that would be implemented in the second half. He wondered if it would be better to play it safe and restructure his team—back to a 5-4-1 defensive-oriented formation. He just needs to maintain his lead for the next forty-five minutes and voila, he will win the final without any risk.

His mind worked excessively, weighing the pros and cons of defensive formations. And after a moment of consideration, he decided to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation.

Both wingers, Kasongo and Paul, played very well under the new system. They ran several times, snatching to the VfB Stuttgart defensive area on several occasions before halftime. They even managed to keep opposing wing-backs on their toes, rendering them ineffective on the wings. In addition, two defensive midfielders in a new formation have helped free Zachary, giving him more freedom in midfield. He definitely cannot change their style of play after such an outstanding performance.

He cleared his throat before speaking to the players who eagerly anticipated the part-time talk. He could see it in their eyes.

“We will defend the system 4-2-3-1 in the second half,” he started, half smiling to his players. "I hope you stay focused throughout the second half, as you did in the first half."

He paused, letting his gaze settle for a moment on every player in the room before continuing. "I can't lie to you that this second half will be easy. I hope the VfB Stuttgart players attack you with everything they have—since the first minute of the second half. But, you have to play the game with courage—with confidence—with purpose. You must be steadfast and deny them the chance to return."

"Play as best you can and make sure you leave without regret after the game. That's the only way to maintain our lead—and win the final. We are only forty-five minutes away from becoming champions. Don't waste the opportunity ."

Coach Johansen continued the part-time talk for the next ten minutes. He assigned several new roles to several players and answered some questions. He then explained the second-half game plan to hold VfB Stuttgart before sending the players back onto the pitch.

**** ****

In the dressing room of VfB Stuttgart, the atmosphere is more somber.

Coach Ilija Aracic did not give his players a chance to contribute tactics this time around. Things went terribly wrong in the first half. He had no choice but to immediately change the game plan.

He has to admit that treating Zachary Bemba like any other talented academy player is a mistake on his part. He should have never agreed to the tactic of using a single player to mark such a monster. The boy is already at a professional level in a top league. Letting him play in youth tournaments under 18 is 'just' unfair to the other teams.

Nonetheless, Coach Ilija Aracic must find a way to reduce his influence on the game. Otherwise, VfB Stuttgart will be humiliated in the final of such a small tournament. That's 'just' unacceptable.

"We completely changed our tactics" he started off in a somber tone as he jotted down the line-up on the board. "We will switch to a 4-4-2 diamond formation in the second half. Timo and Felix will play as two strikers. Joshua, Kaan, Philipp, and Adrian; you will play as four midfielders." He paused, turning around to fix his gaze on the four players.

There was some vague chatter after Coach Ilija called the four midfielders. The coach had placed Sinan Gums, the midfielder who made a mistake that resulted in the second goal.

"The two of you have to keep an eye on Zachary for the rest of the game" he said, ignoring the chatter. "Don't be wrong with leaving her alone, even if only for a moment. You have to stop him from doing what he wants when he gets the ball. Pull the shirt or something. But, don't let him run past you, like you're just incorporeal. Are we clear?"

"Yes, coach," the four midfielders replied in unison.

Coach Ilija kept his spirits up, explaining the new game plan for the second half. He also picked players who played subpar in the first half and showed their mistakes without further ado. He ended the half-time break by giving a short speech for motivation before sending the squad out of the dressing room. He is confident that VfB Stuttgart can easily overturn NF Academy wins if they play their best. They've done it before, and they can do it again. It all depends on the desire of the players.

**** ****

Back to field—

"Friends," shouted Zachary to his teammates, calling out to the crowd of the team. The focus is only on the game— and nothing else. He was only one step away from grabbing Juju points in a considerable amount. He could not let anything get in his way. So, he decided to motivate his team-mates before the second half began.

"Now or not at all" he said as others formed rings on their sides of the pitch. “Let's play and go without regrets from Riga Cup. Our main focus is not to concede any goals. As long as we defend well, we will have the opportunity to extend our lead later in the game. Are you with me? , guys?"

"Yes, captain," all the players in the circle shouted with all their might.

"okay." Zakaria nodded. "Let's go and play as well as possible" he added, dispersing the team crowd.

The referee and the player VfB Stuttgart have already taken their position. They seemed to be waiting for the NF Academy to take their possession. The second half of the Riga Cup Final is about to begin.

**** ****

In the stands, Emily Anderson waited anxiously for the second half to begin. Around him, some people chatted about the highlights of the first-half game of— while others discussed the players involved.

"I hope Riga can buy that number-8," an old man to his left said with a sigh.

"Zachary Bemba," a young man beside him corrected.

"Yes yes." The old man nodded. "We have to catch him before the other team does." He breathed once again.

[Dreams.] thought Emily while shaking her head. He has had offers from five young teams present at the tournament. All of them are famous clubs such as Tottenham, VfB Stuttgart, Atalanta, and others. Nonetheless, Zachary did not give them time even for a simple introductory meeting. However, some Riga FC fans wish for their clients to come to their clubs. And that's in a league that's rated even below the league in Norway. Emily couldn't accept that. Not on his watch.

His only concern is that Zachary has signed a contract with Rosenborg without consulting a lawyer. He hasn't had time to review the document since Zachary left it in Trondheim. However, his lawyer's instincts annoyed him that there might be some unfavorable clauses missed by Zachary. He hopes he's wrong. Otherwise, he would have taken the team to court for cheating minors.

"Gentlemen and ladies" Ricardo Andres, the commentator, exclaimed, ripping him out of his contemplation. "The second chapter for the Riga Cup final is about to begin. Mr Vincent, what do you think of this second half? Any predictions from you?"

"I've given up on predicting this game" Vincent McManaman, another commentator, replied. "All NF Academy players have upgraded their game to another level in this final. I was really surprised. Kasongo and Otterson, wingers, look very dangerous when they attack through the wings. We 'just' can't judge their performance based on the previous games. Then, there is the phenomenal player Zachary Bemba. About him, I have no words." Emily heard him sigh through the loudspeaker. "Let's just wait and see" he added.

"What about your money in VfB Stuttgart?" Ricardo Andres joking. "Have you lost your trust?"

"Well, let's leave the money problem out of the game" Vincent McManaman stuttered. "The referee will blow the whistle. We don't want to miss the opening when discussing non-issues. Right?"

**** ****