2018 Russia World Cup: Facing Sweden (1)
“So, Ryu. If you get a call from Lima, block it right away. Got it? I know you're doing well, but that guy Lima couldn't stand being around men when he was in La Liga, you know.”
“Hey, you don't have to worry about that, Lucia. I don't really have any interest in that woman.”
“Is that so? That might be a problem though? There are a lot of good women in the world. Of course, excluding women like Lima.”
“Yes, yes. I got it. Then I have to go to training, so I'll hang up for now.”
“Okay, Ryu. See you in Barcelona.”
“Barcelona? If you're going to watch, you should watch it in Russia. Quarterfinals? Final? Well, if Spain is number 1, we'll see it in the quarterfinals.”
“Haha. That means Korea is number 1? I'll be looking forward to it.”
The phone call ends with Lucia's voice full of laughter, as if she doesn't expect much.
I knew it wasn't easy, but instead of being weighed down by defeatism saying 'probably won't make it', I had to remind myself that I could do it to rise a bit higher.
I hadn't actually risen high before.
Anyway, seeing Lucia's voice bright, the atmosphere inside Spain seemed good.
'By the way, did Lima mention me?'
Lima was one of the 'sinners' of the previous generation, and if Lucia was a 'sinner' from half a generation above, Lima from Brazil was a 'sinner' from one generation above. Saying that a player like that picked me as the most anticipated player in the World Cup.
I had watched Lima's plays on video a few times and felt that she was pretty good. It wasn't my favorite style though.
What can I say, a typical striker. Lima's style was to constantly attempt super plays whether assisted or not.
'Thanks to that, the highlights were pretty fun to watch.'
When I arrived in Russia, I didn't touch my phone or internet at all, focusing only on training and rest, so I didn't know that Lima had mentioned me. When I heard that the Lima who inspired me had mentioned me, I was curious about her reaction.
'My followers have increased quite a bit in just a few days.'
Seeing the increased followers made me feel a bit good. Actually, the reactions on the stargram were mostly about why she wasn't posting stories or posts rather than mentions of Lima, so there wasn't much reaction to Lima's mention.
'DM didn't come either... Anyway, Lucia is worried about unnecessary things.'
Moreover, since she didn't even send a DM to Lima, it seemed Lucia was worrying for no reason.
But when I looked at the comments on the article or reactions on the internet, there were quite a few reactions saying that Lima went crazy over men and mentioned me.
'Anyway, the soccer illiterates...'
Well, with this World Cup as a turning point, these evaluations would change, so it didn't really matter.
“Hey, Ha-neul.”
“Ah, you're here?”
Sitting on the bench looking at my phone, Kim Chae-ri called out to me cheerfully. We weren't originally close, but because of Kang Sae-young's incident, she felt sorry and grateful towards me, so we got close, and we've been quite friendly since then.
“You, if you use your phone too much, your eyes will get bad.”
“...I, this is the first time I've seen it since coming to Russia?”
“Hmm. Hmm. Let's get ready for training quickly.”
Moreover, since Kim Chae-ri was the youngest in the national team besides me, we often came out earlier than others and prepared for training together, so we spent a lot of time together.
Actually, the coach didn't seem to want to give me such trivial things, but to receive respect in the national team later when I get older, I had to do these things steadily from now on, so I was helping with training preparation on my own.
“Sigh.... Anyway, it's wrong that only the youngest does these things? Even I and Unnie Ye-jin are only one year apart...”
“Gee, let's hurry up.”
Honestly, I had such complaints in my national team youngest days, so I could sympathize to some extent, but since I knew the taste of being the senior, I didn't have any complaints now.
“But I'm not the only one, you're worrying.”
“Eh? Why?”
“I, at the next World Cup, many of the younger ones will come in, but you will still be the youngest at the next World Cup.”
“Hey, at that time, I'll do it. I don't know about the juniors, do I?”
“Haha, Korea is about age. Don't you know? Then, if a senior player comes to the national team for the first time at 30. Then what would you do with that senior?”
“...It's okay. Just let Yu-ri do it.”
Sorry to Yu-ri, but it would be good for Yu-ri to experience being the youngest once.
...Probably good. Um, um. You can't live only doing what you want.
“Yu-ri?”
“The friend I play with, she'll probably come to the national team soon.”
“Ah, the one I play with at Barca?”
“Yes.”
“Well, since you're playing in Barcelona, you'll come to the national team once. Where do you play?”
“In the club, left winger? But she can use both feet well, so she can play right too.”
“Is that so? ...But, so what were you looking at? You said you saw it for the first time after coming to Russia.”
