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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
...
As the players walked together towards the England supporters to thank them for their backing, the applause continued to echo around the Johan Cruijff Arena.
The applause from England's travelling supporters continued long after the final whistle.
For several minutes, the players remained in front of the away end, clapping back in appreciation.
Many supporters had made the journey across the North Sea, taking time off work and travelling hundreds of miles simply to watch England play for ninety minutes.
Those efforts were never taken for granted.
Francesco stood alongside Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker as they applauded the sea of waving St George's flags.
A young supporter near the front held up a handmade sign that read:
CAPTAIN FRANCESCO.
He smiled and pointed towards the youngster before raising a thumb in acknowledgement.
The boy's face lit up immediately.
Moments like that always made international football feel different.
Eventually, the stadium announcer began encouraging supporters to leave their seats, and England's players slowly made their way back toward the tunnel.
The atmosphere beneath the Johan Cruijff Arena had already changed.
The deafening noise from the pitch became distant, replaced by the familiar sounds of stadium staff packing equipment away and television crews dismantling cameras.
Players from both teams exchanged handshakes as they walked inside.
Virgil van Dijk caught up with Francesco near the tunnel entrance.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Van Dijk smiled.
"You were difficult to deal with tonight."
Francesco chuckled.
"I could say the same."
The Dutch defender laughed.
"I'll see you back in the Premier League."
"I'm looking forward to it."
They shook hands once more before heading in opposite directions.
Just as Francesco reached the corridor leading toward England's dressing room, an FA media officer appeared beside him.
"Francesco."
He turned.
"The broadcasters would like a flash interview."
Francesco nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
Walker, walking a few steps ahead, looked over his shoulder.
"Don't be too long."
Francesco grinned.
"I'll try."
"We're not waiting forever."
Harry Kane laughed.
"We both know you will."
Walker shrugged dramatically.
"I know."
"I just wanted to sound important."
The group disappeared toward the dressing room while Francesco followed the media officer through another corridor.
Within moments, they arrived at the flash interview area.
Bright lights illuminated a small backdrop covered with the logos of the Football Association, England sponsors and the evening's fixture.
Several television cameras were already in position.
A presenter adjusted his microphone before smiling warmly.
"Congratulations on the win."
"Thank you."
"And congratulations on being named tonight's Player of the Match."
Francesco blinked.
"I didn't know that."
The presenter smiled.
"You do now."
One of the production staff held up three fingers.
Three.
Two.
One.
A red recording light appeared on top of the camera.
The interviewer stepped forward.
"Francesco, congratulations. A 3-0 victory away against the Netherlands, one goal, one assist, and you captained England this evening. That must feel like a very special night."
Francesco smiled modestly.
"It does."
"Captaining England is something every player dreams about, so it was a huge honour."
"But the most important thing was the result."
"I thought the team played extremely well."
The interviewer nodded.
"You looked in control for most of the match. Was that exactly what Gareth Southgate had asked for?"
"I think so."
"We knew they were going to be a very difficult opponent."
"They're technically excellent and they're always dangerous at home."
"So we wanted to stay patient."
"We didn't want to force anything early."
"I thought once we settled into the game, we controlled possession well and created more opportunities."
"The opening goal came from your movement behind the defence after Harry Kane's pass."
Francesco smiled.
"We've worked on those movements throughout the week."
"Harry likes dropping deeper."
"I try to run beyond."
"It worked perfectly tonight."
The interviewer laughed.
"It certainly did."
"And then your assist for Harry's goal looked almost rehearsed."
Francesco glanced down briefly before smiling again.
"It actually was."
"We practised something very similar during training."
"When you spend several days repeating those patterns, you start recognising the moments naturally."
"I'm pleased it came off."
"What impressed many people tonight was the understanding between yourself, Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling."
"It looked very fluid."
"I think that's because none of us stayed in one position."
"Harry came short."
"Raheem stretched the pitch."
"I drifted into different spaces."
"When everyone keeps moving, it becomes much harder for defenders to mark."
The interviewer nodded thoughtfully.
"England looked very mature tonight."
"It was only a friendly, but it didn't feel like one."
Francesco agreed.
"I don't think any international match really feels like a friendly once it starts."
"When you put on the England shirt, you want to win."
"It doesn't matter whether it's a qualifier, a tournament or a friendly."
"You always want to perform well."
The interviewer smiled.
"And finally…"
"You've been named tonight's Man of the Match after contributing a goal and an assist."
"How pleased are you personally?"
