"TWINNNNNN." Kelley yells when she come into the meal room.

"Really Kels." Ash says and rubs her ear.

"What's up Kelloggs?" I say as she sits on my knee with her computer in hand

"First of all." Kelley says then opens her mouth.

I roll my eyes then take a spoonful of food from my plate and feed it to Kelley.

"Thank you." Kelley says then kisses my cheek. "And second of all they put out your video a couple days ago."

"Okay" I say as Kelley opens her Mac. "And?"

"We're watching it." Kelley says then presses play

"My name's Astrid O'Hara and this is my story."

"Fuck No." I say and shut the computer.

"Astrid." Kelley groans.

"Kelley you know my story."

"But they don't." Kelley says and gestures to the team.

"They can watch on their own time...Besides the games on"

"What game's on?" Kelley asks as she gets her own food.

"Argentina Japan." Becky says.

Tomorrow's our first group game against Thailand. For dinner tonight we brought in couches and set them up to watch the games before we go to sleep.

"Before the game starts we need to see the keepers." Graeme, the keeper coach, says.

Alyssa, Ash, and I look at each other and shrug then follow Graeme out of the room. Once out of the room we are met by Jill and Tony.

"Alright..." Jill says. "We've decided to start Astrid tomorrow...Astrid if you wanna go back inside we're going to talk to Alyssa and Ash"

"Okay." I mumble then walk back into the meal room.

Once in the room everyone looks at me as I go and grab a gatorade then sit down.

"What's wrong?" Kelley asks.

"I'm starting tomorrow."

"Is that a bad thing?" Christen asks as Tobin leans her head on my shoulder.

"I don't deserve to start. It should be Alyssa or Ash."

"Stop." Tobin whispers. "The coach's obviously think you're the best option to have in goal and the best chance we have to go back to back. I know it sucks to take Ash and Alyssa's spot, but right now it's your goal and you're gonna help us win that fourth star."

"yeah. Okay." I mumble.

- - - - -

Our first two group games were very easy wins. We beat Thailand 13-0 with basically everybody getting a goal. Five days later we beat Chile 3-0 with Pinoe and Tobin getting a goal each and Julie getting a goal from a corner as always.

For me the two games were boring since I wasn't really challenged.

During the halftime of the Argentina Japan game Ash and Alyssa talked to me and said, while it does suck that they didn't get to start, they were behind me 100% which helped.

"Did you paint her nails that way on purpose?" Christen asks as I run my fingers through my twins hair.

"Yep." Kelley says.

Before the Thailand game Kelley painted my nails yellow and blue.

"Why Sweden colors?" Alex asks as Kelley massages my taped up hands.

If Kelley doesn't paint my nails before a game she will massage my hands.

"Thought it would be funny." Kelley says and shrugs.

"Did you get new perfume?" I ask while leaning my head on Kelley's back.

"Yeah. I got it in New York before we left."

"It smells good."

"Thanks." Kelley says then drops my hands.

I wrap my arms around my twin and tightly hug her.

"Love you Kelloggs." I say.

"Love you Strides." Kelley says.

I release my sister from my arms then she turns around and kisses my forehead. As Kelley returns to her seat I grab my warmup stuff and put on the training top then head out to the pitch with Ash and Alyssa. The three of us get in goal and warm ourselves up then we warm up the outfield players.

After we're done warming up everyone heads back to the locker room and changes into their kit's. Sweden is the home team so they're wearing their yellow kits meaning we are wearing our red away kit's...Well the outfield players are wearing red while I'm wearing the turquoise green kit. Once everyone is dressed Jill does her pregame speech then the starters head to the tunnel and the subs to the bench.

I'm glad Jill is playing a strong line-up for this game instead of taking this game off. I'm in goal obviously then our defense is Kelley, Becky, Abby, and Crystal. The midfield consists of Julie in the holding midfield role, Lindsey on the left, and Sam on the right. Pinoe got cleated last game and I guess the coaching staff is holding her out for the knockouts because Christen is taking her spot on the left, Alex is in the middle, and Tobin is on the right.

The refs start walking out so I follow Alex, who's captain today, out of the tunnel and onto the field. Since we are the away team our anthem is first so Alex wraps her left arm around my shoulder and I do the same to Sam as the anthem starts. Once our anthem finishes we wait for the Swedish anthem and once that's finished we shake hands then go to our half and a minute later we kick off the game.

