PENALTY by Annika Sturm (best contemporary novels TXT) 📕

your players are under, you must feel relieved and satisfied.' The hotel meeting room was packed with journalists. 'I have never doubted my players' ability but I am impressed with how defiantly and consistently especially Tom and Alex have taken on this challenge. I am incredibly proud of all the boys but we haven't reached our ultimate goal just yet. We want to win this tournament and I can assure you that the team want this just as much as I do.'

'Mr Lang, after Markus Sauer left the team you have taken on the role as captain permanently. How do you support Tom and Alex when things get difficult for them on the pitch?' Felix smiled at the question. 'They are exceptional professional footballers, they are quite capable of helping themselves. I'm sure you'd agree that their performance so far speaks for itself. But we do have conversations of course and I as well as the rest of the team encourage them as much as we can. Every player in this team is always there for them and they know that.'


The final. Germany vs Holland

It was a tense, focussed atmosphere in the changing rooms half an hour before kick-off. It was so quiet, one could have heard a needle drop. Some players had whispering conversations, others just sat by themselves concentrating on the upcoming match.

Alex and Tom sat next to each other in front of their lockers and looked at each other seriously. 'This could be it.' Tom whispered and smiled. Alex nodded silently. Winter stood in the middle of the changing rooms and addressed the players. He encouraged the team to fight for this victory and for each and every one of them to give it their all. Then he handed the word to Felix. 'This is an awesome moment, an amazing chance that we certainly won't get for a while. The last few months have been tough. We nearly lost one of our key players, team mates and friends due to violence off the pitch and we are all extremely grateful for having him with us tonight,' Felix smiled at Tom with gentle eyes. Alex grabbed Tom's hand and took a deep breath, 'we have all worked so hard for this one chance, this one opportunity. It's been our dream for such a long time. Now we can all make it come true,' Felix paused, 'and we will!', all the boys cheered at his words, 'when you go out there, remember the trophy, remember the millions of people watching back home but above all remember Tommy and Alex. We can help them finally be accepted and appreciated tonight. This is our time. Let's make history!'

All the boys jumped up, cheered and clapped. They high-fived and encouraged each other, raring to go. Felix walked towards Tom and Alex and put one arm around each of them. 'You are awesome. Now show them what you are capable of. I want you to prove them all wrong.' The boys smiled at him and nodded.

It was only minutes now before they were to leave the changing rooms. Alex tied his shoe laces and took off his training jacket. He closed his eyes as he reflected on everything that had happened in his life to get him to this stage in his career. The next 90 minutes could be the most crucial time of his life so far. Not only could he become world champion with his team but he could silence most critics of his relationship with Tom too.

As the boys started to get ready to make their way through the tunnel towards the pitch, Alex gulped feeling nervous all of a sudden and took a deep breath. His hand was looking for Tom's. His friend turned and hugged him tightly. 'We can do this. You and I.' Tom said and looked into his eyes. Alex felt lost gazing at him. 'I love you so much.' He said so quietly Tom could hardly hear him. Tom smiled and was leaning against Alex’s forehead as he was taking deep breaths. 'I love you too.' He whispered in his ear. Then it was time.

As Alex and Tom walked out onto the pitch, gently holding the hands of two children, Alex nearly held his breath as he saw the amount of German flags in the stadium and the all-encompassing cheers and applause. He was almost looking for the slating banners, the hurtful messages of which he had seen plenty of during the previous matches. But it seemed that those had gone, replaced by flags and messages of goodwill and encouragement. When Alex and Tom stood next to each other during the national anthem, arms on each other's shoulders, they were both full of excitement and determination.

The match was tough and intense and pushed all the players to their physical limits. They kept focussed and worked tirelessly at creating chances. The first half ended goalless and the boys started the second half even hungrier. Tom was pushing but struggled to get the ball forward through Holland's defence. Then he finally found a way, passed quickly to Alex, who immediately saw Kai in the perfect position to his left. He sprinted forward and crossed the ball directly at Kai’s feet. Germany were 1-0 up in the 60th minute and all the boys were celebrating, carried by the deafening noise in the stadium.

Holland, angered and desperate to equalise, put the pressure on but Germany defended well. In the 72nd minute, Tom confidently played the ball forward when he was skilfully tackled by a Dutch midfielder. As a result, he lost the ball and Germany were too late to react and chase after Holland, who were racing towards the German goal. The boys were watching in shock as Holland scored and equalised.

