"You ready Strides?" Kelley asks as we walk towards the pitch for warm ups.

"Mhmm." I say as I check over the lineup.

Once I've checked over the line up I hand it to the fourth official then I'm stopped for questions from the FS1 lady.

"Astrid what's the thought behind so many different line ups since you became the head coach?" Alex Curry asks.

"This year is our experimentation year." I say. "I wanna see who fits my system best before the games start to matter more."

"Any word on Rose Lavelle's injury?"

"She has a tweaked hamstring so we're gonna hold her out and only use her if necessary."

"Thank you coach."

"No problem." I say then continue on towards the pitch.

When I get to the pitch I stand on the touch line of Volkswagen Arena and take a deep breath in.

It still smells the same.

"Ah." I say as I breath out and look around the stadium.

As I'm looking around I see Rose off to the side looking around aimlessly so I walk over to her.

"You alright?" I ask.

"I'm happy to be here..." Rose says.

"But..."

"But I just wanna play."

"I know you do Rose." I admit. "But remember you tweaked your hamstring before the France game and again in training two days ago so I'd rather you sit out than have you miss months with a torn hamstring."

"I know." Rose mumbles.

"I know it sucks, but I'd rather you be healthy for next camp then have you miss the next 3 months."

"COME ON ROSE." Sonnett yells.

Rose chuckles then she joins the players in their warm ups.

Once warm ups are over we head into the locker room and I give my last minute team talk and remind everyone of their duties.

"...Everyone understand?" I question and everyone nods. "Good. Get your last minute things done then starters to the tunnel, subs to the bench."

The girls do their last minute preparations then everyone heads to where they need to be and a few moments later the starters come onto the pitch. Once the starters are on the pitch I stand around as the anthems are played then, as the rest of the pre-match is happening, I walk over to the new Germany coach Ariane Hingst.

"Hey coach." I say with a teasing smile as I hug my old Wolfsburg coach.

"Hey Astrid." Ariane says.

"Good luck today."

"Good luck to you as well."

The two of us hug one last time then I return to my spot on the bench as the game starts.

"Who was that?" Becky questions.

"Old coach from my Wolfsburg days." I say.

"Ah." Becky says then we watch the beginning of the game.

After about 15 minutes of no action I get off the bench and start shouting directions to the players.

In the 20th minute some new German youngster steals the ball and passes it to Marozsán then the youngster continues her run, but she runs through my technical area and she runs right into me.

"Watch the fuck out." The youngster says as she gets off the ground.

"Aww the dumb ass knows English." I say.

"Who the fuck do you think your talking to?"

"I'm in my technical area you dumb cunt. I don't have to move."

"Shame you didn't die when that guy shot your."

"Get your player." I say and look at Ariane. "She's about to have a couple broken legs."

"Get off." The ref says and holds up a red card to the German youngster.

"For what?" The youngster questions

"Off. Now" The ref says and points to the dressing rooms. "You don't say that."

"OFF." Alexandra Popp shouts then she shoves the youngster towards the dressing room. "I'll deal with you later."

The German youngster stands there so Sara Doorsoun, an ex-teammate from my time at Wolfsburg, comes over and drags the youngster to the dressing room.

"We'll punish her later." Xandra says.

"You better." I say then I turn and walk towards my team. "BRING IT IN."

All of the girls sprint over to me and we huddle up with myself squatted in the middle.

As I'm squatted I look around the huddle and see most of the girls look pissed.

"Kill them." I say. "I want them to wish they never kicked a football. I want them to rethink their whole lives. I want you to make these next seventy minutes hell for them and if we don't win by 5 goals then all of you will be running until you puke...understood?"

"Yes coach."

"Good...now get it done."

- - - - -

"ONE MORE." I shout after Christen's scores her hat trick.

We're up 4-0 in the 88th minute.

We're tied up 0-0 at halftime and during halftime the only thing I did was play the footage of what that youngster said to me.

That's all I did for fifteen minutes.

The team got the message.

Christen came on in the 60th minute and has a hat trick while Ashley Hatch scored the other goal.

When Germany restart the game most of the attacking players press the ball and eventually Crystal wins the ball. Crystal passes out wide to Casey who brings it towards the endline then she crosses it into the box towards Julie. Julie leaps like a salmon, gets her head on the ball, and sends it past my old back up keeper making the score 5-0.

As the girls celebrate the goal the ref blows the whistle so I walk over and shake hands with Ariane.

"Sorry about her." Ariane. "I still don't know why the old coach called her up."

The German women revolted against their coach after she tried to fight one of her players a week or two ago and the German federation gave Ariane the job.

"I mean you could always remove her." I say.

"Oh trust me I am." Ariane says then she smirks. "But I'll do it after Alexandra punishes her."

"Well that's gonna suck for her."

"That it will." Ariane says as my German sister walks up to us. "Speak of the devil."

"Have fun punishing that girl." I say.

"Oh I will." Xandra says then she hugs me. "Good to see you Astrid."

"You too Xandra." I say.

I hug Ariane one last time then I head to my locker room, take off my suit, and change into sweats. Once I'm changed I sit in Tobin's locker and check my phone as the team trickle into the locker room.

Hannah: Is there something wrong with Alyssa?

Me: She jammed her finger before the France game so I'm holding her out so she doesn't get hurt further.

Hannah: Thank fuck

Hannah: Thanks for answering. I'll see you in august when you come to Chicago.

Me: See ya then Hannah

Hannah and Alyssa started dating after the Olympics, which was less than a year ago, and Hannah recently moved in with Alyssa in Chicago.

"Hey Lys." I say and look at the keeper.

"Yeah?"

"Call your girl when we get back to the hotel."

"Got it." Alyssa says as we huddle up with everyone.

"Great job tonight ladies." I say. "None of you have to run so pack your stuff up and lets go eat."