Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 294



Only Noblemtl

Episode 294 Time Attack

As is to be expected, my remarks were instantly broadcast throughout the world.

And the flow continues as I expected.

Even without that, public opinion in Italy was strong that we must defeat Korea, whom we met for the first time in 24 years, and that we must take revenge. So when I gave an interview saying that Italy must respect Korea, all Italians criticized me.

“It’s clear that Kim has the best skills, but his character is flawed.”

“Kim has no respect for his opponents. And we have not been doing well since 2010, but we won the World Cup in 2006. We won the Euros in 2021. Has Korea ever won the World Cup? I think it has been over 60 years since we have even won the Asian Cup!”

Italy’s anger was beyond imagination, and it was difficult to simply treat it as a fever. People tend to roll their eyes when you poke them in the sore spot.

Even if you tell France that you’re terrible at soccer, France won’t mind, but if you say that to a country that’s really bad at soccer, it’s natural for their inferiority complex to explode.

“It feels like my illusions are being shattered when a country that takes pride in its soccer is destroyed like that….”

If a weak team said this outright, you would laugh and click your tongue, but if an opponent you are really up against says this, it is even more frustrating.

[Kim Shin-ah: tsk tsk]

[Kim Shin-ah: Kim Min-woo’s old personality came out again;]

[Kim Shin-ah: I heard they’re cremating Minwoo Ham in Italy. Are you going to see it?]

As befitting an internet phantom, Kim Shin-ah showed off her cremation ritual in Italy.

Burning uniforms was a common occurrence, and there was even a video of me making a doll and burning it.

[Kim Min-woo: Is it really something that needs to be done like this…]

[Kim Shin-ah: Seriously lol]

[Kim Shin-ah: But doesn’t that mean that Europe is that serious about soccer?]

[Kim Shin-a: I heard that soccer is like air in Europe]

[Kim Min-woo: I live in Europe, but I don’t think it’s that bad…]

[Kim Shin-ah: But isn’t this a part that shows how high your status is? Even if Son Hong-min or Hwang Hee-cheon had said that, it probably wouldn’t have been this bad.]

[Kim Shin-ah: But? Since it’s as big as Minwoo Ham, it’s burning there too.]

[Kim Min-woo: Well… that’s true.]

Public opinion in Italy, which was extremely angry at my remarks, concluded that ‘we must defeat Korea in the round of 16.’

Naturally, with this storyline being formed before the match, not only the Italian national team but also Korea was in trouble.

Son Hong-min, who was particularly fond of me, made a face like he was looking at a child who had an accident and said something.

“Minwoo, hold on a little! I know you were trying to cheer the kids up, but hey, your words were too harsh.”

“Was I too honest?”

“Did you really mean that then?”

“It’s half and half, I guess… .”

Anyway, the interview I gave had a big impact. The Italian national team players were also greatly stimulated and even told Kim Min-woo, who was arrogant, that they would punish him and that he should accept it sweetly.

‘Countless kicks are coming.’

Since Italy is not a team known for its offense anyway, there probably won’t be many intentional fouls.

He was going to focus on me, but if that didn’t work out, he could attack other players on the national team. Thinking about it that way, I wondered if I had said something unnecessary.

If the game gets too heated and there are any injuries, it will ultimately be our loss.

Of course, my remarks certainly had a positive impact.

Since it was almost the first time they had met such a big team, the Korean national team was a bit intimidated, but my words gave them confidence and they said, “Italy? Let’s take care of it and go to the quarterfinals!”

Even within Korea, most people defended him, saying that although his remarks were somewhat harsh, they were not wrong.

The two countries, meeting for the first time in 24 years, had a fierce war of nerves even before the match.

Actually, I was the one who initiated it first.

In the official interview, Kim Jun-young said that he was impressed by my interview and added one more thing.

“Kim Min-woo’s remarks continue to be a hot topic. Does your teammate Kim Jun-young have anything to say about that?”

It was a little bait for the reporter.

If you ask, that’s fine, if not, don’t ask.

Kim Jun-young took a bite of that little piece of bait. With a very bright expression.

“This game will remind you of 2002!”

“Oh… to whom?”

“Everyone!”

“But, Kim Jun-young, you didn’t watch the 2002 World Cup, right?”

“I know Korea beat Italy!”

“Uh… … Then what you’re saying is.”

“Yes! Just like our seniors did in 2002, we will win this game too!”

Thanks to Kim Jun-young’s blowing on the dying spark, it was rekindled. Who would have thought that he was a junior from Suyang High School? … Yes. Good job. That’s my little brother.

And the aftermath was the adults’ job.

“We respect Italy. The two Kims of Man Utd are very young players. We need to understand. At that age, they don’t know much about the world and they are at an age where they have confidence that they didn’t have before.”

It was Leon. Leon had evolved like that with a smiling face. But even Leon, like that, had no choice but to answer this question.

“Then do you agree with what those two players said? Do you think Korea can beat Italy and advance to the quarterfinals, Coach?”

“Without a doubt.”

A direct translation would be that there is no room for doubt. Even if my remarks were excessive, there is still no doubt about its sincerity… .

As expected, he’s our director.

* * *

Coach Luciano Spalletti closed his eyes tightly as he watched the situation unfold before the round of 16 match.

Things weren’t good. Things weren’t good.

For Italy, Korea was a special country. There were countless other countries besides Korea that knocked Italy out of the World Cup early, but Korea was the most impressive of them all.

At that time, Italy’s team strength was very strong compared to other countries that had advanced to the World Cup, and in fact, it was one of the strong candidates to win.

And Italy, who were looking forward to meeting Brazil in the final, were eliminated right after reaching the round of 16 of the tournament.

And that too to a country called Korea, which was virtually unknown at the time.

