Tales of the Tournaments

11 August 2023

Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington

Spain vs. the Netherlands

"Having to play without van de Donk, it's been ten years since she hasn't been in the starting eleven. At every major tournament, she's played in every game--"

Daan sat in their box in the stadium, a spectator, dressed down and out of uniform for once. She was sitting by Sari's side, the two less recognizable, less remarkable dressed as Dutch fans for the time being. When the announcer spoke about her playing streak, she turned her face into Sari's shoulder, exhaling.

"Shh, little girl," Sari murmured. "I know. I know."

"Esther Gonzalez, wearing the captain's armband, almost gave Spain the lead."

Daan cursed under her breath, and Sari tapped her lip gently.

"Watch it, little one, we've barely started."

"I should be out there, Sari," Daan whispered, feeling her anxiety rise. Sari stroked her hair gently.

"But you aren't, and it's entirely your own fault. Trust them to do their best without you."

Daan hung her head, cheeks flushed, and then looked up, watching her teammates and their opponents anxiously.

Trust them. She would have to try.

The ball went back and forth between the Netherlands and Spain's possession as Daan watched, on the edge of her seat. She gripped her knees, hands shaking, as Spain's Alba Redondo powered a header toward the goal.

"And it's off the post! Redondo almost gave Spain the lead there!"

Daan let the breath she'd been holding go. She tensed as Aitana Bonmati took possession, and tried for a shot.

"Wide!"

"This is going to kill me," Daan muttered, for Sari's ears alone as the retired player comforted her.

A couple minutes later, a head-on collision had Daan nearly out of her seat.

Lineth Beerensteyn and Laia Codina were down.

Daan wasn't thrilled with how often Lineth had been running her mouth lately, and if she'd had anything to do with it, she would have benched Lineth today for the comments she'd given to the press about the US Women's National Team earlier in the day. But no, Lineth had been in the starting eleven while she had been not only benched, but suspended, in deep disgrace.

Now Lineth was on the ground holding her head, and Codina was in much the same condition.

Daan was on her feet, leaning over the railing anxiously as the two were worked on. When they were given permission to return to playing, she sat down, and Sari squeezed her thigh.

"There, there, little one," she murmured. "See, Lineth and Codina are alright."

"I don't know that a head on collision is alright, Sari," Daan whispered, shaking her head. She resolved to keep an eye on the situation as best she could.

First Esther Gonzalez, then Caldentey, had chances to put Spain ahead, but both efforts on goal failed. The first half hour of the match had gone by still scoreless, but with more than enough action to suit Daan already.

"Maybe that knock will have smacked sense into Lineth's head, Sari."

"We can only hope."

"Player down, that's Groenen, and a foul."

Daan had to be forcibly kept in her seat by Sari, as Aly put in, "That just got ugly. Hernandez just got a yellow card while we were on replay."

"Hernandez will miss the next game if Spain advances, due to yellow card accumulation," JP replied.

Daan did not feel at all sorry for Hernandez, she thought. After all, if she deserved this punishment, Hernandez deserved it just as much, for what she'd just done to Jackie. But before long, play resumed, a flood of Spaniards heading toward the goal. Esther Gonzalez swept the ball forward, though Daan didn’t think it looked right - not just because she didn’t want it to be right, but Esther looked offside to her.

"Gonzalez puts it in the net, and Spain is on the board!"

No, Daan thought, mind racing. No, no, no. She shook her head in disbelief. "That can't be right," she protested to Sari. "You saw, she wasn't--"

"Calm down, little one. They're checking," Sari said firmly, squeezing Daan's shoulder and rubbing comfortingly. 

The check went to VAR, and after a review, Esther Gonzalez was declared offside, Spain's lead taken away.

Daan exhaled in relief.

Esther took another chance on the goal a few moments later, but it ricocheted off the post, and was passed between Dutch and Spanish possession, neither side getting quite as good a chance as that again for the last few minutes of the half.

The quarterfinal headed into halftime still scoreless, and while JP praised the Spaniards as being the better team, Aly spoke up saying the Dutch would no doubt be relieved that at least they weren't trailing.

"I'm glad of that," Daan admitted quietly. "But to have to watch like this - Sari, I belong out there."

