Another training day.
On the England Team's training ground, the feeling of defeat gradually dissipated, and the somber atmosphere was replaced by the focus and intense training rhythm of a new day. Players were doing recovery training or jogging in small groups.
Oliver stood on the sidelines, taking a deep breath, clutching the tactical analysis notebook that contained the results of his overnight deliberations. His gaze swept across the training ground, quickly locking onto Southgate. Southgate stood with his arms crossed, watching the ongoing ball warm-up drills, his brow slightly furrowed, evidently also pondering the previous loss and subsequent countermeasures. Oliver walked over.
"Good morning, Coach," his voice broke Southgate's contemplation.
Southgate turned around and, seeing it was Oliver, a gentle but slightly weary smile appeared on his face: "Good morning, Ollie. How are you feeling? Oh, right, taking you off yesterday was a tactical adjustment, don't take it to heart."
This was Southgate's habit; he said this to every player he substituted. There was no other way; every player on the England Team had a strong sense of self-esteem, one could even say arrogance. Southgate certainly understood it that way.
"Thank you, sir, I understand what you mean," Oliver nodded, getting straight to the point, handing over the notebook he held.
"Um… regarding yesterday's match, I went back and carefully watched the video and data, combining it with my feelings on the field, and made some analysis and summaries. I think… the problems mainly focus on a few areas, and I'd like to hear your thoughts."
Oliver's tone was very subtle, lacking the usual flamboyance of star players; it was simply a very humble posture for discussing problems. A hint of surprise flashed in Southgate's eyes; he raised an eyebrow and took the weighty notebook: "Oh? Analysis and summary? Alright, let me see."
He opened Oliver's notebook. Oliver immediately got into character; he pointed to the key points he had outlined in his notes, clearly articulating the core issues he had observed the previous night:
"Coach, it's like this, what I first noticed was the midfield. Belgium's Dembele, Fellaini, plus the attacking Tielemans and Januzaj, are all technically complete, have wide coverage, and their coordination…"
"Then, Delph, Alli, and Dier were very active in their running, but when they had the ball, under the tight pressing of the opponent's technical midfielders, their turning and dribbling ability… forward progression…"
Oliver spoke at length, saying nothing else, only stating observations and their impact on the match.
"And then, there's the efficiency gap in attack-defense transitions."
Next, Oliver's tone became a bit more patient as he pointed to the "stick figure" drawings in his notebook.
"You see, this is the scene before Adnan Januzaj scored.
The moment Meunier intercepted the ball, our midfield didn't immediately block the area in front of the receiving point, Adnan Januzaj. Dier pressed too eagerly, Cahill's positioning was pulled by Marouane Fellaini… and this gap was only formed in the instant of an interception; after they gained possession, it was often one or two passes… in contrast to us…"
Southgate listened patiently, but his brows furrowed more and more tightly.
Oliver continued to turn to another page, "This was a successful counter-press by us in the second half, the position was very good… This huge difference in rhythm caused a severe disconnect between our front and back lines… I hardly touched the ball on the right wing…"
Every word Oliver spoke, every judgment he made, was based on clear observation and data, making it very convincing. As Southgate listened, his gaze quickly shifted from initial surprise to intense focus, his brows sometimes tightly furrowed, sometimes thoughtfully relaxed. He continuously flipped through Oliver's notes, which contained not only textual analysis.
But also different colored pens marking out attack-defense transition routes, key error points, and comparative positioning of both teams on simplified tactical diagrams. These analyses were precise in their perspective and went straight to the heart of the matter. This was simply not something an 18-year-old player, especially a young player who had just played his first World Cup start, could accomplish.
Especially when it involved advanced tactical content such as attack-defense transition rhythm, midfield coverage, and immediate defensive strategies after losing possession, which rely heavily on experience and game-reading ability.
When Oliver finished explaining the core points, he then added sincerely, "Of course, Coach, as a winger, I also need to do better in the depth and intensity of my pressing and tracking back in the front field, as well as the possibility of trying other ways to receive the ball when I'm tightly marked."
