Numb

"the two of us"

It was the FUCKING WORLD CUP FINAL.
In fact Karima didn't realise until this morning when Emily told her, a surprise was waiting for her should they win. "I hate surprises though." Karima whined. A pillow hit her head in response. "Tough." Emily laughed.

The starting XI hadn't changed though from the previous match against the Canadians who BTW won against Sweden in the third place playoff 4-2.
Karima was surprised at keeping her place in the starting XI.
In fact after she got changed, Karima confronted Vlatko over his decision. "I don't mean to sound rude or nosy..." she started getting a raised eyebrow from her coach, "but why did you keep me in the eleven?"
To her shock, Andonovski simply laughed. "Why not?" He then posed a question to his player. "Why do you think you should've been dropped?"
This was easy according to Karima. "I played terrible against Canada. The team did much better once I went off."
Then the coach shrugged. "So then why do you think I kept you in?" These questions were really catching Karima out although she suspected that was on purpose.
"Because you er..." Karima winced in attempting to answer "have faith in me?"
This once again drew a hearty laugh from Vlatko. "Of course I do. Everyone who cares about you has faith in you."
These words really meant a lot to Karima who now had to wipe her eyes. "Cheers coach." Andonovski smiled. "No problem Karima."

The conversation with Vlatko Andonovski really motivated Karima. Looking at the Australians lined up, she realised they remained unchanged from their last meeting. Spotting Raso, Karima gave a quick wave before turning her head. She couldn't let her Thorns teammate distract her. Especially in a game like this.

The closing ceremony meant the delay of getting onto the pitch and with every passing moment, Karima's tummy did another flip and the player felt nauseous. In fact, Karima considered quickly heading off to the toilet until the lines began to move and both teams headed out onto the pitch.
Nerves had consumed Karima so much that she only mouthed the words of the anthem.
The nerves hadn't faded and had only grown. Karima knew she was only going to improve when the game started.
When Sam kicked the game off, roars from the hosts and the fans of USWNT commenced.
The game started off with the Aussies arrogance clear to see. Although they were backing it up by effortlessly passing around the World Cup Champions. No one was panicking yet though.

And indeed they were right not to. Kelley effortlessly disposed Caitlin Foord of possession and sent a long ball which went past both teams midfields.
Steph Catley then attempted to win a duel against Alex although neither player really got their head to it and the ball floated right into Tobin's feet. Then the nutmegging midfielder taunted the Australian defence with a casual feint sending Alanna Kennedy the wrong way. Tobin then threaded a through ball which found Christen.
Press then spotting Arnold racing towards her, chipped the ball and everyone could only watch as the ball bounced over the line into the net with Ellie Carpenter extremely close to hooking the ball off the line.

Everyone was jubilant. Despite efforts from Raso, Logarzo and Kerr, the Matildas were still behind come halftime.
"We need to do what they did in the opening match." Andonovski urged. "Just keep calm and composed. They're not better than us."

With that, the USWNT headed back onto the pitch fairly confident. Emily rushed up to Karima and whispered "Cannot wait to show you my surprise."
Karima ignored her. They hadn't won yet. She realised that the only thing that was going to defeat them was their own arrogance. The same thing that Megan defiantly stated at the last World Cup was justified could still be used against them.
Unfortunately, it did.
The USWNT had , to be fair, been holding out quite well. Playing defensive had worked for them. Until they were unlocked. Alanna Kennedy weaved out of Alex and Christen's pressing and strung a pass to Catley who was ambling in midfield. Karima lunges out to intercept but Steph was too quick and sped past her and Sam. Catley then sent a diagonal long ball to Carpenter who's first touch sent her past Kelley and Lindsey (who was tracking back) and just as the fullback entered the box, a crunching tackle from Dahlkemper sent her flying.
For a moment Karima thought a penalty was going to be given against them but the English referee simply played advantage.
In a slight scramble, the ball had bounced up and left Sauerbrunn and Kerr in the air duelling for it.
Sam caught Becky by surprise and unleashed an audacious header that looped over both the centre back and Naeher who was left stranded on the spot.

Nearly deafened by the home roars, Karima looked to the clock. It was the 63rd minute. Still an awful amount of time left for anyone to grab a winner.
The Matildas had all the momentum now and appeared the most likely side to score the next goal.
Hayley Raso,  Emily van Egmond and Sam Kerr all had multiple chances each to get the 2nd goal but none of the attackers managed to grab their opportunity and the game was still tied.
Then Karima heard the whistle. She looked to the ref, before the board which has signalled that the 90 minutes plus the (4) minutes of added time were up. This made Karima even more confused . She hadn't even heard the announcer or seen fourth official show injury time.
However there was nothing anyone could do as they trudged to their respective sidelines. Mainly focusing on getting hydration and wiping her brow,Karima was didn't understand why she was hearing squeals and swearing until she looked up and saw...?

Karima did a double take. "Megan?" She looked to the energetic former midfielder with shades on. "Ash!" The former goalkeeper was jokingly flexing her muscles. "Ali?" The former fullback had spotted her and gave her ever assuring smile.
Then the last icon Karima saw was a certain former co-captain, a hat trick hero in a WC final and an overall bad ass. "Carli?"
The now soon to be 42-year old gave a warm smile. Oh how Karima missed the assurances of these World Cup and Olympic Gold medalists.
"We need to kick their fucking asses!" Rapinoe roared so loud that the Matildas looked over .
Ali rolled her eyes. "What's she's trying to say is be more aggressive."
Ash then grabbed Karima's shoulder. "You,young lady, need to push up more and be more attacking." Karima looked to Andonovski who nodded. "I can't shoot." She lamented to her once teammate.
"You said you can't take a pen, yet you scored the winning one in a shootout in an Olympic final!" Harris pointed out.
Finally, Carli spoke up. "We need to win this. For Alex," she pointed to the striker who smiled. "Tobs," giving a bashful smile, Heath waved. "and our little squirrel." Everyone cheered as Kelley gave a wee dance.

Rallied on by surprise visitors, the USWNT found their mojo again and were out to get the Matildas who appeared slightly taken aback.
Even as each chance went over, wide or hit the post (Tobin) the U.S became more confident.
Even when halftime came, more motivation was supplied via Pinoe, Ash,Ali and Carli.
Things had turned around in extra time and it was the Aussies who were extremely defensive.
So when a corner came in the 2nd and final added minute in the second half of extra time, everyone went up. Including Alyssa much to the crowds entertainment.
Karima stayed near the edge of the box. She didn't want to ruin someone else's chance and more importantly, she didn't think she could contribute.
As her former teammates gestured for her to go up from the back, Karima gestured back that she was covering for Naeher.
Then Tobin swung the ball in. Right to Karima who was unmarked. What the fuck Heath? Karima groaned as she took her first touch. Then she randomly crossed it back into the box. Out of everyone, you pass to me?
The moment the ball left Karima's foot, she regretted it. What if she just randomly hits it out of play?
Then an outstretched foot met the ball. Karima couldn't see who it was only that the ball hit off their foot and onto the inside of the post where despite Mackenzie Arnold's best efforts to claw it out, the ball trickled past the line.

Karima then saw a figure rush to celebrate with her. Emily Sonnett . They were then mobbed by the whole team and not long after Australia kicked off, the whistle blew to confirm them as runners up and the USWNT as World Fucking Champions !

Karima was ecstatic. She proved them all wrong. After the trophy presentation though, there was something she needed to know. "What's the surprise?" Emily winked. "I'll tell you when it's just the two of us."