Korea-Japan Match (3)
Korea-Japan Match (3)
069
July 10, 2032, Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Here at the Sydney Football Stadium, the home ground of Sydney FC which was built in 1998, underwent reconstruction at the end of 2018, and reopened in 2022, the starting lineups for the Olympic men's football semi-final were being announced on the big screen.
South Korea : Japan
GK Song Chan-sik / GK Dani Gosei
RB Oh Ji-woo / RB Sakai Yuta
CB Ahn Byeong-gi / CB Nakamura Hiroki (c)
CB Kim Yu-hyeon / CB Hashioka Takehiro
LB Seol Yo-han (c) / LB Itakura Junichi
DM Noh Cheol-hyung / CM Miyoshi Yuki
DM Yoon-hyeok / CM Mitoma Ao
RW Chae Gyu-seok / RW Miura Maya
AM Hong Min-jun / AM Junichiro Daizen
LW Chae Gi-deok / LW Ueda Itsuki
CF Yoo Ji-ho / CF Tanaka Io
The formation is the same 4-2-3-1. The only difference is that South Korea is using a double pivot.
Both teams positioned themselves in their respective halves in a similar shape.
"Ah. The main point of interest was how they would fill the vacancies left by Oh Pyo-sik and Kim Dae-seong... Coach Gong Jeon-seong has moved Hong Min-jun to the center. He's inserted rotation member Noh Cheol-hyung into Kim Dae-seong's spot, and Chae Gi-deok has taken the spot vacated by Hong Min-jun moving to the center."
"Hong Min-jun has no record of playing in the center. It will be interesting to see if Hong Min-jun, who showed incredible performance on the flank, can adapt well to the center."
While the commentators were broadcasting with a mix of anticipation and worry, Japan national team coach Kotaro was frowning while looking at the revealed starting list.
'What the hell are those Koreans thinking?'
Hong Min-jun's strength is his unbelievable dribbling ability. That's a skill that can be maximized on the flank where there's plenty of space, not one that's easy to unleash in the center where players are packed tightly.
Furthermore, whether it's because of a lack of stamina or to focus him on the attack, Hong Min-jun's work rate has been the lowest among South Korea's starters. Naturally, his defensive contribution is also at the bottom.
'The reason for putting Hong Min-jun in the center... is it because he trusts his decent passing ability based on that overwhelming press resistance? He's making a reckless move.'
Based on the style of Hong Min-jun analyzed so far, there is only one role he can perform as a central attacking midfielder.
'Enganche'.
An Argentine term for an attacking midfielder, a role responsible for long ball possession and leading the attack through dribbling.
It is a very traditional role befitting the number 10 jersey, which signifies an attacking midfielder, but it is also an obsolete role no longer used in modern football.
Up until the early-to-mid 2000s, managers like Carlo Ancelotti, Javier Irureta, and Rafael Benitez achieved great success with tactics centered around attacking midfielders, such as the 4-2-3-1, diamond, and Christmas tree formations.
Players who thrived under such tactical trends included the likes of Juan Roman Riquelme, Zinedine Zidane, Mesut Ozil, James Rodriguez, Francesco Totti, Andrea Pirlo, and Kaka.
Among them, Juan Roman Riquelme was a player who could be called the epitome of the Enganche.
However, the development of football tactics brought about the downfall of this traditional number 10.
The core of modern football is space and pressure. And fast transitions.
The advancement of tactics made it so that even the overwhelming talent and skill of attacking midfielders could no longer sustain them.
The 4-2-3-1 made a brief comeback in the 2010s, but the attacking midfielders of that time were, strictly speaking, a different type from the traditional number 10s of the past.
Pirlo dropped down in front of the defensive line to focus on playmaking away from the pressure, becoming a pioneer of the 'Regista' role, and David Silva or Kevin De Bruyne also drifted to the flanks to become side playmakers or became Mezzalas who actively contributed to defense based on high work rates.
On the other hand, players who failed to evolve to fit modern football were weeded out.
Players like Mesut Ozil, Kaka, and James Rodriguez were of that type.
Now, having passed 2020 and entered the 2030s, the traditional number 10 can no longer survive in modern football.
And in Kotaro's view, Hong Min-jun is a typical number 10 of the past.
Specifically, he could be called an Enganche.
There is the similar Trequartista, but Hong Min-jun lacked the unpredictability to be considered one. In other words, that thing that could be called genius.
'Hong Min-jun... he is definitely a player of outstanding skill. There is no doubt he is a player with frighteningly good individual ability, but... he must not know why the traditional number 10 disappeared from modern football.'
Whether it's press resistance or dribbling, you ultimately need the ball to do it.
There are a few ways to control a player who is excellent on the ball.
"Miyoshi. Nakamura."
"Yes, Coach."
