Chapter 82 - 80 - The First Trophy II

Chapter 82: Chapter 80 - The First Trophy II

The flag was down.

"YES!"

Rafael spun toward Alker and sprinted across the area with both arms spread.

Alker was already coming toward him, and the two collided near the penalty spot before Rafael caught his teammate around the shoulders.

He could hear the England supporters cheering, but Alker was shouting so loudly beside his ear that he couldn’t make out any of the words.

Kavuma-McQueen reached them from the left and threw an arm around both players as Little arrived, with several more teammates following.

Rafael grabbed Little’s shirt and pulled him closer before another player caught him from behind.

He tried to turn toward Thompson, but somebody pulled him back into the group, leaving him laughing as the others crowded around.

Alker finally managed to step back far enough to look at him.

"GET IN, RAFA!"

Rafael shouted back and embraced him again.

Junior was already walking toward halfway when Rafael caught sight of him over Alker’s shoulder.

Antwi was calling from the touchline, urging the players to return for the restart, and Rafael eventually broke away to jog toward the centre circle with Kavuma-McQueen beside him.

ENGLAND 1–0 SPAIN

Rafael took his position near Junior while Spain gathered around the ball.

The referee blew his whistle.

Spain restarted.

The Spanish response came almost immediately.

Gómez carried possession through midfield and exchanged passes with Company before releasing Emeka down the right.

England’s full-back moved across, but Emeka pushed the ball outside him and accelerated toward the byline before driving a low cross into the penalty area.

A Spanish forward arrived ahead of his marker and struck first time, forcing Vickery to drop sharply to his right and push the effort away from the near post.

England’s centre-back reached the rebound and cleared, although Spain recovered possession and forced another attack down the left.

Rafael moved toward halfway while Imga carried the ball inside, but England’s nearest midfielder closed him down and forced it backwards.

Spain switched play again.

Their next attempt to enter the area was intercepted, allowing England to find Alker near the centre circle.

Rafael checked away from Junior and received the midfielder’s pass, but the defender pressed tightly enough that he had to return possession rather than turn.

England advanced several metres before losing the ball.

As Spain carried forward again, Rafael started after Domínguez but felt his legs resisting the acceleration. The defender had already released his pass by the time Rafael reached him, and he eased his pace to recover his position.

Near the technical area, Greenwood was preparing to come on.

Rafael noticed him while England defended another Spanish attack.

He continued moving along the defensive line, looking toward Alker whenever England recovered possession, but the passes rarely came far enough forward for him to attack.

Spain’s next move ended when England’s full-back blocked Imga’s attempted cross.

At the stoppage, the fourth official raised the substitution board.

Rafael’s number appeared. ℯ

He jogged toward the technical area as applause came from the England supporters behind the barriers.

Greenwood stepped forward to meet him.

"Well played, mate."

Rafael slapped his hand, then continued off as Antwi gave him a brief pat on the shoulder.

He accepted a bottle of water and took his place among the substitutes, where he could still hear several England supporters calling from the other side of the barrier.

Greenwood moved into position as Spain prepared to restart.

Spain were sending more players forward now, and each time England cleared the ball, it seemed to return before their midfielders could move out of their own half.

Emeka received near the right touchline and attacked England’s full-back, forcing the defender to retreat toward the penalty area.

Rafael leaned forward as the winger shifted possession inside.

The full-back stayed with him, however, and Emeka was forced to return the ball toward Company.

Spain switched across to Imga, whose attempted cross struck an England defender and went out for a throw.

A few substitutes applauded as the defensive line moved forward.

Spain took the throw quickly and continued passing around the edge of the area, searching for a gap.

Alker stepped across one attempted pass toward Gómez and diverted it into Little’s path.

"Keep it!" somebody shouted from the bench.

Little carried possession beyond halfway and attempted to find Greenwood, but the pass travelled behind the striker and Spain recovered.

Rafael gripped the edge of his seat.

The clock had already passed ninety minutes.

Spain moved possession down the left before switching to the opposite side, where Emeka attempted another delivery into the penalty area.

England’s full-back blocked it.

The ball went behind for a corner.

Rafael stood with the other substitutes.

Junior was already running forward from central defence, joining the Spanish players gathering around Vickery.

The goalkeeper pointed toward the far side of the six-yard box while an England defender moved closer to the Spanish captain.

Junior looked over his shoulder, then stepped away from his marker as the corner taker prepared to deliver.

The cross curled toward the centre of the area.

Rafael watched Junior accelerate between two defenders and rise above the nearest player.

The Spanish captain met it cleanly with his forehead.

The header flew toward the far corner.

Rafael was already moving forward when Vickery pushed himself across goal, stretching his right arm toward the ball.

Two players briefly blocked Rafael’s view.

Then he saw the ball change direction and fly away from the post.

