(A/n: I did a poll on p@tre0n to decide the female lead. Although I lean toward Alessia Russo as I have the story mapped around her and I..... *huff*.
Whatever just vote on p@tre0n, its free to vote. Poll closes on Sunday. Be sure you choose Russo or there will be consequences... Unwanted consequences.🔪🔪
Also, The author reserves the right to ignore democracy. 🔪)
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A few days ago, Oliver's bloody battle at the Bernabéu and the subsequent false alarm at the hospital had countless people on edge. Besides his parents who stayed by his side day and night, Nagelsmann who treated him like a son or nephew, and Professor Wenger who closely followed his future, there was also a Coach far away in England who was equally worried about his injury.
Gareth Southgate, the Coach of the England National Team. Ever since Oliver officially received the call-up notice for the England senior National Football Team, his name had been firmly written by Southgate on the core roster for the Russia World Cup. Southgate's appreciation and expectation for this young genius were no less than those of any Coach of a top Europe club.
Oliver's speed, technique, big heart, and killer instinct in crucial moments, which he displayed on the Champions League stage, were precisely the key pieces Southgate needed to inject vitality into the Three Lions' frontline and seek breakthroughs.
However, that heart-stopping scene in the second leg at the Bernabéu—Oliver's face covered in blood, his right leg severely injured, and eventually collapsing from exhaustion—was like a bucket of ice water poured over Southgate's fervent heart. There was less than half a month left until the final World Cup roster was announced! Any injury, especially those involving the head and legs, could completely shatter a player's World Cup dream and potentially disrupt Southgate's carefully constructed tactical blueprint.
In those few days, Southgate's calls became a frequent presence by Oliver's hospital bed. Unlike the concern of a club Coach, Southgate's inquiries carried the unique urgency of a National Football Team Coach, mixed with anxiety and practicality.
"Ollie, how are you feeling? Is your head still dizzy? Has the detailed diagnostic report for your leg come out? What did the doctor say? Are there any ligament or bone injuries? How soon can you resume training with a ball? Can you make it to the pre-World Cup training camp?"
Over the phone, Southgate's voice sounded deeper and more hurried than usual; every question went straight to the core, revealing the immense pressure he felt internally. Listening to the Coach's undisguised worry on the other end of the line, Oliver felt both touched and guilty. He tried to answer with the clearest and most confident tone possible:
"Coach, please rest assured. The doctor has repeatedly confirmed that the head injury is just a superficial wound, and it will be fine after stitching. My right leg had muscle contusion and subcutaneous bleeding, but it's all healed now; the bones and ligaments are fine! Training is absolutely no problem! I promise, I will definitely make it to the National Football Team's training camp! I will not delay the World Cup!"
Southgate was silent for a few seconds on the other end of the phone, seemingly processing the good news, then let out a long sigh of relief, the tension in his voice noticeably relaxing:
"Thank goodness! Hearing you say that, I can finally sleep soundly."
But his tone immediately turned serious again: "Ollie, listen, this incident is a lesson. I understand your desire for victory; that fighting spirit is a quality of a top player. However, my boy, it's the end of the season, and the World Cup is just around the corner! Your body isn't just yours; it concerns the entire National Football Team's plan and the expectations of countless England fans! Promise me, until you are fully recovered, absolutely! Absolutely! Do not take any more risks! Protect yourself! I need a healthy, 100% fit you to appear in Russia! Understand?"
Southgate's words were earnest and heartfelt. Oliver held the phone, nodding vigorously, as if the other party could see him: "I understand! Coach! I promise! I will definitely protect myself and recover fully! I will never make you worry again!"
Southgate's worries were temporarily eased, while Hoffenheim's performance in the League drew the attention of the entire Germany football scene. The defeat at the Bernabéu did not crush this young team; instead, like quenched steel, it made them tougher and sharper. During the days when Oliver was temporarily absent due to injury and exam preparation, Hoffenheim's players, under Nagelsmann's command, unleashed astonishing combat power.
Gnabry became more active on the wing; his speed and breakthroughs became sharp weapons to tear apart opposing defenses. Grillitsch showed stronger organizational ability and coverage in the midfield. De Jong's orchestration became increasingly calm and experienced. The defense led by Maguire was as solid as a rock.
Uth also frequently scored on the frontline. The team operated smoothly and was full of fighting spirit, displaying the demeanor of a mature strong team. They successively defeated opponents in the League.
On the League table, Hoffenheim's name in red soared like a rocket! They stubbornly clung to their points, and then, after a crucial match in the third-to-last round of the League, their points miraculously... Overtook Bayern Munich!
Although only leading by one point. And there were still two rounds left in the League. But this thin one-point advantage, for Hoffenheim, a small team from Sinsheim, felt as heavy as a thousand pounds! This was a height they had never reached in their club's history! The entire town of Sinsheim erupted in wild celebrations! Bundesliga media exclaimed:
"The Hoffenheim miracle is unfolding!"
"Nagelsmann's team is making history!"
"The Bundesliga championship 'salad bowl' had never been so close to this former 'country club'!"
Although Oliver was off the field, his heart was always with the team. He continued his rehabilitation training, strictly following the medical plan for icing, physical therapy, and low-intensity strength exercises; the bruising and swelling on his right thigh had completely subsided. At the same time, he completely immersed himself in his studies.
In mid-May, the date for the Germany college entrance examination arrived as scheduled. This was another important battlefield in Oliver's life. In the morning, Nagelsmann personally drove to Oliver's residence to pick him up. Today, Nagelsmann wasn't wearing a suit but had changed into casual clothes, looking much more relaxed.