"Then stop getting yellow cards," Sari said reprovingly. 

Daan sighed.

The halftime whistle blew, and Daan got up, heading for the door of their box.

"Danielle van de Donk, where do you think you're going, young lady?"

"I need to see the girls."

"You do not." Sari shook her head. "You are in disgrace, Danielle. The team is not your problem right now."

Daan blushed.

"But Ellie--" 

Daan had barely spoken when she heard hammering on the door of the private box, and with a disgusted eyeroll, Sari went to answer it.

The blonde whirlwind that flew past her into Daan's arms made her sigh.

"Speaking of," Sari muttered. "Where have you been?"

"Security," Ellie grumbled. "They're stupid. And they wanted to call my Top and I said you were up here but they didn't believe me."

Daan raised her eyebrows. "What the hell did you do?"

"In my defense, you left me unsupervised."

Sari threw herself back in her seat. "Do I have to call Kerr?"

"No," Ellie sputtered.

"Why were you giving security problems, Ellie Madison Carpenter?" Daan asked, sitting Ellie on her lap and holding her firmly.

Ellie sighed. "Because my ID, obviously, says I'm one of the Matildas. Which I am. And they say the Matildas all belong in Brisbane right now, because we're going to play France tomorrow. Which we are. But that doesn't mean I have to be in Brisbane right now when my girlfriend's team is playing today."

"To which they said, but you're not playing. And I said no, but that didn't mean you weren't here. Already. Waiting. For. Me. And that they're a bunch of stupid…erm, effing, cu--" 

Ellie had the sense to snap her mouth shut as Sari looked sharply at her. 

"Well. Anyway. I called them that. And they said I could either go to lockup or they'd call my Top to get me, and I reminded them, I just told them you were here in the box and they could look instead of just not believing me." She scowled. "So they checked, and they called Mummy Sam, and then they said fine, I could come up to the box, since Miss Sari was here too, and I had to give her their stupid note." She kicked the leg of Daan's chair. "They didn't even say sorry for not believing me."

Sari raised an eyebrow at that.

"A note, little one?"

"I don't want it," Ellie sniffled. "They were mean and it was like they were trying to arrest me like I was a bad girl, and I'm not bad, Miss Sari, and they called me a liar and they didn't listen, and--"

"Shhh." Daan let her own frustrations go in the wake of Ellie's needs, rubbing a firm hand down Ellie's back. "Settle, mijn lieverd. I believe you, that they were mean and unfair and said those hurtful things," she cooed sympathetically. "And that wasn't good of them at all. But being rude to the authorities won't get you any better off, Ellie-love, even when they are wrong."

Ellie sniffled miserably. "I know."

"So they gave you a citation, hmm?" Daan prompted, and Ellie fished the balled-up note, on pink paper, out of her pocket, handing it reluctantly to Sari.

The retired goalkeeper smoothed the crumpled note and looked down at the scrawl on the official form, piecing it out. "You're being cited for obstructing security officers in their duties, using abusive language, and being uncooperative." She sighed, shaking her head. "And given a choice between one of the Classification Centre officials at the stadium handling you, and me - well, you know me, a little." 

"Uh huh," Ellie said quietly. "You're Daan's Miss Sari."

"I am," she nodded.

"Does it say what you have to do with her?" Daan asked, and Sari nodded.

"She might have cut herself off when repeating what she told them, but you know what she was about to say, don't you, Danielle."

"I have a fair guess," Daan said. "To be absolutely fair, it can be a much milder word Down Under, they shouldn't have over--"

"Not you too, Danielle, I won't have you excusing her," Sari said warningly. "Even here, it depends on tone, and Ellie knew exactly what she was saying and how she was saying it. It was every bit as rude as it was taken to be."

Ellie swallowed hard, blushing in shame. "Are you going to have to wash my mouth out, Miss Sari?" she asked with a grimace, hoping not. "Or...or HotShot?" That would be just as bad, or worse.

"Oh no, not at all, little one," Sari assured her, and Ellie sagged in relief.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"I wouldn't thank me just yet, darling. Bring me my bag."

Ellie slipped reluctantly off Daan's lap and went to fetch Sari's bag from the back of the room, dragging her feet as she brought it over.

