Only Friends

Chapter 16 - Losses

When Jill left the village, along with Daan, Viv and the rest of the Dutch team, it made it feel even more real that I was in the final four of the olympics. The Matildas made it to the end. We did it. Despite being in the group of death, we made it to the top four.

We had our semi finals against Sweden, and to say it was controversial would be an understatement. Many decisions that were called up by the Refs were wrong, and changed the flow of the game considerably. Many penalties were missed, and headers were blocked, players were tackled and others were injured. Just after half time, the Swedes scored and we never recovered. Although gutted we didn't get to play for a gold medal, the pride we felt was immense.

Similarly, when we found out that the US had lost to Canada, I realised, yet again that I would have to verse Kristie, and so would Sam. Except, this time, the stakes were a lot higher. We were playing for a medal.
When I walked with Kristie later that night, before our bronze medal match she said some very wise words.
"Inds, I will be so proud of you if you win. And I just hope we are both mature enough to realise that this could never ruin anything as strong as us." She said this with such confidence that it made me realise that our friendship goes beyond the sport we met within.
"Kris, I will be so proud of you as well." I gave her a huge hug and left her to walk with Sam. I saw them walk beside each other, their hands tangled. She most likely gave the same talk to Sam as she did me.

As we prepared for our bronze medal play off against the US, I tried my best to get into a good mindset and be prepared. Although, I had this feeling that something wasn't right. I knew that Ellie wouldn't be able to play as she got a red card last game which would keep her out of this one, which annoyed me terribly as a lot of the defensive pressure was on me. Ellie is an amazing defender, who similarly is young, but I looked up to her. It was going to be a challenge without her.

The game did not go as planned. The pit in my stomach was a time traveler, as it knew we would end up falling short to the US. Sam scored our only goal in the first half, and we were down 1-3 by half time. It was disheartening but it wasn't over. We had another 45 minutes to get those two goals and concede none. Although, when Carli Lloyd scored another goal in the 51st minute to make it 1-4, it was hard to come back. Although we did score a goal in the 54th minute, through Caitlin and in the 90th minute through Emily, it was all too late. We lost the bronze medal match 3-4.

Everyone could see the heartbreak on our faces. I, sort of dramatically, fell to the ground, crawling up into a small ball, my arms wrapped around my legs. People didn't bother me, they knew I needed my time and space. I could see in the distance Sam also sitting down, taking off her shoes in the middle of the pitch. I was about to go over and sit next to her, but Kristie went up to her instead, so I didn't. Kristie knelt next to her putting her hand on Sam's shoulder. Sam pulled her down so she was sitting next to her. Although Kristie had just won the bronze medal, she didn't celebrate, she did what any girlfriend would do, console her partner. Sam leant into Kristie, and Kristie wrapped her arms around Sam. They knew the media would find out as the Olympics is filled with photographers, but they didn't care. They sat like that for a while, and while I was just contemplating what had happened, I saw them now sitting with Kristie nuzzled into Sam's neck, only for a brief second. Then, Kristie sat cross legged with her hands beside her, and their fingers only just touching. I saw the photographers snapping the pictures and I felt like going over to them to warn them, but as I was about to, Kristie got up and walked quickly towards me.
She ran over to me, running out of time before she had to be back with her team, and gave me a hug.
"I'm immensely proud of you, Inds," she said.
"Go receive the medal you deserve," I replied back to her, rushing her over to her team.

I walked over to Sam and gave her a hug as she was still sitting on the ground. The shattering of her heart was evident on her face. However, she needed to be brave for the team and as captain.
The team huddled together while Sam and the coach started to talk.
"Guys," Sam started to say, "I know this is tough. I do really, really know. But we should be proud, and there is only the best to come I think." We all clapped and nodded, knowing she was right. If we came this far in the Olympics, who knows where we could go next, when the world cup is on our own soil.