Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

Just like the first time, Daniel stayed further back, and Mark played the role of striker. However, this time, Daniel helped Mark more, and Mark helped Daniel more. At the end of the five minutes, the score was 3-0 in their favor.

"Now that the ten selected have made their presentations, I\'m going to talk to my colleagues for ten minutes, and I\'ll come back with the list of names of those who have gone through to the third and final phase. Take the opportunity to hydrate yourselves and get some rest."

The players were still panting slightly, sweat dripping down their foreheads and necks as they dispersed around the training ground. It was hot, very hot. It was midsummer in the northern hemisphere.

Lucas crossed his arms as they watched Daniel and Mark celebrate their victory in different ways. While Daniel threw himself backwards onto the grass and cracked a big smile, Mark was annoyed that he had only scored two goals. In a way, Mark reminded Lucas of Nishida.

"They\'re a good duo, that\'s for sure," Lucas thought out loud.

"They\'ve played much better now." Raphael said.

For a moment, Lucas was startled by Raphael\'s presence next to him. Then he let out a soft sigh, shaking his head slightly.

"Yes, but they still didn\'t impress me as much as Otto."

"Still fascinated by this guy?" Raphael scratched the back of his head, confused, because he couldn\'t understand what Lucas was seeing that was so special. "Anyway, is there a chance they\'ll pick all of us? There are so many good players here."

Indeed, the squad was full of talented boys, each trying to do their best, but it was important to remember that they were looking for additions to the team. And considering that the test for this second phase was very specific in terms of teamwork in short spaces, they were obviously looking for someone with that style of play.

"I don\'t know. It\'s hard to say. I think it\'s more likely that they\'ll take five or six. They need a leaner squad for the last phase. From what I\'ve seen, all the players who came for the sift have been divided into six groups. Ours is Group E.

If five players from each group get through, we\'ll have 30 players in the final phase. Maybe that\'s too many people..."

"Eh?! You\'re clever, aren\'t you? You did that very quickly!"

"W-well, I\'m good with numbers." Lucas said, and he did need to get good with numbers at university because he always had to do math to know how many points he needed to pass several risky subjects.

"Ten minutes... that\'s a long time to think about what might happen, isn\'t it?" Raphael muttered, glancing at the other players.

Some were leaning on their legs, tired, while others were talking quietly, trying to guess the coaches\' next moves.

"Plenty of time to get nervous, that\'s for sure."

Lucas took a deep breath. As much as he tried not to get attached to the result, the reality was that it mattered. It mattered a lot. It was the next step towards something bigger.

After the pre-agreed time, the main monitor emerged from the tent. He carried a clipboard with the list of names. Next to him, two assistants began to walk towards the center of the field, indicating that the moment of waiting was over. The movement was enough to attract the attention of all the players. A nervous silence spread across the pitch as everyone gathered in a semicircle around the coaches.

The coach looked down at his clipboard and sniffed before speaking.

"Firstly, I\'d like to congratulate everyone for their dedication and commitment. Everyone here is a talented player, and that made our decision very difficult. As you know, we\'re looking for players who can adapt quickly to pressure situations and work effectively as a team. And, after much deliberation, we have a list of five who will progress to the final round."

With every word the coach spoke, Lucas\' heart beat faster.

"The players advancing from Group E are..." The coach paused, creating an almost unbearable tension. "Lucas Tanaka."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Lucas let out the breath he had been holding, and he felt his hands shake slightly. Raphael gave him a gentle push, smiling, but soon became serious again, waiting for the next name.

"Raphael Portiolli."

This time it was Lucas who patted Raphael on the back, who reciprocated with a broad, grateful smile.

"Otto Krieger." Continue reading on empire

It was only fair. Otto had been excellent. Otto\'s satisfied expression, his eyes shining with pride behind his glasses, confirmed what Lucas had suspected: he had been preparing for this moment for a long time.

The technician consulted his clipboard once more.

"Mark Tanner."

Mark jumped up and clenched his fists, celebrating in a low voice.

The final spot was no mystery to anyone who paid attention to the games.

"Daniel Riber."

The last name echoed across the pitch, followed by a chorus of sighs, some of relief, others of disappointment.

Lucas felt happy, but, at the same time, he couldn\'t help looking around, seeing the heartbroken expressions of those left behind.

The coach\'s voice cut through the air again, but this time it was more formal, dry, and direct.

"Those players who have not been selected for the next phase, please proceed to the exit and await instructions. We thank you all for your commitment, and don\'t give up on your dreams. The road is long, but there are still plenty of opportunities."

Lucas heard scattered murmurs around him, some silently thanking him, others just accepting their fate without a word.

A group of boys began to walk slowly towards the exit of the camp, their heads down and their steps dragging.

For a moment, Lucas felt a knot in his stomach. He knew what it was like to lose. He knew the weight of defeat, but there was no way to soften that blow for them.

Raphael watched the others walk away with a more sober expression. "Only the best advance, and honestly, everyone here is good."

The five who had passed were instructed to gather in the center of the field.

"Congratulations to those of you who have advanced. The last phase will be much more difficult. You\'ve excelled so far, but 17 others have also passed the second phase of the other groups. Now you\'ll be joining them."

\'Seventeen others? That means that, with the five of us, 22 players have passed. That\'s enough to form two full teams, so probably the last test is a match.\'

The coach suddenly put his hand over his eyes, as if trying to see better in the blazing sun. He looked up for a moment, frowning, clearly bothered by the intensity of the heat above them.

"However, it\'s too sunny here. You won\'t be able to show your maximum performance in these conditions. So follow me. We\'re going to the infield."

Raphael raised an eyebrow and let out a slight laugh of relief. "Finally, the professionals\' area."

Raphael seemed to be from the area, because he even knew about this sort of thing.

The walk to the infield was brief because it was just a gravel path that separated the outfield from the infield. When they finally entered the covered area, some players let out sighs of relief, as if they had just escaped from a desert. The indoor pitch was larger than expected, as it had the real dimensions of a field and at the same time looked like a gymnasium.

The grass of the field was impeccably green, lit by a series of large windows all around, but without the scorching glare of the sun directly on them.

The monitor turned to the group and said:

"Here, you will have the ideal conditions for the last part of the test. Soon, the other groups should join us. Let\'s wait."

As they waited, the side door of the gymnasium creaked open, and all eyes turned to the entrance. Lucas expected to see the next group, but instead of a full group, only two people, apart from the monitors in Brighton uniforms, appeared.

The first player was a tall young man with a relaxed, almost disinterested posture. He was almost hairless, had several piercings, and walked with his hands in his pockets, unhurriedly, as if he were just taking a stroll.

Next to him, in complete contrast, was someone who immediately caught everyone\'s attention. He had long, flaming hair as red as coals. His face was chiseled and surprisingly beautiful, with features so delightful that he could have been mistaken for a girl.

Raphael\'s eyes widened at the sight of the young redhead. He disguised it poorly by blushing slightly and looking away quickly.

Lucas glared at him, and this time he turned red with embarrassment. "W-well, you know how it is... he looked like a girl, and I study at a military school and... Ah, never mind."