A Victory in Defeat

They approached each battle,
As fearless warriors,
With the strength of their skills,
And the weaknesses of their opponents.

They were the Magnificient Eleven,
As at each stage the nemesis fell,
With no answers to our heroes efforts,
But just great awe in our admiration.

The Great Day arrived,
All the battles had been won,
Just the finale of the war remained,
At the door step of eternal glory.

But at this eleventh hour,
What has happened,
Is it fear, or the fatigue of battle,
Our heroes are faltering and falling back,
The enemy has seen chinks in their armour,
And are advancing relentlessly.

The day is lost after a great struggle,
All that remains is the,
The shattered dreams,
With a billion tears shed,
But nothing can be taken away,
From our heroes,
For their stand for the nation,
At the gates of sporting glory,
Is itself a Victory in Defeat.