"The United States holds on to beat France 2-1 to reach the semi-finals. Mewis gave the US and early lead after she struck a low free-kick through the crowd of players in the box and into the back of the net. France didn't register a shot in target in the first half but improved in the second half and were causing the current holders problems. Against the run of play though, Pugh got the second when she latched onto O'Neil's cross and fired the ball past Bouhaddi. Renard did pull one back for France late on with a brilliant header, but it ended up being a consolation."

"bon jeu, bravo" I say shaking the hands of the French players trying to smile sympathetically at them.

I go over to the captain Henry and offer my hand out to her.

"Je suis désolé que vous ne soyez pas arrivé aussi loin que vous le méritez, vous êtes tous une grande équipe et ce fut un honneur de jouer contre vous" (I'm sorry you didn't make it as far as you deserve, you are all a great team and it was an honour playing against you) I say and watch the French player smile at me

"Thank you for that, and you guys played extremely well, I hope we get to play each other again soon, you are an exceptional player." Henry says and I can feel myself fangirling hard right now.

"I really appreciate that, do you mind swapping shirts?" I ask hopefully

"not at all," She says smiling and takes off her top, I do the same and we swap jerseys putting the other teams on before parting ways.

"you and Kelley have media duty," Jill says coming up to me which makes me groan in annoyance

"again! Really" I ask annoyed since I've done it every game since our second match

"if you didn't play so well they wouldn't ask to speak with you so much" Jill says smirking at me

"come on Maureen" I say to Kelley using her middle name which is something we seem to have picked up for each other.

"I'm coming now Jasmyne!" She shouts back running up to me as we head off to do media

"Nice goals, by the way, the first one was very cheeky," I say giving her a small wink

"If anyone asks, it was totally on purpose okay," She says pointing her finger at me while I just hold my hands up in defence.

"come on squirrel, let's get this over with," I say letting out a sigh already hating this interview before it has even started

"Congratulations on the win Ladies, how did you think you performed as a team today?" One guy asks

"Both team's had a few chances to gain the lead but I think we worked well in closing down the French players and making attacking plays" Kelley answers to the crowd

"Obviously you got two goals Kelley and Toni, you got the assist, individually, were you happy with how you played?" We get asked this time

"I was yes, we went in knowing it would be a tough match, playing against the host country, but I think we all stepped up to the big occasions and showed everyone how we play not only as a team but as separate players on that field," I say watching the journalist hang onto my every word

"I have to agree with Toni there, we knew that this would be a difficult game, it being only the quarter-finals and having to play France, but as the scoreline shows we were the better team" Kelley says smiling.

"How are you preparing for the semi-final match against England?" another person asks

"doing the same thing we've done before every game, and well do that all the way to the final" I say confidently making pinky smirk at me slightly

"thank you for your time and we see you in a couple of days," Squirrel says which is my cue to get up and leave.

"I hate doing them so much" I whine throwing my arms over her shoulders

"well you're a natural at them Jasmyne, and I liked the last comment very confident," She says winking at me

"Thought I'd bring out some of my inner sassy O'Hara flare to the mix," I say sassily

"well I approve," She says laughing at me.

We head into the locker room and join the small celebration the girls are having for our win but get changed quickly all of us wanting to get back and do recovery after that tough match.

I take my usual seat next to Alex and discretely grab her hand next to me

"you okay Lex, you took a nasty tackle early on," I say casing her to instantly look at her knee

"yeah I think so, it was more a mental thing I think, I'm just scared to injure it again you know," She tells me letting out a deep sigh

"I know Lex, but I promise it won't let you down when you're out there, you've got to believe in that knee so it can believe in you," I say pointing down at it

"It's not a person T, it can't hear me" She sags laughing a little

"yes it can! Hey Mr knee stopping being an idiot and believe in Alex please" I say directly to the knee

"sure thing Toni, I'm sorry Alex, I promise to help you get better from now on," I say grabbing her knee in my hand and moving it like a mouth while talking in a ridiculous stupid voice

"oh my god, you are literally five years old," She says smiling but I don't care because it got her smiling again and that's all that matters.

Were almost back at the hotel when I remember something from earlier.

"oh, by the way, the baby won the $200" I shout out load causing everyone to go into chaos and turn to look at Tierna.

"as if she got the exact time!" Allie says speaking up

"Please buy me a new pair of shoes!" Mal shouts to her best friend

"erm no, she's getting me that ring I've always wanted right," Sonnett says winking at the youngster

"Obviously she's buying her camp mom a present with it" Kelley speaks up

"Guys come on, it's her money let her chose by herself" I say sticking up for the youngster

"what were you thinking of buying T?"

