THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-625

Zachary's entire focus was now on the field of play.

Scotland had been putting up a persistent offense, with their players constantly pushing forward and attacking Ivory Coast's defense. However, despite their efforts, they couldn't capitalize on their most recent corner kick. To make matters worse, they carelessly lost possession of the ball and served it on the platter to Ivory Coast.

Simon Deli, the substitute center-back, spotted an opportunity to launch a counterattack. He pounced on the loose ball before sending it soaring towards the left wing, where Salomon Kalou waited patiently.

As soon as Salomon received the ball, he wasted no time and made a swift move, expertly controlling it with his chest before propelling it forward and accelerating towards Scotland's side of the pitch with lightning speed.

The atmosphere was electric! The tension was palpable as everyone watched in awe of the Ivory Coast forward, Salomon Kalou. He dashed through the gaps left by the Scottish players, who were caught off guard by his relentless offensive. The crowd was at the edge of their seats as they witnessed his impressive skill and agility.

Suddenly, the Scottish center-back, Scott McKenna, charged forward to stop the counterattack. But Salomon was too fast, and he swiftly squared the ball to find Max Gradel, who was running along with him through the middle.

Max Gradel was an often underrated player – but in that moment, his exceptional talent was apparent to everyone watching. He quickly received a pass from Salomon Kalou, and without hesitation, he darted into the heart of the Scottish defense like a hot knife through butter. His impressive display of skill could single-handedly win games.

Eventually, Max Gradel ran into Jack Hendry, the other Scottish center-back, as he approached the box. But Max didn't try to dribble past the defender. Instead, he played a timely pass towards his left to unleash Jonathan Kodjia, the substitute center-forward, towards Scotland's goal.

Jonathan Kodjia was another hardworking forward on the Ivorian team. He had his game face on and worked tirelessly to stay onside, timing his run to perfection. When Max Gradel's pass came his way, he pounced on it with lightning-fast reflexes, taking a few quick strides into the box. With a deft touch, he lobbed the keeper and found the back of the net, sending the Ivorian bench into a frenzy and securing Ivory Coast's 2nd goal during the 77th minute!

"Whoa, did you see that? It was a thing of beauty!" Eric Bailly exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "That counterattack was lightning fast! The Scottish team didn't stand a chance and were caught completely off guard."

Zachary couldn't help but smile as he nodded in agreement. Having teammates like Max Gradel, Jonathan Kodjia, and Salomon Kalou, who could execute lightning-fast counters, filled him with excitement. With their skills on the team, Ivory Coast's chances of making it far in the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament were much better.

The match wasn't over yet, even after the crowd-pleasing goal celebrations. The Scottish team refused to back down and continued their relentless pursuit of victory. However, the Ivorian players were not to be underestimated – their discipline and tenacity were on full display. And boy, did they put up a fight! They were like an impenetrable fortress, blocking every attempt made by the Scottish team.

As the clock ticked down, the tension was palpable. The Scottish team continued doing everything possible to score, but the Ivorian defense was too strong for them. And in the end, they emerged victorious, with a well-deserved 2:0 win. What a game!

—–

The day after the Ivorian team's friendly match against Scotland, their coach, Hervé Renard, called for a team meeting in the conference room. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the team's performance during the game. Without wasting time, the coach started to coach the team right away.

During the meeting, Hervé Renard pointed out that the team had been too passive during the game. Although they managed to score the first goal, they allowed Scotland to dominate the game, and the opposing team almost scored the equalizer. The coach emphasized that this was not the kind of playstyle he expected from the team and that they needed to improve their performance before facing stronger teams like Portugal or Spain.

Renard also highlighted that if the team continued to play with such lackluster football, they would have conceded three goals or more in a match against stronger teams. Therefore, he urged the team to work on their weaknesses and embrace a more proactive approach in their upcoming games.

"Alright, let's shift our focus from the match with Scotland and concentrate on our upcoming plans," said the coach after reviewing his team's performance. "We will stay in Edinburgh for three days to prepare for the World Cup. During our stay, we have planned a few team training sessions to fine-tune our strategies and assess our World Cup group opponents' match videos. Once we finish our training, we will head to Russia on Tuesday to continue our training while waiting for the World Cup to commence."

"Moving forward," the coach spoke authoritatively, "I need you to maintain discipline throughout our preparations for the World Cup. Stay focused solely on training and avoid any unprofessional behavior. Can I count on you to do that?"

"Yes, coach," the players replied.

"Good," the coach nodded. As he wrapped up the team meeting, he quickly glanced at his notes and looked up at his players. "Now, before we call it a day, let's look at our opening group fixtures for the World Cup. Maxime, could you please help us turn on the screen?" he asked one of his assistants.

Without any hesitation, Maxime nodded and swiftly turned on the screen. He deftly manipulated his tablet and promptly displayed the requested information to the players. The team eagerly glanced at the screen, meticulously analyzing the upcoming matches.

****

FIFA World Cup Group B

1. Portugal

2. Spain

3. Ivory Coast

4. Iran

—–

FIFA World Cup Group B Fixtures for Ivory Coast

->15th June, 2018: Ivory Coast Vs. Iran (Venue: Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg)

->20th June, 2018: Portugal Vs. Ivory Coast (Venue: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow)

->25th June, 2018: Spain Vs. Ivory Coast (Venue: Mordovia Arena, Saransk)

****

"Alright boys, listen up!" Coach Hervé Renard declared, his voice booming with authority. "Our first game is just seven days away, against Iran. We're not going to beat around the bush here – this game is make or break for our World Cup dreams. And let's face it, our matches against our next opponents – Portugal and Spain will be anything but easy. So, we need to focus all our energy and attention on this first match and give it everything we've got. Are you with me?"

The players responded with a resounding "Yes, coach!" as they pumped their fists in the air, their eyes filled with determination.

"That's what I like to hear!" The coach grinned, his eyes twinkling with pride. "Alright then, let's get to work. We'll start our training and preparation for the match against Iran tomorrow morning. Dismissed!"

The meeting ended, and Zachary left the conference room along with his teammates while feeling pumped up and ready to take on any challenge that came his way. He knew that with their coach's unwavering support and the morale of his teammates, they could conquer any obstacle and emerge victorious. The road ahead would be tough, but they were ready to give it their all.