My Ultimate Gacha System

Friday, September 23, 2022

King Power Stadium, Leicester

Second Half

The referee's whistle signaled the restart at 4:00 PM and England kicked off with possession immediately circulating through their backline, while Italy's body language suggested the halftime talk had been emphatic about raising the tempo and taking more risks, and as soon as England's opening pass was made Italy's forwards pressed higher and more aggressively than they had in the opening forty-five minutes.

46' - 55' |

Italy's intensity shift was noticeable from the opening exchanges as they pressed England's buildup play more aggressively and won the ball in England's half twice within the first five minutes, attempting quick combinations through their midfield, though England's defensive shape remained compact and organized, absorbing the pressure with maturity that came from playing together through multiple qualification campaigns.

At the 48th minute Italy's right winger drove at Carter Ives and attempted a stepover before accelerating inside, and for a moment the space opened dangerously, but Marcus Doyle read the movement perfectly and stepped across from center-back position to make a clean tackle that drew applause from the home crowd.

"Italy showing more ambition now," the commentator observed. "But England very comfortable defending these situations. No panic, just good positional awareness."

From the bench Demien watched England's response to Italy's increased pressure, noting how the double pivot of Whitmore and Merrick dropped deeper to provide an extra layer of protection, and how Kayden adjusted his position to stay available as an outlet whenever England won possession back.

Carsley stood on the touchline with his hands in his pockets, occasionally calling brief instructions but mostly just watching his team execute the game plan, and when Italy's midfielder attempted an ambitious long shot from thirty yards that sailed high over the crossbar the England coach simply nodded without any dramatic reaction.

56' - 59' | SUBSTITUTION - ITALY

At the 58th minute Italy's coach signaled toward his bench and the fourth official raised the electronic board, and Demien's attention sharpened slightly when he saw the number being displayed because he recognized the player preparing to enter even before the stadium announcer confirmed it.

OFF: #17 Matteo Ricci (Italy's starting left winger)

ON: #11 Luca Bianchi

The small Italian contingent in the stands applauded as Luca jogged onto the pitch wearing the Azzurri blue with his number eleven visible on his back, and he moved with the confidence of someone who'd been earning minutes regularly at Braga, and as he took his position on Italy's left flank the commentators took immediate note.

Commentary Booth

"And here comes a change for Italy," the lead commentator announced. "Luca Bianchi entering the match—on loan at Braga from Atalanta, and he's been getting regular minutes in Portugal's top flight."

"Technical midfielder, this one," his colleague added. "Good at linking play, comfortable in tight spaces. Italy looking to inject some creativity down that left side."

From the bench Demien watched Luca's first touches as play resumed, and pride flickered quietly in his chest as his former roommate collected a pass cleanly and immediately looked forward, scanning for options before playing a simple ball inside to Italy's central midfielder.

The touches were tidy, controlled, exactly what you'd expect from someone who'd been training at professional level for months, and Luca's movement showed good intelligence as he drifted into pockets of space between England's right-back and center-back, creating passing angles for his teammates.

Demien kept his expression neutral and his focus on the match, though part of him was tracking Luca's positioning instinctively, watching how his friend was trying to influence the game from the wing position where he'd always been most comfortable.

60' - 70' |

England continued managing the match with professional composure as the minutes ticked past, content to let Italy have possession in areas that didn't threaten while staying compact and organized defensively, and the pattern became increasingly clear—Italy were trying but England were simply more cohesive, better drilled, sharper in their execution.

At the 64th minute Carsley turned toward his bench and spoke briefly with his assistant coach, and Demien noticed the conversation involved gesturing toward certain players while checking notes on a clipboard, though no immediate changes were signaled.

"Mitchell at seventy," Carsley said to his assistant without raising his voice. "Hobbs ready after. Keep the shape."

His assistant nodded and made notes while the play continued, and from his seat Demien understood the message implicitly—substitutions were coming but they'd be tactical, measured, designed to maintain England's control rather than chase additional goals unnecessarily.

Luca's involvement increased slightly as Italy tried to build attacks down their left side where he was positioned, and at the 67th minute he received a diagonal pass from midfield and took one touch before attempting a quick combination with Italy's striker, though England's defense read it early and Tyler Nix intercepted cleanly before the danger could develop.

Commentary Booth

"Bianchi trying to make things happen for Italy," the commentator noted. "But England's defensive organization has been excellent all afternoon. Very difficult to break down."

71' - 72' |

The third goal arrived in the 72nd minute and started with England winning possession in their own defensive third as Jamal Whitmore stepped across to intercept a loose Italian pass, and immediately the transition began with England's players already moving into their counter-attacking positions.

