Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 306



Only Noblemtl

Episode 306: Inconvenient People

France and Argentina have met quite frequently in recent World Cups.

In fact, it was something of a fate for soccer powerhouses with high FIFA rankings.

As the rounds go on, only the strong teams are eliminated, and as you go up, you end up only seeing familiar countries.

Both France and Argentina are world-renowned soccer powerhouses, and the two countries have already faced each other in three consecutive World Cups, starting with the Round of 16 at the 2018 Russia World Cup in 2022 and 2026.

In 2018, the round of 16. France won with a very exciting score of 4:3. After that, France quickly ran to the final and won the trophy.

In 2022, the final, dubbed the Battle of the Crowns, took place, and Argentina won the trophy after a performance that was hailed as the greatest match in World Cup history.

With such a narrative built up, it is only natural that the eyes of the world would be drawn to them when they meet in 2026.

Argentina fought hard in a situation where France was expected to dominate, but Mbappe, who remembered the pain of last year’s World Cup, showed crazy performance and Argentina eventually lost 2:3 to France.

It was a spectacular match, just like the last World Cup final. The winning goal, which came two minutes before the end of extra time, was also very dramatic.

Kylian Mbappe, who lost the match despite scoring a hat-trick in the final four years ago, scored a hat-trick again in this semi-final and led the team to victory.

The rise and fall were perfect. Loss after a hat trick. This time, victory after a hat trick.

After the match, reporters rushed to Mbappe, who had been awarded the POTM for the match, handed him a microphone and asked him questions.

Most of the questions were related to the semifinals. How do you feel about facing Messi again and winning this time? What do you think about France reaching the finals in all three of the last World Cups? Do you feel pressure as captain? … etc.

Now fully-fledged captain, Mbappe answered almost every question skillfully.

He respected Messi and Argentina, thanked his teammates, and greeted the fans who cheered him on.

And there were also questions about the finals.

“Now France’s opponent in the final is Korea. Korea has been on a miraculous streak, beating Italy, Spain, and now even Brazil. Did you expect Korea to make it to the final?”

“I think many people might think it was surprising that Korea beat Brazil and advanced to the finals, but in my opinion, it wasn’t surprising at all. Korea was a team that could have beaten Brazil. I think the team that was supposed to advance has advanced, and I personally think that Korea is the strongest team in this World Cup.”

And then he adds:

“We will never let our guard down, as they are a team that has beaten Spain, Italy, Senegal, the United States, Norway, and Brazil. Korea may even be a team that is superior to us. And I expected Korea to advance to the finals.”

The reporters were groaning.

And then the question arises again.

“Kim has kept a clean sheet so far. Neymar Jr. almost broke that record, but was ruled out of action by a semi-automatic offside. Can France break Kim’s clean sheet in the final?”

“The schedule for this World Cup is very tight, and as far as I know, Kim played all the matches full-time. Even if he is a goalkeeper, he will be physically stressed, so we have a chance of winning.”

It was a remark that showed more respect than I expected. It wasn’t like they could definitely put it in, but rather a remark that since the opponent’s stamina was low, we could do it too.

And Captain Mbappe’s answer must have been quite shocking to the French reporters. They couldn’t easily move on to the next question.

And one reporter asked this question. Currently, Korea is writing a fairy tale-like story by beating many of the world’s soccer powerhouses as an underdog, so do you think France will become a victim like other powerhouses?

Mbappe laughed at the question and dismissed it, saying, “That won’t happen.”

“Alisson also gave a similar answer before the match against Korea. Korea has been on a fairytale journey, but now the fairytale is over….”

“We are different from Brazil.”

Declare that you are different from them.

Every team that meets Korea says, “We are different,” “Ari is different,” but the ending is similar. We will only know if France is really different on the day of the final… .

* * *

Manchester United’s director of football, Richard Johnson, was amazed at how the North and Central American World Cup went.

“Hmm. I vaguely predicted that this would happen, but I didn’t think it would really happen like this.”

It was like looking at 2016.

It was 10 years ago that Donald Trump made a surprise appearance on the American political scene, and the whole world expected that he would not be elected, but Trump defied all expectations and was elected.

Surprisingly, Korea made it to the finals, but even at this moment, the ruling was ‘France’s victory’.

Richard Johnson couldn’t understand it.

“No matter how you look at it, it seems like Korea will beat France and become the first Asian team to win the championship….”

Richard Johnson was one of the few people who predicted in 2016 that Trump would win, not Hillary Clinton.

It felt like looking at the current flow was like looking back at that time.

Everyone around me is talking about this final, but it looks like France will win… Hmm.

Also, because of his position, Richard often comes into contact with high-ranking FIFA officials.

“This World Cup is really interesting. Japan’s advance to the quarterfinals is impressive, but Korea’s advance… … Is it right to call this ‘advance’? This whirlwind performance is honestly a bit concerning.”

He was an old member of FIFA. Richard hid his feelings and agreed with him, and talked to him more.

