"Well this game should be fun." I say as I run my fingers through Kels' hair.

"How many of them did you play?" My twin asks.

"Except for one season we played a French team in the champions league every year so I've played them a lot."

Today's the quarter final game against France.

I put my twin's hair into her signature pony tail then Kelley leans back into me so I put my arms on either side of her and rest my head on her back.

"Kels why did you wear perfume?" I ask as she massages my hand.

Before the Spain game Kelley painted my finger nails Red.

"Not gonna lie I kinda did it out of habit."

Kelley finishes massaging my hands so I lift my head off of my sisters a back. My twin turns around and kisses my head then I kiss her cheek. I then tightly hug her.

"Love you Kelloggs." I say.

"Love you Strides." Kelley says.

Kelley then gets off my lap and walks to her locker as I grab my turquoise jersey and put it on. I then wait in my locker as Jill does her pregame speech. Once the speech is over me and the rest of the starters head to the tunnel and line up. When told to, both teams walk out of the tunnel and get ready for the national anthems.

We're the away team so our anthem is first and weirdly it goes by way slower than it usually does. Once our anthem is over we politely wait for the French team to sing their anthem then we shake hands with each other and get in our positions. A minute later the whistle blows and France kicks off.

The first 45 minutes of the game is very boring for me. France barely get 4 shots off and all I have to do is catch the ball and put it back into play. The French keeper, on the other hand, is peppered with shots from us and she has to make some outrageous saves to keep her team in the game.

In the 59th minute Diani receives a pass from Bussaglia then she turns and sprints towards goal. Once Diani gets around 30 yards from the goal she floats a cross to the back post so I shuffle over to make sure the ball doesn't end up in the back of the net. The ball floats through the air and lands on Thiney's head.

Thiney heads the ball back to the other post so I scramble over then jump and spread my arms and legs out in front of Le Sommer. Le Sommer hits the ball on the volley and the ball smacks into my chest then bounces out to Becky who kicks it up field.

"Ow." I mumble as I rub the spot where the ball hit. "That'll leave a mark."

During the next 30 or so minutes I really only have to keep play going when I'm passed the ball. I also have to make 6 saves, but they're very easy saves to make.

In the 89th minute France push everyone on their team forward and they flood the box. Henry brings the ball into the box and battles with Abby, but a couple second later Henry fires a shot low to my right. I quickly get down and parry the ball away, but, unfortunately, the ball rebounds back into the fray of players.

Le Sommer sprints towards the ball and takes a quick shot. Right before Le Sommer connects with the ball I raise my leg up, as i'm still on the ground, and a second later Le Sommer's shot hits my foot and ricochet's out for a throw in.

"YES ASTRID." Alex shouts as I get off the ground.

The French throw-in amounts to nothing then the whistle blows signaling full time is up and we are headed to extra time since the score is 0-0

Before the start of extra time Jill gave us all instructions on what she wanted to see then we got fluids in us. Three minutes later the ref blew her whistle and we kick off extra time.

Neither team does anything that promising in extra time until the last minute.

In the 119th minute France earns a free kick after Thiney was taken down by Sam. Henry takes it quickly and plays the ball into the box towards the on coming Le Sommer. Kelley follows the French striker and right as the Frenchwoman goes to shoot my twin stretches her leg out. Unfortunately Kelley misses the ball and brings down the Frenchwoman in the box resulting in a penalty.

When Kelley realizes what she did she slams her hands on the ground in frustration. I then grab my water bottle and towel before I jog over to my sister and squat down next to her.

"I'm sorry." Kelley says as I hand her the water.

"Don't be." I say and smile at my favorite defender. "I'd be pissed if you didn't try to block the shot."

"But I gave up a penalty." Kelley says as she takes a drink.

"So." I say and wipe some of the sweat off Kelley's face. "It's not like they'll score."

"KEEPER." I hear the ref shout.

I stand up, help Kelley up, then take my water and towel and walk back to goal. While walking to the net I glance over and see Renard holding the ball talking to her Lyon teammates.

When I get to my net I hang my towel up in the net then put my water bottle down so it's not in the way. I then get on my line and study Renard as she sets up and after 3 seconds I know exactly where she's going to shoot.

Renard backs up and waits for the ref, who is making sure the outfield players stay outside the box. The ref then jogs to her position, which is to my right, then she blows her whistle.

Renard starts her run up and takes a glance up then she looks back at the ball and puts her foot through it. Right as Renard makes contact with the ball I dive towards the bottom left of the goal and watch the ball come towards me. A second later the ball hits my hands and spins away to my left.

I scramble to my feet then dive on the ball right before Renard gets her foot to the rebound. I quickly get off the ground and run to the top of the box to throw the ball out to start the counter attack. Right before the ball leaves my hand I hear the shriek of a whistle being blown.

I turn towards the sound of the whistle and see the referee pointing back to penalty spot.

"WHAT?" I shout as the ref approaches me.

I'm then given a yellow card.

"You moved before the shot." The ref says as the rest of the US girls surround the ref.

"So did the French girls." Carli says.

"Stop." I say then push all the girls back. "It's no use. Just get ready for the counter attack."