The first 30 minutes of the game are a bit boring and all I do is kick grass or play the ball when it gets passed to me.

In the 34th minute Sam shoots from way outside the box and the Swedish goalie catches the ball then boots it up field. The ball drops to Asllani and once she gets the ball out of her feet she runs towards me. Kelley gets in front of Asllani and tries to show the Swede towards the sideline before she can get to the box.

"NOW KELLEY." I shout, but get ready for the shot anyway.

Kelley goes to close down Asllani, but the Swede megs my twin then steps around her and slams her foot into the ball.

The ball flies toward the far upper corner.

I wait and time my jump perfectly and get my fingertips to the ball which is enough to push the ball past the post.

"Thanks for the bail out twin." Kelley says and helps me up.

The Swedes take the corner quickly and cross the ball into the box, but the cross is straight at me. I catch the ball then quickly look up and see Christen sprinting up field so I rush toward the top of the box then use my secret weapon that not even Kelley has seen.

I cock my arm back then launch the ball upfield and it lands directly at Christen's feet. Christen, who's about 40 yards from goal, see's the Swedish keeper is off her line so she chips the ball and it flies over the keepers head and into the net making it 1-0

"ASTRID WHAT THE FUCK." Kelley yells then jumps on me.

"ASTRID." I hear Christen shout.

I look up and see Christen running at me with so I open my arms and the brunette jumps into my arms.

"What the hell Astrid?" Christen says.

"What?" I say with a smile as the rest of the team hug us.

"How long have you been able to do that?"

"Since high school." I say with a smirk. "Just saved it for an emergency."

"Well then." Kelley says.

I let Christen down then walk back to my goal and wait for the kick off.

The next couple minutes are a bit boring, but I regain my focus when the Swedes are awarded a free kick in the 45th minute away to my right. I set the wall up then get in my position.

The ref blows her whistle and the Swedish player runs up and a second later the ball appears over the wall and I can tell the balls trying to creep inside the top corner of the post I'm not close too.

Fuck.

I quickly adjust my feet and scramble towards the ball then jump towards it. I, thankfully, get my palm to the ball and parry it away for a corner. As I come down from my jump I see the post coming towards me so I contort my head out of the way and crash into the post.

"Ow." I say and rub my chest where the post hit me.

The ref blows the whistle three times signaling halftime which annoys the Swedes.

"ASTRID." Kelley yells.

"I'm fine." I say. "Just knocked the wind out of me."

Kelley helps me up then I grab my towel and water bottle. The two of us then walk into the tunnel and into the changing room. Tobin meets me at the door and pecks my lips then the two of us go to our respective lockers and relax until we have to go back out for the second half.

A minute after we get onto the field the ref blows her whistle and the Swedes kick off. The Swedish players play keep away from the Americans in their own half for 40 minutes so my job is very boring.

In the 89th minute a Swedish player surprises everyone when she receives a pass then she turns and sprints towards goal. Ali, who came on as a sub, sprints back and gets in front of the Swede and runs with her as she approaches my goal. The Swede takes a stupid shot and I move to catch it, but it clips Ali's leg on the way by and changes the trajectory of the ball.

"Fuck." I say.

I quickly change direction and race to get to the ball. As the ball is about to cross the line I get my hands to it and catch it then bring it into my body and stay on the ground.

"You're good." I hear Ali say then she pats my back.

"It didn't go in right?" I ask after rolling over.

"No you saved it."

"Whew." I say and wipe the sweat from my face. "Thank fuck for that."

"Yeah you're telling me." Ali says and helps me up.

Ali then jogs away in to wide open space so I throw her the ball and she takes it up field. A couple minutes later the ref blows her whistle signaling we've won the game and more importantly the group. The outfield players celebrate while I get my towel and drink the rest of my water then walk towards the mass of players.

As i'm walking Nilla Fischer, a teammate from Wolfsburg, comes up to me and we chat for a minute then she joins her team to clap their fans.

"STRIDES." Kelley yells then she jumps on me so I quickly catch her.

"Hey Kelloggs." I say and walk us towards the locker room.

"Is your chest okay?" Kelley asks.

"Yeah." I say as we get into the locker room. "I'm good.

I let Kelley down at her locker then go sit in mine and swiftly remove my jersey then relax

"Great job ladies." Jill says. "We've got Spain in the round of 16 next."