Vickery had reached it.

Rafael shouted as England’s defenders scrambled toward the rebound, and one of them arrived before the nearest Spanish attacker, driving the ball clear.

The substitutes erupted around him.

Several were clapping while others shouted for England to push forward.

Rafael kept his eyes on the clearance until Spain recovered near halfway and began another attack.

Gómez moved possession right toward Emeka, who attempted to beat his full-back but was forced backwards.

A Spanish midfielder lifted another delivery toward the area, but England’s centre-back rose first and headed it clear.

Little reached the ball near the touchline and carried it away from the penalty area before a Spanish midfielder challenged him.

Rafael looked toward the referee.

The official checked his watch as the ball rolled out near halfway.

Spain’s full-back hurried across to retrieve it.

Before he could take the throw, the referee blew his whistle.

FULL-TIME: ENGLAND 1–0 SPAIN

Rafael was running before the players around him had properly left the bench.

He reached the centre circle just as Kavuma-McQueen caught him around the shoulders, nearly knocking him off balance as Alker arrived and embraced them both.

Greenwood came running from the penalty area with the other players, and Rafael grabbed him as they met.

Someone jumped onto Alker’s back, forcing the midfielder forward and almost sending the entire group onto the grass.

Rafael caught his arm, laughing as the others crowded around them.

Across the pitch, several Spanish players were sitting on the ground while others walked slowly toward their technical area.

Rafael eventually joined the handshake line before returning to England’s goal, where Vickery had disappeared beneath several congratulating teammates.

He caught the goalkeeper around the shoulders as another defender pulled him into an embrace.

Vickery was still being mobbed when England’s staff began gathering the players for the presentation.

Rafael followed the others toward the touchline, his legs aching now that he’d stopped running.

The trophy was waiting on its stand.

The medal ceremony began after the officials had finished preparing the presentation area.

Rafael stood beside Alker as England’s players were called forward one by one. Kavuma-McQueen was still talking excitedly with a teammate behind them, while Greenwood was examining the medal he’d just received.

When Rafael’s name was called, he approached the official waiting beside the stand.

The medal was placed around his neck.

"Thank you."

He returned to the group and examined it briefly before letting it fall against his England shirt.

Alker caught his shoulder as he passed, and Rafael remained beside him while the remaining players received theirs.

With Noubissie still receiving medical attention following his injury, the player who had inherited the captain’s armband stepped forward to collect the trophy.

England gathered behind him.

Rafael moved closer with Alker and Kavuma-McQueen as the officials handed over the silver cup.

The captain took hold of both handles.

Several players began shouting before he’d even raised it.

Then the trophy went above his head.

England erupted again.

Rafael jumped with Alker beside him, reaching toward the silverware as his teammates crowded around the captain.

Kavuma-McQueen caught one of the ribbons while another player grabbed a handle, and for a moment the captain struggled to keep the cup upright.

The players burst into laughter before lifting it together.

Rafael managed to touch the trophy as it passed over their heads, and he stayed with the group while the coaching staff applauded nearby.

Photographs began soon afterward.

Players gathered in small groups, showing their medals to the cameras and taking turns holding the cup. Rafael joined Alker and Kavuma-McQueen for a picture before stepping aside for the next group.

Eventually, a teammate handed the trophy to him.

"Here, Rafa."

Rafael took it by both handles and brought it closer.

He adjusted his grip as its weight settled against his hands, then turned the cup to read the lettering engraved across the front.

His medal knocked softly against the silver.

Around him, England’s players were still celebrating, with teammates calling to one another for photographs and a few supporters applauding from behind the barriers.

Rafael ran his thumb across the engraving, following the letters before turning the cup slightly to examine the other side.

He was still looking at it when a teammate approached with his phone.

"Rafa, can I have a picture with it?"

Rafael looked up, smiling.

"Yeah, course."

He passed over the trophy and stepped aside as the player hurried toward someone waiting with a camera.

Alker was calling from farther across the pitch.

"Rafa! Come on, we’re taking the team one!"

Rafael turned to find England gathering around the presentation stand.

Several players were already kneeling in front, with the rest moving into position behind them.

He hurried across and found a space between Alker and Greenwood as Kavuma-McQueen moved in on his other side.

The trophy was placed at the front of the group.

Somebody behind Rafael complained that he couldn’t see, making a few teammates laugh as they squeezed closer together.

Alker pulled Rafael toward him, while Kavuma-McQueen threw an arm across his shoulders.

The photographer stepped backwards and raised his camera.

"Everyone looking this way!"

Rafael looked toward the lens with the silver trophy resting in front of the team.

Kavuma-McQueen was still leaning against him, Greenwood had moved closer on the opposite side, and Alker’s arm was across his back.

The photographer called for everyone to hold their positions.

Rafael smiled as the picture was taken.