First A-Match (6)
The national team was the national team, after all.
It was just a mini-game lasting barely twenty minutes, but I could truly feel how high the level of the national team players was. Individually, they were far superior to my AD Alcorcon teammates—no, to La Liga 2 players in general. This wasn't some inflated praise for the national team; even judging coldly and objectively, the national team players were on a higher level.
Just one thing, though. In terms of physicality, the La Liga 2 players had the edge. Oh Seong-jin, the national team's top center-back option and my opponent in this scrimmage, was decent enough, but the rest didn't feel all that threatening when we collided. Well... of course, my own physical prowess played a big role in that.
From the start, I'd signed a rookie contract with Gimpo United because my physicality utterly dominated the college level. And physicality in soccer doesn't just mean a bulky, muscular build. It's that solid lower body providing perfect support, the sturdiness to hold your shoulders firm in battles and protect the ball. That's the kind of physicality soccer demands.
Even in La Liga 2, there were plenty of lean players with great physicality—guys who looked like they'd fly away with a light shove, but when it came to actual duels, they wouldn't budge easily. Combine that type with ball control skills and soccer IQ, and you've got someone ready to break into the first division and claim a starting spot.
Of course... it's not like you have to have that physicality to succeed. Take overseas national team wingers like Lee Hyun-jun or Moon Tae-seong—they're lacking in the physical department but survive on the European stage by leveraging their strengths well.
Anyway. With no one on the national team able to push me off physically, I made my presence felt loud and clear in that two-day mini-game.
The reactions from my national team teammates shifted dramatically after that scrimmage.
"Hey."
"Yeah, hyung?"
"...I had no idea you were this good at soccer. Ah, sorry if that sounds bad, but it's past tense, so it should be fine, right?"
"Of course, no problem."
"Seriously, why didn't you play like this back in high school?"
Ha Sang-yoon wore an expression like a mathematician agonizing over the Millennium Prize Problems. Anyone who knew my past reacted the same way.
"Man, you were flying around out there earlier."
...Even those who didn't know were similar.
"Huh? Oh, haha..."
"I was seriously shocked. You know Enkoudou on our Frankfurt team? Jamal Enkoudou."
"That Cameroonian striker?"
"Yeah. No exaggeration—he's good, but you're better."
Jamal Enkoudou was Frankfurt's striker, drawing big-club interest. Roughly my age, already valued at over €100 million... so yeah, that said it all. Even if it was lip service, hearing I was better than him felt great.
"Whoa. Min-woo hyung doesn't hand out praise like that lightly. Must've been really impressed. Well, everyone's got an eye for talent, right?"
Ha Sang-yoon stared at Kim Min-woo's retreating back, then turned back to me with another quiet gasp of admiration.
There wasn't any special change in treatment, but the way the national team players looked at me had definitely shifted. No matter how well I was doing, playing in Spain's second division probably led to some underestimation deep down. Shattering that felt pretty thrilling.
"Um... Tae-oh."
After training wrapped up, dinner at the cafeteria—the food was famously good, and now I knew why—and as I headed back to my room for some rest, Ryu Sang-heon suddenly called out to me.
He must've felt it too during today's mini-game. That the national team's top striker spot was about to change hands soon. You might expect some wariness, but curiosity sparkled in Ryu Sang-heon's eyes instead.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"You heading to rest?"
"Yeah, just chilling tonight."
"Doing what?"
"Eh, watch some soccer highlights and crash, probably?"
Why's he beating around the bush like this? I tilted my head slightly, and Ryu Sang-heon cautiously spoke up.
"Uh... mind sparing a bit of time?"
"For what?"
"I'm planning to hit the gym for some light weights before bed."
"Oh. Smart idea."
"If it's cool, could you check my form?"
With free time now, the coaches were all resting—including the training coach, naturally.
"I saw you showing Min-woo hyung your routine and form yesterday. Mind sharing with me too?"
