The stands of the stadium in Valparaíso were packed to the brim.
Flags waving.Drums beating.Chants in Spanish, German, and English echoing through the warm afternoon air.
Germany vs USA.
A clash of giants.A battle of wills.
Mateo adjusted his captain's armband — today, the coach had entrusted him with leading the team out.
It was both an honor and a massive responsibility.
As the players lined up, he locked eyes briefly with the American captain, Jacob Reyes.
There was no animosity.Just sharp, focused respect.
Both knew:only one would leave the field victorious.
The Whistle Blows
From the first second, the match exploded into life.
USA pressed high and hard.
Their wingers sprinted forward like missiles.Their midfielders snapped into tackles with frightening intensity.
It wasn't finesse.
It was pure, relentless energy.
Mateo, at first, struggled.
Every time he touched the ball, two Americans were instantly on him.
His passing lanes were choked.His time on the ball was cut to a heartbeat.
And their physicality...it was brutal.
A hard shove into his ribs.A sneaky clip on his ankle.A shoulder check that nearly knocked him off his feet.
But Mateo gritted his teeth.
"They want a war?" he thought."Then I'll give them one."
Inside his mind, the System activated:
[Special Passive: Mental Endurance Boost — active.]-5% Fatigue Accumulation.+5% Stress Resistance.
Germany began to adapt.
They stopped trying to play their usual slow buildup.Instead, they mirrored the USA's intensity.
Quick one-twos.Diagonal runs.Long balls to stretch the field.
And slowly — painfully — Germany clawed their way into the match.
15th Minute
Mateo received a pass just past midfield.
Immediately, two Americans closed in.
Instead of panicking, he used his Creative Dribbling Lv.1 skill.
A feint to the left.A drag back to the right.A burst of acceleration.
He slipped through the gap like a ghost.
The crowd roared.
"González breaks the press again! Incredible footwork!"
He surged forward,spotted Lukas cutting inside,and threaded a brilliant through ball.
Lukas controlled —shot!
Blocked by the American keeper!
But the warning shot had been fired.
25th Minute
The game became a furious tug-of-war.
Possession changed hands by the second.
Every tackle sent shivers through the stadium.
Mateo, battered and bruised, refused to fall.
"This is what it means to fight for glory," he told himself.
"This is the price."
Inside his mind, the System updated:
[Match Rating: 7.2][Side Quest Progress: On Track]
Germany survived the first wave.
But it was clear:
this match would be won by grit,by heart,by those willing to bleed on the field.