Team A vs Team C

The head coach began to call out names, each one met with a mixture of sighs, grins, and disappointed expressions.

Benjamin's heart thudded in his chest as the list grew longer, but his name remained unspoken. His eyes darted around, catching glimpses of the hopeful faces.

The weird guy, Lars was in his line of sight, standing with a calm expression, as if already certain of his fate.

"Benjamin Yinka Rijkaard."

The words rang out like music to his ears. Relief washed over him like a tidal wave, and he exhaled sharply, not even realizing he'd been holding his breath.

He made a quick glance around and caught Lars's eye. Lars grinned, giving him a thumbs-up, and Benjamin nodded back, trying to remain composed.

He wasn't the type to celebrate early; the real test was still ahead.

The head coach continued calling names until he reached 64 boys, leaving the others to quietly gather their things and head off the pitch, their hopes dashed for now.

Benjamin watched them go, feeling a strange mixture of sympathy and relief that he wasn't among them. But he had to push those thoughts aside quickly.

"Alright, congratulations to those who made it," the head coach announced, scanning the faces of the remaining boys. "You've passed the first round, but now it gets serious. We'll be organizing you into teams for the trial matches. These matches are where you get to show your tactical awareness, teamwork, and your ability to perform under pressure."

Benjamin listened carefully as the coaches began organizing the players into teams. He was placed in Team A, along with fifteen other boys.

As he walked over to join his new teammates, he quickly scanned the faces, trying to recognize anyone.

A few familiar ones stood out, players he'd seen during the drills but no one he knew well. Lars, he noticed, had been assigned to Team D.

The teams were quickly formed, and the head coach wasted no time explaining the next part. "You'll play two matches. For the first round, Team A will face Team C, and Team B will face Team D. The winners from those matches will face off in a final to determine the top performers of today's trials."

Each team was assigned a coach, and Benjamin was surprised when he saw Coach Jansen heading toward his group.

It was a coincidence that made him feel slightly more comfortable, knowing that Coach Jansen was someone who had already seen him play and understood his strengths and weaknesses.

Coach Jansen clapped his hands, calling the boy's attention. "Alright, Team A, listen up. I know you're all itching to get out there, but we need to talk strategy. We don't have much time, so we're going to keep it simple."

The boys huddled around as Coach Jansen began explaining their game plan.

Benjamin nodded along, absorbing every word. The formation was 4-2-3-1, with an emphasis on strong defense and quick transitions into attack.

Benjamin was placed in the left wing, his preferred position, where he'd have the chance to utilize his speed and technique to disrupt the opponents defense and create chances for his teammates.

As Coach Jansen spoke, Benjamin's mind raced. He knew his left leg wasn't at full strength yet, but that didn't matter, he'd have to compensate with his right.

His ball control, passing and shooting had improved, and he'd need to rely on those skills to make an impact in the wing.

"You'll need to work as a unit," Coach Jansen said, looking each player in the eye. "It doesn't matter how good you are individually if you can't play as part of a team. Communicate, cover for each other, and keep the ball moving."

The boys nodded.

The teams were sent out to their respective sides of the field, and the referee's whistle signaled the start of the match.

For this trial matches, it'll be 30 minutes per half and a 5 minutes break. Team C, their opponents, took a balanced 4-4-2 formation. They had some strong, tall players in defense and a few quick-looking forwards.

From the opening whistle, the game was fast-paced, a whirlwind of end-to-end action, both teams trying to assert dominance over the other. Benjamin could feel the intensity from the start.

Team C came out aggressive, eager to impress the scouts. They pressed high, forcing Team A to retreat into their half.

The ball zipped around the pitch as Team C attacked down the wings, trying to exploit any gaps in Team A's defense. But Team A's defenders, led by a sturdy center-back, Daan, were holding firm.

Benjamin tracked back to help cover, his eyes darting between the ball and his man, trying to anticipate the next move. He could feel the tension building as Team C moved the ball quickly, probing for an opening.

Their forwards combined well, making sharp runs and firing a couple of early shots that kept Team A's defense on edge.

Team C's winger made a quick run down the right flank, sending in a dangerous cross into the box. Team A's goalkeeper, Freek, leaped up and punched it away.

The clearance fell to the feet of Team C's central midfielder, who immediately took a shot from distance, but it sailed harmlessly over the bar.

Benjamin let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. The first few minutes were intense, and the pressure from Team C was relentless, but they hadn't broken through.

In the 8th minute, one of Team C's midfielders dribbled past their central players, cutting through the defense with a through ball toward their striker.

The striker latched onto the pass, and for a moment, it seemed as though they might score. But Team A's goalkeeper, Freek, rushed off his line, diving bravely to smother the ball before the striker could get his shot off.

As the game continued, Team A gradually found their rhythm.

They started stringing together passes, gaining some control in the midfield. The boys were settling into their roles, and Benjamin could sense the game shifting in their favor.

The next attack came from Team A. Their central midfielder, Tariq, intercepted a pass and quickly switched the play, sending the ball out wide to Benjamin.

His first touch was a little heavy, but he managed to control it and sprinted down the left wing, the wind brushing against his face as he accelerated.

His mind raced as he approached the defender. Do I cut inside? Or keep going down the line?

Faced with two options, Benjamin opted to keep pushing down the line, but just as he was about to whip in a cross, a defender slid in with a well-timed tackle, knocking the ball out for a throw-in.

Benjamin grimaced but quickly jogged back into position, shaking off the missed opportunity.

Team C regained possession and countered, sending the ball forward to their striker, who had been lurking near the halfway line. The striker controlled the ball well and sprinted toward the penalty area.

Benjamin's teammates, Daan and Johan the defenders, worked together to contain him, forcing him to take a shot from a difficult angle. It flew wide of the post.

It was an end-to-end battle, neither team managing to get the upper hand in the first 10 minutes.

Benjamin was slowly finding his rhythm, adjusting to the pace of the game.

His mind was sharp, and his body, despite the lingering stiffness in his left leg, was holding up well. He just needed an opportunity to make an impact.