Becky asks the young defender

"Well I was going to donate it to charity if I won so I guess I'll do that," she says shrugging.

"well now I feel like a dick" Kelley says making us all laugh

"I think that's a great idea rookie, good for you," I say smiling at the girl.

"you do realise that you are technically the rookie right, T over here has played more games than you," Allie says to me

"well I'm older so she's the rookie," I say

"it doesn't really work like that yo- okay yeah you are the rookie T" she says after I give her my signature glare

"You need to stop spending time with Becky, you glare is getting worse" Ash mumbles out

"Imagine getting them both angry at you, I'd think I would crawl into a hole and die" Mal says shivering.

"new rule, don't do anything to piss of Toni or Becky otherwise you're dead meat" Julie says

"ahh the power feels good doesn't it Becks" I say smirking at the veteran player

"oh it most certainly does" She replies smirking back at me.

We get back to the hotel and everyone head off to do their recovery, once that's over me and Alex make out way back to our room and I collapse straight onto the bed.

"I'm done in" I say groaning.

"tell me about it, I'm sore in muscles I didn't even know I had," Alex says flopping down next to me.

"well I might have a solution" I say propping myself up on an elbow

"and what is that?" Alex asks doing the same thing

"it involved these bad boys" I say holding up my hands, Alex seems to blush instantly

"I would love to eventually but I think that's going a bit fast for no-" She says but I cut her off figuring out what's she's insinuating about

"oh God Alex I'm not talking about that! I was suggesting a massage!" I say in shock

"oh thank God, I wasn't ready to do that just yet," Alex says letting out a relieved laugh.

"you need to get your head out the gutter love," I say laughing at her while I go to the bathroom and get some oil out my wash bag.

"what do you need me to do?" Alex asks as I'm rooting through my stuff.

"Just take off your top and bra and lie on your front, you've got your shorts in right?" I ask having found the oil finally

"yeah" Alex mumbles clearly facing down into he pillow.

I come back into the room and see Alex lying face down with only her shorts on, I can't help but stare at her body in awe seeing all her defined back muscles.

"can you stop staring and start massaging," Alex says clicking on to what I'm doing.

"yes ma'am," I say and climb on top of her resting myself just below her bum.

I put the liquid into her back and watch her body flinch a little from the sudden coldness

"do you want a relaxing one or do you want me to work on your right spots a bit," I ask

"can you do my tight spots and then a relaxing one please," Alex asks

"of course I can love," I say smiling to myself at how cute she is.

I get to work in massaging all her knots our of her back and shoulders and then work my way to her legs. The silence isn't awkward because I know Alex is super relaxed. I then start lightly massaging all over her body hopefully helping destress her a little.

"you good lex" I whisper having finished the massage, I don't hear a reply so I can only assume she's fallen asleep.

Not wanting to wake her, I get a warm cloth from the bathroom and wipe off the excess oil that's sitting on her skin and pull the covers over her body.

I slip out the room and head down for team dinner going straight to the staff table to let them know Alex is passed out.

"Hey Jill, Alex passed out a couple of minutes ago and I don't want to walk her so is it okay if I just bring her a plate up?" I ask coach.

"of course, just make sure she doesn't sleep too long I don't want her sleeping pattern to be messed up," Jull says making me smile

"Thanks Jill," I say and head to my usual table

"where's baby horse at?" Kelley asks while stuffing her face

"she's sleeping so I'll just bring her some food later" I tell the table who nod their heads in response.

Dinner goes quick, we make conversation about how Kelley got herself stuck in a bin when she went to Stanford and had to get it cut open.

I get a plate of Alex's favourite foods and take it back to our place putting it to one side so she can have a little extra sleep. At about 7 o'clock I decide to wake her up.

"Hey Lex love, you need to get up now" I whisper moving the hair out of her face

"shit, what time is it?" she says sitting up and wrapping the covers over her body

"its 7 and you missed dinner but I brought you some food up so don't worry about it" I say since she panicked a little

"Thank you T, you did have to do that," she says as I hand over her food.

"of course I did, I was going to let you go

hungry" I say stealing a carrot from her plate.

"How are you feeling for England?" Alex asks me

"Truthfully, not too nervous, I know they are the team we think are going to be the main challenging but I honestly think we have this in the bag," I say confidently

"I'm glad you feel relaxed" Alex mumbles putting potatoes in her mouth.

"do I need to make Mr knee have another word with you?" I say in my silly voice

"no, I think I'm good," She says laughing at me.

I just smile again not being able to help the grin that spreads across my lips when we talk.