Alex sat on the floor. He was stretching his legs.
Jude Bellingham was lying on the bed. He was throwing a tennis ball at the ceiling.
"Thump. Catch. Thump. Catch."
"Jude," Alex said. "Please stop. You are hypnotizing me."
"I am bored," Jude said. "The waiting is the hardest part. I want to play."
"We play tomorrow," Alex said. "Senegal. The Round of 16."
" The Lions of Teranga," Jude said. He sat up. "They are strong. They run hard. They have Koulibaly. He is a mountain."
"Mountains can be climbed," Alex said calmly.
His phone buzzed on the floor.
It was a text from Maya.
"Analysis of Senegal complete. They play with a high intensity. Their midfield is physical. But they leave gaps between the lines when they press. Also, please tell Mark to stop texting me about croissants. He has sent me twelve pictures of pastry today."
Alex smiled.
"I will tell him," Alex typed back.
He stood up and walked to the window.