I throw the ball at Renard then get back on my line. Renard sets up again, but this time gives away she's going to my right. The ref blows her whistle so Renard does her run up and strikes the ball toward my right. I do the same thing as last time and as soon as Renard connects with the ball I dive to the right and a second later the ball hits my hands.

I do my best to hold on to the ball as I hit the ground then I jump up off the ground. I then run up and launch the ball up field, but the whistle blows signaling the end of extra time which means we are going to penalties.

Fuck's sake.

After the whistle blows I grab my towel and water bottle then head to the sideline. Kelley meets me about 10 yards away from the sideline and refills my water bottle then she smiles at me, takes my towel, and walks away. My twin rejoins the group of players so I turn around and face away from the group and do my own thing.

"We need Astrid over here." I hear someone say.

"Nope." Kelley says. "Just leave her alone. She know's what she's doing."

I really love having a twin.

As I'm relaxing and drink my water the stadium PA person starts playing a song so I start bobbing my head to the beat. A little bit into the song I start subtly dancing which draws some boo's which I find funny. Once the song ends I turn back around and face the group but stay right where I am.

Kelley notices I'm turned around so she points to the side with the most French fans then points to the USA crest on her jersey and holds up 2 fingers.

This is her way of saying we are taking the penalties on the side with the most French fans and that the US are shooting second.

Kelley then makes the numbers 13, 10, 23, 17, and 9 with her fingers. Those numbers tell me that Alex, Carli, Christen, Tobin, and Lindsey are our first five penalty takers.

When I comprehend all of what my twin says I nod then walk towards the side she pointed to. I wait with the ref for a minute then she leads me and Bouhaddi to the goal. The ref then goes over what's acceptable then she heads to the top of the box as Bouhaddi heads off to the side to wait.

I drop my water outside the post so it's out of the way then walk about 10 yards away from goal and stand and stare at the French fans. The French fans start booing me and showing some non friendly gestures towards me which I find funny.

"KEEPER GET IN NET." The ref shouts.

I turn around and see Le Sommer walking towards the penalty spot so I go get on my line and wait for her. Eventually the French forward gets to the 18 yard box and gets handed the ball so she sets up the ball and immediately gives away where she is going. Le Sommer then backs up and waits at the top of the box until the whistle blows then she does her run up and strikes the ball.

As Le Sommer's foot connects with the ball I dive towards my upper right corner and a second later my left hand comes in contact with the ball sending it up and over the crossbar.

Le Sommer turns around and walks back towards midfield as I grab my water bottle and walk over to the side to wait. Alex makes the long walk to the penalty spot and sets the ball up then waits for the whistle which comes a few seconds later. Alex does her run up and the French keeper dives the wrong way as my teammates buries her shot in the bottom corner putting us up 1-0 in the penalty shoot out.

Once the ball hits the net I walk towards the goal and pass Bouhaddi, who looks annoyed. Alex winks at me so I nod at her then put my water bottle down, get on my line, and wait for the next French taker who just so happens to be Renard.

Renard takes the ball from the ref and sets up her penalty and the moment I realize where she is going to shoot all I think is one thing.

This is going to be embarrassing.

The ref blows her whistle then Renard does her run up, but I stay put. Renard puts her foot through the ball, but the shot is straight at me. I catch the ball and try not to laugh as I look at the French defender with raised eyebrows.

"Rah you suck." I say and throw the ball to the ref.

I grab my water bottle then go wait by the side as Carli approaches. Carli takes the ball and does her normal routine then she waits. Once the whistle blows she runs up and blasts the ball by the outstretched French keeper putting us up 2-0 in the penalty shoot out.

As Carli heads back up field she looks at me and nods so I do the same back. Like the previous penalties I set my water to the side then wait for the next French player.

Amadine Henry takes the ball from the ref and sets her shot up then she backs up. The ref blows her whistle so Henry does her run up and strikes the ball low and hard. A moment before Henry connects her foot with the ball I begin my dive and dive towards my left. A second later the ball hits my arms and spins away from goal.

When I get off the ground I turn around then bring my index finger to my lips and shush the crowd.

After I've gotten a sizable response from my gesture I grab my water bottle and stand to the side as Christen approaches the penalty spot. My best friend takes the ball from the ref and sets it up for her kick then she waits. Five seconds later the whistle blows so Christen does her run up and she side foots the ball past the outstretched hand of Bouhaddi, sealing the win for us and advancing us to the semi finals.

"ASTRID." Christen shouts as she runs at me.

I open my arms for my friend and she jumps into them.

"You did it Pressy." I say and smile at her.

"I did it? Girl you saved five penalties today. I think this one's on you." Christen says right before the rest of the team pounce on us.

After the team dog pile I'm hugged by everyone then we head to the locker room

"Damn Astrid." Ali says as I sit in my locker.

"What?" I ask and look at the defender.

Ali just points to the TV.

On the TV is a replay of the Penalty shootout and of me shushing the crowd.

"You always were a cocky little shit." Kelley says.

"I don't like being booed." I say then smirk at my twin. "So I shut 'em up."