Friday, September 23, 2022
St. George’s Park
9:30 AM
Morning arrived with the weight of international football pressing against Demien’s chest as he woke to his alarm, and the room was already empty because Owen had left earlier for breakfast while Demien had stayed in bed processing the reality that today he’d wear an England shirt for the first ti in his life.
He dressed quickly in the tracksuit that had been laid out yesterday—official England training gear with the Three Lions crest embroidered over his heart—and as he pulled the jacket on he caught his reflection in the mirror and paused because the sight of himself in national team colors felt surreal even after everything that had happened.
The dining hall was busier than usual as players loaded plates with the pre-match al—scrambled eggs, toast, grilled chicken, fruit, everything designed to provide energy without sitting heavy—and the conversations were quieter than normal as focus replaced the casual banter from earlier in the week.
Demien sat with Owen and Harvey near the windows, and they ate mostly in silence while occasionally glancing at the tactical board mounted on the wall that displayed England’s 4-2-3-1 formation with nas filling each position.
Kayden Muir walked past their table and tapped Demien’s shoulder without breaking stride.
"Stay ready. Ga can change fast."
"Will do," Demien replied, and the encouragent helped settle so of the nervous energy that had been building since he woke.
By ten AM the squad gathered in the main briefing room for the final tactical eting, and Carsley stood at the front with his coaching staff flanking him while the screen behind displayed Italy’s expected formation.
"Right, listen up," Carsley began, and his voice carried calm authority as he surveyed the faces watching him. "Today’s about executing what we’ve practiced all week. Italy will press high, they’ll stay compact in midfield, and they’ll look to exploit our fullbacks pushing forward. We counter that by staying patient in possession, stretching them wide, and hitting them in transition when opportunities appear."
He clicked through several slides showing Italy’s pressing triggers and defensive shape, and as each tactical point appeared players leaned forward to study the details while Carsley emphasized key matchups and responsibilities.
"Starters, you know your jobs. Subs, stay ntally engaged from the first whistle because this ga will open up in the second half and we’ll need fresh legs to exploit tired defenders." His eyes found Demien briefly. "Be ready when called upon."
The eting ended at ten-thirty with instructions to return to rooms for final rest before departure, and Demien walked back to Room 214 where his match kit had been laid out by the equipnt staff—white England shirt with number 19 on the back, navy shorts, white socks, and his solar red Adidas boots sitting beside the bed still in their box.
He sat down and opened the box carefully while lifting the boots out, and the craftsmanship looked even better in natural light as he examined the lightweight construction one more ti before setting them on the floor beside his locker.
Owen was packing his bag thodically when he glanced over and smiled.
"First ti wearing the Three Lions. How’s it feel?"
"Hasn’t hit yet," Demien admitted while folding his tracksuit. "Probably won’t until I’m actually on the pitch."
"It will," Owen said with certainty. "The mont you step onto that grass in the England shirt, it hits different. Trust ."
They finished packing in comfortable silence, and by eleven-fifteen both were ready as the announcent ca through the intercom that the team bus was departing in ten minutes.
Team Bus - St. George’s Park to King Power Stadium
11:30 AM
The bus pulled away from St. George’s Park at exactly eleven-thirty with players spread across the seats in various states of focus, and the atmosphere was calm but concentrated as everyone processed the approaching reality of international competition.
Demien sat beside Owen near the middle of the bus with his headphones in playing instruntal music that helped him visualize without distraction, and through the window the English countryside passed by in shades of green and grey under overcast skies.
So players scrolled through phones while others slept with hoodies pulled over their faces, and toward the front Kayden Muir was talking quietly with Jamal Whitmore about Italy’s midfield press while Reece Darlow sat alone bouncing his leg with restless energy.
The journey took ninety minutes through moderate traffic, and as they approached Leicester the stadium ca into view—King Power Stadium rising against the skyline with its distinctive architecture—and several players sat up straighter as the destination beca real.
Owen nudged Demien’s arm and pointed toward the stadium.
"There it is. Not Wembley, but still proper."
"Yeah," Demien agreed while removing his headphones as the bus slowed.
They turned into the stadium complex and drove toward the players’ entrance where a small crowd had gathered behind barriers—maybe thirty or forty people total, mostly families with young kids wearing England shirts and a few locals who’d co to watch the team arrive.
The atmosphere was modest compared to senior international matches, and as the bus stopped a couple of voices called out for Kayden and Tommy Grayson who were the more recognized nas, though most fans simply took photos with their phones while offering polite cheers.
The squad filed off the bus quickly and moved toward the entrance where stadium staff waited to guide them inside, and Demien followed the group while carrying his bag and glancing briefly at the fans who waved as they passed.
Inside the stadium the tunnels were functional and professional with England Football Association branding on the walls, and staff directed them toward the away dressing room while the subtle sll of linint and fresh paint filled the air.
Away Dressing Room
1:15 PM
The dressing room was spacious and well-equipped with individual lockers arranged in a horseshoe formation, and each player’s position had been marked with their na and number printed on cards above the hooks.
Demien found his spot between Owen Blake and Daniel Huxley, and he set his bag down before pulling out his kit while around the room players began changing in various stages of preparation.
The starting XI moved with practiced routine—Tommy Grayson was already half-dressed while Kayden Muir taped his ankles thodically, and Reece Darlow laced his boots with quick efficient movents that suggested he was eager to start.
A mounted television in the corner showed the pre-match broadcast with the volu low, and two comntators appeared on screen discussing the upcoming fixture while stadium graphics displayed both team’s expected formations.
Comntator 1: "Welco to King Power Stadium for today’s U21 friendly between England and Italy. A good chance to see so erging talents ahead of the upcoming qualification campaign."
Comntator 2: "Absolutely, and we’ve got so interesting nas in both squads today. England will be looking at players like Kayden Muir from Manchester City and Reece Darlow from Arsenal—both regulars at this level now—but also a few new faces on the bench who’ve been impressive for their clubs recently."
Demien continued unpacking his kit while half-listening to the broadcast, and the comntary created a subtle background hum that made the occasion feel more official as the match approached.
Comntator 1: "And keep an eye on Atalanta’s Demien Walter. He won’t start today being a first-ti call-up, but Lee Carsley has spoken well of his versatility and technical quality in Serie A. Could be an interesting option off the bench if England need creativity in the second half."
Demien’s hands paused on his shin guards.
Owen glanced at the TV then back to his own kit without comnt, and around the room other players continued their routines as if nothing had been said while Demien pulled on his socks and retied the laces twice before getting them right.
Substitutes including Demien stayed partially dressed in their training tops with match shorts underneath, and they placed their gear on the bench area where they’d sit during the ga while staying ready for potential call-ups.
Carsley entered at one-thirty with his coaching staff, and he moved to the center of the room where the tactical board had been set up with magnets representing both teams’ formations.
"Right, gather round," he said, and his voice carried calm authority as players ford a loose semicircle around him.
He pointed to England’s formation on the board.
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