Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 259



Only Noblemtl

Episode 259: Encounter with a Giant

When Korea beat Poland 2-0 in Warsaw.

At this point, the World Cup is less than three months away.

And it is rare for Korea to show such good performance and results ahead of the World Cup.

If we really want to go back in time, it would be around 2002.

Even before the 2010 South Africa World Cup, there were many victories, but they did not provide viewers with the comfortable viewing experience they do now.

The current South Korean national team, at least in the eyes of Koreans, does not look like a team that would lose at all… .

The media was already excited about the advancing Taegeuk Warriors and the best performance since 2002.

And it seems that everyone’s eyes are similar, and similar stories began to emerge in Europe as well.

Some people who were watching Korea closely were shocked to see the match in Europe where Korea was in direct competition with Poland.

“This is not a ‘breakthrough’ level. This is a ‘rapid’ level. What’s really scary is that South Korea doesn’t just have goalkeeper Kim to watch out for. He’s a very special player, but there are a lot of other players to watch out for.”

“We’ll have to watch the match against the Netherlands, but if we look at their performance and results so far, South Korea is a country that will easily make it through the World Cup group stage. Could you briefly show us the group screen that Korea is in?”

When a former member of the Dutch national team pointed to the screen, it showed the World Cup group stage that Korea was in.

Group I. The order of the ports was the United States, Korea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Norway.

“It’s unfortunate for other countries, but Korea will probably advance in first place. The US, Ivory Coast, and Norway will compete for second place, and I think the US will probably take second place. Starting with this World Cup, even the top three countries can advance to the next round, so the ranking battle will be very fierce.”

“Edwin. Korea will now move from Poland to the Netherlands to prepare for our match. If the Netherlands loses, how far do you think Korea will go in the World Cup?”

Edwin van der Sar was silent for a moment before answering the moderator’s question.

“If we beat the Netherlands at home, we could probably make it to the finals. If we show a better performance than expected, I think we could even win the championship. Isn’t Kim a goalkeeper famous for not allowing goals? He hasn’t allowed a single goal in the league, so would it be any different in the World Cup? Unless he intentionally causes injuries… I don’t know.”

“Depending on how Korea performs in this match, their performance in the World Cup could change, Edwin. But Kim is your Manchester United junior, right? He broke the clean sheet you were proud of. What do you think?”

Edwin van der Sar was a former goalkeeper at Manchester United and a close friend of Park Ji-sung.

He was a goalkeeper who reliably guarded the goal during Manchester United’s golden age.

“I don’t really want to cheer for him because he’s so good. I wish he was a little worse. If such a player were to emerge, what would become of the players who had been competing fiercely before? They’d just be like kids arguing?”

“…Are you serious?”

“Half.”

Edwin, who was observing the atmosphere, threw in another joke.

“Maybe the host will have similar feelings as I do when he watches the upcoming Korean War? I can already see what kind of game it will be….”

* * *

After a long and arduous journey, we finally arrived at the Netherlands base camp.

‘How long has it been since I’ve been to this hometown?’

Leon Harpus looked up at the sky, lost in thought. It certainly looked no different from the sky he had seen in Poland, but it seemed different.

“You will have new feelings.”

When I turned my head at those words, there was a Korean coach with an interpreter. Yoo Jin-ho.

He continued with a lively face.

“There is a saying in Korea: ‘Return in glory.’”

“Gold…what did you say?”

I couldn’t understand what it meant because the interpreter translated it directly. Then Yoo Jin-ho laughed and kindly explained it to me.

“It means returning home wearing silk clothes. In simple terms, it means returning home after becoming successful. It’s a four-character idiom that fits the director’s current situation perfectly.”

“I guess it’s like an old proverb.”

“That’s right. Didn’t you become successful in a faraway land like Korea?”

That was right. We were just passing through a long dark tunnel. Of course, if there was to be light beyond this tunnel, we had to do well in the World Cup. That was the prerequisite.

“It seems like the people from your hometown also welcome you.”

The base camp was already lined with Dutch reporters. As soon as Leon was in their sights, the reporters rushed over with their gear without saying a word.

“Director!”

It was a courtesy given to so-called successful people.

The Netherlands, in particular, was very enthusiastic because they remembered the great figure Guus Hiddink having enjoyed great success in Korea 24 years ago.

To them, it was like Hiddink Season 2.

Also, the fact that Korea’s international status has risen to an absurd level since then has played a part.

Even here in the Netherlands, there was no one who didn’t know BTS and the squid game.

“You will be playing against your home country the Netherlands in a few days. How do you feel about it!?”

“It seems like it’s been a long time since you returned to your home country. How do you feel?!”

“Since you took office, Korea has changed so much that I can’t even recognize it. What’s the secret?”

The reporters rushed to the microphone without any order. The questions were all different. Leon had to control his expression before answering (as if nothing happened, like a master), and he answered that they should ask questions in order.

First question. Since Leon took over, Korea’s performance has improved to the level of European powerhouses. What is the secret?

That’s it… … .

‘Thanks to goalkeeper Kim.’

Leon knew better than anyone.

The difference between having Kim and not being there is very clear.

As was the case in the last match against Ghana and even when Kim was not called up to the national team, it was very important for the Korean national team to have Kim as a goalkeeper.