"How do you feel? Nervous?" Nagelsmann asked, looking at Oliver in the back seat through the rearview mirror as he drove.
Oliver held a transparent document bag containing his admission ticket and stationery.
"I'm fine, Coach." Oliver smiled, his eyes calm. "I've reviewed everything I needed to review; I'll do my best."
Nagelsmann nodded: "That's right, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Remember, this is just an exam, like any match you've played; just perform at your usual level, I believe in you."
The car smoothly stopped outside the examination hall. Many examinees and parents had already gathered at the entrance, and the atmosphere was a bit tense. Nagelsmann didn't get out of the car to avoid drawing attention; he just bumped fists with Oliver:
"Go for it, kid! I'll treat you to a big meal after the exam!"
Oliver nodded vigorously: "Thank you, Coach! Wait for my good news!" He took a deep breath, pushed open the car door, and merged into the stream of examinees.
Inside the examination hall, the atmosphere was quiet. Oliver found his seat and spread out the test paper. The rustling sound of pen on paper became the main melody. He concentrated fully, drawing upon all the knowledge accumulated from study time squeezed out during training breaks, travel, and late nights over the past year. The logical deduction of mathematics, the reading comprehension of German articles, the analysis of historical event timelines...
He calmly worked through the questions, his thoughts clear. Thanks to his usual self-discipline and hard work, as well as the review time Nagelsmann specifically adjusted his training schedule to provide, the questions on the paper did not feel unfamiliar or tricky to him. He tackled them one by one at his own pace.
When the bell rang marking the end of the last exam, Oliver put down his pen and let out a long sigh of relief. Walking out of the examination hall, the early summer sun was a bit dazzling. He squinted, a relaxed smile appearing on his face. He felt pretty good; he should not have let down his efforts and the Coach's expectations. The day after the exam, the attention of the football world began to focus on the upcoming World Cup in Russia. Participating teams from various countries successively announced their final 23-man rosters.
At noon, Oliver had just finished his morning rehabilitation training and was having lunch with his teammates in the restaurant. Phone notifications popped up like crazy, as if a pot had exploded.
"[England National Team 2018 Russia World Cup 23-Man Roster Officially Announced]"
Oliver's heart skipped a beat! He almost held his breath as he clicked on the Football Association's official website. The list was arranged by position:
Goalkeepers: Pickford (Everton), Butland (Stoke City), Pope (Burnley)
Defenders: Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Trippier (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Stones (Manchester City), Cahill (Chelsea), Maguire (Leicester City), Jones (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Henderson (Liverpool), Dier (Tottenham), Alli (Tottenham), Lingard (Manchester United), Cheek (Chelsea), Delph (Manchester City), Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Vardy (Leicester City), Sterling (Manchester City), Rashford (Manchester United), Oliver (Hoffenheim)
In the attacking midfielder/winger position, Oliver's name was prominently listed, following Sterling and Rashford. At first glance, it was a bit abrupt, because all the players on the roster were from the Premier League or Championship, with only Oliver being from the Bundesliga. Even more eye-catching was the jersey number next to his name, which was still [17].
This number is not a traditional core number (like 7, 9, or 10) in the England Team, but it was the number with which Oliver made his name at Hoffenheim! Southgate giving him this number was undoubtedly a recognition of his ability and a respect for and continuation of his personal identity.
"Yes!" Oliver clenched his fist tightly and cheered softly! Immense joy instantly filled his chest! The World Cup! Number 17! The Three Lions! All of this was truly happening! The news swept across the globe like a whirlwind. England fans' social media instantly erupted:
"Ollie!!! Finally! Our nuclear weapon!"
"Number 17! Awesome! Can't wait for him to tear apart opposing defenses on the wing!"
"Speed, technique, goals! Him and Sterling flying on both wings, just thinking about it is exciting!"
"Southgate finally did something right; bringing this young man is absolutely correct!"
All over the world, the fans' reactions were much more complex. Official media and mainstream fan communities mostly expressed congratulations:
"Congratulations to Ollie on being selected for England's World Cup roster! Well-deserved!"
"Go, Ollie, my team for 2018 includes England."
"Bro, do well at the World Cup, and be more careful this time, don't make us worry again!"
Of course, there were also some unavoidable voices of disappointment mixed in:
"Alas, such a strong winger, how great it would be if he could be naturalized back..."
"In the end, he still chose to play for England... complicated feelings."
"I understand, after all, he grew up in England, and his football system is there. The current level of the National Football Team... it really holds people back."
More rational and blessing voices, however, dominated the mainstream:
"Don't talk about naturalization or not; respect reality."
"Go for it at the World Cup! Ollie, looking forward to your goals!"
Looking at the overwhelming news and diverse comments online, Oliver felt a mix of emotions. There was the excitement of a dream coming true, the glory of wearing the Three Lions jersey, and also a complex and deep affection for the land of his bloodline roots. He clearly understood the path he had chosen and the expectations he carried on his shoulders.
He silently saved a screenshot of the Football Association's roster announcement, especially looking at his own name and the number 17 jersey. Then, he turned off his phone and walked towards the training ground. The World Cup stage was within reach, but for now, there were more important battles awaiting him and his Hoffenheim.
The last two remaining League matches, and the German Cup final at the Berlin Olympiastadion! The Champions League was already irrecoverable. But next, the 'salad bowl' and the German Cup, he and his teammates were determined to win!
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