England's Greatest

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Among the 30-man preliminary list for England's World Cup squad, Tristan Hale's inclusion wasn't as surprising as some might think. While a few raised eyebrows at his selection, many who followed the Championship closely knew this wasn't a fluke. Over the last few months, Tristan had emerged as a key player for Leicester City, catching the attention of fans and pundits alike. His name had been buzzing in football circles, and it seemed only right that he'd be considered for the Three Lions.

It wasn't long after the squad announcement that Match of the Day and other popular football shows started dissecting the list. During one of the most-watched segments on Sky Sports' The Debate, the panel of experts took up the topic.

"Alright, lads," the host, Geoff Shreeves, said as he turned to his guests. "One of the biggest surprises for some fans is Leicester City's Tristan Hale making the preliminary squad for England. He's only 18, still playing in the Championship, but the kid's been brilliant. What do you think—did Roy Hodgson make the right call bringing him in?"

The camera panned to Jamie Carragher, who raised his eyebrows. "Look, I've watched Hale over the last few months, and I'll tell you—he's special. The way he moves, the vision, the creativity. You don't see many young English midfielders with that level of composure. For me, it's a gamble, yeah, but a calculated one. I think he deserves his spot."

On the other side of the table, Gary Neville chimed in. "It's about time we saw more young players getting their shot. We've been talking for years about a lack of technical ability in the England squad, and Tristan Hale has that in spades. He's got that quality with his passing range, but he's also more dynamic on the ball."

Geoff nodded and turned to the final pundit, former England international Graeme Souness. "Graeme, what about you? What do you make of Hale being on this list?"

Souness leaned forward, looking contemplative. "I like what I've seen from the boy, no doubt. He's confident, he's got a good football brain, but it's still a big ask for him to make the final squad for Brazil. He's young, and the Championship is a tough league, but it's not the Premier League. The step up is huge. Does he have the talent? Yes. Will Hodgson take a chance on him in the final 23? I'm not so sure."

Geoff leaned back, summarizing the discussion. "So, it's clear that Tristan Hale's inclusion has sparked a lot of debate. Whether he makes the final squad or not, this is certainly a young player we'll be talking about for years to come."

The buzz surrounding Tristan was real. Back at Leicester City's training ground, his teammates weren't shocked by the news. For them, this was just the next step in Tristan's meteoric rise. That didn't mean they weren't going to have a bit of fun with him, though.

After the training session, Tristan sat in the locker room, pulling off his boots. Just then, Jamie Vardy came strolling in with a mischievous grin on his face.

"You hear the news?" Vardy asked, leaning against the lockers with a smirk.

Tristan glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "What news?"

"Oh, just that some people on the telly think you're too young and inexperienced to be in the England squad," Vardy teased, his grin widening.

Tristan chuckled and shook his head. "Let them talk. I'm here to play, not listen to pundits."

"Well, I'd agree with that, but I reckon you might need some more experience on your side," Vardy said with a wink before tossing a football toward Tristan. "Come on, let's see what you've got. Show me you're ready for the big time."

Without missing a beat, Tristan caught the ball with his foot and juggled it effortlessly. He grinned as he kept the ball in the air, passing it between his feet with ease.

Vardy crossed his arms, watching with a smirk. "Not bad, not bad. But you know, I'm still quicker than you."

Tristan laughed. "Oh yeah? You want to test that theory?"

Vardy's eyes lit up. "Oh, you're on, mate!"

Before anyone could react, Vardy darted out of the locker room, with Tristan sprinting after him. The pair raced through the training ground corridors, much to the amusement of their teammates, who cheered them on.

"I've got a hundred quid on Vardy!" one of the players shouted.

"Nah, Tristan's been working on his speed, he's catching up!" another chimed in.

The chase didn't last long. Tristan, in top form, managed to corner Vardy near the training pitch. The two shared a laugh as Tristan caught his breath.

"You know," Tristan said, leaning on his knees, "you might be faster, but I'll outlast you every time."

Vardy grinned, slapping Tristan on the back. "We'll see about that in the FA Cup final, eh? Let's see who's got the legs then."

After a tough training session, Tristan sought out Vardy again, catching him just as he was finishing up a shooting drill.

"What? You want to learn shooting from me?" Vardy asked, raising an eyebrow.

Seeing Tristan nod with genuine seriousness, Vardy was taken aback. For a moment, he couldn't believe this kid was only eighteen. How strong does he want to become?

It wasn't the first time Tristan had approached a teammate for advice. The entire squad knew he'd already sought out Mahrez to refine his ball control, specifically focusing on improving his first touch under Mahrez's guidance. His progress had been undeniable—his ball-stopping was smoother, more controlled, and everyone had noticed.

The team's respect for Tristan only grew because of his relentless work ethic and determination to improve. Behind the scenes, his dedication had become infectious, pushing his teammates to work harder in training. Pearson had even publicly praised the squad for their elevated intensity during recent sessions, and much of that shift in energy was credited to Tristan's example.

What surprised everyone was that, despite the clear progress in his game, Tristan wasn't slowing down. Instead of resting on his laurels, he was now asking Vardy to teach him how to shoot.

"Yes," Tristan confirmed. "I've been practicing long-range shots lately, but I realized that while my angles are decent, the power isn't there yet. I want to know how you generate such powerful shots."

"Hold on, I've got a question for you first," Vardy said, leaning on his knee. "Why are you so eager to learn shooting all of a sudden?"

Tristan didn't overthink the question. He shrugged, hands outstretched in a casual gesture. "Because I'm not that good of a shooter yet. I want to score more goals."

Vardy finally understood. Tristan's mindset was simple—improve wherever he felt he was weak. It was refreshing to see.

Tristan's maturity on the pitch was beyond his years, always playing to his strengths and seeking to eliminate his weaknesses. He had no ego about learning from others, even though he was already impressing onlookers and had been included in the World Cup preliminary list.

Unlike other young players who might have been seduced by early success, becoming complacent or distracted, Tristan had shown no signs of arrogance. Instead, he had come straight back to the club, still hungry to get better. And now, here he was, asking for help with his shooting technique.

There were two things Vardy could take away from this. One, Tristan didn't care much about the accolades he'd already received. And two, Tristan wasn't someone who would be easily satisfied—his ambitions were clearly much higher.

This kid is going to be great, Vardy thought, nodding to himself. If he could help Tristan along the way, why wouldn't he? After all, the stronger Tristan became, the more it would benefit him as a teammate.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Vardy finally responded with a grin.

"Alright, I'll teach you how to shoot."

"As for conditions…" Vardy paused deliberately, eyeing Tristan with a mischievous smile. "When we make it to the Premier League, you've got to keep assisting me for more goals!"

Tristan quickly caught on, smiling just as brightly. He extended his hand toward Vardy.

"No problem!"

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Sorry for the short chapter but I was busy with my finals when I was working on this chapter and just didn't put that much effort into it ngl, so just bare with it for the next few chapters.