THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-661

Kristin was in the heart of the Luzhniki Stadium, lost in a sea of ecstatic fans. Beside her were Emily and Zachary's closest supporters. The energy was electric, the air thick with excitement after Zachary converted the penalty in the 23rd minute. She jumped and yelled like a little girl, hugging Emily tightly. "Zachary's done it again!" she shouted, her voice lost in the thunderous roar around her.

Vuvuzelas, cheers, and African drums filled the stands, creating a thrilling concerto of celebration. The floor beneath them seemed to shake under the weight of the exuberant fans. As the initial frenzy began to calm, Kristin heard the commentator's voice cut through the noise.

"Zachary has done it again! This time from the penalty spot, putting Ivory Coast in the driving seat in the 23rd minute. That's his ninth goal of this World Cup tournament, inching him closer to the Golden Boot. Unless Kylian Mbappé can score four more, Zachary is on his way to claiming the title."

The other commentator chuckled, and Kristin shook her head, sharing a knowing glance with Emily. They were on the brink of witnessing history, and Zachary was leading the charge. Kristin and Emily turned their focus back to the pitch, where the game was restarting.

The French players had regrouped. Their faces were etched with frustration, but determination blazed in their eyes. They needed to respond quickly.

The urgency in their play was palpable as they moved the ball around with skillful accuracy. It eventually found its way to Kylian Mbappé, their star forward, who seemed like a man possessed.

In a flash, Mbappé burst past Wilfried Kanon, Ivory Coast's left-back, cutting into the pitch from the wing with blistering speed. Eric Bailly and Serey Dié rushed to intercept him, but Mbappé had anticipated their move. He squared the ball to Antoine Griezmann at the edge of the box.

Griezmann, unmarked, took a single touch before unleashing a rocket of a shot towards the goal.

The tension in the stadium spiked to unbelievable levels as the ball zoomed towards the net. Sylvain Gbohouo, Ivory Coast's goalkeeper, was beaten. But then, the ball smashed off the post and rebounded towards the left side of the box. Mbappé was there, ready to pounce and take another shot.

Out of nowhere, Lamine Koné slid in like a python through the grass, throwing his body in the way. He blocked Mbappé's shot, sending the ball out of play. On cue, the referee whistled and awarded France a corner kick.

Zachary's heart pounded as he raced back towards the box to defend against the corner kick. The post had saved them this time, but he knew they couldn't rely on luck.

"Let's focus!" Zachary yelled, rallying his teammates. "Mark every Frenchman tightly. We can't let them score!"

The Ivorian players, galvanized by Zachary's call, positioned themselves to defend the corner. The French fans were roaring, urging their team forward, while the Ivorian supporters beat their drums in defiance..

Antoine Griezmann moved into position, ready to take the corner kick. The tension mounted as he sent a well-placed curling ball into the box. Zachary, using his height and strength, positioned himself to clear it. The ball came in fast, and he leaped, connecting with a powerful header that sent it out of the danger zone.

The ball fell to Franck Kessié, who controlled it expertly before launching a counterattack. The Ivorian fans erupted in cheers, sensing an opportunity. Kessié sprinted up the field, passing to Wilfried Zaha, who was making a run on the right wing.

Zaha cut inside, dancing past a defender, and unleashed a shot that was narrowly saved by Hugo Lloris. The ball went out for another corner, and the Ivorian fans roared with approval, cheering their team's boldness.

Kristin could hardly contain her excitement. The following minutes were a whirlwind of emotions, each moment more intense than the last. Ivory Coast was fighting tooth and nail, defending and launching occasional counterattacks, and Zachary was at the heart of it all. She clutched Emily's hand, her knuckles white, as she watched the drama unfold on the pitch.

The game continued at a breakneck pace, with both teams trading blows. Ivory Coast defended with grit, while France attacked with relentless pressure. The minutes ticked by, each one bringing them closer to half-time. But the Ivorian defense, led by Eric Bailly, still held firm, repelling wave after wave of French attacks.

As the half-time whistle finally blew, Kristin released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The score remained 1-0, Ivory Coast holding onto their slim lead. She tried to calm her still-racing heart as the players jogged off the pitch, sweat-soaked and determined.

Zachary and Ivory Coast were halfway there, but the battle was far from over. Kristin knew the second half would be even more challenging, but she believed in Zachary and the team.

—–

The atmosphere in France's dressing room at half-time was solemn. The team trailed 1-0 to Ivory Coast in the World Cup finals, a scenario Didier Deschamps found unacceptable.

His voice echoed off the walls, sharp and urgent, as he demanded focus and heart from his players. His eyes blazed with intensity as he addressed them.

"Listen up, everyone," he said, his voice steadying, but the intensity remained. "We're behind, but we still have forty-five minutes to change everything. A one-goal difference doesn't mean we're out of the game, so we don't need to rush or force anything. Let's remain patient in our play. Let's stick to the game plan during the second half."

Deschamps walked among his players, his presence commanding their full attention. "But we also need to be sharp while going forward. We need to get the ball to Kylian and Blaise as frequently as possible and let them advance our attacks. They can cut inside or send crosses from the wings. Olivier, you and the others must be ready to connect with those crosses and put them in the back of the net."

His words were measured, each carefully chosen to ignite the fighting spirit within his team. "Remember, we've been here before. We know how to handle pressure, and we know how to come back from a one-goal deficit. So, go out there and play smart, play hard, and let's create opportunities. This is our moment to attain World Cup glory. Don't let it slip away."

Deschamps concluded with a few encouraging remarks, his tone softening but no less powerful. "Believe in yourselves. Believe in your teammates' skills and dedication. We can do this. We can win the World Cup!" With that, he sent his players back to the pitch for the second half, their resolve visibly strengthened.

—–

Meanwhile, in the Ivory Coast dressing room, the mood was one brimming with quiet determination. They led 1-0, but Coach Hervé Renard knew they couldn't afford to relax. His voice was calm but firm as he addressed his players, the moment's gravity clear in his tone.

"We've done well so far and gotten the first goal, but the job is only half-done," Renard said, his eyes meeting each player's. "The second half will even be more challenging as France will come at us with even more ferocious waves of attacks. But fear not, as we can still come out on top as long as we play our hearts out there on the field. Let's stay focused, and keep everything simple! If you have the ball, pass to a free teammate. If that's not possible, clear it out. Let's avoid mistakes."

Renard stood in the center of the room, his gaze intense and reassuring. "Let's stick to the game plan. Let's continue playing narrow and deny France any chance of breaking through the middle. Let's defend well, but let's not hesitate to counterattack when we see an opportunity. We've practiced this. We know what to do."

His voice carried a calm authority that instilled confidence in his players. "This is our chance to make history, to win the World Cup for Ivory Coast and the whole African continent. We only have 45 minutes to go, but we must stay disciplined and not lose focus for even a second. We must stay strong. Remember, we're in control, and we can see this through."

"Zachary," the coach addressed his star midfielder, "You need to be cautious when you have the ball because the French midfielders are targeting you. But you also need to be bold. Whenever you spot an opening, go for it and start an attack with your dribbling. Remember, we have the VAR now, so any foul against you will not go unnoticed by the referees. Play your game and make life difficult for the French. Try to draw fouls and make them accumulate more yellow cards. This will make them play more carefully, giving us the advantage later in the game."

Renard then turned to his other players, his voice imbued with quiet strength. "Believe in each other when out there on the field. Believe in yourselves and fight for every ball. Do not give them an inch, play like champions, and leave no room for regrets. We can win the World Cup." With those words, he sent his players back to the pitch, their spirits bolstered for the battle ahead.

—–