Now I got it. That's why he was eyeing me with such curiosity. He'd seen even Oh Seong-jin lose out to my physicality and wanted to learn my workout methods to build his own.
He was basically my rival for the national team spot, but I was confident I wouldn't lose my starting role. Plus, if Ryu Sang-heon improved, I could sub in occasionally for breaks. No downside there.
"Sure, why not. It's nothing special."
I nodded coolly, and he grabbed my shoulder, thanking me profusely—almost overwhelmingly so.
...Not empty words; there really wasn't anything super special about it.
As Ryu Sang-heon and I headed to the gym, I spotted a few staff members hovering anxiously by the first-floor elevator. In the middle, surrounded by them, a player hung his head low.
Ryu Sang-heon recognized him first and muttered to himself.
"Huh? That's Hoon-won hyung."
Jeong Hoon-won. He'd grown up in Germany's youth system, bounced through several clubs, settled at Feyenoord Rotterdam, and become a key midfielder. Elite dribbler with top-tier press resistance, a national team starting midfielder.
"Where you guys headed?"
The head manager, Kim Jong-doo, approached after spotting us. His face wasn't bright either.
"Just more weights. Sang-heon asked me to check his form, so we're going together... But what's up with Hoon-won hyung?"
Ryu Sang-heon asked, and Kim Jong-doo replied with a troubled look.
"Ah... Sigh. His knee's acting up. Looks like we'll have to send him back to the Netherlands."
"......!"
Just two days after arriving at camp, Jeong Hoon-won was rushed back to the Netherlands. He was heading to Feyenoord Rotterdam for a proper knee check...
He'd seemed fine during training earlier, so the news shocked the national team players. No one wanted a key starter dropping out before crucial matches against Iran and Qatar.
The next day, as morning broke on our final day at Cheonan NFC, a replacement arrived.
I knew the guy well enough. No close friendship, but a super prospect who'd shaken up the K League 2 last year. Right after high school graduation, priority draft to Busan FC, claimed a starting spot immediately, and led them to promotion. A genius midfielder: Hong In-soo.
I suddenly recalled my Gimpo United seniors raving about facing him—how this fresh high school grad played like a veteran, with solid physicality that held up in duels.
"Hong In-soo here. Nice to meet you all!"
This was his first senior national team call-up—and as a replacement. But he'd already cemented himself in the U-23 squad, so he'd been around Cheonan NFC before. That familiarity showed; he greeted the senior players without awkwardness.
He was friendly with me too.
"I really admire Spain. Stepping onto a La Liga pitch is my dream. Been studying Spanish non-stop."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. Actually, after seeing you on that docu... I was like, 'Ah, that's it!' Rushing my Spanish studies now... Man, it's tough. Haha."
He showed particular interest in me. Guess he'd gotten inspired by my blatant lie in the documentary: 'I started learning the language early because I wanted to play in Spain.'
"Mind if I hit you up sometimes?"
"Sure. Anytime."
You can't help but like a friendly junior. I'd look out for him even more.
"Atmosphere's a bit heavy, huh."
"Well... lost a starter... Ah, don't feel too pressured."
I found myself playing the senior role, having arrived two days earlier. Hong In-soo grinned at my words.
"If I do well, that'll brighten everyone's faces, right?"
Pretty confident. And right from the start...
Thwack!
...he proved it wasn't baseless bravado. His physicality held up fine. Lean build, but excellent balance. Not Jeong Hoon-won level on dribbling, but solid press resistance, great instincts, and reliable passing. You could see he'd leveled up even from his Busan FC days last year.
With Hong In-soo exceeding expectations, the national team players' expressions finally lightened.
"These rookies are all monsters."
"Tell me about it. Korea soccer's future is bright—bright! Haha!"
"Gotta step it up. If Hoon-won comes back, am I getting cut first? Who's taking captaincy then?"
With that, we wrapped up all training at Cheonan NFC.
That evening, the national team squad moved to a hotel in Seoul. For tomorrow's match against Iran at Sangam World Cup Stadium.