Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 162



Only Krnovel

Episode 162 Big Match (2)

Sangam World Cup Stadium, Seoul.

As the kick-off time of 8pm approaches, the area in front of the stadium becomes crowded.

“Neymar will come out, right? He’s come this far.”

“Will he come out even for a little while? Maybe he’s going to film Ronaldo Season 2.”

From children to adults, to couples. Under the tents lined up in the square. They buy chicken skewers, fish cakes, tteokbokki, etc. and do not hide their anticipation for the evaluation match against Brazil.

“I don’t want to win. I just want to score a goal.”

“Yeah. It’s been a long time since we played against such a strong team.”

“That’s because European kids only play among themselves.”

“But it doesn’t seem like we’ll be pushed back that much. The offense is impressive.”

“Not to mention Son Eung-min, but personally, I’m really looking forward to Sung Ha-neul. When I saw him on TV last time, he was no joke.”

“The final qualifier? That was crazy.”

Amid the tumultuous voices, one can hear not only Brazil’s stellar roster of players, but also expectations for the Korean national team.

That’s understandable, because up until March of this year, Mendes’s side (named after national team coach Mauri Mendes) had been on a winning streak, having only lost in their last match of the final qualifying round against the UAE.

“I feel like I’m enjoying watching soccer these days.”

“Right? There were some frustrating times last year, but anyway, we passed the final round of the World Cup qualifiers with ease. I saw on the news that it was the best result since 1998.”

“You go far.”

And the people’s expectations are solely reflected in the stadium stands.

All seats sold out.

In addition, the broadcaster’s viewer ratings were also breaking previous records.

* * *

Inside the locker room.

I can’t stop admiring the scene shown on the broadcast TV screen.

Before the game, Son Eung-min, dressed in a suit, is receiving a medal. If you become the EPL top scorer, the president will come and give you a medal.

“Wow~ My brother succeeded.”

“Haven’t you already been successful before?”

“But receiving a medal is a different story.”

Even the veteran players seem to think the same way as me, and they are joking around and exclaiming in admiration. However, I try to focus by reminding myself that kickoff is just around the corner.

Actually, there was no need to pull it up.

Today’s condition is the best. Although it is not the best, it has been a very desirable condition since I came to Korea.

I must have discussed the transfer issue with my agent, come to an agreement with my grandmother (to stop by before leaving the country), and most importantly, I sent an apology text to Jonas last night, so there was nothing to be afraid of.

Just go out into the field and prove yourself again.

Of course, sabotage is not easy.

“Heaven, you should go to the EPL too. You should get it next time, right?”

“Yeah, I guess I will.”

“Wow~ Look at that confidence. The answer came out right away. This is how we should be as the youngest.”

“… …Wouldn’t that have been a polite response?”

“Look at this kid, he’s got manners!”

“… … .”

It’s good to try to relieve tension.

Anyway, since I’m the youngest, I guess he’s trying to lighten the mood in the locker room with some mischievous jokes. It’s not a very pleasant thing for the person on the receiving end.

Was transferring that easy?

I’ll have to convince my mom and dad, and I’ll have to consider my brother’s illness, and I’ll have to break up with my studies, my friends, and my current colleagues… … No, no.

Whistle.

After shaking my head and clearing my mind of useless thoughts, I turn my gaze to the tactics board on one side of the locker room.

The national team’s tactics today are 4141, and my role is at the top.

In other words, he was a forward.

And after a while.

The South Korean team heads out onto the field at kickoff time. There seemed to be empty seats here and there during warm-up, but now, wherever you look, there are only people.

Hot.

“Show us a good game.”

“yes.”

Then suddenly, my train of thought is interrupted by the words of a middle-aged man in a suit.

okay.

I shook hands with the president.

The referee, the Brazilian players, and the other Korean players who were selected. I wasn’t the only one who shook hands, but it was still something.

I felt a sense of pride inside, seeing how far I had come, as if it were an indicator of success.

Not too bad for a minor.

Isn’t that right?

* * *

‘That’s not true.’

About 10 minutes after the first half began, I reflected on my hasty decision to take a chance.

My role is a front-line striker.

Because it was a central area and had to come into direct contact with the defense, the pressure was intense, and the bench’s demands were also based on receiving the ball and then spreading the ball to the back and both sides.

So, there was no particular activity to speak of in the first half.

Bam!

If you receive the ball in front of the box like now and pass it back with one touch before being pressured by the opposing central defender, Thiago Silva,

Boom!

[Ahhhhh!]

Our central midfielder Baek Seong-ho finishes with a mid-range shot. The ball narrowly misses the upper left corner of the goal, and the offense and defense naturally change.

Clap clap clap clap!

[Well filled!]

[Fighting, Republic of Korea!!]

At first glance, it seemed okay to perform meaningful attack work according to a set pattern, but when I watched the opposing team’s performance, I began to have negative thoughts.

In the first 10 minutes, the only proper attack was a mid-range shot.

Meanwhile, Brazil is dominating the friendly zone and running wild.

Boom! Too-ung!

Just after a long goal kick lands over the halfway line, the team’s defensive midfielder leaps up to compete for the ball in the air, and as possession of the ball becomes uncertain, right-back Lee Jun rushes in and clears the ball.

Because he couldn’t kick it properly, the ball flew high into the air and then fell back into the opponent’s territory.

Number 5 Casemiro doesn’t try to trap the ball, instead he just swings his foot as soon as it drops.

