Chapter 78 - 76 - What Waits at Metz

Chapter 78: Chapter 76 - What Waits at Metz

His school group chat became active while he was working.

Lucas had sent a photograph of his new seat near the front of their classroom.

Lucas: They’ve moved me to the front in maths

Rafael: What happened?

Lucas: Talking apparently

Hugo: She warned you twice

Lucas: Yeah I know

Rafael enlarged the photograph.

He recognised the classroom immediately, including the windows overlooking the school grounds and the board at the front.

Lucas’s books were now on the desk closest to the teacher.

A few more messages followed before Maxime asked whether everyone was still meeting on Friday.

Hugo confirmed that they were, and Lucas began asking about the time.

Rafael replied that he would still be in Switzerland.

Hugo: We’ll do another when you’re back

Rafael: Alright. Let me know how it goes

The conversation continued into another subject involving their classmates.

Rafael read through it, asked a question about something he’d missed and stayed until the messages slowed down.

Then he put his phone aside and returned to his schoolwork.

He finished one assignment before dinner and made a start on another, leaving the remaining pages together in his folder.

Tuesday’s training session began with a short activation before England moved into possession work.

With Korea Republic waiting the following morning, the staff kept the workload controlled and focused on the team’s organisation.

Rafael joined a six-against-six exercise with neutral players supporting the team in possession.

The opening repetitions moved quickly.

A midfielder lost possession while attempting to turn between two opponents, allowing the other side to attack one of the small goals.

Rafael recovered toward the ball and closed the passing lane inside, but the attacker released possession outside before he could challenge.

The resulting shot travelled wide.

They reset and continued.

Several minutes later, Alker intercepted a pass near the edge of the marked area and carried forward.

Rafael moved across the nearest defender, received the ball into his feet and returned it first time toward the midfielder arriving behind him.

The next pass reached a winger on the right, who finished into the small goal.

Rafael turned and moved back into position as the assistant prepared another ball.

The exercise continued through several rotations, with both teams winning possession and creating chances.

When the staff increased the pressure, Rafael lost the ball attempting a first-time pass through a crowded lane. He immediately turned to recover as the opposing team carried possession forward.

His group regained the ball before the attackers could reach goal.

After the possession work, England moved into a larger tactical exercise.

Greenwood worked through the middle with the group most likely to start against Korea Republic, while Rafael occupied the same position for the opposing side.

The staff used the exercise to rehearse England’s attacking and defensive shape.

During one sequence, Rafael’s team recovered possession near midfield.

He checked toward the ball as Alker received, drawing a defender away from the central lane.

Alker carried forward and released the ball outside.

Rafael turned toward goal while the winger advanced down the right.

The delivery came low toward the penalty spot, but the goalkeeper reached it before Rafael could make contact.

They reset.

On the next attack, Rafael stayed high while the midfielder carried possession toward the box.

A defender stepped across to close him down, leaving the player arriving from the opposite side free.

Rafael moved toward the near post as the pass travelled across the area.

His teammate met it first time and scored.

The assistant sent another ball into play.

Rafael continued through the remaining repetitions, occasionally exchanging positions with another forward when the staff adjusted the groups.

He converted one chance from close range during the final attacking block but sent another wide when he attempted to finish across the goalkeeper.

The session ended with a short period of set-piece preparation.

England worked through attacking and defensive corners before rehearsing their positions during wide free kicks.

Rafael joined the attacking group for several deliveries, winning one header that travelled over the bar.

When Antwi finally called them in, the players collected the equipment and headed back inside.

England confirmed the probable team for Korea Republic later that afternoon.

Greenwood would start through the middle.

Rafael was among the substitutes.

He read the selection before taking his seat for the final meeting.

Antwi went through several clips of Korea Republic, covering their pressing shape and the spaces England could attack.

The meeting ended with instructions for Wednesday morning.

Rafael collected his belongings and returned toward the changing area with the others.

His phone vibrated as he reached his bag.

Metz’s performance staff had sent his individual return-to-club programme.

Rafael sat down and opened the attachment.

The document covered his reporting arrangements after international duty, including recovery work, a medical check and the transition back into first-team training.

His workload would depend partly on the minutes he played in England’s remaining matches.

Farther down, the next league fixture was listed.

Dijon FCO vs FC Metz

Monday, 12 October — 20:45

Stade Gaston-Gérard

Rafael checked the date before continuing.

The club had also attached its weekly first-team availability update.

He scanned the information until one name caught his attention.

Jérôme Hennequin — Individual football work resumed under rehabilitation supervision. Team reintegration subject to reassessment.

Rafael read the line again.

He remembered Hennequin leaving the training pitch after feeling discomfort during his first unrestricted session, and the scan that had followed.

The striker had been working separately with rehabilitation staff when Rafael last saw him at Frescaty.

Now he was back working with the ball.

There was still no date for his return to full team training.

Rafael moved back to his own programme and checked the reporting instructions.

He saved the attachment, placed his phone inside his bag and joined the players heading toward the hotel.

Tuesday evening passed quietly.

After dinner, Rafael returned to his room and prepared his equipment for Korea Republic.

He checked his boots, folded his England clothes and placed everything he needed beside his match bag.

His school folder remained on the desk, with the pages he’d completed on Monday and Tuesday tucked inside.

Rafael straightened the remaining papers before checking his phone.

The school group chat had gone quiet.

He opened the England schedule, confirmed the reporting time and set his alarm.

The Metz programme was still among his recent documents, but he’d already saved the information he needed.

Rafael plugged in his phone and went to brush his teeth.

When he returned, he switched off the room’s main light and settled beneath the blanket.

Outside, a few cars passed along the street.

He checked that his alarm was set, then turned the phone facedown on the bedside table.

Tomorrow morning, England would face Korea Republic.

Rafael closed his eyes.