"Without our hard work, our countless hours of practise and each and everyone's dedication to this team I would not be able to stand here tonight in Spain, in this final soccer match against Peru and tell you all what you already know. We have to win. We have come too far to fail." We broke our huddle and the game commenced. Frantic communication and yelling proceeded as everyone quickly paired up with their subsequent opposition. As I sized up my marker I realized he was the complete opposite of me. He was big, strong and probably double my weight. He, coming from a different country half way around the world brought together tonight for the same reason as I was, for the love of soccer. The announcer then yells "GOAL" as the crowd explodes in a violent upheaval of cheering as I tiredly watch that large Peruvian player who I was supposed to be marking celebrate. Their team is up 1-0. I let my teammates down and our coach rightfully substitutes a player in for me. I sit on the cold steel bench angry and disappointed at myself, knowing our team is now losing. Leaving my team at a time they needed me. I block out the cheering from the crowd as my teams captains words, "we have come too far to fail" play over and over again in my head. Feeling the effect of failure and letting my team down I get psyched. I want back in. After fifty minutes of fierce war-like soccer, the game is tied up and I go back in but this time I will not fail. This time I came out running, tackling, sliding and fired up. That large Peruvian player didn't stand a chance as I danced around him. The crowd cheered. I sent the ball out wide expecting a cross as three of my teammates executed a well rehearsed and well timed run into the box to confuse and scramble the Peruvian defense. The ball soared across towards my head as I jumped up to send it rocketing past the hands of their keeper. The announcer didn't have time to speak before the crowd erupted once again as my teammates sprinted towards me yelling.