Bam! Swish!

A direct long pass from a point on the left near the center line across to the right flank of the friendly camp.

[Wow… … .]

The crowd lets out exclamations of admiration at the incredible accuracy of the pass that lands right at the feet of his teammates.

Knock, knock.

And again, one-two.

As the Brazilian winger joins the attack and draws the winger in, the player with the ball hits the ball a couple of times towards the center and comes out –

Boom!

Switch back to the other side.

Talk.

The official ball, which has made two long-distance trips in a row, gets a brief rest thanks to the soft touch of the ball by number 7 Paqueta.

“Aqui (here)!”

Then, out of nowhere, Brazil’s ace – Neymar Jr. – demands a pass from the box. Before the defender can mark it, the ball goes to Brazil’s left-back – Alex Sandro.

Fuck.

Are they really crazy?

Since his footwork is so great, he has a lot of room to spare, but since he is not that active, he can only form a primary defensive line and cannot even think of stealing the ball.

“Fuck.”

It’s still purple now.

Toouk-!

As Neymar moves out of the box, the team’s central defender instinctively follows him, but Alex Sandro, who was savoring the ball for a moment, runs into the empty space.

So what were the friendly wing defenders doing?

Well, he was busy keeping an eye on number 7 Lucas Paqueta.

That was exactly the problem.

Ta-da-da-dak!

From the edge of the box, towards the corner, and then towards the left side of the goal, it only took 2-3 seconds for the South Korean defensive line to collapse.

Kwaaaaah, swoosh.

The left central defender rushes to cover, but stops dribbling just a few steps from the goal line, leaving the pass route clearly visible to the goal.

To-ong!

The place where the ball rolled afterwards was the exact center of the box, closer than the penalty spot.

The player wearing the yellow uniform doesn’t have a hard time shooting. If he just places his right foot accurately and makes it go into the goal… … 0 to 1.

We conceded our first goal after 12 minutes.

* * *

Despite the first goal, no. The opposing team, who had gained momentum by scoring the first goal, dominated the field with their characteristic rhythm until around the 25th minute.

We must admit what must be admitted.

Brazil is a strong team.

However, it is also true that the level of shock is different between watching it on TV and actually seeing it in person at the stadium.

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

Throughout the game, opposing players have free reign over the ball within striking distance of the penalty box.

In most cases, the team’s defenders were not even given a chance to contest the ball, and even if they lost it, it was not in a dangerous area.

I guess the ratio is at least 7 to 3. I don’t know if that’s true, but I meant that there was a noticeable difference in feel.

Is it because it’s full of star players?

So why is there such a difference?

On the one hand, I understood.

Not to mention Neymar, the striker Richarlison plays for Tottenham, and the winger who previously penetrated the left side – Alex Sandro – plays for Juventus.

It may be natural for them to be lacking in performance as they are playing for a prestigious team.

But at the same time, it felt like a cowardly excuse.

First of all, they’re running more.

It’s not that Brazil, with Neymar and Richarlison at the forefront, is a team that cannot be simply defined by the words samba football.

They run a lot and press hard, but when attacking, they fully utilize their style and greedily take control of the game.

So, in a way, we deserve to be treated like this.

As time went by, my national teammates were naturally losing momentum, and thanks to that damn positioning training, I was barely able to hold on while maintaining my form.

However, understanding it but personally accepting it is a completely different matter – I couldn’t stand it any longer and ended up screaming around the 28th minute of the first half.

“Hey!! Give it to me right now! It’s a rear build-up and a counterattack, and when the timing is right, just give it to me forward!”

“… … ”

“Hwang Hee-chul!!”

[……me?]

The crowd’s cheering was quite loud, and the distance was far, making communication difficult. However, he clearly saw his fellow striker pointing at him with a shocked expression.

“Yeah, you! I’m dying of frustration, man!”

[… … No, strictly speaking, it’s a team tactic-]

“Okay, give me one! What the hell, it’s not even starting! What the hell are you doing!”

[… … .]

iced coffee.

I know that too.

There must be a clear tactical direction for the team, so if I act like this and act like a brat, I’ll get a bad rap from the coach ‘in a different way’.

But, but, no matter what.

[Wow!]

[Wow!]

[Yaaaah!]

I just couldn’t stand the spectators letting out gasps of admiration every time the Brazilian players showed off their skills.

That’s mine.

That’s what you were originally going to do for me.

Fortunately, the opportunity to attack does not present itself for long.

Boom, roll.

Around the 30th minute, South Korea’s turn began with a goal kick by goalkeeper Kim Jeong-gyu. As the ball was passed to the right-back, Brazil’s pressure began to build.

Just when it seemed like they were continuing with the usual build-up from the back, senior Hwang Hee-cheol (let’s think about the informal speech later) who had come deep into the friendly zone seemed to receive the ball, and immediately sent a long pass forward.

A forward pass that rolls the ball forward only changing direction.

The official ball was only about knee-high, but it had a strong spin and bounced on the grass a couple of times without losing any power.

What matters is not the quality of the pass, but who it is sent to. I prepare by running towards the right side of the second line, towards the sideline.

After all, soccer is eleven against eleven.

If you apply strong forward pressure, the defensive line will inevitably rise higher, so the pressure from the wing defenders behind me is-

container!

The official ball is placed wide on the right sideline and a speed competition is held to peel it off.

[… …Wowwowwow!!]

And just like that, I get what’s mine back.

The rear is open.