Francesco paused for a moment before answering.
"I'm grateful."
"It's always nice to receive individual recognition."
"But football is a team sport."
"I don't score that goal without Harry's pass."
"Harry doesn't score without the movement from everyone around him."
"Jesse's goal came because we kept the ball patiently."
"So I'll accept the award, but it belongs to the whole team."
The interviewer smiled appreciatively.
"I suspect your teammates will like hearing that."
"Congratulations once again."
"Thank you."
As the interview concluded, one of UEFA's match coordinators approached carrying a presentation case.
Inside rested a sleek crystal trophy mounted on a dark base.
Across the front, engraved in silver lettering, were the words:
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
The coordinator smiled warmly.
"Congratulations."
"One goal."
"One assist."
"And an excellent performance."
Francesco accepted the trophy with both hands.
"Thank you very much."
Several photographers gathered nearby.
For a brief moment, flashes filled the interview area as Francesco posed with the award, still wearing England's white shirt and captain's armband.
The media obligations complete, he thanked everyone before finally making his way back toward England's dressing room.
Even before opening the door, he could already hear laughter from inside.
Walker was clearly telling another story.
Francesco pushed the door open.
Immediately several heads turned.
"There he is!"
Lingard spotted the trophy first.
"I knew it!"
Walker pointed dramatically.
"I told you!"
Harry Kane stood up and began clapping.
The rest of the squad quickly joined in.
The dressing room filled with applause.
Francesco looked slightly embarrassed as he walked inside.
"Thanks."
Walker walked straight over before looking at the trophy.
"Not bad."
"I was hoping you'd bring us snacks."
Francesco laughed.
"Sorry."
"They only gave me this."
Walker pretended to sigh.
"I suppose it'll do."
Kane smiled as he looked at the crystal award.
"Well deserved."
"Goal."
"Assist."
"Captain."
"You had a good night."
Francesco nodded appreciatively.
"Thank you."
"But everyone played brilliantly."
Henderson pointed across the room.
"Typical answer."
"It doesn't make it any less true."
The room burst into laughter again.
Southgate, who had been speaking quietly with Steve Holland near the tactics board, looked over.
"Congratulations."
Francesco met his manager's eyes.
"Thank you, boss."
"You earned it."
There was nothing more to add.
The compliment meant a great deal coming from him.
After another few minutes of conversation, the dressing room gradually returned to its usual post-match routine.
Medical staff moved between players checking for any knocks.
Recovery drinks were handed around.
Boots were removed and placed neatly beneath lockers.
Eventually one of the kit staff called across the room.
"Showers are free, lads."
Almost instantly several players stood up.
Walker picked up a towel.
"Race you."
Francesco looked at him.
"To the shower?"
"Exactly."
"I'll let you win."
"Very generous."
The shower area quickly filled with the familiar sounds of running water and relaxed conversations.
The tension of the match slowly disappeared beneath the hot water.
Players discussed different moments from the game.
Walker replayed Kane's goal in animated detail, insisting his celebration had been almost as impressive as the finish itself.
"It definitely wasn't," Kane replied from the next shower.
"It absolutely was."
"It wasn't."
"It was."
Francesco simply shook his head, smiling to himself.
Some things never changed.
Fifteen minutes later, the players gradually returned to the dressing room feeling refreshed.
Fresh England jumpsuits had already been laid out by the support staff.
One by one, the white match shirts were replaced by navy England travel clothing embroidered with the Three Lions crest.
Francesco carefully packed his captain's armband into his kit bag before placing the Player of the Match trophy inside its protective case.
Walker noticed.
"Don't leave that behind."
"I wasn't planning to."
"I've seen stranger things happen."
"Like forgetting your socks?"
Walker pointed accusingly.
"We agreed never to mention that again."
"I don't remember agreeing."
"Convenient."
The dressing room slowly emptied.
Southgate gathered everyone together one final time before departure.
"Excellent work tonight."
He looked around at the tired but smiling faces.
"Recovery starts now."
"Hydrate."
"Get something to eat when we return."
"And enjoy tonight."
"You've earned it."
The players applauded briefly before collecting the last of their belongings.
Outside, England's team coach was already waiting beneath the stadium.
Equipment managers carefully loaded bags into the luggage compartment.
The cool Amsterdam night felt noticeably quieter now that most supporters had already gone home.
Francesco climbed aboard carrying his small trophy case.
Walker looked at it before grinning.
"Looks like I've lost my seat."
"I'm afraid so."
"The trophy outranks you."
