England's Greatest

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It's the second day of July, and Brazil's weather remains scorching. For football fans worldwide, the World Cup is reaching its most exciting stage as the quarterfinals are set.

The Round of 16 saw most of the stronger teams prevail, advancing to the next stage without major surprises—except for one. In a closely contested match between Costa Rica and Greece, Costa Rica came out on top, securing a place in the quarterfinals for the first time in their history. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas was the hero, delivering a stunning performance that helped his team achieve their best-ever World Cup result. Regardless of what happens next, this achievement will be celebrated as a proud moment in Costa Rican football history.

The quarterfinal matchups are confirmed:

France vs. GermanyBrazil vs. EnglandArgentina vs. BelgiumNetherlands vs. Costa Rica

Each game offers exciting possibilities, with fans and pundits debating the outcomes.

For Brazilian fans, all attention is on their upcoming clash with England. This is Brazil's chance to take another step toward glory, while England faces its toughest challenge of the tournament so far.

July 5 - Castelao Stadium, Fortaleza

Even as the players stood in the tunnel, the echo of Brazilian fans singing reverberated through the stadium:

"Eu sou brasileiro, com muito orgulho, com muito amor!"

("I am Brazilian, with much pride, with much love!")

This chant, originally written 65 years ago by a high school teacher for a football match between his students and German exchange students, had been forgotten over the years. Its old-fashioned lyrics and melody faded into obscurity—until now. Rediscovered by fans during this World Cup, the song had been revamped with modern lyrics and a livelier rhythm, becoming a rallying cry for the host nation. At every Brazil game, it surged through the stands, uniting supporters and setting the stage for the players.

Standing in the tunnel, Vardy turned around, breaking Tristan's focus on the chant.

"What are they singing?" he asked, his voice raised just enough to be heard over the distant crowd.

With Rooney sidelined due to injury, Vardy had earned a rare start after scoring the winner in the previous match. Tristan, meanwhile, remained the team's top scorer with two goals, but neither looked entirely at ease under the intense pressure of the quarterfinal.

Tristan shrugged, offering a lopsided smile. "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

Vardy smirked, undeterred. "I saw you chatting with Colombia's No. 10 last match," he said, referring to James Rodríguez. "Thought you knew Spanish. And don't think I haven't noticed you flipping through those language books all the time."

Tristan rolled his eyes. "I was using English... and a lot of hand gestures," he replied with a chuckle.

The two continued their light-hearted banter, debating whether Spanish was easier to learn than Portuguese, when the sound of sneakers and studs tapping against the smooth floor suddenly echoed from the opposing tunnel.

All heads turned. Leading the Brazilian squad was their captain, Thiago Silva, his expression calm and focused. Behind him, a procession of world-class players followed: Marcelo, Júlio César, Dani Alves, Maicon.

The sight of so many familiar faces brought a flicker of recognition to Tristan's eyes, but it wasn't the awe he might have felt a year ago. As the Brazilian players walked past, their iconic yellow jerseys and relaxed confidence radiating through the tunnel, Tristan's gaze remained steady.

Thiago Silva offered a polite nod as he passed, which Tristan returned with a small gesture of respect. Inside, his competitive fire burned brighter. These weren't just footballing legends—they were opponents.

Even while standing in the player tunnel, the deafening chants of Brazilian fans echoed through the Maracanã, reverberating like a heartbeat throughout the stadium:

"Eu sou brasileiro, com muito orgulho, com muito amor!"

("I am Brazilian, I feel proud and loved!")

 floor.

Then came Neymar.

His distinctive Mohawk haircut and effortless swagger made him impossible to miss. At just 22, Neymar was already heralded as Brazil's talisman and one of the brightest stars in world football. Tristan took a moment to reflect.

Since his breakout at Santos, Neymar's brilliance had been undeniable. After making the jump to Europe and joining Barcelona the previous year, he had rapidly adapted to the demands of La Liga, refining his game under the tutelage of Lionel Messi. Neymar's debut season in Spain had been a roaring success—15 goals, 15 assists, and a seventh-place finish in the Ballon d'Or rankings.

The upcoming 2014-2015 season would cement Neymar's place among football's elite. With Luis Suárez joining Barcelona, Neymar, Messi, and Suárez would form the legendary "MSN" trio—a strike force that would etch their names into the annals of football history by winning a treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.

Tristan smiled to himself. Neymar's trajectory was unparalleled, yet what struck him most was the Brazilian's ability to inspire a nation. Few players could carry the weight of such expectations with such ease.

As their eyes briefly met, Neymar offered a faint smile and nodded. Tristan returned the gesture, his mind already whirring. "Next time I meet someone like Neymar—or Messi—I need to know their language," he thought. The decision was made. Once this tournament was over, Tristan would start learning Spanish.

Unbeknownst to Tristan, Neymar was having his own moment of reflection. "He looks sharp," Neymar mused, sizing up the young English midfielder. Tristan had been England's standout performer, a 19-year-old whose composure and creativity belied his age. Brazil's coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, had made it abundantly clear during the pre-match briefing:

"Number 22 is their heartbeat. Shut him down, and we control the game."