Whitmore played a sharp vertical pass into Kayden's feet twenty-five yards ahead, and the Manchester City midfielder took one touch to control before spinning away from his marker with a quick turn that opened up space in front of him.

Kayden drove forward three strides while Italy's defense scrambled to recover, and he looked up once and saw the picture developing—Ryan Mitchell, who'd entered as a substitute ten minutes earlier, was making a diagonal run from the right side toward the penalty area, his movement intelligent as he drifted into the space between Italy's left-back and center-back.

The pass was disguised beautifully as Kayden shaped his body as if playing it wide right, then used the inside of his boot to thread it through the gap with perfect weight, and the ball rolled into Mitchell's path as he arrived at the edge of the penalty area with time and space.

"Kayden's played it through—Mitchell's in—"

The Fulham midfielder took one touch with his right foot to set himself, then struck it cleanly with his left foot across the goalkeeper toward the far corner, and the ball flew past Italy's keeper who dove desperately but couldn't reach it, and the net rippled as England's third goal was confirmed.

ENGLAND 3-0 ITALY (72')

"GOAAAAAL! Ryan Mitchell makes it three! Brilliant counter-attack from England, started by Whitmore, orchestrated by Muir, and finished clinically by the substitute!"

The England players jogged toward Mitchell with measured celebration, nobody sprinting dramatically because the match was effectively settled now, and the modest crowd applauded with appreciation for the quality of the passing sequence while Italy's players stood with hands on hips, clearly deflated.

"That's the match finished now," the co-commentator added. "Three-nil, England dominant throughout, and that counter-attack was absolutely textbook. Kayden Muir's disguised pass was exceptional."

From the bench Demien nodded quietly at the execution, impressed by Kayden's vision and Mitchell's composure, and beside him Owen Blake leaned over and said, "Proper finish that."

"Yeah," Demien agreed simply.

73' - 84' |

The final fifteen minutes played out with England firmly in control and Italy's efforts becoming increasingly half-hearted as the reality of the scoreline settled over both teams, and the tempo dropped naturally as England circulated possession without urgency while Italy's pressing lost its intensity.

At the 79th minute Carsley turned toward the bench again and this time his eyes scanned across the substitutes more deliberately, and he spoke with his assistant coach briefly before nodding, clearly making his final decision about who would get minutes in the remaining time.

Demien felt the familiar pre-substitution tension building in his chest though his expression remained calm, and he sat forward slightly with his hands on his knees while Carsley consulted with the fourth official about the planned changes.

The stadium announcer's voice echoed across the stands announcing England's second substitution as the fourth official raised the board, and then Carsley turned toward the bench and his eyes found Demien directly.

"Demien," the coach's voice was level and professional. "Jacket off. You're on."

Demien nodded once and stood immediately, stripping off his training jacket while his heart rate increased slightly though not dramatically, and he grabbed a ball from the collection beside the bench and began light touches near the touchline to activate his muscles properly.

Commentary Booth

"England making another change here," the lead commentator announced. "And it looks like we're about to see Demien Walter's first England appearance—the Atalanta midfielder getting his debut cap here at King Power Stadium."

"Interesting addition to the squad, this one," his colleague responded. "Playing regularly in Serie A at eighteen years old. Technical player, good vision. Be interesting to see how he adapts to international football."

The polite applause from the stands greeted the announcement, not intense or overwhelming but sincere, the kind of warm reception given to any debutant at youth level, and Demien approached the fourth official while Javier Crane jogged toward the touchline to be replaced.

85' - 87' |

The electronic board went up showing number 19 (Crane) coming off and number 28 going on, and as the stadium announcer's voice echoed across the stands confirming the substitution, a distinct wave of jeers erupted from the Italian contingent in the away section, their whistles and boos cutting through the polite applause from the English supporters.

Commentary Booth

"And listen to that reception from the Italian fans," the lead commentator noted immediately. "They clearly haven't forgotten that Walter chose England over Italy at senior level. This is the first time he's faced an Italian crowd since making that decision."

"Can't be easy for an eighteen-year-old making his international debut," his colleague added. "That's hostile. They're letting him know exactly how they feel about his choice."

Demien heard the jeers as he approached the touchline and felt his chest tighten slightly because he'd known this moment would come eventually but hadn't expected it to arrive during his debut, and as Crane reached the touchline he offered his hand and Demien shook it briefly while trying to block out the whistles that seemed to grow louder with each step he took onto the pitch.

The referee's whistle blew to restart play immediately, and Demien took his position on the left side where Crane had been operating, and his first touch of international football came within thirty seconds as Owen Blake received the ball near the halfway line and played a simple pass inside to him.