This was Oliver's self-reflection on his performance. Southgate was silent for a few seconds, then closed the notebook and looked deeply at Oliver. His gaze held surprise, disbelief, but even more, a kind of heartfelt delight.
"Hmm…" Southgate's voice was gentle but carried weight, "I must say, this analysis," he shook the notebook in his hand, "Extremely outstanding. This isn't just a simple review of the video; you've grasped the key Context of the game, especially your insight into the differences in attack-defense transition rhythm."
Southgate was still processing the shock.
"No wonder you managed to win two Golden Boots in the Bundesliga; now I truly understand that it wasn't by luck, and certainly not entirely by talent. Your observational skills, your learning ability, especially this depth of game understanding and your ability to proactively think and self-summarize, are incredibly valuable. To be honest, I am very shocked; for a player, this is even more precious than mere speed or technique."
Southgate's words were direct, without deliberate flattery; this was an experienced coach's genuine affirmation of the value of raw talent. The weight of this recognition brought a warmth of understanding and an encouraging uplift to Oliver's heart.
"You flatter me, sir, I just feel that when you lose, you have to find out why, especially when you lose to a strong team like Belgium," Oliver replied.
"Your findings are very important. Last night, the coaching staff and I also reviewed the match, and your initial assessment aligns highly with our internal coaching staff's," Southgate's tone became serious.
"Oliver, the midfield function and transition efficiency you just mentioned are pain points, and this is indeed one of our key gaps compared to top strong teams."
Southgate motioned for Oliver to walk slowly along the edge of the training ground with him, discussing his ideas for adjustments as they walked.
"For the upcoming match against Panama, we indeed need to make some small adjustments," Southgate lowered his voice, beginning to share his thoughts.
"On one hand, we will consider having Alli drop back a bit, giving him more responsibility for connecting and passing forward, to see if it can improve organization, and on the other hand…"
He stopped, looking seriously at Oliver: "In the future, regarding your position on the right wing, I will give you a little more individual freedom, based on emphasizing tactical discipline."
"Individual freedom?" Oliver was slightly taken aback.
"Yes," Southgate nodded, "But this doesn't mean you break away from the system and go solo, but rather to encourage you, when you feel too much defensive pressure with the ball on the right wing, or when the midfield is suppressed by the opponent and finds it difficult to pass to you smoothly. You can more flexibly choose to cut inside to receive the ball in the center, or form a more active cooperation with the full-back behind you, or even try to drop back a bit deeper to around the midfield line to actively receive from teammates.
I believe your football IQ and ball-holding technique can, to a certain extent, alleviate the pressure on the midfield when it's under pressure, becoming a local outlet or lubricant; this is a supplement and variation to our tactics. What do you think, Ollie?"
Southgate's idea was very clear; he also recognized the deficiencies in England's midfield configuration, which certainly could not be changed in the short term. But he believed in Oliver's football IQ and ball-carrying ability. Southgate was willing to make local adjustments to compensate for the overall shortcomings. He wanted to use Oliver as a glue and a tempo changer.
Oliver's eyes lit up.
"Thank you very much for your trust, sir! I fully understand your intentions, and I will strive to contribute more to the team's offensive link-up play with more active running and receiving, while maintaining the overall team shape."
The coach not only affirmed his analysis but also made specific adjustments based on it, and granted him the space and trust to execute those adjustments.
For an 18-year-old newcomer, this was more important than any encouragement.
"Alright, Ollie," Southgate patted Oliver's shoulder, his tone a little more relaxed, "Go train. Remember, keep this habit of thinking; it will be your core competitiveness."
After speaking, Southgate solemnly handed the notebook back to Oliver.
In the following training days, the training tone subtly changed. The team intensified quick one-touch passing drills in the midfield and front third, and attack-defense transition drills. Southgate also intentionally had Alli take on more of the attacking midfielder's linking responsibilities in the group confrontations.
