The day after Germany's opening win,the atmosphere around the DFB camp was electric.
Excitement.Relief.And... a growing tension.
Because their next opponent was not just any team.
It was the United States —fast, physical, and unpredictable.
A real test.
A real battle.
Preparation
Mateo woke up early, mind already racing.
At breakfast, the coaching staff distributed scouting reports:
USA Strengths:
Relentless pressing.
Rapid counters.
Exceptional fitness.
Key Players:
Tyler Vaughn — a winger with blistering pace, recently signed by Manchester United.
Jacob Reyes — a creative attacking midfielder, considered the brain of the team.
Germany's tactical meeting was intense.
Coach Schuster hammered it home:
"If you lose the midfield battle,you lose the match.Stay compact.Stay aggressive.Stay smart."
System Notification
As Mateo reviewed his own assignments, the System chimed:
[Special Tactical Update: High-Pressure Environment Detected.]Passive bonus: +5% Tactical Awareness during matches against Top 10-ranked teams.
Mateo smiled grimly.
He would need every advantage.
Surprise Results
Later that day, players and staff gathered in the lounge to watch highlights from other matches.
The tournament had already produced shocks:
France, one of the big favorites, had barely scraped a 1-1 draw against Nigeria.(Jules Marceau was neutralized completely.)
England suffered a stunning 2-1 defeat against Colombia, with Oliver Grant missing a crucial penalty.
Portugal annihilated Iraq 5-0, with Diogo Carvalho delivering a masterclass in midfield control.
Brazil and Spain played to a thrilling 3-3 draw, with Luiz Felipe dazzling but Spain's maestroMiguel Herrera matching him blow for blow.
Each highlight sent a message through the German squad:
No one was safe.No one was invincible.Every match was a war.
Private Reflection
That evening, as the sun set over Santiago,Mateo found a quiet corner near the training grounds.
He stared out across the horizon,the orange and purple sky stretching endlessly.
"This is it," he thought."This is what I dreamed of."
"Every match... every second... is a chance to carve my legend into history."
His hands curled into fists.
He wouldn't fear the USA.He wouldn't fear anyone.
He would rise — again and again — until no one could deny his place among the greatest.
Inside his mind, the System softly announced:
[Side Quest Unlocked: Impress in a Top 10-ranked Match.]Objective: Achieve a Match Rating of 8.0 or higher against the USA.Reward: Silver Skill Box.
Tomorrow,on that battlefield of green and white,he would not just fight for victory.
He would fight for his name,for his dreams,for everything he had sacrificed to reach this point.