THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-628

Kristin Stein was more than just Zachary's personal assistant and publicity secretary. She was his biggest fan, and nothing would have stopped her from attending Zachary's debut match in the World Cup.

She had been eagerly waiting for this moment for weeks, counting down the days until the tournament began. At the moment, she was among thousands of Ivorian fans who had traveled from Africa to witness their team's opening match against the Iranian side.

As soon as Zachary scored the opening goal against Iran, the stadium erupted with an ear-splitting roar of excitement. Kristin could feel the Krestovsky Stadium quaking beneath her feet due to the loud sounds of cheers, drums, and vuvuzelas around her.

She looked around and saw thousands of people jumping up and down, waving flags and chanting "Ivory Coast" and Zachary's name. It was a moment of pure joy and ecstasy for Kristin and every other Ivorian fan in the stadium.

As Kristin continued looking around, she couldn't help but notice the vibrant energy emanating from the group of people seated next to her. They were all acquaintances and some relatives of Zachary, who had come from far and wide to witness his World Cup debut.

Emily, Bj?rn Peters, Inger, Céleste Kouame, and Natasha Kone – all of them were cheering and yelling, their voices ringing out loud and clear after Ivory Coast scored the opening goal in the match. The excitement in the air was palpable, and Kristin couldn't help but get swept up in the moment.

"Wow, did you just witness that?!" screamed Emily Anderson, Zachary's agent. "He's done it again! Zachary just scored in the World Cup! This is incredible; I need to share this on my status right now!"

"Man, I hope Zachary scores more goals and becomes the top scorer of the World Cup," exclaimed Bj?rn Peters, Zachary's fitness trainer. "If that happens, I could boast about how I trained him to my friends and colleagues and make them all jealous."

Kristin couldn't help but shake her head with a chuckle as she listened to the fitness coach's enthusiastic words. She turned her gaze towards the only person who seemed to maintain their calm amidst all the chaos. It was Céleste Kouame, Zachary's biological mom, who had come all the way to witness her son's World Cup debut. Kristin could see the pride and joy in her eyes after Zachary scored Ivory Coast's opening goal, making his biological mother emotional.

Seated beside Céleste was Natasha Kone, Zachary's step-sister, who was completely losing her mind with excitement. Unlike her mother, the teenage girl had already gone bonkers with joy and was cheering her lungs out with the other Ivorian fans to celebrate their early lead. The stadium was filled with an electric atmosphere, and Kristin felt privileged to be a part of this incredible moment.

"Well, incredible stuff we're seeing on the pitch!" exclaimed Alistair Bruce-Ball, the commentator, his voice echoing through the electrifying atmosphere of the Krestovsky Stadium. "Great start for Ivory Coast as they take the lead against Iran! Zachary Bemba – the young football sensation, has just graced us with a stunning header from an impossible angle in just the fourth minute. This is what we call a perfect start for the African team! And Chris, what's your take on this opening goal of a game?"

"Well, Alistair, Ivory Coast is on fire today!" replied Chris Sutton, the co-commentator. "They have come out all guns blazing, attacking Iran relentlessly from the very beginning. Talented Ivorian players such as Serge Aurier, Zachary Bemba, Franck Kessié, and Nicolas Pépé have already demonstrated their exceptional skills on the field, leaving their opponents in awe. They executed a brilliant counter-attack and won a corner kick that led to the opening goal. This is just the beginning, and I can't wait to see what's in store for us!"

—–

As the match progressed after the goal celebrations, it became apparent that the Ivorian team was on an absolute rampage. After gaining the early lead, they had taken complete control of the game, displaying spectacular plays that left their opponents struggling to keep up. With precise passing and unmatched individual skills, the Ivorian players had the upper hand over their opponents, pushing all eleven Iranian players back to their own half.

One player who stood out in the first half was Zachary. His performance was nothing short of sensational! He had the entire midfield under his spell, weaving his way around the pitch with the grace of a world-class Maestro. The way he found himself in unmarked pockets of space, received the ball, and unleashed defense-splitting passes that caused chaos in the Iranian defense was nothing short of amazing.

But that wasn't all! Zachary also routinely teamed up with his Ivorian mates, displaying his dribbling skills and executing one-twos with impeccable precision to break through the Iranian defense. His creativity and spatial awareness were out of this world, always bringing out the best in his teammates as they launched wave after wave of fierce attacks on the opposition.

The first half of the match was a rollercoaster of emotions for Zachary and his team, to say the least. Despite their incredible dominance on the field, they failed to extend their lead, thanks to the tenacious Iranian defense and on-form goalkeeper, who prevented them from scoring several times. It was a nail-biting experience for everyone, but fortunately, the Ivorian team remained steady in the driving seat with a score of 1:0 as the teams headed into halftime.

The atmosphere was still hyper as Zachary and his Ivorian teammates walked down the tunnel to the dressing room. High-fives and congratulations were exchanged among everyone, creating a lighthearted and joyous environment. Zachary felt a sense of pride and achievement as he chatted with his teammates about the game's highlights.

Once inside the dressing room, Zachary sat down in the dressing room, feeling tired. He grabbed a bottle of water and some refreshments to quench his thirst.

As he sipped on the water, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to play for a giant of African football, the Ivorian National team. The first half of the game against Iran had gone according to plan, and he was looking forward to the second half with renewed confidence.

Just then, Hervé Renard, the coach of the Ivorian National team, stepped up and began to speak. Applauding, he said, "Great job, everyone! I'm pleased with how we played in the first half. We took the game to the Iranians with great enthusiasm from the get-go. Our teamwork was also outstanding, which is why we're ahead."

The coach's demeanor became more solemn as he inquired, "But the question is, have we done enough? Is scoring a single goal against the Iranians, the weakest team in our group, enough to propel us to the next round of the World Cup?"

The coach's words hung in the air with a weighty silence as the team contemplated the gravity of the situation. They knew they had to step up their game and win by a large margin if they wished to secure their place in the following round of the tournament. It was now or never! They had to give it their all to ensure they accumulated a better goal difference against Iran.

"Listen up!" continued the coach. "Our current situation demands our full effort and determination. We're up against some tough teams like Portugal and Spain after Iran. That's why we must capitalize on this opportunity to improve our goal difference and increase our chances of progressing from the group stage."

"We must be ruthless in the second half and score more goals. Zachary, Franck, Pépé, Zaha, and Gervinho! You five are our main attacking players! You need to step up your game. I don't want to see any hesitation, and I want you to be more daring, creative, and clinical in front of the goal. You need to up the tempo and create more chances to score."

"However, we can't afford to lose focus and concede a needless goal while on the offensive. So, we must fall back and defend as a team whenever we do not have the ball."

The coach stood before the team, his voice firm and full of conviction. "I'm not asking you to do the impossible," he said, emphasizing each word. "But I am demanding that you give it your all. We're in this together, and we're going to win together. Let's show the Iranians what we're made of!"

The team was already feeling the heat of the upcoming second half, but their coach's passionate words motivated them. They could sense his determination, and it sparked a fire within them.

"Are we together?" the coach asked, looking at each player in turn.

Excitement and determination filled the air as the players exclaimed, "Yes, coach!" With their confidence and spirit surging, they were ready to take on the upcoming second half. It would be a true-blue test of their skills and teamwork, but they were determined to face the challenge head-on and come out on top.