What would a Korean national team be like without Kim… …like an egg without a yolk?

It may seem like a team can change so drastically just by losing one player, but Leon, who experienced it firsthand, knows it to be true.

of course.

People in the same group are expecting a lot, so I can’t tell the truth.

“The Korean players were already complete. What I did after I was appointed to Korea was how to utilize them. The biggest thing I felt was the lack of tactics, and I… … .”

To put it plausibly, the reporters looked at Leon as if they were in love.

Leon spoke very generously with the reporters as if he had been waiting for this moment, and after the interview ended, he went into base camp.

“… A moment like this comes to me too.”

As Coach Yoo said, it’s a new feeling.

And returning to his homeland didn’t just mean a swarm of reporters.

After that, the Korean national team continued training, and as it was covered a lot in the media, the Dutch even came to the training facility to watch the national team training.

There were quite a few.

“Nicholas. It seems we are getting some attention in our homeland.”

The head coach, who was watching the training from the side, nodded and answered.

“It’s not just the Netherlands. The whole of Europe is watching us.”

“It must be because of Kim.”

“That’s true, but the national team’s performance is really good.”

“It’s Kim’s fault too.”

“… … .”

The head coach just scratched his neck as it was an undeniable fact.

And it didn’t stop at just interest; people with deep ties to Korea also visited the training center.

24 years ago. A legendary coach who led South Korea to the World Cup semifinals.

Even at that time, Korea was not as well known as it is now, and was not treated as a remote area.

At that time, Korea was a remote area in Europe. It was just a mountain valley or something like that.

The director who took charge of that place and created the myth of reaching the final four was scheduled to visit here today.

And then, the mythical coach quickly came to the training ground.

“Nice to meet you, Coach Gus Hiddink.”

Leon Harpers greeted former coach Hiddink with a polite and courteous manner.

Hiddink greeted Leon warmly as soon as he saw him.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. I heard you’re causing quite a stir in Korea.”

“You are exaggerating. The players are all excellent, which is why they are getting such good results.”

Hiddink was a difficult person for Leon as well. To him, Hiddink was a legend… .

“There was a manager who got fired because he played poorly despite having the same player pool. Tsk tsk.”

“Are you talking about Jurgen Klinsgel?”

Leon smiled faintly and spoke softly.

“I heard that the coach gave Kim up to the age-group national team. If he had been called up to the senior national team for the Asian Cup… … I would not have been appointed as the head coach of Korea.”

“Haha. That’s lucky.”

“Yes. I was lucky.”

Hiddink looked around for a moment and then said.

“You know what? Even without Kim, with that pool of players, Korea should have won. If nothing else, they should have made it to the finals. If you were the coach, Leon, we would have definitely won even without Kim.”

“Heh heh heh heh… .”

Leon felt a sense of pride deep in his heart. Leon was a director who had traveled around the Middle East and China.

If I hadn’t been able to get the job as a director in Korea, I would have looked at director positions in Southeast Asia.

But now the fallen director is gone.

Although he has yet to complete his career with the South Korean national team, Leon is thrilled to have been recognised by one of the Dutch legends.

“So, are you ready to stab your country in the heart now?”

“yes?”

Hiddink laughed heartily at Leon’s reaction.

“I’m joking. It’s just an evaluation match this time… … but we might actually meet in the World Cup.”

“I hope we don’t have to face my country in the World Cup, but if it actually happens….”

Leon continued speaking as if he had no choice.

“We have to give our best against the Netherlands. I will eliminate my country. If we don’t give our best against the Netherlands, we will be the ones eliminated.”

Hiddink nods his head, seemingly satisfied with those words.

“You’ve become Korean too. You even refer to Korea as ‘we’. Europeans don’t usually use expressions like that.”

“Hahaha. Koreans have something called ‘jeong’. I guess that feeling has rubbed off on me since I’ve been living in Korea.”

“Yes. It’s a country with so many good people… .”

Hiddink, with eyes that seemed to be reminiscing about the past, stood there in silence for a while before speaking to Leon again.

“Oh, my. Look at my mind. An old man reminiscing about the past in front of people.”

“No, it could be.”

“Can I meet the players?”

“Of course. The players are also looking forward to meeting the coach. When we heard in advance that Coach Hiddink was coming, they all looked like excited children.”

Hiddink laughed out loud again.

“Some of them may not have experienced the 2002 World Cup, but they know me. Do you know why? Because the parents of the generation that lived through it tell their children about what it was like back then.”

“It’s like a fairy tale.”

Hiddink nods.

“Leon. If you leave a deep impression on the Korean people at this World Cup, your name will be engraved in their minds for 20 years. I guarantee it.”

“I definitely have to do that. I want to return to Europe like you, Director. Haha.”

“Good. Such human goals are bound to help people grow to the next level.”

“Then let’s go see the players.”

Leon guided Hiddink and thought to himself, “It’s okay if the other players fall off their horses due to injuries, but we must protect goalkeeper Kim.”

If Kim is unable to participate in the World Cup due to injury… … .

‘At best, we’ll make it to the round of 16. We might get eliminated in the round of 32.’

This is completely different from the stage Leon was aiming for. He can never leave it like that.