AI Tactics, World Cup Tragedy

"Please come to the medical office this afternoon. I need to prepare an examination report for you."

After reading the message Theodore Cadogan sent me, I deleted the chat immediately, locked my phone, and put it away.

The locker room door at the end of the hallway was left open, so the voices inside drifted out through the gaps between the metal lockers.

"The forwards need quick movement and sharp finishes! The midfield controls the whole game! The defenders must stay balanced and make the defense airtight!"

Captain Tim Caligiuri's booming voice drowned out all the noise around him, and more than 20 players shouted along with him.

I slowly walked over and leaned against the doorframe.

Head coach Mauricio Hudson stood in the middle of the room, holding up a phone connected to the projector. The tactical diagram projected on the wall was packed with messy arrows crossing over each other.

Tim had recommended this app in the beginning. Mauricio was easily persuaded, and at the time the National Soccer Federation was promoting the idea of building a high-tech powerhouse team. The two quickly reached an agreement.

"Everyone, pay attention!"

Mauricio pointed at three red dots arranged in a triangle on the screen.

"The three forwards must stay in these positions. No wandering around.

"The five midfielders must rotate counterclockwise around the center circle."

He looked at the national team players, who were all stunned.

"This is the optimal solution calculated by AI. Do you know how valuable this is?"

In my previous life, it was this so-called Invincible Spiral that let the opposing striker cut right through our rotating midfield in the opening group match and score five goals before halftime.

At two in the afternoon, I went to the medical office.

Theodore pressed his fingers against the Achilles tendon on my right ankle and whispered, "Mauricio said yesterday that everyone at this training camp has to pass the physical. No exceptions."

He picked up a pen and asked, "Are you sure you want to make trouble at a time like this?"

I rolled up my pant leg and revealed the old scar on my Achilles tendon.

"Then I'll write that your old injury has flared up and you can't participate in intense matches." Theodore sighed and started filling out the report.

Less than an hour after the report was submitted, the door was kicked open from the outside.

Tim stormed in, reeking of sweat. He grabbed my collar and yanked me off the chair.

"The whole team is practicing the new formation. Why are you the only one refusing to cooperate?"

He shouted so angrily that spit sprayed onto my face.

"Did you think your spot on the World Cup roster was meant for you to recover from injuries?"

I didn't fight back. Instead, I looked at the substitutes peeking in from outside the door.

"Tim, if my Achilles tendon snaps, my career is over," I said calmly.

Tim sneered and shoved me. I staggered backward several steps, and my waist slammed into a metal shelf.

"Coach Hudson will talk to you personally tomorrow."

He pointed at my nose and continued, "Do you think pretending to be sick will let you escape?"

Then he slammed the door shut.

I leaned against the bed and touched my left cheek.

In my previous life, Tim had slapped me right here.

During dinner, backup goalkeeper Matt Stewart carried his tray over to me. After looking around carefully, he lowered his voice.

"Christian, do you think that Invincible Spiral is actually reliable?"

He frowned, took a bite of food, and continued, "TactiGenie even says goalkeepers should catch the ball with both hands behind their backs so they can use the opponent's force against them. Are we playing soccer or practicing martial arts?"

I picked up some food and answered, "If the coaching staff approves it, then it must be right."

Matt froze, his hand holding the fork suspended in midair.

I kept eating and ignored him.

In my previous life, Matt was the only person on the team who spoke up for me.

But later, hundreds of thousands of hateful comments flooded his social media. Even his family became targets of online harassment.

In the end, he had no choice but to retire at 24.

So in this life, I don't want to drag anyone else down with me.

I put down my utensils, wiped my mouth, and carried my tray to the return station.

Behind me, the TV was tuned to the sports channel.

The host spoke excitedly, "According to sources, the national team has introduced the world's leading innovative tactical system. Team Libertas will enter the World Cup with a completely new identity."

I placed my tray into the plastic bin and let out a quiet laugh. "That's right. A completely new identity."

Soon enough, the whole world would witness a joke so big that no one would ever forget it.