Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 120



Only Krnovel

Episode 120 Second Debut

The practice match ended with an overwhelming victory for the starting lineup, 3-0.

There is no point in a game where you get beaten unilaterally, but the evaluation from those around you doesn’t seem to be bad.

‘Hey, you played ball?’

‘Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Junsu get properly robbed.’

‘What? It didn’t get loose?’

‘How many times have I covered the side? It wasn’t just a little bit of hair, there wasn’t even a drop of water left.’

A series of evaluations… …not bad.

It went better than I expected.

It was even more so when you consider that playing practice matches does not dramatically improve one’s condition, and that they chose flashiness over a competitive spirit or refined individual skills.

Of course, if you play like this in Cologne, you’ll probably get a few bowls of abuse from Hannes Dold (power analyst).

It may look flashy on the outside, but it’s actually just a waste of energy. Can you really climb up to the goal by yourself?

Because when there are no allies at all, he must have given a long speech about switching to a slow attack.

Oh, I agree with him 100%. Considering Cologne’s tactics, dragging the ball in your own half is practically a ticket to the second division.

But it is also true that it goes well with the counterattack tactic after defending, so I return to my accommodations feeling secretly satisfied.

Then, suddenly, the director’s remarks in the hallway gave me something to think about again.

‘Hello… … Oh, you don’t know Korean. Hi!’

‘… … Hanul.’

He called my name in the awkward way that is typical of foreigners for a moment. He looked at me with a blunt expression, then put the interpreter who had just followed behind him in front.

‘Oh, Seong Ha-neul.’

‘You can talk comfortably. We’re not just seeing each other for a day or two.’

‘… … Haha, right. Then I’ll talk comfortably.’

‘yes.’

‘The manager asked me if I had ever played as a centre-forward. As a striker.’

That was a really weird question.

Center forward?

Of course there is.

During my youth, no, even during my time in the second team, my main position was a striker.

‘Yes. Before I was promoted to the first team, I always played as a striker. Center forward… … .’

‘… … ?’

But is that all the director wants?

I use my keen sense to buy time by trailing off, and soon I can figure out what the other person is thinking.

If Cologne wanted a targeting striker, a so-called big, monster-type attacker, the national team was almost the opposite.

In other words, since the bowling alley belongs to Jo Gyu-min and the finishing ability belongs to Jo Yeong-guk, what I have to appeal to is… … .

‘… … No, I played a different role. I usually played as a deep-lying forward, but I changed flexibly depending on the situation. I played with a focus on breaking through and linking up, spreading out to both sides.’

‘Oh, Pulse Nine?’

‘No, that’s not it. Pulse Nine is called the fake number 9. I always play the real part.’

‘… … .’

The interpreter gave him a salty look, but at least coach Mauri Mendes looked satisfied.

The reason he asked such a question could be found out the very next day, during the 9th match of the final World Cup qualifier against Iran.

* * *

Sangam World Cup Stadium, Seoul.

It wasn’t until I entered the venue I’d only seen on TV an hour before the game that I finally realized I was a member of the national team.

The welcoming crowd at the airport, the Paju NFC, and meeting and greeting the players made me feel that the atmosphere at the stadium was that special.

Wow!

Even though the game is at 8pm on Thursday, the stands are already filling up with spectators.

Because of the cold weather, everyone’s clothing was different, but colorful cheering accessories, such as mufflers with red devil designs and fluorescent horn-shaped headbands, stood out.

As time passed and the roster of players was introduced, the enthusiasm reached its peak.

[Next, we will introduce the players from the Korean national team!]

Gyaaaah!

Immediately after the red background and tiger pattern appear on the scoreboard, jersey numbers and player photos appear in order.

Starting with the goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders, forwards, and lastly the team captain Son Eung-min, it was fun to see the different levels of cheering for each player (especially the last one), but I was even more excited because my name hadn’t been announced yet.

So how popular am I?

I have a conscience, so I don’t expect the loudest cheers, but no matter what, I couldn’t accept anything less than third place.

“… … Hey, hey! Seonghaneul!”

“Huh?”

“What the heck.”

The moment the list of candidates is announced.

When I turned my head at the sound of my name being called, I saw Kim Min-je making a dumbfounded expression.

“What are you doing? Don’t you want to loosen up?”

“uh…….”

“You have to watch while receiving the ball. Inma is really absent-minded.”

The surrounding players and coaches were laughing at the tone that was a mixture of dialect and humor, but I hesitated, not knowing how to respond.

We hadn’t had a proper conversation in the past two days, and he had a square face and was tall and bulky… I didn’t know what to call him.

Everyone used to call me hyung.

Why are there people like that?

They tell me to be comfortable, but I hesitate.

“No, that’s-”

Wow!

Oh, I missed it.

When I looked back, my image was reflected on the scoreboard and then disappeared in an instant.

This photo was taken upon arrival at Paju NFC. Although I was able to see the results right there, I wanted to see what it would look like on a large screen.

“Hey, why are you bullying the youngest?”

“When did I ever bully you?”

“You just harassed me~ You saw it all from the beginning!”

“Wow, did I bother you?”

“Whew… … .”

“… … .”

