ғᴏᴏᴛsᴛᴇᴘs | ᴋᴍ ✔︎

Sweden

For GemWrittenStories11, I'm not feeling mean today.

"Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit."
- ADAMS, Henry.
(1838-1918)

| Alex |

As the rest of the team leave the field after warm ups, Becky pulls me to the side, Carli backing her up and stopping me from moving.

"Is Cody good to play? Mentally?" Becky asks, glancing at Carli who nods in agreement.

"She is." I answer flatly.

"We're worried that Cody will target her, or they'll make it out to look like that." Carli bluntly states, clearly talking about Lena, and I inhale sharply before facing my Captains.

"It's not Cody she should be worried about."

I leave my Captains slacking behind me as I walk to the locker room, to listen to one of Jill's team talks. There's no need for it, not with everything from 2012, and now Cody, we all know what we want from this game, and we all know how to get it.

After her lousy talk, we line up in the tunnel, Becky leading the line as Carli starts on the bench, followed by Ash and the rest of the team in order of positions, meaning Cody is directly in front of me.

"Breathe, baby." I put both hands on my daughter's shoulders and I feel her relax. "You got this, we all believe in you." She abruptly turns around and hugs me.

"Thanks, mom." She sighs before releasing me from her hold, giving me a soft nod and turning around as Becky begins the walk, the rest of the team following.

"Have a good game, Morgan." A Swedish accent speaks up, patting Cody on the shoulder and offering her a small smile.

"You too, Jessica."

We enter onto the field, lining up for the National anthems to play.

"Who is Jessica?" Kristie asks, receiving raised brows from Tobin, Kelley and myself as Jack chuckles.

"Samuelsson. She plays for Arsenal." Cody answers blankly, not registering the jealous tone of Mewis' voice, clearly too nervous to think of anything other than the fact she's making her debut.

| Commentator Pov |

"Well, I have to admit, I'm excited about this game. There's no love lost between these two as they go head-to-head yet again."

"That's true. Let's just say it'll be a challenge for the US. Ellis chosing to field their two newest rookies - Jack Carter and Cody Morgan, as well as recalling Kristie Mewis, who will also be one to watch". 

"She will be. It'll be interesting to see how the three of them adapt in this situation. It should be easy for Kristie Mewis, who fills the midfield with her sister, Sam and rookie Carter."

"It's an aspect of her game I love, the Dash player is versatile, she'll play anywhere you ask her to."

"The biggest wildcard today is Cody Morgan, who may be happy that her own mother is in the lineup with her."

"I don't know about that, it seems like some big shoes to fill. Not to mention, her ex girlfriend playing for Sweden."

"A lot of talk about these two, Morgan and Eriksson-"

"And here's the first interaction, the handshake."

The camera closes in on the half-second shake of hands between the American and her Swedish counterpart, neither of whom show any kind of recognition.