205 - Wembley Stadium

The corridor leading to the Wembley pitch was noisy. You could hear the echo of the players' steady footsteps and the sounds of the fans outside.

Just a few minutes before the start of their warm-up, the youngsters from Brighton and Bayern Munich were preparing to enter one of soccer's most hallowed grounds.

Lucas Tanaka took a deep breath. The weight of the moment was present in every sped up beat of his heart. But something else was on his mind: he was about to meet his best friend again.

And then he saw him.

Tsuyoshi Nishida walked with a confident countenance, his chin held high. The young Japanese wore the Bayern Munich cloak with imposing grace, as if he had been a member of professional soccer for years. His physique was impressive, with well-defined muscles and a posture that exuded self-confidence. The number 9 on his back confirmed his new role in the German team: the leader of the attack.