Walker sighed dramatically.
"I knew success would change you."
"It hasn't."
"Give it time."
Both laughed as Francesco slid into the familiar window seat.
Walker sat down beside him moments later.
The bus pulled away from the Johan Cruijff Arena and merged onto the late-night streets of Amsterdam.
The city lights reflected beautifully across the canals as they passed through the quiet roads.
Inside the coach, the atmosphere was completely different from the journey to the stadium.
The tension had disappeared.
Music played softly through several pairs of headphones.
Some players chatted about moments from the match.
Others simply leaned back into their seats, exhausted after ninety intense minutes.
Lingard replayed his goal on his phone before passing it across the aisle.
"I still can't believe it."
Kane watched the clip.
"Hit it perfectly."
Walker leaned over from beside Francesco.
"I celebrated before it even went in."
"You celebrate everything."
"Correct."
Francesco rested his head lightly against the window as the bus continued through the Dutch capital.
Outside, Amsterdam drifted past beneath the glow of streetlamps.
Inside, there was a quiet sense of satisfaction.
It had been more than just a victory.
Three days of preparation at Ajax's training ground had produced exactly the performance Gareth Southgate had wanted.
A disciplined display.
A clean sheet.
Three well-worked goals.
And another important step forward for a young England side still growing together.
Around thirty minutes later, the familiar entrance to the team hotel came into view.
The coach rolled gently to a stop outside the main doors, where hotel staff were already waiting despite the late hour.
One by one, the players stepped off the bus, stretching their legs before collecting their bags.
Walker looked across at Francesco as they walked toward the entrance together.
"Not a bad night's work, captain."
Francesco smiled, shifting the small Player of the Match case in his hand.
"No."
"It really wasn't."
Together, alongside the rest of the England squad, they disappeared into the quiet hotel lobby, ready to begin their recovery before the next challenge waiting later in the international break.
The following morning arrived much more slowly than the one before the match.
The adrenaline had disappeared.
In its place came the familiar fatigue that always followed ninety demanding minutes of international football.
Inside Room 614, soft morning light filtered through the curtains overlooking Amsterdam.
For once, neither Francesco nor Kyle Walker seemed in any hurry to get out of bed.
The room remained quiet until Walker reached for his phone on the bedside table.
He squinted at the screen before letting out a long sigh.
Francesco looked across.
"What?"
Walker held up the phone.
"It's morning."
"I can see that."
"I was hoping it wasn't."
Francesco smiled.
"You've been complaining about mornings for three straight days."
"And I'll continue."
"It's becoming a personality trait."
Walker laughed.
"I've got to be consistent."
The previous night's victory still felt fresh in everyone's minds.
England had delivered one of their most complete performances under Gareth Southgate.
A clean sheet.
Three goals.
Control from the opening whistle until the final one.
Even so, the schedule never slowed down for international football.
There was a flight home to catch.
Walker stretched before climbing out of bed.
"Breakfast?"
Francesco nodded.
"Let's go."
"I need coffee first."
"You always need coffee."
"Exactly."
Within half an hour, both Arsenal teammates had showered, packed the last of their belongings and made their way downstairs.
The hotel restaurant was noticeably quieter than it had been before the match.
Players looked more relaxed.
There was no tactical meeting waiting afterwards.
No training session.
No video analysis.
Just breakfast and the journey home.
Harry Kane was already helping himself to fruit and scrambled eggs when Francesco and Walker arrived.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Walker picked up a plate before looking at Kane.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Like a rock."
Walker nodded approvingly.
"Same."
Henderson walked over carrying a cup of coffee.
"I don't think I've ever seen this room so quiet."
Lingard appeared behind him.
"Everyone's tired."
Walker looked around dramatically.
"I can fix that."
"No," Henderson replied immediately.
"You definitely can't."
The table burst into laughter.
Breakfast passed comfortably.
There was no rush.
Players chatted about small moments from the match.
Pickford jokingly claimed the clean sheet deserved more attention than the goals.
Lingard argued that his strike from outside the box should have earned Goal of the Match.
Walker insisted his overlapping runs had been the real highlight.
"I created chaos."
"You created running," Kane corrected.
"Same thing."
"It really isn't."
Francesco simply listened, smiling as the conversation drifted naturally from football to travel plans and back again.
One by one, plates were cleared away.
Coffee cups emptied.
Eventually an FA travel coordinator entered the restaurant.
"Morning, lads."
"We'll be leaving in twenty minutes."
"Please make sure all luggage is downstairs."