Sari ignored the various implements inside it, taking out a paper bag and putting it on the table beside her chair. "Have you and Daan experimented with Daly's little gift yet?" she inquired, making Ellie's eyes widen.

"Um..." She blushed to the roots of her blonde hair. "Yes, a little bit."

"How did that feel?"

Ellie sucked on her lower lip, not sure where this line of questioning could be going. "It felt strange at first, but it wasn't bad after a while. But I don't see how that's relevant," she protested.

"Did Daan smack your bottom with it in?"

"Sari!" Daan was blushing now too. "Why are you asking--" Suddenly it clicked for her, and she saw what Sari had taken out of the bag. "Oh god no, Sari, please, she's going to die."

"This is what they asked for," Sari replied quietly. "And if she's already had something back there, so much the better. I would hate for this to be her first time. But it still won't kill her. Unless - she's not allergic to ginger, is she?"

Ellie's eyes shot open. "No, but Miss Sari!"

"You used abusive language against the authorities, Ellie," Sari said quietly. "Yes, you had every right to be upset. But it's what you do with that upset that matters, and bratting to security is always, always going to get you a hot bottom. And spicy language, as it were, demands a spicy response."

"Can't it just be HotShot?" Ellie asked pleadingly.

"That's what I would have done, darling," Sari agreed, giving Ellie's shoulder a gentle, sympathetic pat. "But orders are orders. They ordered this."

Ellie swallowed hard.

"I'm right here, mijn lieverd," Daan said softly, rubbing Ellie's back. "I know you're not eager to have this over with, but the longer you argue with Sari, the more likely it is that we'll miss some of the second half."

Ellie grimaced. "Can't we wait until after?"

"Sari's going to have to go down to the locker room after, and deal with whatever we find there," Daan pointed out. "It's already not looking good for Lineth."

"That's because she's a--that's because she's mean," Ellie hastily corrected herself.

Daan leaned in and kissed Ellie in reassurance. "She's also not your problem, mijn lieverd. Sari will do just fine managing her."

"I just wish she could manage her instead of me," Ellie sighed, and Sari rubbed her shoulder gently.

"I know you were provoked, sweetheart, but orders are still orders. Try not to clench up and we'll make this as easy for you as we can, alright?"

"There's nothing easy about it," Ellie sputtered, and Sari sighed.

"Well, no. But we'll try, little one. We know you're not a bad girl at heart, and this was just not a good situation overall. I don't like temper tantrums, and I really don't appreciate cursing, Ellie, but trust me, I do understand that they were at fault too. Truly I do." Sari cupped Ellie's cheek, stroking stray tears away as they slipped out. "It's going to be alright, little one. But it can't be over until we get started."

"Can Daan hold me?" Ellie asked meekly, and Sari nodded.

"Of course she can," Sari promised. Ellie melted into Daan's arms, and the Dutch woman seated herself by Sari again, gently easing Ellie down over both their laps. Ellie's head and upper torso rested on her thighs, and Daan rubbed Ellie's back gently, trying to distract her as Sari bared the young Australian's bottom.

Ellie still noticed, though, and let out an anxious whine.

"I know, mijn lieverd, my brave girl," Daan soothed. "I've got you, just hold on to me, I want you to take a breath when I tell you, alright?"

Ellie swallowed and nodded, clinging to Daan.

"There we go," Daan murmured, stroking her hair. "Breathe in for me, Ellie," she instructed, trying to distract Ellie from Sari.

The former keeper had taken a plug of peeled ginger out of the bag, not much different in size from the plug Daan had been given to use on Ellie. Of course the birthday gift had been a normal plug, not a ginger one. Those were special, generally used only in officially ordered punishments. Sari wouldn't ordinarily use ginger plugs, though she had been made to keep them on hand in case security or other officials should command their use for a punishment spanking.

"Alright, Ellie-love," Daan said, as Sari brought the plug, slick with its own juices, into contact with Ellie's bottom cheeks. "Breathe out." 

Ellie had squirmed at the cold tip probing between her bottom cheeks, but she obeyed, and stifled a squeal as Sari slid the ginger plug all the way in. She kicked and squirmed, and whined frantically.

