The best is yet to come

Women's World Cup 2015

7th June 2015

There it was, the start of the Women's World Cup 2015 in Canada. Daniëlle was more ready than she could've been, just like her teammates. It was time for the first game for the oranjeleeuwinnen; that's what they called themselves. How cool would it be if everyone called them like this one day? Their first matchup was against new-Zealand. The last time Daan played against them, she scored the winning goal, so she was full of confidence. It was the very first time the oranjeleeuwinnen played in a World Cup, which made this their first ever ever EVER World Cup game. This resulted in people having low expectations in them, since it was their first time. Daan didn't give a single fuck about these expectations. She had her own.
Daniëlle was ready to shine! She was lucky enough to be in the starting XI.

The time had come. She and her teammates walked on to the pitch and formed a line together.
It was time for the national anthem. What, a, special, moment, this, was. Daan was holding the hand of her best friend, and also teammate, Lieke (Martens), and holding her other hand on her chest right on top of that special place: her heart. "Wilhelmus van Nassouwe ben ik, van Duitsen bloed....." WOW! This was an unforgettable feeling already. After they finished singing, everyone got into their positions on the field, ready to start this adventure!

*PFEEEWT* There it was! The referee blowed her flute and the game started. Daniëlle played a great first hal, but unfortunately didn't score. She did give an assist tho! She gave an amazing through-ball to, who else than, Lieke! And ofcourse, Lieke finished it off nicely giving them a 1-0 lead going into half time. What an amazing unreal incredible CRAZY feeling this all gave Daan.

They had to get back on the pitch again. Time to start the second half!
Daan kept on making crazy actions, and couldn't be stopped! She even had a shot on goal, but that one was kept out by the goalie of new-Zealand, unfortunately.
The match ended in a 1-0 victory for the oranjeleeuwinnen! Their first ever World Cup match, and they even managed to win it! It was incredible. On to the next one!

12th June 2015

It was time for the second match of the World Cup, this time against China! Daniëlle was in the starting lineup again! If they would win this game, it would mean that they instantly progressed into the next round, therefor the expectations where higher than last time.
Daniëlle started the game of great with a shot at goal in the first half twice! Unfortunately, the goal keeper of China was playing an amazing game and therefore kept a clean sheet.
Into the second half we go! Daan gave a few key passes, but that goddamn goalie.... No one managed to get the ball past any of the goalies. Until.... the 91th minute. China scored.
Unfortunately. The oranjeleeuwinnen lost their second group's game.

But there was still hope! They just needed 1 single point to progress into the knockout phase of the World Cup.

16th June 2015

It was time for the third and last group game for Daan and her teammates. This time against Canada! Daan prepared herself mentally and physically very well for this game, it was an important one. The oranjeleeuwinnen where ready, time for the kickoff. Within 10 minutes Canada managed to kick the ball in the back of the net. Bummer! But Daan and her team never gave up! After 87 minutes Kirsten (van de Ven) scored the equalizer! Finally.

The oranjeleeuwinnen made it to the knockout phase by equalizing against Canada resulting into them having 4 points in the group chart. It was an unforgettable experience until now.
Unfortunately Daan didn't have her best match today, as she got subbed off in the second half.

23th June 2015

Now it was time to for everyone to give it all they have. If you lose now, it's over. You're out.
Daan was once more in the starting XI, just like all the games during the group stage. She was ready to impress everyone!
Unfortunately though, the first half didn't start off the way she expected as Japan was 1-0 up at halftime. Japan even managed to score a second one after Daniëlle got subbed off for Kirsten in the 53th minute. Kirsten did manage to score in the 93th minute, but it wasn't enough.
This was it. This was the end. This was the time, the place, the game where the oranjeleeuwinnen ended their first ever World Cup.

Daniëlle didn't fully complete her 'goals' for this World Cup in her eyes. Although she got 1 assist and a couple of shots on goal throughout the 4 games that she played, she was not really fully happy about her performance in general. She really wanted to impress the world during this World Cup, but in here eyes, she did not succeed in doing that.
It was time for her and her teammates to head home, after an amazing unforgettable unreal insane phenomenal experience and time that they had together.

Now the time had come. Daan had to wait for clubs wanting to sign her for the next season. It where nerve recking times for Daniëlle as the only thing she could do was wait, wait for her coach to call her, hopeful telling her that Arsenal want to sign her! Aaah, it was her biggest dream since she was a little kid already. Daniëlle and her whole family where really hoping for it.

But then... one day... Daan's phone rang! It was her coach! She instantly answered the call and ran downstairs to let her family know the time had come! "Hi Daniëlle, it's me, your coach" she neared on the phone. "I have been contacted by a club that are willing to sign you for the next season!". "Ooooh, please just tell me already!" Daan answered nervously. "Well well well Daan, the club that want to sign you is......"

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Ooeeh cliffhanger! Haha
In the next chapter we'll discover which club have contacted PSV to sign Daniëlle!
As it is midnight as I'm writing this, I hope there aren't any mistakes in spelling and/or grammar lol. If so, please tell me! 😊

Hope you liked this chapter! 🔥🥰