Chapter 81 - 79 - The First Trophy

Chapter 81: Chapter 79 - The First Trophy

Rafael noticed the trophy as England walked onto the pitch.

It stood on a presentation platform beyond the technical areas, with two officials making the final arrangements around it. The silver cup caught the afternoon sunlight, and Rafael looked at it for another moment before following Alker toward the centre circle.

There were more supporters at the Centre Sportif de Colovray than during England’s group matches. Families lined the barriers, several flags hung near the touchline, and a few young spectators were calling to the players as they emerged.

Kavuma-McQueen gave Rafael a quick pat on the back before heading toward the left wing.

Rafael continued toward halfway, where Spain were gathering for the pre-match formalities.

He recognised several players from the footage England had studied over the previous two days. Eloi Gómez and Marco David Company were among the midfielders, with Owen Emeka and Christian Imga occupying the wider attacking positions.

Guille Ponce was in goal, while Holmes Junior Zamorano stood beside Jorge Domínguez in the centre of defence.

Junior glanced toward Rafael as the players moved into position.

The Spanish captain was broad through the shoulders, and even before kick-off, he was paying close attention to Rafael’s movements.

Rafael watched him adjust his position, keeping one shoulder turned toward the ball and the other toward the space Rafael occupied.

He’d faced plenty of defenders like him. The difficult ones didn’t always need to make a tackle because they were already standing where a striker wanted to go.

Rafael glanced toward Alker, who was speaking with another midfielder, before returning his attention to the referee.

After three victories in the group stage, England had reached the final unbeaten. Rafael had been selected to start through the middle, while Greenwood would begin among the substitutes.

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other as the referee completed his final checks.

When the whistle sounded, Rafael moved forward with the rest of England’s attacking line.

Spain took control of possession almost immediately.

Their centre-backs exchanged passes before finding Gómez, who had dropped into the space behind England’s forwards. Rafael tried to close the passing lane, but the Spanish midfielder had already turned and released Company through the middle.

England’s midfielders moved across to challenge, only for Company to pass toward the right before they could reach him.

The opening minutes continued in much the same way. Whenever Rafael pressed Junior or Domínguez, Gómez offered himself behind England’s first line, allowing Spain to move forward without forcing a difficult pass.

England managed to win the ball a few times, but keeping it proved harder.

Rafael’s first useful touch came when Alker received near halfway and played firmly into his feet. Junior followed him away from the defensive line, pressing against his back before Rafael could turn.

Rafael protected the ball and returned it first time, allowing Alker to release Kavuma-McQueen down the left.

The winger advanced toward Spain’s penalty area but was forced backwards when the full-back closed him down.

Spain recovered possession shortly afterward.

Their first dangerous opportunity came through Emeka, who received near halfway and pushed the ball beyond England’s left-back.

Rafael watched the winger accelerate down the touchline as Company moved across to support him. The two exchanged passes before Emeka reached the attacking third and drove a low delivery across the six-yard box.

A Spanish forward got ahead of his marker and redirected the ball toward the near post.

Ben Vickery dropped quickly, pushing the effort away with his right hand before an England defender cleared the rebound.

Rafael had already begun moving toward halfway, expecting the clearance to reach him, but Spain recovered and forced England to defend again.

The next ten minutes brought little improvement for England.

Spain moved the ball comfortably through midfield, and whenever England managed to trap a player near the touchline, another Spanish midfielder would appear behind the challenge.

Rafael spent much of that period moving between Junior and Domínguez, waiting for England to find him with enough room to attack.

The opportunity finally came when England worked possession toward Thompson on the right.

The winger carried inside before finding Alker near the edge of the area. Rafael moved away from Junior as the pass travelled into midfield, and Alker spotted him between the two centre-backs.

The ball arrived at Rafael’s feet.

He brought it across his body to prepare a right-footed shot, but Junior had followed him and was already moving to close the angle.

Rafael shifted it another half-step before striking.

Junior stretched out his leg and blocked the effort, sending the ball behind for a corner.

Rafael stopped near the penalty spot and pressed his lips together.

Junior was already organising his teammates, pointing toward the six-yard box without looking back at him.

Rafael walked into position for the corner, keeping his eyes on the Spanish captain.

Alker’s delivery came toward the middle, where Domínguez rose above the nearest England player and headed clear.

Spain collected the loose ball and carried it beyond halfway before England could recover.

Rafael jogged back toward the defensive line.

When he next moved across Junior’s shoulder, the defender followed without leaving much space behind him. Rafael checked toward midfield, but the Spaniard kept himself close enough to challenge while remaining within reach of Domínguez.

England ended up moving possession wide, where Kavuma-McQueen attempted to drive toward the byline before being forced backwards.

Rafael could hear Alker calling for the return pass, but Spain closed the space before the midfielder could find another route into the penalty area.

The rest of the half passed with Spain enjoying longer spells of possession.

Imga caused England problems on the left, combining with Gómez before forcing a defender to block his attempted cross. Company also found room outside the area, although his shot travelled wide.

England managed one more attack through Kavuma-McQueen, but the winger was crowded out near the edge of the box before he could deliver.

The referee blew for halftime.

ENGLAND 0–0 SPAIN

Rafael walked toward the tunnel beside Alker.

Junior passed a few steps ahead, speaking to Domínguez as they approached the changing rooms. Rafael watched the two defenders disappear into Spain’s entrance before following his teammates inside.

England’s players were still collecting drinks when Antwi began speaking.

He addressed the difficulty they had faced getting through Spain’s midfield, then turned toward the wide players.

"Get it outside earlier. We’re giving them too much time to close the middle."

The coach also reminded the midfielders to support the forwards when England pressed. Spain had repeatedly escaped through Gómez whenever Rafael and the wingers moved forward without enough support behind them.

