Chapter 4
?íma
knockout round tomorrow. Mexico. I have watched three hours of film and I have feelings
Ková?
what kind of feelings
?íma
tactical feelings. their right winger cuts inside on every third touch. I've charted it. he is predictable and also very fast, which is a bad combination
Novotny
for us or for him
?íma
for us. predictable and fast means you know what's coming and can't stop it
Polá?ek
that's not great, ?íma
?íma
I am reporting facts. the facts are not obligated to be encouraging
Ková?
their striker is good
?íma
their striker is very good. he uses his body well and his first touch is sharp and I don't like how he finds space behind the midfield line
Hájek
we've handled good strikers before
?íma
we have. I'm saying this one requires attention
Novotny
Mare? will handle him
?íma
Mare? will handle him. yes
Mare?
I've watched the film. his movement off the ball is good. his aerial game is average
?íma
the tower has assessed the target. the aerial game is average. the target has been measured and found shorter than required
Mare?
I didn't say shorter. I said average
?íma
for you, average IS shorter
Polá?ek
are we ready?
Hájek
we're ready
?íma
Hájek says we're ready. that settles it. the captain who is not the captain has declared readiness
Hájek
I'm not the captain
?íma
you have been the captain of every room you've walked into since you were sixteen. the armband is a formality you have never needed
Ková?
that's actually true
Hájek
I just want to play well tomorrow. all of us. together
Novotny
together
Polá?ek
together
Ková?
together. and then barbecue
?íma
Ková?. we are having a moment
Ková?
we can have a moment and also barbecue. these are not in conflict
Mare?
Ková? is right. they're not in conflict
Hájek
okay. early night. everyone off their phones by eleven. Mare?, that includes you
Mare?
I know
Hájek
I'm telling you because you've been up past midnight every night this week
Mare?
I'll be off by eleven
Hájek
good
?íma
for the record. the chat has gotten quieter this week. I've noticed. I'm not going to say anything about it because I was told to leave it and I have left it. but I've noticed
we play well tomorrow. that's the main thing. everything else can wait
Mare?
everything else can wait. yes
Hájek
goodnight
Novotny
night
Polá?ek
night
Ková?
night. dreaming of brisket
?íma
night