The morning sun over Valparaíso sparkled against the blue Pacific.
But inside the Estadio Elías Figueroa,the air was thick with tension.
This wasn't just another semifinal.This was a war waiting to explode.
Germany vs France.Two giants of youth football.
And at the heart of it—Mateo González Schwarz, standing on the edge of his destiny.
The Tunnel
Both teams lined up, silent but vibrating with energy.
Mateo tightened his gloves, bouncing slightly on his toes.
Across from him, the French players stared back—cold, determined, hungry.
Hugo Marchand, France's star winger, caught Mateo's eye.
No hatred.No taunts.
Just mutual recognition.
"You're good," that look said."But today we'll see who's better."
Mateo smiled faintly.
Bring it.
The Whistle Blows
As the referee's whistle echoed through the stadium,chaos erupted.
No cautious probing.No slow buildup.
Both teams attacked brutally from the first second.
France unleashed their speed and technical precision:
Marchand slicing down the left.
Their midfield pressing like wolves.
Their defenders stepping high, aggressively winning duels.
Germany countered with their machine-like discipline:
Ritter controlling the center like a general.
Jonas bombing up the flank.
Mateo weaving between lines, demanding the ball constantly.
Inside the System:
[High-Intensity Match Detected.]
Activating Automatic Enhancements:
Stamina Efficiency Boost +10%
Flow State Active (Increased Perception and Dribbling)
8th Minute: First Blow Attempt
France came close to striking first.
A lightning-quick one-two between Marchand and their striker left him clear on goal.
Marchand unleashed a powerful shot—but Germany's goalkeeper dove spectacularly, palming it wide.
The stadium erupted in gasps.
Germany survived.
But the message was clear:
France had come to kill.
11th Minute: Germany Responds
Mateo dropped deep to receive the ball under pressure.
With a quick swivel and a burst of speed,he split two French midfielders.
He drove forward, sensing the panic ripple through the French backline.
Near the box, he slipped a short pass to Jonas,who fired low to the near post.
Saved — barely.
But now France knew:
Mateo wasn't backing down.
Brutality Increases
By the 15th minute, tackles were flying in.
Germany's defenders threw themselves into challenges.
France pressed higher, fouling aggressively when needed.
The referee let the play flow,understanding the stakes.
Bodies collided.Boots scraped.Elbows flew in the corners of vision.
This wasn't beautiful football.
This was survival.
The Stadium
The Chilean crowd roared for every big tackle, every near miss.
The flags of Germany and France rippled under the coastal breeze.
And high up in the stands,a German fan section unfurled a massive banner:
"Unser Schwert — Unser Stolz: González"("Our Sword — Our Pride: González")
Mateo caught a glimpse of it during a stoppage.
His chest tightened.
"Not just for me anymore," he thought.
"For them too."
Inside the System:
[Current Status:Focus Level: Maximum.Fatigue Level: 20%.Emotional State: Controlled Fire.]
The first fifteen minutes had been savage.
Neither side had broken.
But the cracks were beginning to appear.
And Mateo knew—the one who struck first could decide everything.