That result did not convince the Italian people. Who could accept that a team with the potential to win the title was eliminated in the round of 16?

In addition, several decisions made during the game further angered the Italian people (only from an Italian perspective).

After that, they won the World Cup and had some fun, but… … Even now, the 2002 World Cup remains a painful memory for Italy.

And then, 24 years later, we were playing against Korea again. As if by a twist of fate, in the same round of 16 as before.

Surprisingly, the goalkeeper, whose name is known all over the world, openly mentioned the 2002 World Cup and provoked Italy.

It was a long time ago so it is now only a memory that brings back heartburn, but there was no Italian who would not be angry when the story was brought up again.

Even young people who had not experienced those times were angry.

And in this situation, if we lose to Korea in the round of 16 again.

‘There will be a tremendous outpouring of anger on the national team. I will be kicked out immediately.’

We must win. We must win.

We can’t afford to lose. Even if it goes into overtime and a penalty shootout, we still have to win.

If they repeat the humiliation they suffered 24 years ago, the anger will rightly be directed at the Italian national team and the man who leads them.

That would certainly be the case, unless there were some ridiculous controversy over a mistrial like that back then.

Before the match, all Italians naturally looked at Coach Spalletti’s mouth. It was a silent message that since Korea provoked him first, he should show a suitable response.

It is true that mic work was definitely necessary in times like these because you cannot go into the game with your momentum down.

*Microphone work (expressing one’s thoughts using a microphone)

After much deliberation, Director Spalletti opened his mouth.

However, we couldn’t say anything too provocative, like we’ll definitely win or that Korea is no match for us (if we did, we wouldn’t be able to handle the aftermath of defeat), so we adjusted the level appropriately.

“We will show the world that Italy is back. It is too early for the Azzurri to go home.”

I answered only to that level.

The reporters looked at Kim with a puzzled expression, but this was for the best.

.

.

After such a suffocating schedule, the day of the match finally arrived.

Coach Spalletti analyzed the Korean team’s strengths and selected the best 11 players to send.

“God, protect us….”

After a light prayer, we entered the stadium.

This is MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

All 82,500 seats for today’s game were sold out.

The intertwined storyline between the two countries is a storyline, but it was also a round of 16 match, and both countries were receiving a lot of attention, so it was natural.

And here in Boston, there were a lot of Italian Americans.

However, not all the spectators gathered here were rooting for Italy. There is a Koreatown here and there are many Koreans.

The Taegeukgi and Tricolore are fluttering here and there.

*Tricolore (Italian flag)

When I took a quick look, I definitely saw more Tricolores than Taegeukgi. That was fortunate. However, the cheering voices… … .

‘Koreans have incredibly loud voices.’

The voices cheering for Italy were so loud that they were almost drowned out.

After many ceremonies, the match began. Italy was the first.

As the game began, coach Spalletti continued to wander around like a dog that needs to poop.

I just couldn’t stand still and watch this game.

‘It’s not just the goalkeeper. The Korean attackers are also ridiculously strong.’

A Manchester United striker. A Tottenham striker. A Wolverhampton striker. An attacking midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain.

If we look at the offensive line, it is by no means inferior to the world’s best teams.

There’s a solid midfield. The two centre-backs are from Munich and Brentford. The goalkeeper goes without saying.

Korea’s only weakness was its fullbacks.

And the lack of fullback resources is a problem that most countries around the world are experiencing.

First, the Italian attack begins.

The players held their positions and moved up in an organized manner.

Coach Spalletti watched the attack with wide eyes, and then the Munich monster cut off the attacking work.

At the same time, a counterattack unfolds in an instant.

Son takes the ball in the middle, turns around and takes one out with a pressure release.

As if that wasn’t enough, he took out two more players. The A side just stood there and got punched in the face.

“What the hell! What are you doing!”

Spalletti, who was watching the scene, screamed. Son continued to run and hit Manchester United’s Kim. As soon as Kim received it, he went back to Son’s space.

As Spalletti watched the scene, his heart sank.

Although Jorginho blocked the shot with his body, it was not enough to create a shooting chance, but if you just watched that scene, it was a perfect attack by Korea and a perfect mistake by Italy.

“Chiesa! Fagioli! What are you guys doing! Come to your senses!”

Spalletti croaked and jumped up and down like a frog. It was impossible to believe that Son, 34, was allowed to run wild like he did in his prime.

Isn’t that appearance exactly that of Son in seasons 18-19? Does it make sense to show that appearance in seasons 25-26?

Spalletti continued to shout encouragement, encouragement bordering on anger.

It was the worst possible outcome, as the goal was not scored.

While developing an attack, the ball was cut off and then counterattacked. Son’s individual skills broke through the defense line and almost resulted in a goal being conceded during a shooting opportunity.

And if they had conceded a goal that way, the game would have been over in the first three minutes.

Coach Spalletti is well aware of goalkeeper Kim’s reputation, and he also knows that the goalkeeper is not only excellent at preventing goals, but is also legendary.

‘I’ll just have to watch a little longer. It’s the first time, so I can let it slide, but if this kind of scene comes up again, I’ll have no choice but to be extremely defensive.’

Catenaccio is a word that symbolizes Italy. If you lock it openly, no matter how strong the opponent’s attack is, they won’t be able to break through.

But then I’m worried…

‘Fuck. Even if we take it to a penalty shootout, the odds of winning are less than 20%.’

The problem is that the opposing goalkeeper, Kim, is a goalkeeper who shows his true worth in penalty shootouts.

I had to somehow score before the penalty shootout and decide the game. My heart started pounding with anxiety as I thought about that.

‘What the hell kind of difficulty level is this?’

Attack counts as attack, defense counts as defense… …Fuck.

Spalletti shook his head and sighed. He desperately wanted a cigarette.