"Daan make it stop, it's horribly awful already,"

"Shhh, settle, lie still mijn lieverd," Daan cooed. "Relax, don’t clench. I know you don't want to, I know it burns, but you're just spreading it around more when you move."

Gulping back tears, Ellie did her best to lie still.

"There's my good girl," Daan soothed, stroking Ellie's hair. 

Ellie relaxed her bottom, and then the first spank fell, Sari's hand landing right on top of the ginger plug. Ellie yelped at the impact, trying to twist out of the way so that Sari ended up having to pin Ellie's legs between her own to hold the squirming girl still. Daan pressed a comforting, restraining hand on Ellie's back, using the other to rub her shoulders reassuringly. 

"I've got you Ellie, mijn lieverd," she soothed as the spanking continued. Ellie sobbed desperately as the burn spread both on the outside and inside of her bottom, and there was nowhere to go to escape it.

Two dozen swats total - twelve to her bottom cheeks, six more to her sit spots and three, gentlest of all, to the top of each thigh - but with Sari's hand, that was more than enough. They hadn't been delivered at Sari's full strength, but with the addition of the plug, that really didn't make much difference to Ellie. 

"Sorry, sorry, I'm sorry, I'll be a good girl forever, I'll try, I promise I will," Ellie wept frantically, and when the prescribed two dozen swats had been given, Sari stilled her hand.

"Of course you will, Ellie," she soothed. "Of course. It's alright little one, One more deep breath for me." 

Ellie did her best to catch her breath and obey, and then the plug was gone, though the burn still lingered.

"Sorry," Ellie whimpered, and Daan lifted her up, tugging her clothes back into place over her sore bottom.

"Shhh, mijn lieverd. It's alright," Daan cooed, petting Ellie's hair and settling her girlfriend in her lap. "It's alright darling, you took it all as bravely as you could, and you're sorry, and it's forgiven." She kissed Ellie gently, cuddling her close.

The match, Ellie finally noticed, had resumed at some point while Sari was spanking her, and Damaris Egurrola, Daan's replacement in the starting eleven, was down injured, though she recovered quickly. Damaris was also yellow carded, though neither Ellie, Daan, or Sari could be sure of why in the moment.

Then, too quickly to make sense of why, Jackie Groenen was down, writhing on the pitch. This threw the Dutch into disarray, and as Jackie was worked on, Stefanie van der Gragt tried for the ball.

However, the ball was called a handball, double checked by VAR and confirmed.

"Penalty for Spain, to be taken by Caldentey."

Daan groaned, cuddling Ellie on her lap. The groan turned into the urge to swear, as Caldentey's shot sailed right past the keeper.

Goal.

Spain 1-0 in the 81st minute. The first quarterfinal of the World Cup was winding to a close, and the Orange Lionesses had nothing to show for it but a slew of injured players.

"What this Dutch team is missing is the leadership of van de Donk and her cooperation with Martens," they were saying, and Daan's cheeks flushed red in humiliation as she listened. On the one hand, it was nice to hear that Aly Wagner thought she and Lieke together were the cornerstone of this team, the key that made their team great.

However, in the context of pointing out why one of those vital keys was missing, the humiliation burned through her nearly as badly as Ellie's bottom burned.

"With the Dutch, you have to gamble now or your World Cup will be over," JP was saying. "Less than ten minutes to go and some stoppage time. Hard challenge from Spitse--" 

Daan was hard-pressed to sit still, especially when Sherida was in the thick of things and she wanted to be out there helping her captain, but Ellie squirming on her lap kept her in her seat. She wrapped an arm around Ellie, hushing her gently.

"It's going to be alright, mijn lieverd, I've got you."

"But what if it isn't?" Ellie asked anxiously, pressing close to her. "What if Sherida doesn't get it?"

"Unfortunate, that call against van der Gragt, but it was the correct call," JP said, referring back to the penalty which had got Spain their goal. Daan seethed quietly.

No doubt Stefanie would be in a world of trouble, she thought, especially if something as careless as a handball cost them their World Cup. Probably Stef's bottom was already tingling. 

"First time the Dutch have trailed in this tournament, they are minus the suspended van de Donk, so their backs are up against the wall."