Rafael listened while loosening his boots.

His shirt was damp, and he could still feel where Junior had pressed against his back during several challenges.

Antwi finished with the remaining adjustments before leaving the players a few moments to prepare.

Rafael tightened his boots and stood.

Alker was already heading toward the tunnel, and Rafael joined him as England returned for the second half.

England began finding their wide players earlier after the restart.

Kavuma-McQueen received down the left and attacked his full-back, forcing him backwards before cutting inside. Rafael moved toward the near post, but the cross struck a recovering defender and went behind.

England failed to create anything from the corner, although they recovered possession and kept Spain defending for another passage.

Thompson also began receiving farther forward on the right, carrying beyond his marker before sending a delivery into the area.

Ponce came off his line and gathered it before Rafael could reach the six-yard box.

Rafael jogged back toward halfway as the goalkeeper prepared to restart.

On the next attack, he met a pass from Alker near the centre circle and returned it before Junior could settle his weight against him. He immediately turned toward goal, allowing England to move the ball left while the Spanish defender recovered his position.

Kavuma-McQueen carried forward, but Spain intercepted his attempted pass into the box.

The ball had barely reached midfield when a challenge stopped play.

Tyrese Noubissie was lying on the grass.

The referee called for England’s medical staff, who hurried onto the pitch while the remaining players moved away.

Rafael stood several metres from his captain, watching one of the physios kneel beside him.

Noubissie attempted to sit up, but the physio spoke to him and placed a hand against his shoulder.

The delay continued.

Several England players moved toward the touchline for water, although most kept glancing back toward their teammate.

Rafael stayed where he was as another member of the medical staff approached.

A stretcher was brought onto the pitch.

Rafael straightened as the staff carefully transferred Noubissie onto it, and applause began around the ground as they carried him toward the touchline.

He joined in, watching until the stretcher passed beyond the technical area.

Max Little had already been called from the bench and was receiving instructions from Antwi, while the captain’s armband was handed to another England player.

Alker approached Little as England waited to restart, pointing toward the midfield position Noubissie had occupied.

Little nodded, then moved across to take his place.

The referee blew his whistle.

Spain immediately pushed forward.

Gómez received between England’s midfielders and turned before Little could challenge, allowing him to release Imga on the left.

The winger carried toward the penalty area and passed inside to a teammate arriving from midfield.

England’s nearest defender stepped forward, but the Spanish player shifted the ball away from the challenge and struck toward goal.

Vickery moved across and pushed the effort away.

Spain recovered outside the area and continued attacking, forcing England to defend another delivery before finally clearing.

Rafael moved beneath the clearance near halfway, where Junior came forward and pressed tightly against his back.

He managed to bring the ball down and lay it toward Alker, but the midfielder was immediately closed by two Spanish players.

Alker returned possession toward England’s defence before he could be dispossessed.

The next pass was rushed, allowing Spain to recover near halfway.

Rafael turned as Gómez received again, this time with enough room to advance several metres before releasing Emeka on the right.

England’s full-back delayed the winger long enough for another defender to recover, and the resulting cross was cleared.

Alker was already calling to Little as the ball travelled out.

The two midfielders exchanged a few gestures before moving back into position.

Spain attempted to play through Gómez again on the next possession, but Little moved across before the pass arrived.

The Spaniard tried turning inside, only for Little to stay close enough that he had to return the ball backwards.

Alker recovered the space beside him, and when Spain eventually attempted another pass through the centre, Little stepped forward and intercepted.

He found Alker, who immediately switched possession toward Kavuma-McQueen.

Rafael accelerated toward the penalty area as the winger carried forward.

Kavuma-McQueen attempted to beat his full-back on the outside, but the defender recovered and forced him to check back.

England kept the ball and switched toward Thompson rather than sending another hurried cross.

Rafael stayed between Junior and Domínguez while his teammates passed across the edge of the area.

When Alker found him near the box, Junior was already pressing from behind.

Rafael returned the ball first time and moved toward goal, leaving the defender momentarily stepping in the wrong direction.

England worked possession to the right, but the delivery was headed clear before Rafael could reach it.

Little collected near the edge of the area and moved the ball back toward Alker.

England continued attacking until Spain eventually won possession and carried it beyond halfway.

Rafael returned toward the centre-backs, checking Junior’s position as he moved.

With around twenty minutes remaining, Kavuma-McQueen received near the left touchline and accelerated toward Spain’s full-back.

The defender followed him toward the corner of the penalty area, staying close enough to prevent a run down the outside. Kavuma-McQueen checked back, shifted the ball onto his right foot and drove a low cross toward the middle.

Rafael had moved near the penalty spot, keeping Junior beside him as the ball travelled into the area, but Domínguez stepped across and cleared before the cross could reach them.

The ball travelled toward the edge of the box, where Gómez was already moving forward to collect.

Little arrived first and brought it under control, shifting away from Gómez’s approaching challenge before finding Alker in space to his right.

Rafael had stayed inside the area, with Junior close beside him as Domínguez hurried back toward the centre after making his clearance.

Alker took his first touch forward.

Rafael moved half a step toward the middle, drawing Junior with him before opening his body toward the midfielder.

Alker spotted him and drove a firm pass along the grass. It came slightly to Rafael’s left, near the penalty spot, with Junior already stepping forward to challenge.

Rafael planted his right foot beside the ball and met it first time with his left.

The shot travelled low across goal before Junior could get his leg in front of it.

Ponce dived toward the far corner, stretching his arm across the grass as the ball approached the post.

His fingertips fell short.

The ball rolled into the net.

Rafael remained where he’d finished his swing, his eyes following the ball until it settled against the netting.

He turned toward the assistant referee.