Korea-Japan Match (4)
Korea-Japan Match (4)
070
'What's up with that bastard?'
While rotating my ankles before the match started, a Japanese guy glared at me in an annoying way.
It was an unpleasant gaze, but I let it slide. Because I'm used to the jealousy directed at a man like me who has both talent and looks.
'Hoo... this popularity. It's exhausting being this good-looking.'
As I tightened my shoelaces one last time, the Coach clapped his hands and called the players over.
"It starts now! Let's go out there confidently, just like we practiced. What did I tell you to do against the Japanese kids?"
"You told us to handle them roughly, sir!"
"Right. Go in rough! See how scrawny they all are? They're blathering on about Tiki-taka or passing plays or whatever the hell, as if they're Barcelona. Wait, no, we even beat Spain, didn't we? Nothing to be scared of. Right?"
I'm not exactly blessed with a great physique either... but Japan isn't much better.
I'm on the smaller side in our team, but my physique is average for Japan... though the ones they call 'European League Players' are a bit better.
"Hong Min-jun. Just do as much as you showed in training."
"Don't worry, Coach. We're definitely going to the finals."
I spent so many Points for this match. I can't afford to lose, even just to avoid feeling cheated.
The match began with Japan kicking off.
Our team's concept today was: Domination.
The plan was to compete aggressively, run even one step more, and suffocate the opponent until they couldn't breathe. This was possible because Chae Gi-deok-sunbae and Noh Cheol-hyung-sunbae, who came in for Oh Pyo-sik-sunbae and Kim Dae-seong-sunbae, were both significant Hard Workers with good physiques.
To this end, we raised our defensive line higher than usual and cranked up the pressure intensity.
Following the pre-planned strategy to overwhelm them from the start so they couldn't regain their senses, I also needed to participate in active defense for this match.
'It's nice that my Intelligence is up.'
Being able to move like this was partly because my stamina had increased through training, but mostly because after my Intelligence went up, I could move more efficiently.
After I first raised my Intelligence, there wasn't a dramatic change.
Unlike when I raised Individual Skill and my footwork immediately improved, or when I raised Speed and instantly got faster, there was no visible change, so at first, I wondered, 'What actually changed?'
But it didn't take long for me to realize.
'Why didn't I know this before?'
...was what I was thinking.
The part I felt the most was the tactical movement.
I had been moving according to the Coach's instructions, but I didn't know why I had to do it. Now, I vaguely understand. What meaning my movements have, and what kind of impact they have on the team.
Intelligence was... a stat that increased overall understanding and efficiency rather than individual stats.
Just like now.
Before the start, the Japanese player who had glared at me unpleasantly tried a predictable 2:1 pass.
If it were before, I wouldn't have noticed, or even if I had, it would have been too late to block the pass. But not today.
The moment I judged it was possible, my legs moved.
It was in our territory, slightly off the half-line. The ball went from the opposing midfielder in the center to the attacker cutting into the flank, and just before it was about to go back to the midfielder...
"What!!!!"
I almost burst out laughing at the opponent's shout.
Damn, this is an unexpected attack.
Because the movement was so obvious, I had dropped lower than my original position, but this should be fine.
I tried to pass it to the defense and head back, but these guys were trying to steal the ball in such a pathetic way.
I don't know if they intended it or not, but two players were pressing me from front and back perfectly.
Just as I was about to use an Individual Skill to escape the pressure and dribble through, a more efficient movement came to mind.
'If I do everything myself, the tempo gets too slow.'
First, I took a long touch to lure the guy rushing at me. As expected, he stuck his foot out rashly.
Watching his movement, I pulled the ball back with a simple Drag-back, throwing him off balance.
At the same time, I aimed for the space between the legs of the guy rushing from behind and lightly Heel-passed it. The ball hit my heel and rolled right through the Japanese player's crotch.
'Now!'
The moment I made eye contact with Yoon-hyeok-sunbae running from behind, I used the Japanese guy, who had lost his balance while sticking his leg out, as a pillar to spin my body and push off hard.
Leaving the wobbling Japanese guy behind, I ran off, and as if waiting for it, a perfect return pass fell in front of me. I received Yoon-hyeok-sunbae's sensible pass and pushed forward.
"Junichiro's pass. Miura Maya. Back to Junichiro— Hong Min-jun charges in! Interception! Hong Min-jun succeeds in the interception!"
"Don't let your guard down! It's dangerous if you lose it in your own territory!!"
"Japan's quick pressure! Dangerous situ— Hong Min-jun! Hong Min-jun shakes them off! He shakes them off with a light Drag-back, to Yoon-hyeok! Back to Hong Min-jun!"
"He's fast! Player Hong Min-jun is fast!!"
"He's charging straight in! There are no teammates around to help! Hong Min-jun, what will he do, Hong Min-jun!!"
"Center-back Hashioka Takehiro is rushing over! Will he go? Will he go, Hong Min-juuuun!! He uses his speed to break through just like that!!"
"He's in the penalty box! Shoot! Shoot! Shooooot!!"
I scanned my surroundings while dribbling.
It was an unexpected counterattack, so even our players were still behind.
The tempo wasn't broken thanks to the link-up with Yoon-hyeok-sunbae, but since the counterattack started from so deep, the opponent's defensive line was already set.
Once the opponent's defense is set, you can't call it a counterattack anymore.
Normally, I would pass it back and build up slowly. The Japanese players also seemed to be expecting that, focusing more on passing lanes than on me, who had the ball.
'What the? I'm the one with the ball, and they're worrying about other players?'
