Olympic Group Stage (1)
Olympic Group Stage (1)
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The two biggest festivals in the soccer world that have the character of international matches are undoubtedly the World Cup and the Olympics.
Although both are held on a global scale beyond specific countries or regions, there are many differences when you look closely.
There are differences in various aspects such as the host, nature, clauses, and obligations, but what hits the players the most is the schedule.
While the World Cup is held over about a month, the Olympic soccer schedule is a mere 15 to 17 days.
With a tight schedule of having to play 6 games in as little as 15 days from the group stage to the final, and a squad size of only 18, it becomes a schedule that can never be run according to the Olympic season.
Therefore, the group stage starts before the opening of the Olympics, and that was the same for the 2032 Australia Olympics.
July 28, 2032, Australia, New South Wales, Central Coast Stadium.
Located in Gosford, Central Coast, about 80km north of Sydney in New South Wales, the Central Coast Stadium opened in 2000 and was being used as the home stadium for the Central Coast Mariners FC, a club in the Australian professional league, the A-League.
This stadium, which can accommodate a total of 20,059 people, had only about 3,000 spectators today, not even a quarter of its capacity, for the Olympic group stage.
"This is the Central Coast Stadium in Australia, where the match between South Korea and Honduras, Honduras and South Korea, is taking place. I am caster Han Seung-cheol."
"I am commentator Jo Seok-gi."
"Ah~ This Australian Olympics. There is talk that our South Korea's group draw is not that easy."
"That is correct. Our South Korea is in Group D of the group stage. The countries grouped with us are Honduras, who we will play today, and besides them, Morocco and Spain."
"I suppose the Invincible Armada, Spain, will be the scariest?"
"That's right! There are many predictions that the European powerhouse, Spain, will be the biggest hurdle. However, our players. They must not lose heart!"
"That's right. Since there are 2 tickets to the main tournament, our players..."
Ahead of the start of the match, the caster and commentator are diligently exchanging prepared lines.
In front of the two, in a place not visible on the broadcast screen, words appeared on the teleprompter (a device that displays scripts or song lyrics, etc., in broadcasting) that had been reminding viewers of simple information such as the region where the match is held and Korea's group draw along with a natural introduction.
The two people who checked the content stuttered and glanced at the PD.
'It's okay! Proceed!'
At the sight of him repeatedly sending gestures with that meaning, the two naturally continued their words.
"...Yes, our players. I hope you show us your best, without giving up! By the way, commentator Jo Seok-gi. I heard there is something unusual about this national team."
The two stopped talking for a moment and licked their dry lips.
Seeing the PD gesturing that it was okay to continue, it seemed like the Korea Football Association had also given permission... The problem was that if they walked the tightrope wrong, they could get ripped to shreds not by the Football Association, but by the viewers.
Because it was about bringing up the controversy of the national team ahead of the Olympics, no matter how much talk there was.
"That's right. The two unknown players who had never been called up to the national team, Hojin University's Yoon-hyeok and Hong Min-jun. Although they are players who have performed amazingly in the university league, it was very noisy that two players who had never played together were selected for the final roster."
"Yes. Public opinion was very heated. As the controversy continued, Coach Gong Jeon-seong held a press conference himself and signaled a frontal breakthrough. Let's take a look at the data screen for a moment."
[—is. As everyone knows, I took office half a year before the Olympics. Since the previous coach and I have different tactical views, the team's tactics or style had to change completely, and changes in the player composition were also necessary.]
[—The first time playing together is not just a problem for a few players. Because the national team has a completely different character from a club—]
[—This is also the same for players selected as wild cards.]
[I will prove it with results.]
After the final roster announcement, a huge controversy arose.
Chae Gi-deok and Yoon-hyeok. And Hong Min-jun.
A whopping three people, all unknown players.
At least Chae Gi-deok had the justification of having performed well in the last call-up, but weren't Yoon-hyeok and Hong Min-jun players who weren't even on the national team reserve list, let alone called up? On top of that, the fact that they were from the same university made public opinion turbulent.
As the controversy continued, Coach Gong Jeon-seong held a press conference himself and declared that he would 'prove it with results'.
Although public opinion was barely calmed by the coach's frontal breakthrough remark, to be precise, it was an atmosphere of waiting to see how well they would do.
In the midst of this, the Korea Football Association, which should have calmed public opinion, acted as if they were bystanders, throwing in another piece of bait about the conflict between Gong Jeon-seong and the association, to the point where it was said to be the most controversial national team in history.
"I thought we would be able to confirm the skills of the two players who were veiled in the two friendly matches held ahead of the Olympics, but both matches were held behind closed doors."
"That is correct. The national team gathered in Paju on the 14th, trained for about a week to get in sync, and then entered Sydney, Australia. And they raised their match sense by playing two friendly matches. The unusual thing is that the two friendly matches were behind closed doors."
