Benjamin's POV

Today is the day. Today is the World Cup final. We're playing against Croatia. I'm really nervous but the thought of being world champions is bigger than my nervousness. And winning the final while my parents are in the stadium would make it even more special. But I am very sad that it's only my parents watching me. My girlfriend Giovanna didn't get any days off from work and so she can't be here. That really makes me sad but I know that she wouldn't want me to lose this game just because she can't be here. Probably she wouldn't even let me into our apartment if it happened and so I'll have to win this fucking game.
As we arrive at the stadium for our pre match preparations I can feel that my nervousness is getting bigger. I look around just to see that my team mates seem to feel the same. Only N'Golo Kanté is perfectly calm. That guy is unbelievable. Like... How can someone be that calm right before playing in the world Cup final? Anyway, we all do our typical pre match stuff. Getting massages, eating something bur not too much, listening to music, staying hydrated, just the normal things. About fifteen minutes before we get our of the cabin for our warm-up Paul Pogba turns on some music and dances in a very weird way which makes us all laugh and relax a little. Then we get on pitch. Thousands of fans are shouting our and the Croatian player's names which is just breathtaking. I mean... I've played in many big stadiums but today it's just different. The atmosphere is really special. We start warming up and I totally concentrate on it. I don't even notice that my team mates try to draw my attention to something. As Florian Thauvin comes to me, touches my shoulder and points at something I finally see what they all looked at. I'm totally shocked but in a positive way. Next to my parents I can see her. My girlfriend. Giovanna. Seeing her really makes me happy. After being unable to move for a moment I happily smile and wave. She smiles back, then sends me a blow kiss right before forming a heart with her hands. I smile again, 'catch' the blow kiss with my hand but then get reminded to concentrate on the warm-up which I do.
Before the game starts we all re-enter the cabin where Didier makes his typical motivation speech. To be honest I don't listen too much this time, I only listen to the tactics. I don't need anymore motivation. Gigi is my motivation. As it's time to get back on pitch I'm getting really nervous again. Now it's all or nothing. We will either get rewarded for our great performance in this competition so far or it was all for nothing. I almost can't stand still while the national anthems are played but I force myself to do so.
The first minutes of the game are very intense. Both teams are 100% concentrated and don't make any mistakes. Then, after 18 minutes we take the lead. We get a free kick that Antoine kicks. Many players try to get the ball but in the end it's Mario Mandzukić who puts it in the net. We all happily celebrate the goal but then go back to our concentration mode. Unfortunately that does not always help and so Ivan Perisić scores for Croatia after a free kick only ten minutes later. For one moment we're shocked but after two minutes it changes into anger and so we're playing forward more aggressively again. That leads to some chances that we don't use but a few minutes before the first half ends we get a penalty. Antoine immediately takes the ball, puts it into position and then puts it into the net. This time we keep our concentration on a high level and so we get into the break with a 2-1 lead. Didier again makes a motivation speech and criticises some of us for the smallest things but it's just for our best. We'll have to play perfectly if we want to win. That's exactly what we do after the break and so Paul and Kylian score the third and fourth goal for us. We all happily celebrate but we also know that it's not over yet. Mandzukić scores in the 69th minute and makes the game thrilling again but in the end it's 4-2 for us. As the final whistle sounds we loudly scream and just celebrate.
After a long time of celebrating we finally get called for the awarding ceremony. We all can't stand still again but this time it is because of our happiness and not because we're nervous. We wait in line and get our medals one after the other. The last one is our captain, Hugo, wo also gets the trophy. He takes it, steps towards us and then lifts it up high in the air. In this moment we all let our all the tension and jump and shout and celebrate. After some time of celebrating with my team mates I walk towards my parents and Gigi who proudly smile at me. A security guard lets them on the pitch ans my girlfriend starts running. As she arrives in front of me she jumps into my arms, wrapping her arms around me tight. "I am so proud of you Ben! You did it! My world champion!", she shouts into my ear before smiling at me again. I also smile bright and then kiss her intensively. It feels like my chest is exploding because I'm so happy right now. I just won the world cup and now I'm celebrating it with the love of my life who also loves me. That's so crazy. As she let's go of my lips I don't think about what I'm saying and just ask: "Will you marry me Gigi?" her eyes get big and after some moments of being speechless she asks: "What?" I chuckle and ask again: "Will you marry me? I don't have a ring right now, I didn't plan it for today but I love you and I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you. It just feels right." Gigi pulls me close for a soft kiss, then answers: "Of course I want to marry you Ben! I love you too and I also want to spend my life with you." Now I'm even happier and I pull her very close for a very intense kiss full of love. This must be the perfect happiness. I'm a world champion and the love of my life wants to marry me. I'm 100% happy right now.