And Oliver, meanwhile, began consciously practicing the freedom Southgate had given him. During the afternoon's specialized shooting training session, teammates took turns receiving the ball and shooting from different positions in the penalty area. Oliver was in excellent form today, his shots powerful and angles tricky, drawing rounds of applause.
However, when he saw Kane receive a half-volley near the penalty spot and gently push it with the inside of his right foot, the ball arced in an extremely bizarre trajectory, spinning into the far corner of the goal, Oliver was once again awed by Kane's indescribable shooting technique. It wasn't brute force; it was the epitome of precision and finesse.
During a break in training, Oliver saw Kane drinking water by the sideline. He walked over with his water bottle, filled with respect and a thirst for knowledge from the world-class striker and captain.
"Captain," Oliver's voice carried the right amount of respect and a desire to learn, "Excuse me, but that shot you just took, how did you get that curve? It felt like your instep control was incredibly precise. Also… when you drop back in the front to receive the ball and organize the attack, you always seem so composed, as if you have eyes in the back of your head, knowing your teammates' positions. Is there any trick to that?"
Kane turned his head, seeing it was the team's rising star, who usually trained extremely hard. It must be said, Kane greatly appreciated Oliver's attitude: humble, focused, and full of a desire to improve himself. Oliver's initial impression for him was that of a good kid.
Kane wiped off some sweat and showed his signature gentle smile: "Haha, that curve? Hmm… relax your ankle, and don't think about putting power into it the moment you touch the ball, as if you're cupping the ball to let it spin on its own. Mainly, the contact point, the direction of force, and your body posture need to be coordinated…"
Kane had no intention of holding back, immediately explaining with enthusiasm. He not only talked about the specific footwork details for that particular curved shot but also shared his years of accumulated shooting experience in an easy-to-understand way.
"Especially in those few tenths of a second before you receive the ball, your peripheral vision should already be scanning the goalkeeper's position—is he covering the near post at the front? Is he centrally positioned? Or is he slightly biased to one side… This determines whether you shoot to the near post, far post, through his legs, or fake him out to shift his weight."
"From the corner of the box, a quick, low shot to the far post is a very cost-effective option… If a half-volley is difficult to handle… it depends on your and the goalkeeper's positioning; sometimes you volley it, sometimes, like just now, you use the inside of your foot to guide it and give it spin…"
Kane emphasized choosing the best technique based on the situation, rather than a one-size-fits-all shooting trick. He watched Oliver listening intently, providing feedback.
Then, Kane put even more effort into sharing his insights on dropping back on defense. (A/n: Mbappe should also ask Kane)
"Ollie, dropping back isn't just about running back; the key is knowing what you want before you drop back… Is it to play a one-two with an overlapping full-back? Or… As you're running, you need to keep your head up, even look back quickly to see where the open space is behind you… Your movement is creating passing lanes for your teammates, and also setting up the next receiving point… You need to have a map of the field in your mind, knowing roughly which areas key teammates are operating in… The purpose of dropping back isn't to wait for the ball… but to allow the ball to pass through…"
Kane emphasized the core concepts of "anticipation," "space creation," and "orchestrating play." The content was extremely rich, without any fluff. Oliver listened eagerly, every word seeming to open a new door of understanding. He nodded repeatedly, occasionally asking for details.
Kane also became more and more engrossed in his explanation, feeling he had found a kindred spirit who was willing to listen carefully and truly understand the intricacies. Oliver allowed Kane to indulge in the role of a Sensei.
Kane explained everything from basic footwork to how to use body feints to open up shooting angles, and then to how to remain calm under high-pressure defense and choose the most reasonable way to complete the final strike.
What benefited Oliver even more was Kane's profound understanding of the role of a front-line pivot, for example, how to shield the ball with his body and make a quick pass when receiving the ball with his back to goal, and how to use his drop-back to draw opposing center-backs out of position, creating space for attacking players behind him. This knowledge went far beyond mere technique; it was the wisdom and experience crystallized by a top striker.
Their conversation lasted for nearly twenty minutes. Only when other players called Kane from a distance to resume training did he reluctantly stop.