"Behind closed doors. That's quite unusual."
"Right. Usually, it's held openly, but this time it's said to be to hide their power and tactics."
"Ah~ Certainly. This national team has quite a lot of tricks. The opposing teams must be very confused."
The PD, watching the two, glanced at the chat window.
—F*ck, we're confused too
—Lol, a trick that even fools our own allies
—He said he'd prove it with results, so we're waiting to see, but is this right?
—Gong Jeon-seong is a crazy bastard lol, he only used 2 wild cards, I don't know where that confidence comes from
Overwhelmingly negative public opinion where it was difficult to find posts defending them.
The PD sighed.
'I did it because they told me to, but... what on earth is he planning? Medal range... at least the semi-finals. If he doesn't achieve that level of results, Gong Jeon-seong's career is over.'
The two people continuing the announcement hurriedly were caught in the PD's eyes.
"The match roster has just been announced!"
"Yes! Song Chan-sik as goalkeeper... Ah! It's out! The two players who were veiled, Yoon-hyeok and Hong Min-jun, are starting!!"
"Finally! Finally, we can see the two players! This is Sydney, Australia, Central Coast Stadium! The stadium where the match between South Korea and Honduras, Honduras and South Korea, will be held!!"
10 minutes before the start of the match.
The players gathered in the waiting room were preparing for the match in their own ways.
The Olympic national team is also called the U23 national team. As the name U23 national team suggests, except for the wild cards, they are all young players in their early 20s.
There were few young players who were not nervous in a big game like the Olympics, and Hong Min-jun, one of the few, was idly scrolling through the gallery on his smartphone.
[10 minutes before dog-like destruction]
[Am I the only one not looking forward to this Olympic soccer?]
[Looks like we'll get f*cking crushed by Honduras lollll]
[I will prove it with results!! Result: group stage elimination]
'Anyway, watch a bit before you talk.'
Clicking his tongue and throwing his smartphone into the locker, the coach walked in as if he had been waiting.
"Everyone, attention."
Gong Jeon-seong, who walked in wiping his exhausted, puffy face, approached the tactical board with magnets stuck on it messily, then suddenly stopped walking.
"Are you nervous?"
"...Yes."
The coach, who discovered that defender Oh Ji-woo, who was sitting right in front of the door, was shaking his legs, looked around the locker room.
"If this Olympics fails, I will retire."
At the coach's bombshell declaration, everyone opened their eyes wide and raised their heads.
"You saw my interview, right? The big talk about showing it with results. If I shout that and fail, would I be able to live as a coach because I'd be so embarrassed?"
Crazy... They said he was a tactical genius, but isn't this just a madman?
"They are making a lot of noise outside. They are praying for us to fail. As you all know, I've been targeted by the association this time. Is it just the association? I'm being targeted nationwide. How is it? You guys, is your situation more serious than mine? Hey, Song Chan-sik. Answer me."
"Ah, no, sir."
"Captain?"
"If I don't win a medal this time, I have to spend a year and a half at the Police Agency without fail... but I still can't beat you, Coach."
Captain Seol Yo-han, who was sitting with a relatively relaxed expression, joked.
"Right? No, right? The people here who are in a more serious situation than me are... well, there are a few. Hong Min-jun. You have to do well. You and I are in the same boat. If I fail, don't even think about playing in Korea either."
This crazy guy. It's not like he's a water ghost, why drag me into this?
"I'm going to Europe anyway."
"Look at the youngest talking. Are you guys going to send him to Europe alone? You guys should step on the European stage once too. Don't you think?"
"That's right!"
"I'm going to Europe too!"
"We're going to Europe~!"
The seniors scream at the coach's words.
The coach, who smiled faintly only then, clapped his hands lightly.
"You know I received coaching education in Europe and worked as a coach, right? I will take responsibility and connect those who do well in this Olympics with European clubs."
"Wow!!"
"We love you, Coach!!"
Watching the seniors cheering exaggeratedly even while knowing it was empty words, the coach said heavily.
"Let's go. Go out there and crush Honduras."
July 28, 2032, 17:00 local time.
Australia, New South Wales, Central Coast Stadium.
South Korea : Honduras
GK Song Chan-sik / GK Guity
RB Oh Ji-woo / RB Maldonado
CB Ahn Byeong-gi / CB Decas(c)
CB Kim Yu-hyeon / CB Melendez
LB Seol Yo-han(c) / LB Nunez
DM Kim Dae-seong / CM Reyes
DM Yoon-hyeok / CM Rodriguez
RW Chae Gyu-seok / RW Benguche
AM Oh Pyo-sik / AM Rivas
LW Hong Min-jun / LW Elvir
CF Yoo Ji-ho / CF Pereyo
Coach: Gong Jeon-seong / Palero