Kotaro called over Nakamura Hiroki, the captain and starting center-back for Urawa Reds who joined as a wild card, and Miyoshi, a midfielder playing for Swiss club Basel who was also selected as a wild card, and gave simple instructions.
"Eliminate the passing lanes. Make sure he doesn't receive the ball in the final third. Even if he does receive it, apply strong pressure so he can't face our goal."
The first method is to block passing lanes to prevent him from receiving the ball in dangerous areas, or force him to drop below the danger zone to receive it. The second is to make it impossible for him to control the ball properly even if the pass connects. For example, simple physical interference, fouls, or applying pressure so he cannot face our team's side.
"Keep this in mind. The opponent is a player with better technique than you think. Never rush in or try to steal the ball rashly; just block him from turning his body toward our half."
"That much is easy."
"Leave it to us, Coach."
Junichiro Daizen is the prospect Japan boasts about.
20 years old this year. Junichiro rose to become Japan's top prospect after transferring to Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie last year and racking up 7 goals and 5 assists in his debut season alone.
However, the team was sluggish, and failing to even reach the Europa League, let alone the Champions League—the stage of his dreams—Junichiro had to accept team results that were disappointing compared to his individual stats.
For him, this Olympics was an opportunity.
A showcase to display his skills and a stepping stone to move to a bigger stage.
But suddenly, a player from South Korea stole all the attention.
Hong Min-jun.
The whole world's attention was poured onto this player who led the South Korean national team to the semi-finals by showcasing unbelievable individual skills, and the Japanese media was even blindly following suit and comparing him to himself.
'Bakayaro...! To be compared to a mere amateur player! It's a disgrace!!'
Why on earth was he, a proud European-leaguer, being compared to some amateur trash?
Individual skills? ...Sure, he's a little outstanding. But if you're looking for flashy footwork, you can find plenty of that in freestyle football. Why do positions and tactical strategies exist in football!
Goals? ...Sure, the guy scored a bit more. But he isn't a scorer. His style is to help his teammates with good off-the-ball movement, assist in team play, and deliver creative key passes!
Looks? ..........
Anyway, he is a better player overall than that guy. That's for sure.
But just as he was grinding his teeth because people didn't recognize it, an opportunity arrived.
Does the god of fate exist? To meet a vastly overrated opponent on the narrow bridge to the finals!
Furthermore, the situation seems to be smiling upon us, Japan; two of the South Korean team's starters are out, and even though he has an amateur career, the opponent who played only on the flank is standing in the same number 10 spot!
'I'll show it here. The difference in skill between him and me! My overwhelming skill!!'
"Ugh! Bakayaro!!"
After the match started, as expected, South Korea came out rough.
Unlike Japan, which pursues technical and elegant football, South Korea played a simple, ignorant style of football that was just crude, and Junichiro had already had to roll on the ground twice.
"Calm down, Junichiro! It's only been 6 minutes!"
"Whew. Understood, sunbae."
"Yes! That's the attitude! Our game starts now!!"
"Heh heh. That's right. Our true power hasn't even been unleashed yet. For the sake of the Samurai Blue who are cheering for us back home, let's show our full power!"
The match resumed with an indirect free kick for Japan.
Junichiro moved shashak shashak through the South Korean team, focusing on securing space.
'Kuuuugh...'
Contrary to the expectation that they would lower their defensive line and hunker down, the South Korean team showed active pressure. Junichiro struggled to secure his spot while competing against the South Korean brutes who didn't seem to lose out even when compared to European brutes.
"Sunbae!!"
Immediately after barely managing to secure his spot, he raised his hand, and the ball rolled toward his feet as if it had been waiting.
It was Miura Maya, his most reliable teammate. He was one of the only two European-leaguers on this Olympic team along with Junichiro, and he had the sense to match.
The South Korean brute was pushing from behind, but this was something he had experienced even in the European stage!
If he hadn't experienced it in Europe, he would have been flustered, but Junichiro calmly sent a one-touch pass. The ball headed toward Miura Maya, who was running udadada right after the pass, and at the same time, Junichiro passed the South Korean brute marking him, completing a successful 2:1 pass—
"Nani!!!!"
A foot popped out from somewhere and snatched the ball that was returning.
He was surprised, but as his body was trained to do, Junichiro immediately went into pressure, and a clumsy trap caught his eye.
'The first touch is clumsy! I can steal it— Eh!?'
The moment he extended his foot, the opponent's foot, which had looked clumsy, smoothly pulled the ball back, and using Junichiro's body as a pivot, he spun around once. As Junichiro, who had been extending his foot, lost his balance due to the added pushing force from the opponent, he tumbled over, and he saw Miura Maya also sitting on his butt.
'H, how!?'
Looking at the back of the opponent who had passed him as he lay there in a daze,
'Ba, back number 7...!?'
The opponent of destiny was dashing away, catching the wind.