Paulinho and Fernandinho, tasked with neutralizing Tristan, exchanged knowing glances. The young Englishman didn't cut an imposing figure, but they had seen enough of him to know better. Tristan's intelligence on the pitch was his weapon, and stopping him would require meticulous teamwork.

On the other side, England's Jordan Henderson glanced toward Neymar. Roy Hodgson had given him a similarly critical assignment: track Neymar's every move. If the Brazilian wizard drifted inside from the left, Henderson was to close him down immediately, cutting off his shooting and passing lanes.

The tactical chess match was set.

As the teams prepared to step onto the field, Tristan took a moment to greet David Luiz and Oscar, both of whom he had faced in the FA Cup earlier in the season. Despite their friendship off the pitch, there was no room for pleasantries tonight.

With the caddies now ready, the players marched out onto the pitch to a thunderous roar from the crowd. England and Brazil—two giants of world football

Vardy leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Still sure you're calm, mate?"

Tristan smirked, his expression unshaken. "Let's just focus on the game, yeah?"

The whistle from the official signaled it was time to walk onto the pitch. Tristan took a deep breath, the deafening roar of the Brazilian fans waiting just beyond the tunnel. He wasn't here to admire anyone—he was here to win.

Out of the 50,000 spectators packed into the stadium, at least 30,000 were clad in Brazil's iconic yellow jerseys. The sea of yellow pulsated with energy, their deafening chants and drumbeats echoing across the venue, giving the host nation a monumental home advantage.

The starting lineups held few surprises. For England, Roy Hodgson made two notable changes. With Wayne Rooney sidelined due to injury, Daniel Sturridge reclaimed the central striker role. On the left wing, Jamie Vardy earned a starting spot, edging out Danny Welbeck and Rickie Lambert. At the back, Chris Smalling, whose solid performance in the last match impressed Hodgson, partnered Gary Cahill in central defense, replacing Phil Jagielka.

Brazil, meanwhile, also made two adjustments following their hard-fought win over Chile. Paulinho replaced Luiz Gustavo as the defensive midfielder, adding more energy to the center of the park. Maicon took Dani Alves's spot at right-back, bringing a more defensively disciplined approach.

The pre-match discussions heavily scrutinized Brazil's attacking lineup. Critics labeled it the weakest frontline the Seleção had fielded in decades, a far cry from the golden generation of Kaká, Robinho, Luís Fabiano, and Grafite in 2010. Neymar was the lone exception, a generational talent carrying the hopes of a football-obsessed nation.

Fred, Brazil's starting striker, bore the brunt of the criticism. Lacking both form and confidence, he was dubbed the "worst No. 9 in Brazil's history." Compared to the legendary Ronaldo or even the reliable Luís Fabiano, Fred was a shadow of what the shirt represented. Brazilian fans sighed with nostalgia, longing for the days of unstoppable strikers who terrorized defenses.

For Brazil, Neymar was their everything—playmaker, finisher, and talisman. In the group stage, he had scored four of their seven goals, each a testament to his extraordinary ability. Alongside him, Oscar provided creativity, while Hulk offered power, though inconsistently. Yet Neymar was the sun around which the Brazilian attack orbited.

Defensively, Brazil stood on firmer ground. Their backline, marshaled by Thiago Silva and David Luiz, was a fortress. Marcelo's flair on the left and Maicon's solidity on the right offered balance. In goal, Júlio César brought experience, though questions lingered about his sharpness after his struggles in Europe.

England, in contrast, faced skepticism. Without Rooney, the Three Lions leaned heavily on Tristan—a young star with exceptional vision, flair, and a knack for decisive moments. But England's vulnerabilities, especially in defense, were apparent.

As the teams emerged from the tunnel, the roar of the crowd was deafening. Thiago, wearing the captain's armband, exchanged some words with Neymare before the game started. Across the field, Tristan stood calm, scanning the sea of yellow. This was the kind of stage he lived for—a chance to silence the doubters.

The referee's whistle signaled the start, and Brazil wasted no time asserting their dominance. Right from kickoff, they exploited their strongest asset: the left flank. Marcelo and Neymar combined with breathtaking fluidity, relentlessly targeting Glen Johnson.

"Brazil's left wing is already buzzing," the first commentator remarked. "Johnson's going to have a long night if Neymar keeps this up."

Five minutes in, the breakthrough almost came. Neymar, with his signature effortless dribbling, ghosted past Johnson as if the defender weren't there. A quick feint, a burst of acceleration, and Neymar was clear.

"Neymar's magic is on full display! Johnson is completely outclassed!"

With Johnson trailing, Neymar slid a perfectly weighted ball into Marcelo's path. The full-back surged forward, his overlapping run leaving Jordan Henderson scrambling to cover. Marcelo didn't hesitate, whipping a cross into the box.

