God Of football-Chapter 264: Behind the Scenes

The Spanish national team’s announcement strategy for the upcoming Euros was unconventional.

They released the squad list in batches over several days keeping the people in suspense.

Initially, fans welcomed this approach, anticipating a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talents.

The first batch had already been listed and included expected names: Rodri, Pedri, Nico Williams, Marc Cucurella, and Álvaro Morata.

As subsequent batches were unveiled, the excitement turned to confusion and then to outrage.

Izan Miura, the teenage sensation who had taken La Liga by storm, was conspicuously absent.

This wasn’t a clerical error or an oversight. It was a deliberate decision by head coach Luis de la Fuente to exclude the league’s top scorer and assist leader.

The reaction was immediate and intense and social media platforms became hotbeds of dissent:

• "Leaving out Miura? Are we even trying to win?"

• "He dominated La Liga, and we choose benchwarmers instead? I like De la Fuente but this is not okay.

I don’t even think this was his decision. Probably those old people trying to limit Izan’s influence he gets too big"

• "This is a travesty. Miura deserved that spot."

Football analysts and pundits were equally baffled. On El Chiringuito, a popular football talk show, host Josep Pedrerol was visibly agitated.

"If Spain had an abundance of attacking talent, maybe, just maybe, this decision would make sense.

But we don’t. Miura is a goal machine, a playmaker, and a match-winner. And yet… he’s not on the plane."

Even some Former Spanish internationals voiced their disapproval:

• David Villa: "Spain is making a mistake. Miura should be there."

• Sergio Ramos: "If we want to win, we bring our best players. Miura is one of them. Simple."

The pressure on Luis de la Fuente was mounting and some things needed to be addressed soon.

Facing the media storm, de la Fuente addressed the elephant in the room.

"Coach, how do you justify leaving out Spain’s top scorer and assist provider?"

De la Fuente, appearing prepared for this line of questioning, responded:

"We carefully analyzed all our options. Izan is an exceptional player, no doubt. But we had to make decisions based on the needs of the team.

The players we selected fit the structure and balance we are looking for in this tournament."

Another journalist pressed further.

"But isn’t Miura exactly the kind of player Spain needs?"

De la Fuente maintained his composure, although he also looked like he was fed up with something.

"We believe in the squad we’ve chosen. These are the players who will represent Spain at the highest level."

His responses, however, did little to quell the growing discontent.

.....

In Tokyo, Miranda was livid. She had been coordinating Izan’s brand engagements when the squad list was released. The omission felt like a personal affront.

She immediately called Izan.

"Izan."

A brief pause. "I saw it."

"This is insane. This is bad. Do you have any idea what this does to your image? Brands want global superstars, not players ignored by their own country."

Izan sighed. "It is what it is, Miranda."

"No, it’s not. And if Spain flops, de la Fuente will have to answer for this."

Izan remained silent, the weight of the situation evident.

.....

Despite the controversy, Spain’s preparations continued unabated. The squad engaged in high-intensity training sessions, focusing on tactical drills and team cohesion.

Then, disaster struck.

During a routine rondo exercise, Marco Asensio chased a loose ball.

As he attempted a sharp turn, his left foot planted awkwardly, and his knee buckled.

He collapsed to the ground, clutching his knee in agony.

The training session halted immediately. Teammates and medical staff rushed to his side.

The initial assessment was grim: a serious knee injury.

Minutes later, Asensio was stretchered off the field. His participation in the Euros was in serious doubt.

At first, it was small but then news of Asensio’s injury spread rapidly.

"BREAKING: Marco Asensio suffers injury in training, Euros participation in doubt."

Fans wished the former Madrid man well but debate over his potential replacement ignited instantly. Fans and pundits speculated on possible substitutes.

Would de la Fuente opt for another winger? A midfielder? Or perhaps the most in-form Spanish player currently overlooked?

In every discussion, Izan’s name resurfaced prominently.

....

Back in Japan, Izan saw the headlines but remained composed. His phone buzzed with a message from Miranda.

Miranda: "Are you seeing this?"

Izan: "Yeah."

Miranda: "If de la Fuente has any brain cells left, your phone should be ringing soon."

But it didn’t.

Not that night.

Not the next morning.

Spain’s replacement decision remained pending, and Izan was left in limbo.

As the national team grappled with the sudden vacancy, Izan continued his commitments in Japan.

He attended promotional events, including a football clinic for young players, where he shared his experiences and skills.

The event garnered significant media attention, portraying him as not just a footballer but an ambassador for the sport.

In the leading days, he also met with representatives from a leading manga publisher interested in creating a football-themed series inspired by his journey.

Reviewing early concept art, Izan was intrigued by the portrayal of a character mirroring his own experiences.

"So, what do you think?" the editor inquired.