So I smashed into them.
I didn't slow down and charged straight ahead, bypassing the rushing Japanese players with a speed dribble.
They followed late, but in that short moment they were delayed by changing direction, there were only two players in front of me.
'If I slow down, I'll get surrounded!'
But it was still too much to perform Individual Skills while running at full speed.
I slowed down slightly, faced the center-back, did a quick Step-over left and right, and as soon as his balance shifted to one side, I broke through.
The only one left was the goalkeeper.
I watched the goalkeeper, who was rushing out of the goal with his face all crumpled up, until the very last second, and lightly chipped it through his legs.
"Goal!! It's a goal!! 7th minute of the first half! Hong Min-jun scores an incredible opening goal in just 7 minutes!"
"Uwaaa!! An amazing goal! Hong Min-jun creates a Wonder Goal with a solo dribble breakthrough!! It looks like he broke through almost 60M!!"
"It's truly an unbelievable, fantastic goal!! Wow~ That's incredible!!"
—Hong Min-jun! Hong Min-jun! Hong Min-jun! Hong Min-jun! Hong Min-jun! Hong Min-jun!
ㄴSend Hong Min-jun to the National Assembly!!
ㄴMom, when I grow up, I want to be Hong Min-jun. Mom, when I grow up, I want to be Hong Min-jun.
—ㅋㅋㅋㅋ The Japanese goalkeeper and defender fell down and can't get up? ㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴKneel, that is the eye-level between you and me.
ㄴKya~ Eye-level re-education teacher Hong Min-jun.
—Holy sh*t ㅋㅋㅋ He's just beating them up by himself.
—Like this~ Like this~ He dribbles and it's a goal~
—He's seriously crazy. Is this the dignity of a university leaguer?
ㄴHe really needs to go to Europe ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴThere are already so many transfer rumors.
ㄴHe should just go to Europe after the Olympics ㅋㅋㅋ
While the Korean commentators jumped up in a frenzy, a cold silence flowed from the Japanese commentators who were broadcasting right next to them.
"...Uh... Go, goal by Hong Min-jun. Yamada-san, how do you see that goal by Hong Min-jun just now?"
"This... I can only say it's truly amazing. It's overwhelming. It's such an overwhelming goal."
"Ah... Center-back Hashioka Takehiro and goalkeeper Dani Gosei, who blocked Hong Min-jun at the end, are unable to get up."
"Ah... Sakka Nippon Daihyo! You can't give up! You must show the spirit of the Samurai. You cannot kneel, our players!!"
"You must get up. You have to get up! All you Samurai Blue watching! Please shout together! Get up! Get up! Get up!!"
—Kita (It's coming) ｷﾀ━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ)━━━!!
—Hong-sang's opening goal~~!! Truly the dignity of a world-class player!!
—Joseon hyung-nims are strong!! Too strong!!
—Hong-sama Daisuki~~
ㄴAsia's Prince Hong Min-jun!!
ㄴHis smile is so cool!!
—The archipelago is sinking wwwwwww
—They're even losing to a total amateur wwwwwwwwwwww
The match resumed.
Japan, having conceded the opening goal, went on the offensive.
It takes two to clap, and a fight only gets bigger if the opponent responds.
Facing Japan's offensive, Korea didn't back down either.
"Run! Press more, press!!"
"Attack!"
Amidst the shouting of both coaches, the battle between the two teams, who were both pushing their lines up and fighting fiercely in the center, was decided by the presence of stable possession.
It was the performance of the ace.
Japan was superior in the precision of their passes, but it didn't lead to decisive chances due to the pressure from the Korean players who were competing roughly.
On the other hand, for the Korean team, even if the frequency of attacks was low, once the ball connected to Hong Min-jun, he could create decisive situations thanks to his overwhelming ball-keeping ability, moving here and there to protect the ball no matter how many Japanese players clung to him.
"Bakayaro!! Why can't you stop him!!"
"Coach. Hong Min-jun's activity level is higher than expected."
"What? Give me the heat map!"
Kotaro, checking the analyst's record sheet, bit his lip.
'From the beginning... were they hiding their full strength!!'
At the coaches' urgent shouts, Kotaro looked up and saw Hong Min-jun lightly lifting the ball near the corner of the penalty box to send a pass.
As if mocking the two Japanese players blocking his front, the ball soared over their heads and hit the head of a Korean player who had run from behind, shaking the net.
"...Chikushou."
16th minute of the first half.
It was the 2nd goal.
33rd minute of the second half.
At the moment when everyone was exhausted and their movements had slowed down after an intense match.
Even though I moved efficiently, I was also exhausted as my absolute stamina wasn't great.
Dragging my legs that felt like they were wearing sandbags, I barely received the pass, and the Japanese players blocked my front even while staggering.
This won't do.
I feel like I'll collapse if I try to break through.
I could see the pale faces of the Japanese players blocking my front, but since we were already winning, I didn't feel like forcing a breakthrough.
So I just blasted it.
From a distance of about 20M, taking advantage of the fact that the Japanese players were too scared to interfere, I unleashed a mid-range shot with all my might.
That became a goal.
"...This actually works."
I was about to do a celebration in a daze when I heard the faint, desperate cry of the Japanese goalkeeper who had collapsed.
"Stop!! Stop, no more!!!"
"Pfft...!"
Is he a comedian?
Olympic Men's Soccer Semi-finals.
South Korea 5 : 0 Japan
Hong Min-jun 7
Chae Gi-deok 16
Hong Min-jun 37
Yoo Ji-ho 52
Hong Min-jun 78