Smalling stretched to intercept, his outstretched leg deflecting the ball out for a corner.

"Crucial intervention by Smalling!" the second commentator exclaimed. "But this early pressure from Brazil is relentless."

The Brazilian fans erupted, their chants growing louder. Neymar jogged over to take the corner, his every move met with a chorus of cheers. England's defenders scrambled to organize, knowing they were already under siege.

"Brazil is turning up the heat," the first commentator added. "England needs to settle down quickly, or this could get out of hand."

As Neymar lined up the corner, Tristan gestured to his teammates, urging calm. England had survived the opening minutes, but the storm was far from over.

Neymar stood over the corner flag, his posture poised, his sharp eyes scanning the penalty area like a hawk surveying its prey. The roar of the Brazilian crowd surged behind him, urging their talisman to deliver. His teammates, well-rehearsed in their set-piece routines, jostled for position amid the chaos of England's defenders.

"England needs to be switched on here," the second commentator warned. "Thiago Silva's always a menace in the air, and Brazil's corners are as calculated as they come."

With a graceful arc, Neymar's delivery curled toward the penalty spot, bending with precision that defied the laws of physics. Thiago Silva, towering above his marker Gary Cahill, leaped like a salmon breaching the surface. He met the ball cleanly, directing a powerful header back across goal.

"Thiago Silva rises high!" the first commentator exclaimed. "He's sent it back into the danger zone!"

The ball hung in the air for what felt like an eternity before dropping at the back post. Fred, unmarked and unbothered, reacted instinctively, raising his leg to guide the ball into the gaping net with clinical ease.

"Fred! It's in!" the second commentator shouted. "Brazil takes the lead after just five minutes! And it's Fred who delivers the blow!"

The stadium erupted in an explosion of yellow and green, the thunderous cheers reverberating like a tropical storm. Fred sprinted toward the corner flag, arms outstretched, his roar of triumph drowning out the jeers of his critics. In this moment, he was no longer the much-maligned striker under scrutiny—he was Brazil's hero.

"And there it is!" the first commentator proclaimed. "Fred, the man who's faced so much criticism, silences the doubters with a goal that could be pivotal in this match."

While the Brazilian players swarmed Fred in celebration, the English defense stood frozen, disbelief etched across their faces. Glen Johnson gestured toward Cahill in frustration, while Gerrard barked instructions in a desperate attempt to rally his teammates.

"They'll be kicking themselves," the second commentator said. "It's not like they weren't warned about Thiago Silva's aerial prowess. England knew Brazil's set-pieces were a threat, but knowing and stopping it are two very different things."

On the touchline, Roy Hodgson's expression was one of grim acceptance. This goal was no fluke. Brazil had executed this exact corner routine against Chile in the round of 16, with Silva heading it back across for David Luiz to score. England's failure to counter it reflected both the precision of Brazil's preparation and the cracks in England's defensive setup.

"That's textbook from Brazil," the first commentator noted. "They've clearly practiced that routine to perfection, and England just didn't have an answer."

The game restarted with Brazil's supporters in full voice, their chants growing louder with every touch of the ball. In contrast, the English fans fell silent, their optimism tempered by the daunting challenge ahead.

Standing at the center circle, Tristan placed the ball on the spot, his composure unshaken. His emerald-green eyes scanned the field as he tugged at the sleeves of his white jersey, a picture of calm amidst the storm.

"Tristan doesn't look fazed," the second commentator observed. "That's what you want to see from your playmaker. England needs him now more than ever."

But even Tristan knew that this was no ordinary opponent. Brazil's left side, led by Neymar and Marcelo, had been terrorizing defenses throughout the tournament, and Glen Johnson was already wilting under their relentless assault. With Gerrard struggling to keep up and Henderson stretched thin, the gaps in England's midfield were glaring.

"Henderson is doing everything he can to shield the defense," the first commentator analyzed, "but he's getting no help from Gerrard, who's looking every bit his age tonight. And that right side? It's been an open door for Neymar and Marcelo."

The tactical conundrum was clear. Hodgson's initial plan to attack with pace and intensity now seemed reckless against a team that thrived in transition. Yet sitting back and absorbing pressure wasn't an option either—not with Brazil's relentless offensive waves.

"Hodgson's stuck in a no-win situation," the second commentator said. "England doesn't have the defensive depth to park the bus, but Brazil's making it impossible for them to impose themselves in the final third."

Tristan adjusted his position, subtly signaling to his teammates. This was no time for panic. Football, after all, was as much a battle of wills as it was a contest of skill.

And as long as he was on the pitch, he would fight for victory.

....

Chapter 5 has been rewritten, and also what the fuck are the Mavs doing, they traded my boi, Luka for fucking bags of chips and a 31 year old AD. What is this fucking bullshit. My whole study group had to stop when we found out, lmao. I still can't believe it, that man was supposed to a have statue next to Dirk, this shit meant something. Fuck Nico, all my homies hate this mf. Worst day as a Mav fan, fucking hell.