"Keep practicing hard, Ollie, your talent and attitude are both excellent, if there's anything else you don't understand, you can ask me again when we have time."
Kane encouraged him at the end, patting Oliver's shoulder firmly.
"Thank you so much, Captain! That was truly valuable!"
Oliver thanked him from the bottom of his heart, intending to ponder and practice everything Kane had taught him. Just as Kane turned to walk back to the training ground, the system's voice came to Oliver's mind again. The host's interaction with player Harry Kane has reached 100%, acquiring attribute:
Shooting, attribute rating S+, skill matching degree: 94%.
"Shooting attribute?! And S+ rank?!"
Oliver stood frozen in place, a bit stunned. It wasn't easy, truly not easy; the system originally copied more skills.
Since Oliver obtained the system, he had gained skills such as Vision, Positioning, Shooting, and Heading, but in terms of attributes, besides those initially obtained from Di Maria and Verratti, Kane's Shooting attribute was the third attribute he successfully copied.
The moment the system's voice disappeared, Oliver felt the whole world go quiet for a second. Oliver abruptly looked at the tall figure who was re-engaging in group training: Captain Kane. The essence of what the Captain had just taught him was still clearly replaying in Oliver's mind. Every movement, every subtle feeling of touching the ball, seemed within reach.
"Damn it!" Oliver didn't hesitate for a moment.
He requested to the assistant coach that he wanted to do extra shooting practice today. Then, Oliver pulled over a large basket of training balls and strode towards the empty center of the field, the area directly in front of the goal. This feeling of shooting.
Oliver needed to feel it immediately, needed to grasp it immediately. Then, rhythmic sounds of shots echoed across the training ground. Shoot, retrieve the ball, shoot again, adjust shooting distance, continue shooting, retrieve the ball, adjust shooting angle, shoot… From the top of the box, to both sides of the six-yard box, to tricky angles from the flanks… Oliver was like an obsessive craftsman, repeatedly refining his newly acquired weapon.
The sun slowly set, and the fiery red sunset painted the entire training ground with a beautiful hue. The lights on the side of the field quietly turned on, casting long white beams of light across the darkening green pitch. Oliver had lost count of how many shots he had taken today.
The assistant coach was getting tired from retrieving balls for him. His teammates gradually said goodbye to Oliver and went back to rest. Oliver also told the assistant coach to leave first.
"Mr. Steve, you worked hard today, it was really too much trouble."
"It's fine, Oliver, Gareth told me you've practiced enough shooting today, this is the last ball, practice it and then you should go back and rest too, no more extra practice."
"Yes, sir."
This was the last ball. Oliver slowly placed the ball slightly to the right of the edge of the penalty box. Sweat had already plastered his socks to his calves, and his breathing was exceptionally clear on the field. In the distance, outside the field, Maguire and Vardy seemed to be waiting for him, but they didn't come over to disturb him.
Oliver took a run-up, leaned his body, and his supporting foot landed precisely on that spot on the grass. He powerfully struck the ball with the inside of his right foot! The entire motion was fluid, coordinated, and seamless.
The ball soared into the air, carrying all of Oliver's fatigue, excitement, and desire from today. The ball's arc was beautiful, with intense spin. The ball covered the last distance, with a sharp and wonderful dip.
With a "swish," it clearly brushed the junction of the underside of the crossbar and the inside of the post, hitting the absolute dead corner of the net in the most tricky and unanswerable way!
"Yes!!! Well done, Ollie!!!" Maguire's cheer came from the sidelines.
"Well done, lad!!" This was Vardy's voice.
Oliver retrieved the last ball, put it in the basket, and ran towards Maguire and Vardy.
"I'm really sorry, Harry, Jamie, for making you wait so long," Oliver apologized proactively to the two who had been waiting for a while.
"There's nothing to apologize for, we're all teammates, let's go," Vardy said with a smile.
"Ollie, I have to say, that shot of yours just now was really different, it's changed a lot from the shooting I saw from you at Hoffenheim."
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