Several players nodded.
The routine was familiar.
Back upstairs, Francesco returned to Room 614 one final time.
His suitcase stood ready beside the door.
He carefully placed the Player of the Match trophy into the centre of his luggage, surrounding it with folded training gear to keep it protected during the flight.
Walker noticed.
"Making sure your new friend gets home safely?"
"I'd rather not explain to the FA how I broke it."
"Fair point."
Walker zipped up his own suitcase before looking around the room.
"I think we've got everything."
Francesco glanced across both beds.
"Looks like it."
The room had become strangely familiar over the last few days.
It was only a hotel room.
Yet it had been home throughout England's preparations in Amsterdam.
Walker picked up his bag.
"Back to England."
Francesco nodded.
"Back to work."
"Eventually."
The hotel lobby gradually filled with players dragging suitcases behind them.
FA staff checked names once more before directing luggage toward the waiting coach outside.
Southgate stood near the entrance greeting each player as they arrived.
"Morning."
"Morning, boss."
"Everyone sleep alright?"
A chorus of tired but cheerful voices answered.
The England manager smiled.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Outside, the team coach waited beneath clear Dutch skies.
Equipment staff loaded the final cases into the luggage compartment before the squad climbed aboard.
Francesco once again found himself by the window.
Walker naturally occupied the seat beside him.
"I think this is officially our seat now."
"It probably is."
"We've spent enough hours in it."
The coach eased away from the hotel and joined the morning traffic heading toward Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Unlike the journey into the city several days earlier, the atmosphere onboard remained peaceful.
Many players simply looked out of the windows.
Others wore headphones.
Some closed their eyes, trying to squeeze in a little more rest before flying home.
Francesco watched Amsterdam pass by one final time.
Cyclists crossed narrow bridges over the canals.
Morning commuters filled the pavements.
Cafés had only just begun opening their doors.
It had been a short stay.
But a successful one.
Walker eventually broke the silence.
"Next stop."
"Burton."
"And then?"
Francesco smiled.
"A day off, hopefully."
"I like the sound of that."
The journey to the airport passed quickly.
England's charter flight had already been prepared.
Airport formalities were completed efficiently thanks to the FA staff, allowing the squad to move through a private terminal with very little delay.
Before long, everyone was seated aboard the aircraft.
This time there was noticeably less conversation than on the flight to Amsterdam.
The previous night's effort had caught up with everyone.
As soon as the aircraft climbed into the sky, several players immediately closed their eyes.
Walker lasted less than five minutes.
Francesco looked across.
"You said you weren't tired."
Walker answered without opening his eyes.
"I've changed my mind."
Kane, sitting across the aisle, laughed quietly.
"That's twice this week."
"I adapt quickly."
Francesco chuckled before looking back out of the window.
Clouds drifted peacefully beneath the aircraft as it crossed the North Sea toward England.
He thought briefly about the match.
The goal.
The assist.
Captaining his country.
Receiving the Player of the Match award.
They were moments he would always remember.
But there wasn't much time to dwell on them.
Another friendly still awaited later in the international break.
Preparation would begin again soon enough.
Just over an hour later, the captain announced their descent into England.
Green fields gradually replaced clouds beneath the aircraft.
Walker finally opened his eyes.
"We home?"
"We're home."
"Good."
"My neck survived."
The aircraft landed smoothly before taxiing toward a private stand.
Within minutes, luggage had been unloaded and the England squad were boarding another waiting team coach.
The familiar Three Lions crest greeted them once again.
As the coach left the airport, the roads gradually gave way to the countryside surrounding Burton upon Trent.
The landscape looked very different from Amsterdam.
Open fields stretched across the horizon.
Small villages appeared between rolling hills.
Several players quietly admired the view.
"It always feels nice coming home," Henderson said from a few rows behind.
"It does," Kane agreed.
Around forty-five minutes later, the entrance to St. George's Park appeared ahead.
The gates opened.
The coach rolled slowly through the national football centre before stopping outside the main building.
Staff members welcomed the players back as luggage was unloaded.
Southgate waited until everyone had gathered nearby.
"Excellent work over the last few days."
He looked around the group.
"Get settled."
"We'll meet tomorrow morning."
The players dispersed toward their rooms, ready for another night's recovery.
The next morning carried an entirely different feeling.
For the first time since arriving at St. George's Park, there were no alarms demanding an early tactical meeting.
No buses waiting outside.
No training schedule pinned to the dressing-room wall.