Tom stood and stared. He was trying to get his breath back as he painfully realised his mistake. He let his eyes wander around the stadium, anxiously looking and waiting for the hurtful banners to come back out. Felix joined him and patted the back of his head. He put one arm around him and encouraged him to keep going. Alex could hear some of the fans whistling and booing his friend and he felt angry again. He jogged towards Tom and also put his arm around him. ‘We can still do this,’ he smiled at him. Tom bit his lip and cast his eyes down, ‘Tommy.’ Alex held his head and looked at him intently. Tom nodded and took a deep breath. Then he quickly jogged back into his position and the match continued.

Perhaps it was the sheer hunger for the trophy, or the utter frustration about the equaliser, or perhaps it was the team’s joint determination not to let Tom’s one mistake be the last thing everyone would remember. Regardless, Holland were playing more and more defensively with an increasingly dominant German side. With time running out and both teams desperately trying to score came a number of fouls and yellow cards.

Then, in the 87th minute, Tom had fought for and won another ball and as he was about to pass it to Alex, one of the Dutch defenders sprinted towards him and lifted his leg high as part of his tackle. As a result, he kicked the side of Tom's stomach so hard that Tom collapsed on the floor in agony. The referee blew the whistle. Alex stared at his friend on the ground. He knew immediately that the opponent player had caught Tom right on his scar. He was frozen on the spot at first but then stormed towards his friend. 'Tommy!' Alex kneeled down next to him and stroked his hair. Tom was grimacing with pain and Alex became even angrier now. Kai and Felix had also run over and gathered by the boys. Alex stood up facing the player who had fouled Tom and gave him an angry look. The German fans were up on their seats in uproar against Holland, whistling at their players. What's more, Tom had been tackled right outside the penalty area and consequently Germany were due a penalty kick.

Felix talked to the referee explaining that this tackle should be a penalty and a straight red card but the referee decided to show the Dutch player yellow for the foul. However, he granted Germany the penalty kick. The German supporters frantically cheered and clapped knowing they could win this match now. The Dutch players that had gathered were shocked by the decision and told Tom to get up and stop making a scene. 'You caught him where he was injured, he's not making a scene, he's in agony!' Alex shouted at the defender as he was bending down towards Tom again.

'Gay pussies.' Alex couldn't believe his ears. He turned back towards the Dutch player. 'What did you just say?', it should have been Alex asking the question but instead it was Kai. He had grabbed the defender's arm and looked at him with fury in his eyes, 'how dare you!' He pushed the Dutch player and Felix had to step in and break them up. The defender wasn't fazed by it and repeated the insult pointing at Tom and Alex. This time though in earshot of both Felix and the referee. The reaction was prompt and correct. Kai saw yellow for pushing the defender but the Dutch player got a red card for the insult.

By now the noise in the stadium had become deafening. Emotions were running high in both camps. Alex shut it all out, he was only worried about his friend. He was kneeling next to Tom. 'Are you alright? Can you get up?' He asked him worried. Tom was gasping for air. 'It bloody well hurts.' He forced a laugh. Alex looked at Tom anxiously and was fighting against the traumatic memories coming back yet again when he felt a hand on his shoulder. 'Come on Alex. This is your moment,' Felix pulled Alex up and handed him the ball, 'I want you to take this penalty,' he bent down towards Tom, took his hand and supported his back, 'hey Tommy, we're nearly there now. I'll help you get up.' Felix pulled Tom up onto his feet and made him put one arm around him and one around Kai. Tom was moaning in pain leaning onto his friends.

Alex stared at the ball in his hands. He had expected the captain of the team to take such an important penalty. His heart sank, the pressure on him was enormous but as he watched Tom struggling to stay upright in pain, his determination grew. He walked towards him and looked at him nervously. His friend gave him a smile despite his agony. Then he grabbed Alex’s shoulders and was leaning on to him. He looked into his eyes. 'Now don’t do what I did. Don’t fuck this up,’ he forced a laugh, ‘get us that trophy Alex. Show them what you are capable of.' Alex didn’t laugh. He gulped and nodded at the three boys. Then he turned around. He walked up to the penalty spot, placed the ball in front of him and stepped back.

His heart was racing and he felt nauseous. He closed his eyes and took deep breaths. He could feel his whole team standing behind him and hear Tom's voice cheering him on. The goalkeeper opposite him was focussed and concentrated. Then Alex could hear the whistle.

All the grief and hardship of the last few months flashed in front of his eyes. The punishments and suffering the boys had had to put up with for wanting to be with each other. Alex looked up towards the goalkeeper and took another deep breath. 'This one is for us.' Alex kicked the ball hard and as millions were watching this moment holding their breath, to him it felt like the ball