dreams to reality

49.

My first World Cup game is in 2 days. I still don't know how to process it. Erin has helped me a lot, she's spoke to me about her experiences and how she handled the wc in France. Leah has also messaged me words of advice and encouragement. We were drawn in a really hard group so this didn't help our chances of getting out of the group. It's was us, Germany, Australia (hosts of the wc) and Portugal.

*
Match one. Portugal.

We started off relatively slow, it went 20 minutes without us creating a clear cut opportunity until Claire emslie had the ball down the left hand side of midfield, nicdoc made a great overlapping run, she was at the by line and I ran for the cut back. She saw me and cut it back, I used the pace on the ball and hit it to the bottom left corner. I eventually saw it hit the back of the net and I heard a group of Scotland supporters celebrating in the corner, I still didn't know what had happened. I ran off and jumped onto nic who luckily caught me, "yassss ma lassie" she shouted as everyone came over celebrating. "Unreal you" Erin said hugging me. Everyone high fives each other and we started to head back for the restart.

The rest of the half we created more chances but Portugal done really well to keep it 1-0 going into half time. When we headed out for the second half and we started quick, Portugal didn't expect it and we managed to grab a second as Martha went through one on one with the goalkeeper and slotted it bottom right.

It was the 60th minute and Portugal's right winger was running through, they hit us on the break and it was 2v1, 2 Portugal players against me. I split them down the middle and pushed a player wide, shutting off their other player. I saw a heavy touch and slid in to get the ball, I won it and it went out for a throw giving my team time to come back. Very one cheered because that was a really big chance for them and I stopped it.

A few minutes later I was running though the middling of the pitch and i dribbled past 3 players. I saw Claire to my left who was marked by a player, martha was occupying a player and it was a 3v2. I ran to the middle as a player came over who was marking martha, I slipped the ball through and she took a touch but it was too heavy to shoot. I checked out and left the defender and received the ball back, I fake a shot with my right before shooting with left. I watched anxiously as it curled into the top left corner. I did not just do that. I ran off into the corner celebrating with my arms out as everyone jumped on me, I fell to the floor. "Oh my fucking god" clair screamed in excitement, "wow" caz said as others started to climb off me. Corsie helped me up and hugged me. "Unreal" she said and I smiled. Everyone was complimenting me as we walked back.

The game ended 3-0, a brace on my World Cup debut. Not to shabby. I shook hands before going over for an interview.

"What a performance that was by Scotland. Great start to the group"

"Yeah it was a great performance from the team, everyone gave everything for this badge and sometimes that what wins you matches"

"You scored a brace on your very first World Cup game how does it feel?"

"I still can't quite put into words how it feels, Erin asked me a few moments ago but I couldn't even process it. It's the dream"

"It's the dream. I love it. Well the Scotland fans seem to really enjoy watching you play, how is it being so far from home but playing in front of these all these neutral fans"

"Of course it's difficult being so far but it's something as a footballer you learn to accept and manage. We feel the support from everyone back home and especially the section of fans in the corner today. They were exceptional from start to finish. We all really appreciate everyone"

"We don't want to keep you long so here's your trophy, your player of the match. Congrats"

"Thanks, thank you"

As I walk off with my potm trophy Erin winks at me, "2 more to come yeah?" She said and I rolled my eyes. "I wish" I replied before going over to the fans.

*

As I sat in the changing room before the second match I got a message from Leah. Smash it like I know you will baby 😘 I smiled before responding, only for you darling x

Game 2. Germany.

13' goal for Germany, popp with the goal.

30' yellow card for Bella smith.

31' yellow card for Lena oberdorf

Me and Lena both got booked in the space of 1 minute, we both made rash challenges on one another. The whole half of hour she was clipping my ankles, pulling my shirt and I got winded up and I took the backlash from it. But I also managed to wind her up after the tackle. "Too good for you huh?" I said with a smirk and she gave me a death glare. When she fouled me I took it on the chin and laughed it off, clearly making her angry.

35' goal for Scotland!!! Bella smith.

I couldn't believe we had equalised against Germany. I ran off to the corner screaming and slid on my knees, cupping my ears at the German fans who have been giving me stick. I got the ball on the edge of the box and managed to go past Lena and curl it bottom left from outside the box.

As I was jogging back to restart the game I bumped into Lena making her react as she came up behind me and pushed me in sight of the referee. She was immediately given a yellow which meant it was 2 yellows and she got a red card. She was shouting at the ref and blaming me which only made it worse. Her teammates eventually got her off the pitch and Erin smiled at me. "Unreal" she mouthed before we restarted the game.

The second half Germany started really well creating lots of chances, the game got really feisty and a bit dirty. We've only had one chance the whole game and it was the one I scored from. Germany were dominant despite being a player down.

70' Germany score, popp with the double.

We couldn't stop the attack and they punished us. During the next 10 minutes Germany were still all over us, that was until Erin went in for a game changing tackle on popp. Lucky for Erin she got the ball first before catching popp on her ankle, she screamed in pain as Erin rose to her feat putting her hands up. "I got the ball ref" she said pleading her case, she ref still gave her a yellow but to be honest we were lucky it wasn't a red. Unfortunately for Germany their star player had to go off and with them all reading take of a few key players thinking the game was over their team got weakened even more.

We tried to break their defence and failed up until the 88th minute I was running through and saw Martha to my left getting ahead of the German centre backs, I played a curled pass towards her and she stuck her foot out, I watched quietly as it felt everyone had fallen silent. It looked like the keeper was beaten and she was! We scored.

She shot up and ran over to me, she jumped on me making me fall backwards. "Oh my god" was all I could say. Everyone was over the moon. We knew there was still a few minutes to go plus injury time so we made our way back. I felt a little cramp in my right calf but I tried to stretch it off.

We were into the last minute of injury time and the ball was played down the right wing, I knew this would be the last play and I started to run for it, the cramp came on but I managed to get to the ball before was taking out by the German right back. The referee blew for a free kick and I held my calf hoping somebody could help me stretch it. Lisa came over and stretched me, "we've got 30 seconds to go can you hold off for that long?" She asked and I nodded, she helped me to my feet before she chipped the ball into the corner to time waste. Luckily enough abi held it there long enough and the game was over. I fell to the ground from exhaustion. This is the best result in Scotland Womens history by far. We had just drew with the runners up of the euros. Nobody expected it, and to be honest I don't think the girls did either.

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