The Predator of Souls
Jang Gi-tae, the coach of the South Korea U-17 national team, was a thorough results-oriented pragmatist.
It meant he didn't care about methods if they led to victory.
"We're changing tactics."
No one had expected him to scrap the formation they'd been using so effectively.
"Suddenly!?"
Despite the coaches' protests, Jang Gi-tae stood firm.
"The old setup won't work anymore. Unlike the qualifiers, we're the underdogs in the main draw. If we stick two box-to-box midfielders in the center like before, we'll get eaten alive."
The tactic he'd relied on since taking over the U-17 team was a 4-5-1 formation: four defenders, five midfielders, and one striker.
Those five midfielders broke down further into two and three, but strictly speaking, only the two could truly be called midfielders. The other three? Attacking midfielders in disguise—strikers masquerading as mids.
In modern soccer, where even forwards are expected to track back, the label mattered less; they still had defensive duties. But no one could deny their primary focus tilted heavily toward attack.
That made the choice of players for those two central spots pivotal, dictating the entire tactical color. It wasn't for nothing that so many coaches built their systems around the central midfield duo. They were the core line, after all.
Jang Gi-tae was no different. He'd varied his approach based on the players slotted there. In the World Cup qualifiers, he'd mainly deployed box-to-box midfielders—, as they were known.
Like Italy's cursore, or "worker," they shuttled endlessly between their own penalty box and the opponent's, orchestrating attack and defense. In short, they ran like dogs.
It was the most common central midfield role, but fulfilling both attack and defense perfectly was notoriously tough.
Jang Gi-tae had assigned it to his pair because the qualifier opponents were clearly weaker than Korea.
They'd come with shields up against Korea, whose finishing was already lacking. Asking midfielders to play defensively too would make scoring even harder—that was his calculus.
But the main draw was different.
In the World Cup proper, Korea was the weak team. Sticking with box-to-box mids risked the midfield being overrun and picked apart.
He was a coach who prized results over process. Soccer's beauty or tactical elegance meant nothing next to victory.
So Jang Gi-tae ditched the old tactic.
Radically.
"We're going double volante. Won-yong on holding, Je-cheol as anchor."
Volante meant defensive midfielder; holding and anchor were subtypes.
The holding midfielder formed the first line of resistance in front of the defense while aiding build-up from the back. The anchor was even more defensive, anchoring a narrower zone purely for protection.
In essence, turning both central mids defensive to staunch goals against.
It bolstered the defense, but created new problems.
"Double volante with a holding-anchor combo? That'll leave a massive gap to the second line."
With both mids dropping deep, they'd drift too far from the attackers, naturally losing the midfield battle for possession.
To regain it, the attacking mids would have to drop back too, pulling them away from goal and sapping firepower in a vicious cycle.
"No choice. Defense first in a tournament. Besides, we've got that guy. Why do you think I picked him?"
Jang Gi-tae's gaze shifted to the players training on the pitch.
His lips twitched into a smirk at the sight of Jo Se-jin shaking off pressure from Baek Do-hyeong—the team captain, ace, and starting center-back—and rifling in a shot.
"We don't need a goal fest. Soccer's about one more goal than the opponent. And in that sense, Jo Se-jin's our key player. The rare forward who turns scant chances into goals. Exactly what we need."
The greatest festival in soccer was, without doubt, the World Cup. Strictly speaking, the adult version.
Where there was an adult World Cup, youth versions naturally followed: the U-17 and U-20 World Cups, commonly known as the youth World Cups.
This time, it was the former, officially the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil (Copa Mundial Sub-17 de la FIFA Brasil 2027), hosted in Brazil.
Unlike the adult World Cup's four-year cycle, the youth edition ran every two years, shortening prep time. With less hype than the senior tournament, hosts were often places with existing infrastructure.
The result? A lopsided affair that felt more like an Asia-South America regional than a true World Cup.
How lopsided? Bundling the Middle East with Asia, from the 2003 Finland tournament to this 2027 Brazil one—excluding the canceled 2021 due to COVID—nine of ten hosts were Asia or South America.
South America five times, Asia four.
The lone exception: 2013 in Nigeria, Africa.
This time was no different.
Brazil, hosts in 2019, got it again.
And that...
"Victory is always sweet. Especially when tasted in Brazil."
...ignited Argentina coach Rodrigo's competitive fire.
"2019 was a disgrace. We finished second in our group and crashed out in the round of 16. In Brazil, of all places—us, Argentina!"
In that 2019 Brazil tournament, Argentina had scraped into the last 16 as runners-up, only to fall to Paraguay.
Argentina: three-time adult World Cup winners, most successful in U-20, homeland of Lionel Messi himself!
Yet Argentina had always underperformed in the U-17 World Cup, never once winning it—despite their adult triumphs.
But calling it a general youth weakness didn't fit; they dominated the U-20.
Thus, the Argentina national team always craved U-17 glory—the one World Cup trophy missing from their cabinet.
Naturally, their goal this time: the title.
First, survive the group stage, dubbed the "qualifiers."
The U-17 World Cup's group stage featured four teams per group, each playing once. Top two advanced straight to the round of 16; the four best third-placers joined them based on points, goal difference, goals scored.
Championship contenders didn't aim for third and its what-ifs. The safe path was second place minimum, requiring at least one win.
Yet World Cups demanded more than full throttle every match.
The packed schedule made rotation essential, not optional, especially for title hopefuls.
Going all-out every game? Fine in theory, but the weak-team mindset—prioritizing one win over future ones.
True contenders distinguished must-win games from those to rest.
In that light, Argentina's Rodrigo faced a choice.
Focus and commit in the group stage.
'Germany... they're strong. No guarantees there.'
Even title-chasing Argentina couldn't assume victory over the Panzer-like Germans, likely group toppers.
Luckily—or not—the Germany clash was the final group game, round three.
Round two: Africa's powerhouse, Nigeria.
'Africa always pulls upsets. Nigeria's full of variables.'
Youth tournaments often saw Asia and Africa dominate.
Asia's edge came from meticulous team prep.
Even youths moved with adult-like discipline and organization, purely for victory.
It yielded short-term results against sides favoring individual flair, rife with errors.
But seniors were different.
Team play endured, but daring, creative flair had to be ingrained young.
Asia sacrificed futures for now, shining in youth ranks.
Africa was another beast.
Their upsets stemmed from lax age registration—meaning overage players.
Adults crashing kids' parties.
Small wonder the results.
Even mighty Argentina fielded true under-17s. Against physically mature, experienced "adults," anything could happen.
'Worse, Nigeria's the most successful U-17 team ever. Can't go full throttle against both them and Germany. Have to pick.'
Full gas in back-to-back games?
Top the group that way? Pointless, with knockout rounds looming. Better to lose in groups than in tournament play, where one loss meant elimination.
'Best bet: Crush Korea in round one for the win, then focus on one of two or three.'
Rodrigo chose logically.
Secure the group weakling Korea first, pocket the three points, then target one later match.
"Opponent's Korea. Can't show our faces if we lose to an Asian side that struts at home. Guys, we gonna be those idiots?"
The players roared in unison.
Rodrigo nodded at the jeers shaking the locker room.
"We're World Cup champions, Leo's nation. This time, bring the trophy home. With our hands! We're La Albiceleste!!"
"La Albiceleste!!"
The Argentinians strode onto the pitch with swagger.
And one player stared right back, grinning ear to ear.
'Opponent's Argentina, huh?'