Sari had Daan's thigh in a firm grip.

"Do not."

Daan sighed and glared in the general direction of the announcer's box. "Someone shut him up."

"Beerensteyn on the attack, in the box--Shot stopped, nothing on it in the end," JP said, and Daan groaned. True, Lineth had been charging around the field, doing her best to get the ball past Spain. The defense might be easy for Lineth to work around, but then there was keeper Cata Coll, and Coll was unstoppable.

Unless someone other than Lineth could stop her. For all the hard work she was doing, Lineth really had nothing to show for it. Daan grumbled. "All big mouth and no finish," she grumbled. "If I was out there--"

"But you're not," Sari said firmly. "You are important to this team, Daan, but it is not essential for you to be there for them to win. You won't be there forever."

Daan scowled.

"Beerensteyn right there, does not test the goalkeeper at all," Aly was saying. "She could have slid it across for Snoeijs as well, but she didn't, choosing to keep it for herself."

"Idiot," Daan muttered. Katja, who'd come on for Sherida a couple minutes ago, had been in a much better position to get past Coll, if Lineth had just given her the chance.

"Spain have to be careful, though," JP was saying. "One moment of brilliance here by the Dutch and it's tied."

Ellie raised an eyebrow. "That's surprisingly complimentary," she said as she snuggled on Daan's lap, still trying to ignore her sore bottom. "He seems to favour Spain mostly."

Daan petted Ellie's hair, cuddling her close. "Spain are doing a good job," she allowed reluctantly, as the ball continued to head back and forth between the teams. "But we need to do a better one."

"We can do a better one," Sari remarked, stroking Daan's hair reassuringly. "There may not be much time, but it's enough." 

Exhaling, Daan watched as the minutes ticked down. Eighty-eight. Eighty-nine.

"Beerensteyn shot--WIDE," JP called, and Daan rolled her eyes as Lineth flopped down on her back, pulling her jersey up over her face.

"Oh, get up," Daan grumbled. "We don't have time for that."

"In stoppage time," JP cut across as Lineth got to her feet. "Twelve minutes, incredible!"

Daan's jaw dropped. Twelve minutes? 

"Well, now you definitely have time to win," Ellie said reasonably, feeling better about it already.

Or Spain had time to make the lead even greater, though none of the three in the box wanted to think about that.

"Let's hope," Daan agreed, hugging Ellie close. 

"Welcome to the Men's World Cup in Qatar," JP was saying. "Double digit stoppage time has the Dutch thrilled. Not so much for Spain."

Sari rolled her eyes at the comparison. 

"Well, if the men get double digit stoppage time, we should too, it's fair," Ellie ventured.

"M-hmm," Daan agreed.

"In the space - maybe something here - " JP sounded excited. "Van der Gragt - 1-1!" Horns blared and cheers rang throughout the stadium, and Ellie jumped up, Daan behind her, a wave of relief sweeping through Daan.

Stef had redeemed herself. Oh, she'd still have some trouble for the handball, Daan didn't doubt. But while she was responsible for Spain getting the chance to score, she'd scored too, and Sherida wouldn't forget that.

Spain tried to appeal, calling it offside, but on review it was clearly not. The strike was Stef's first in a while not to be a headed strike, she'd used her foot to fire the ball in past Coll from an extremely difficult angle. Still, it had been entirely legal, and the goal stood.

Nine minutes of stoppage time left.

Play continued, and they made it through the rest of stoppage time without further goals.

"1-1, going into extra time."

Daan swallowed hard.

Now they had to win this, she thought. She hoped.

But though there was plenty of action through those first fifteen minutes, there was no further score.

There was a short break called before the second period of extra time would begin, and Daan exhaled slowly.

"If this goes to penalties--"

"Don't, Daan," Ellie said softly. "Someone's going to score. I'm sure of it." They didn't want it to go to penalties, after all.

As they broke for the extra time halftime, Stef was subbed off for Kerstin Casparij, and a few minutes later, Daan was letting Stef into the box.

"What are you doing up here?"

"Hiding from Sherida."

"Hiding from Sherida by practically running into Miss Sari's arms?"

Stef grimaced. "Didn't think of that."

