It was July 5, 12.30am in the morning. Sanchez and 4 of his mates had just passed the fifth hour of their FIFA session. For those uneducated few, FIFA 10 is a playstation game based on the most popluar sport in the world, soccer. After five hours, Sanchez had firmly establish himself as one of the players to beat but with all his brilliance, there remained one question. Could the FIFA superstar play in a team? Hence, the FIFA Dreamteam was spawned.
Sanchez and his friend, Skasian. FIFA Dreamteam! The two best players this side of the equator, having spent years at each others houses battling it out, now joining forces to defeat lesser men on the field of dreams. The challengers were Row-Row, Cooper and T-Rex. I use these codenames for their own safety and to save them from the embarrassment that will come with the completion of this story. First, the dreamteam swept aside the challenge of Row-Row and Cooper, then T-Rex and Cooper were dealt with. It was like taking candy from a child.
As Sanchez's and Skasians' fingers danced across the controllers, it seemed nothing could halt the dreamteam. But there was one last hill to climb. Row-Row and T-Rex. The winners would be heroes, men amongst boys and the losers would be cast off into the oblivion that is the world of heartbreak.
After 10 mintues it was 1-0 to the dreamteam and it seemed as though the hill has become a mound. It was all too easy! The longer the game progressed, the more confident the dreamteam became, it was still 1-0 but surely we could lay on a few goals if we really needed to. But with only a few minutes remaining on the clock, disaster struck. T-Rex stood up to be counted and scored to send the game into extra time. The dreamteam gathered themselves, ready to stamp their authority but it the authority didn't come. Row-Row and T-Rex dominated the first half of extra time, it finished at 3-1 to them. The dreamteam was shellshocked, what had happened? Is this really the end? We needed 2 goals in 15 minutes to send the game into penalties. It can be done, but could we do it? Decisions had gone against us all game, were we man enough to pull ourselves inch by inch from the edge of defeat and the end of the dreamteam?
After 10 mintues of the second half of extra time, the score was still 3-1. It can't be. Cooper had been waiting his whole life to see the dreamteam crash and burn and now was full of chat, "Dreamteam got nothingggg, what's that Sanchez? Losing 3-1! Dreamteam is gay!" His hatred at having been sodomized on the FIFA pitch by the dreamteam in the past was coming out.
It was do-or-die, was dreamteam a champion team or a team of champions? 4 mintues remaining on the clock and dreamteam go forward in attack. The ball is moved from side to side sublimely, Sanchez breaks through, he is one on one with the keeper, he draws him and slips off a pass to Skasian who slots the goal. 3-2. Game on. 2 mintues of injury time is added on. And again the dreamteam press forward, is this it? No, the ball is cleared. The room is silent, everyone is on the edge of their chair, Cooper is biting his nails. The fulltime whistle will go any second, but the dreamteam attack once more, their last chance. Sanchez slides through the defence, everyone holds their breath, he shoots... The keeper can't hold it but he can push it away, but Skasian is following up again, "Finish it!" "Noooo" yell Sanchez and T-Rex at the same time. Skasian, with the weight of the FIFA world on his shoulders, holds the circle button and directs the ball into the back of the net. The celebrations wake the neighbourhood, T-Rex, Cooper and Row-Row are distraught, tears flow down their cheeks. 3-3. Fulltime. We are going to penalties!
Each player scores his first penalty as the tension grows. Any miss will potentially be the end. Row-Row lines up against Sanchez as keeper. This is mental warfare and I'm inside his head. He shoots for the right side, the ball is on its way, surely it's in. But no, the keeper's hand comes from no where to save the goal. Sanchez is a national hero, but can he finish the game, he needs to convert from the spot. He hits the crossbar! No goal, game still on. A solitary tear rolls down Sanchez's cheek.
Skasian pulls off another amazing save, is this it? The final nail in the coffin. Graduating from boys to men, it all relies on Skasian's ability to score from penalty spot. He hits it, it hits the back of the net and Sanchez and Skasian hit instant stardom. The dreamteam had done the unthinkable, it wasn't easy, there were times where we both thought we wouldn't come out on top but there is an inherent quality in champions that refused to lie down. Row-Row, T-Rex and Cooper aren't even has-been's, there are never-were's. Sanchez slept very well that night.
Note: Dreamteam is willing to take on any team of 2 in a FIFA10 match on any console. Anywhere, anytime, anyone. Bring your offers!
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