Izan smirked. "I think I need to score some impossible goals in this."

They laughed, and discussions progressed.

...…

Meanwhile, in Spain…

The national team faced mounting pressure. The omission of Miura had already been controversial, and Asensio’s injury exacerbated the situation.

Fans and media outlets clamored for Miura’s inclusion as a replacement.

However, internal deliberations within the Spanish Football Federation were complex.

Concerns ranged from team dynamics to media scrutiny. The decision was not straightforward.

.....

Behind closed doors at the Spanish Football Federation headquarters, tension thickened the air.

Luis de la Fuente sat across from a panel of senior officials, his expression impassive but his patience razor-thin.

"We need to address the replacement," he said, his voice measured.

One of the officials, an older man with silver-streaked hair, leaned back in his chair. "We’ve already discussed this, Luis. The squad was carefully selected."

De la Fuente’s jaw tightened. "Asensio is out. That changes things."

Another official, younger but equally composed, folded his hands. "We understand the situation. But Miura’s exclusion was deliberate. We stand by that decision."

De la Fuente exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "And I’m telling you now—that decision was wrong. Miura is the best-performing Spanish player this season.

He should have been in the squad from the start. This is our chance to correct that."

Silence. A flicker of discomfort passed between the officials.

The older man sighed. "Luis, you know this isn’t just about football."

De la Fuente’s eyes darkened. "And that’s the problem. It should be." He leaned forward, his tone sharpening. "If you don’t let me call him up, I’ll go on record.

I’ll tell the press exactly what happened here. That this wasn’t my decision. That Spain’s best player was left out for reasons beyond football."

A slow, heavy pause followed.

"You’re making threats now?" the older man asked, his voice carefully neutral.

De la Fuente held his gaze. "I’m telling you the truth. And you know as well as I do that this won’t go away.

The fans, the media, even former players—everyone is asking the same question. How long do you think you can keep ignoring it?"

Another silence. This one longer, heavier.

Finally, the younger official cleared his throat. "We’ll review our position."

De la Fuente stood, nodding once. "Do that."

With that, he turned and walked out, leaving the room in uneasy quiet.

—

In Tokyo, Izan wasn’t waiting for a call. If it came, fine. If it didn’t, life moved on.

His phone buzzed.

Miranda.

"Still nothing?" she asked without preamble.

"Nothing," Izan replied.

She exhaled sharply. "They’re running out of excuses."

Izan didn’t answer. He simply glanced at the city skyline, the neon lights reflecting in his window.

If Spain wanted him, they knew where to find him.

....

The night was still in the quiet neighborhood where Izan’s grandparents lived. From his room, he could hear the faint hum of cicadas outside, a familiar sound from past visits.

He sat on the tatami floor, leaning against the wooden frame of his futon, scrolling through his phone.

The conversation around his omission hadn’t died down—it had only intensified.

Then, his phone rang.

Unknown number. Spanish country code.

Izan hesitated for a moment before answering. "Hello?"

A pause. Then a voice he recognized immediately, though it sounded unusually subdued.

"Izan. It’s Luis de la Fuente."

Izan sat up straighter, his fingers tightening around the phone. Although he had been nonchalant about it with Miranda, he was a bit nervous about it.

"I wanted to call you personally," de la Fuente continued. "You’re being called up. We’ll make the official announcement soon, but I didn’t want you to hear it from the media first."

Silence stretched between them.

"I know this has been… frustrating," de la Fuente said, his voice carrying an edge of regret. "And I won’t pretend I handled it perfectly.

You should have been in the squad from the start. That decision wasn’t entirely in my hands."

Izan exhaled slowly. He wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

"You deserve this," de la Fuente added. "And Spain needs you."

A beat passed before Izan finally spoke. "When do I fly out?"

"Tomorrow."

—

The news broke just minutes later.

"OFFICIAL: Izan Miura has been called up to the Spain squad for the Euros, replacing the injured Marco Asensio."

The announcement sent shockwaves through Spanish football.

TV networks interrupted their broadcasts. Social media exploded. Journalists scrambled to rewrite headlines.

On El Chiringuito, Josep Pedrerol pointed at the camera, shaking his head. "This was inevitable! Spain needed Miura, and now they’ve been forced to fix their mistake."

David Villa took to Twitter: "Should’ve been there from the start. But let’s go, Izan. Show them why they had no choice."

Fans also flooded the internet, showing their satisfaction at how things had turned out.

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• "Miura is coming. Spain, be ready."

• "Justice. Finally."

• "De la Fuente really folded under pressure, huh?"

Even in Japan, where it was well past midnight, Izan’s name dominated local news. The teenage sensation, the Pichichi winner, was finally heading to the Euros.

At his grandparents’ house, Izan put his phone down, staring at the ceiling for a moment.

Then, quietly, he smiled.