"Well, it's not like there's much time left anyway, but you're welcome to spend it with us if you want." Daan led the defender to a seat by her and Ellie.

"What happened to you, little one?" Stef noticed Ellie's squirming and fidgeting.

"Security happened, and Miss Sari happened," Ellie stared at her lap. "And it was awful, and she has more of those things."

Stef raised an eyebrow.

Daan handed Stef the citation by way of explanation. Stef read it, and her eyebrows went up. "She used a ginger plug on Ellie? And there's more of those things?"

"There are," Sari agreed. "Security aren't the only officials who might order their use, either."

Stef looked alarmed. "What."

"VAR officials and the referees may suggest their use in the quarterfinals on forward for major offenses."

"Suggest," Stef repeated. "But it's still at captain's discretion, like always?"

Sari nodded. "Unless the behaviour is for an offense like Ellie's. On-field offenses are still at the captain's discretion to handle." 

The second half of extra time began, and Spain had the ball early, Salma Paralluelo taking a chance at it. But the Dutch recovered it quickly, and Lineth Beerensteyn headed for the goal again - wide, at the last second. Everyone had been certain, including the announcers, that it would go in, giving the Netherlands the all-important lead.

But it hadn't, and Lineth flopped down on her back again, groaning.

"We need her on her feet, not on her back," Daan grumbled. "Can she save the dramatics for the locker room please."

"Player down for the Netherlands," JP was saying, and Daan ran to look.

It was Katja Snoeijs, brought down by Paredes. Katja was quickly back on her feet, though from her grimacing she was not at all happy to be so.

"1-1 game, battle continues, 110th minute," JP was saying. "Spain and the Netherlands both trying to get out to face the winner of Japan vs. Sweden, to be held later today in Auckland. Beerensteyn, yet again - cleared away. Paralluelo looking, takes her shot off the post - GOAL! Spain leads!"

Daan buried her facei n her hands as Spain mobbed their team youngest, the teen swept up in a wave of jubilant celebration.

We have four minutes to do something, or this is over, Daan thought numbly.

"Well, you no longer have the option to throw van der Gragt up top," Aly was saying, and Daan heard Stef groan behind her.

"Now you know how I've been feeling all game," Daan said with a grimace. Stef nodded, standing beside Daan as the two watched together.

"I wish I was still out there."

"I wish I'd been out there at all, but there's nothing we can do about it, Stef."

The ref's whistle rang out.

"Beerensteyn collides with the goalscorer Paralluelo. Paralluelo is down," JP was saying. 

"She didn't get carded for that?" Daan's eyebrows went up. "That was obviously on purpose."

"Ref probably doesn't fucking care at this point," Stef said. "Though I can't say I mind our teammates not getting carded. Although, well, it's Lineth."

"She's never going to learn if she's never disciplined," Daan muttered.

Sari smiled grimly. "Oh, she will be, my girls. Don't you worry about that, Danielle."

"She better be, she just knocked a kid to the ground and the ref didn't do anything about it," Daan fumed. "Though obviously I don't want to give Spain the chance to score again, either, but, well, she's a fucking kid."

"A nineteen year old kid that broke our tie with Spain," Stef pointed out. "Though that doesn't excuse Lineth at all."

"No it doesn't," Daan agreed.

The last few minutes didn't matter.

There was no further score. 

Spain would advance, and Daan's last chance of coming back into the World Cup was gone.

She returned to her seat, and Ellie scrambled back into her lap, hugging her hard.

"It's over," Daan said quietly.

"Not for me, love. You'll stay for me, won't you?" Ellie pleaded.

Daan looked at Sari. "Can I, Miss Sari?"

She nodded, and Daan exhaled in relief.

"Come on then."

Sari stood up, picked up her bag, and beckoned her charges, for the moment including Ellie. The three younger women trailed after Sari, leaving the box and heading all the way down to the tunnel.

Security, naturally, got in the way, about to say something when they saw Ellie again.

However, when they saw Sari van Veenendaal, the former Dutch goalkeeper and captain, fully in 'Miss Sari' mode, they beat a hasty retreat.

"That's better," Sari muttered, leading her girls into the tunnel and keeping a hand on Ellie's shoulder.