“Korea’s reckless behavior… … Well, yes. I didn’t know they would beat Brazil. Now I’m even afraid that they might beat France and win the championship. If an Asian country wins the World Cup as soon as the number of countries increases to 48, wouldn’t that diminish our prestige?”

“I think it is premature for an Asian country to win the World Cup, sir.”

“Yes, 50 years is too early. It may sound discriminatory, but I think that up until now, World Cup winners have to come from Europe or South America. It would be amazing to win the World Cup on another continent, but it doesn’t feel good in terms of box office.”

“Haha. You must have a lot on your mind. Then there might be a slight bias towards France in the final.”

“Well, I don’t think a referee officiating the World Cup final would do something like that. France will probably win based on skill. Haha.”

Disgusting human being.

Richard Johnson thought to himself,

To speak so openly about racism?

Isn’t this beyond racism and national discrimination?

‘Isn’t it? Is it extremely FIFA-like?’

This is a typical FIFA behavior of being displeased when a country that does not contribute to the World Cup promotion advances high, and smiling broadly when a country that does contribute to the promotion advances high.

You must have been smiling brightly at the last World Cup.

And this idea wasn’t just an isolated incident from a single senior official.

Most of the FIFA officials Richard Johnson met were of the opinion that Korea should not win, although their opinions differed in intensity.

Then, suddenly, a thought like that popped into my head.

‘These people… really?’

In a final match that the whole world is watching, you wouldn’t be trying to sneakily push France, would you? No matter what, hey… In this day and age, really?

And the discomfort of the higher-ups was not limited to Korea’s rise to prominence in the World Cup.

“Looking at Kim’s recent actions… … I wonder if the rules should be changed to make it easier to score goals.”

“Are you thinking of changing the rules regarding goalkeepers?”

“Well, that’s not necessarily true… right? Is it really sportingly advantageous to keep a clean sheet that long?”

They were upset that one Asian was monopolizing all the achievements of legendary soccer players by pushing them aside.

‘An organization as big as FIFA is trying to create a special law because of one player’s actions… Don’t they know that by doing so, they’re actually making Kim even greater?’

Let’s say the rules were changed to make it easier for goalkeepers to concede goals. Let’s say that Kim’s record of clean sheets was broken.

Will that be the end of it?

That can’t be true.

If the rules change to the point where Kim concedes a goal, other goalkeepers will be left wide open.

They must know this simple fact, but… …they’ll change it if they think breaking Kim’s clean sheet record is more important.

Then, perhaps the strategy of soccer will change completely. Perhaps, an era will come when scoring 3 or 4 goals in a game will become standard.

And even if that era comes, if Kim keeps a clean sheet,

‘It will be a legend that has never been seen before and will never be seen again.’

This situation was made all the more uncomfortable by the fact that it was Richard Johnson who had recognized Kim and had been pushing hard for the purchase.

I don’t think that will happen, but I was worried that there might be biased judging in the finals.

“Not only is the power an underdog, but the surrounding circumstances are also not good….”

Richard hoped that Korea, where Kim was, would beat France and take the championship trophy. He was also determined to see Korea advance to the finals, so he had already secured VIP seats.

The day before the final, Richard Johnson, who had flown in early, sat there blankly watching interviews with players and coaches from both teams.

There was a notable interview.

Of course, it was an interview with Kim, whom he cherishes.

Other than the striker.

goalkeeper.

[… … Now that the trophy is in front of me, I feel like this is the last chance I’ve been given in my life.]

[I am still very young, but I think the World Cup final is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This time, I will definitely beat France and lift the trophy.]

[That is the duty of our generation… … .]

“This guy is really serious.”

Richard Johnson read the interview and chuckled. What a romantic guy.

Yeah. A man should have that level of ambition.

I am very satisfied and I like it.

It was especially cool to hear the best soccer player in the entire world say that.

From what I’ve seen of the French interviews, they’re generally average. There doesn’t seem to be anything that really grabs you.

‘It feels like we’ve already won the battle.’

Please, I beg you, please don’t mess around in the finals. Please.

* * *

The national team was in a desperate mood ahead of the finals.

Actually, including me.

Because it really is the last one.

‘It’s really the end now. This match is the last of this World Cup.’

It was long and long.

I was overwhelmed with emotions and had all sorts of thoughts as I thought about how this journey that had lasted over a month would finally come to an end with this one game.

When I spoke about the responsibility of the generation in interviews, I didn’t really feel that way.

The more you think about it being the last, the more nonsense you start talking about.

‘The World Cup, the flower of soccer. The last match of that World Cup.’

The opponent is France, which defeated Argentina.

Of course, we are not easy either.

All the opponents we have defeated on our way up to here were countries no less powerful than France.

There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

One thing that worries me a little is physical strength.

I felt it in the semi-finals, but even if I knew in advance and actually reacted, there were parts where my body couldn’t keep up.

There could be variables in that area because his body has not fully recovered from the quarterfinals.

‘Well, you’ll have to take that risk.’

When has that never happened before?

I just block goals, no matter who the opponent is.

Come on in, whether you’re Mbappe or Mbappe’s grandfather.

I’ll block it like an iron wall.