“No, that’s not it… … .”

The timing of the sigh is so exquisite that the difficulty is doubled.

The castle sky of Cologne was not like this.

Whether it was because of the formality or the broader cultural differences, there were times when I found myself shrinking without realizing it.

Well, still, the audience’s cheers were quite loud.

That’s it.

And after a while, I take my place on the bench with the candidates. Every single step is full of wonder.

[Until the East Sea and Mt. Baekdu dry up and wear away.]

The national anthem I heard at school when I was young was incredibly boring, but the song that resonated throughout the stadium was truly majestic.

How loud are the cheers after the lyrics end?

Although Cologne’s home stadium is by no means small in size, the Seoul World Cup Stadium somehow had a heart-pounding feeling.

“I guess this is what they call patriotism.”

“……what?”

“I’m just talking to myself. I won’t take criticism.”

Jae-young, who is sitting right next to me and can be said to be my closest friend on the national team, makes a puzzled expression, but I quickly cut him off.

Because being teased is something I don’t like.

But anyway, the game starts with the referee’s whistle. We sit side by side on the bench and exchange opinions on the performance of both teams.

“I think I can win if I try hard.”

“That’s right. I can’t use my strength at all.”

It is an undeniable truth.

Thud, thud, thud.

As the cheering squad’s drumbeats resonate, the national team continues its one-sided attack, blocking the midfield.

Both teams have the same tactic: 4141.

The match was exactly the same as the practice match, and although he wavered for a moment in the beginning and took a shot, it wasn’t even a valid shot.

“We completely ate up the center. Even if we tried to counterattack… … we were blocked by Min-je and Yeong-geon. If we just scored the first goal, the rest would be easy.”

“I think it’s because I’m worse than I thought.”

“Those Iranian kids?”

“Yes. I think it’s because there’s no player like Sung Ha-neul from yesterday. The counterattack isn’t very good.”

“… … You really say things like that. Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“People with low self-esteem are embarrassed. I’m not like that.”

“… … .”

“… …What are you doing?”

“No, I thought a cute youngest came in, but it seems like he disappeared overnight.”

Jae-young hyung tried to tease me with exaggerated nods, but it was a futile attempt. I wasn’t lying.

It’s not that Iran’s wingers occasionally tried to counterattack, but our defense showed incredible stability after about 10 minutes in the first half.

So much so that it feels boring at first glance.

If they lose the ball after a hard-fought possession, they apply strong forward pressure and, if the opposing defender quickly kicks it away, they regain possession in the defensive area.

And again, the repetition of ‘beating up’.

If I had to point out a problem, it would be that no goals were scored until 20, 30, or 40 minutes had passed.

Even in the first half of added time, Son Eung-min, wearing the captain’s armband, scored a mid-range goal to put an end to all worries.

Taking advantage of an opposing midfielder’s mistake, he intercepted the ball and shot from near the left penalty box, aiming for the left side of the goal… …but the ball bounced off the goalkeeper’s hand and went in.

Whaaaa, whew!

Amidst all the noise, the player who scored runs towards the corner flag and celebrates the goal.

I also stand up and applaud.

Of course, my head was full of other thoughts.

That’s good.

That’s great.

But when do I go in?

The answer comes about halfway through the second half.

“Holy Sky!”

“yes!”

Instead of going into the locker room at halftime, I warmed up on the field with a few players, and before long I was called by the coaches.

The game was completely turned around with the additional goal scored around the 63rd minute. Therefore, it was time to use the substitution card to maintain the current flow of the game.

The interpreter also conveyed the same message.

“You will take the top right seat.”

“Right saw?”

“Yeah. The one on the left is Jo Gyu-min, but their roles don’t overlap, so don’t worry about him. As long as their spheres of activity don’t overlap, that’s fine.”

The only problem is that the head coach gave the order instead of the manager, but… …it doesn’t matter. Whether the head coach gives the order or the manager gives the order, that’s it.

“Coach said… … the same goes for defense. He said not to come down too much. I’m going to put you and Park Jeong-su in together.”

“A defender?”

“That’s right. As we’re switching to a three-back system, just focus on pressing forward. Do you remember how we divided the zones and trained positions this morning?”

“yes.”

“Just remember that and move. Don’t expect much defensively. Just-”

“Okay. I understand enough already.”

“… … ?”

“You’re telling me to come after putting everything on.”

As the game clock reached 71 minutes, I started to feel anxious and started to speak in a rather harsh tone.

The dazed feeling had gone away somewhat, and I was sure that I could do it after yesterday’s practice match, so I just wanted to get in there quickly.

“… … He tells me to be aggressive and greedy. He says that the most important thing for the national team is to show your strengths, and to play with confidence but cool-headedly.”

“Ja!”

“what?”

“It’s a German word that means “I understand!”

Wow!

As soon as he half-shouted his answer, cheers erupted throughout the stadium.

The reason was clear.

I, who had been just sitting on the bench, took off my vest and walked out onto the line.

okay.

Having been caught on camera several times before, I was finally becoming more and more certain that I was not only popular but also had the expectations of my fans on my shoulders.

So, of course, there was no option to say no.

Certainly, it wasn’t easy.