After breakfast, the entire squad gathered in one of the conference rooms, expecting instructions for the day.
Southgate entered carrying nothing more than a small notebook.
He smiled as he looked around the room.
"You've earned yourselves a break."
Several players exchanged hopeful glances.
The England manager continued.
"We've worked hard."
"You've travelled."
"You've played."
"And yes…"
"…a little jet lag doesn't help either."
That earned several smiles.
"So today…"
He closed the notebook.
"No football."
Walker immediately raised both hands in celebration.
"Best meeting ever."
The room erupted with laughter.
Southgate pointed towards him.
"Don't get too excited."
"I still expect everyone to recover properly."
"No unnecessary risks."
"No ridiculous competitions."
Walker placed a hand over his heart.
"I would never."
Lingard looked across.
"That's the biggest lie I've heard all week."
Even Southgate laughed.
"Enjoy the day."
"We'll begin preparing again tomorrow."
The meeting lasted barely five minutes.
As the players stepped back into the corridors, conversations immediately turned toward how they would spend the unexpected free day.
Some planned to watch films.
Others wanted to sleep.
A few headed toward the recovery pool.
Walker looked at Francesco.
"Recreation area?"
Francesco shrugged.
"Why not?"
Within half an hour, much of the England squad had gathered in St. George's Park's recreation area.
The space was designed specifically for moments like this.
Comfortable sofas lined one side of the room.
A pool table occupied the centre.
There was a table tennis table near the windows.
Several gaming consoles sat beneath large televisions.
A dartboard hung against one wall.
For the first time all week, the players were simply young men enjoying a rare day without pressure.
Walker immediately picked up a table tennis paddle.
"Who's first?"
Lingard stepped forward.
"I'll beat you."
"You can try."
A small crowd gathered almost instantly.
The opening rally lasted barely ten seconds before Walker smashed the ball into the net.
Lingard folded his arms.
"World-class."
"I was warming up."
"You lost the point."
"Strategically."
Francesco stood nearby laughing alongside Kane and Henderson.
"I don't think that's how strategy works."
Walker ignored him.
"The comeback starts now."
It didn't.
Lingard won comfortably.
The room erupted in laughter.
Walker looked genuinely offended.
"I demand a rematch."
"You've had enough."
"One more."
"No."
Nearby, Rashford and Sterling had started a game of pool.
Pickford and Pope were somehow arguing about darts despite neither of them actually throwing one yet.
Henderson settled onto one of the sofas with a coffee, simply enjoying the rare opportunity to relax.
Francesco eventually found himself joining Kane for a game of pool.
Neither of them took it particularly seriously.
Conversation drifted naturally between shots.
"Good finish the other night," Kane said.
"So was yours."
"You made it easy."
"I just gave you the pass."
Kane smiled.
"I still had to score."
"You usually do."
The two shared a quiet laugh.
Across the room, Walker's voice suddenly echoed again.
"I definitely won that."
"You absolutely didn't," Lingard replied.
Everyone turned.
Walker had somehow convinced Rashford to become the unofficial referee of another table tennis match.
Rashford looked completely unconvinced.
"I wasn't even watching."
"Exactly."
"So I win."
"That's not how refereeing works."
The entire room burst into laughter once more.
For a little while, football disappeared into the background.
There were no tactics.
No pressure.
No expectations.
Just teammates enjoying each other's company before the demands of international football resumed.
______________________________________________
Name : Francesco Lee
Age : 19 (2017)
Birthplace : London, England
Football Club : Arsenal First Team
Championship History : 2014/2015 Premier League, 2014/2015 FA Cup, 2015/2016 Community Shield, 2016/2017 Premier League, 2015/2016 Champions League, Euro 2016, Premier League Champion 2016/2017, 2016/2017 Champions League, and 2017/2018 Carabao Cup.
Season 17/18 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 45
Goal: 56
Assist: 6
MOTM: 6
POTM: 0
England:
Match: 3
Goal: 3
Assist: 1
MOTM: 2
Season 16/17 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 55
Goal: 87
Assist: 5
MOTM: 14
POTM: 1
England:
Match: 1
Goal: 1
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 15/16 stats:
Arsenal:
Match Played: 60
Goal: 82
Assist: 10
MOTM: 9
POTM: 1
England:
Match Played: 2
Goal: 4
Assist: 0
Euro 2016
Match Played: 6
Goal: 13
Assist: 4
MOTM: 6
Season 14/15 stats:
Match Played: 35
Goal: 45
Assist: 12
MOTM: 9