When the topic of Yu-ri's position came up, Kim Chae-ri changed the subject.
Although Kim Chae-ri plays as a midfielder, her main position was left winger, so it seemed she was uncomfortable with Yu-ri, a promising player at Barca, being in the same position as her.
Well, there was no need to dig into that, so I changed the subject to match Kim Chae-ri's intention.
“Ah, senior. Do you know that Lima picked me as the most anticipated player in the World Cup?”
“Eh, recently? She said something about a broadcast from England. But, isn't that a bit dangerous?”
“Eh?”
“That person likes men.... No, what am I saying to a kid.”
Haha, even Kim Chae-ri who played with me had this misunderstanding. My pride was a bit hurt. Honestly, the words being shouted on the internet were things that people who don't know much about soccer say, so I didn't mind.
But Kim Chae-ri, who is a soccer player and had played with me, saying this made me feel something bubbling inside.
“...Do you think that too?”
“Eh?”
“That Lima likes men so she picked me.”
“No, well, it's not like that...”
Well, at Kim Chae-ri's age, she might not have been able to properly recognize my skills. At that time, she was probably the age to just like chasing the ball.
“But, honestly, you play soccer well, but you're not at the level of Albiana or Lucia, right?”
“...Did you not watch this year's El Clasico?”
“I watched it.”
“Okay. Level check. Let's get ready quickly.”
Well, even if I watched the El Clasico I came out with, no need to explain if she says this. And it was strange for a soccer player to explain with words. Soccer players should show it with soccer.
“Hey! Hey! What does that mean?”
Ignoring Kim Chae-ri's words from behind, I finished preparing for training.
And that day, whenever I faced Kim Chae-ri in the mini-game against her, I fed her the ball between her legs while she was 1:1, imprinting the difference in levels.
'Of course, soccer illiterates have to see it with their own eyes to understand.'
Now, what's left is to show who I am to the people of the world at the World Cup, the festival of the world.
After this World Cup ends, no one will be able to call me a 'male' soccer player in front of me anymore.
With my mental state sharpened like that, time passed...
“Everyone, is your condition okay?”
“Yes! Coach!”
“That's right, even if you don't make the starting lineup, you can play in the game anytime, so don't slack off on preparation. Luck only comes to those who are prepared.”
...Finally, the morning of the group stage first match dawned.
Good morning everyone! This is the caster Yoon-jin. We are currently at the Russia Nizhny Novgorod Stadium where the match between South Korea and Sweden is taking place. Finally, South Korea's first match is here, and I'm really looking forward to it. What do you think, commentator Kang Yeon-hee?
I am really looking forward to it too! Yesterday in the group stage first match, Germany defeated Mexico 2:1, creating the best scenario, right? Actually, Germany, who is likely to advance to the round of 16, defeated Sweden and Mexico, and if we draw with Germany, we get one step closer to the round of 16.
That's right. So this match is really important, isn't it?
Yes. The group we are in, F group, no team except Germany can guarantee a place in the round of 16, so it's really important to catch the match against Sweden, which is evaluated as a relatively weaker team than Mexico.
Commentator Kang Yeon-hee, you led our national team to the semifinals in 2002, right? What advice would you like to give to the younger players going to the World Cup now?
Basically, I want to tell them not to be nervous and just do what they can. I was really nervous when I went to the World Cup too.
I see. Ah, then, what do you think is the key player of the national team?
Again, it's Ryu Ha-neul player. I've been watching Ryu Ha-neul since he was little, and he really plays well. Ha-neul, ah, Ryu Ha-neul has been different since he was young. Actually, when Ryu Ha-neul started playing soccer and appeared on TV, I thought he was better than Coach Ji-hye... haha.
Oh.... Is that so?
Yes. Until then, I had only imagined what it would be like if Ha-neul played with the women, but seeing him play directly and having the broadcast, it's a different feeling.
Haha, it seems like commentator Kang Yeon-hee has a close friendship with Coach Ryu Ji-hye, so she would have a different feeling. Kang Yu-ri, the daughter of commentator Kang Yeon-hee, is also playing in Barcelona now.
So I always say. Play soccer like Ha-neul. Haha. It's difficult though.
......Ah, now the players' entrance appearance is shown. Ryu Ha-neul and Yoon Seo-hee's figures appear on the screen. Yoon Seo-hee is wearing the captain's armband.
Superstars of South Korea, huh.
......Then, let's introduce South Korea's lineup now. Goalkeeper Kim Eun-hye. And the backline. From the right, Park Hye-ri, Kang Yeon-ji, Seo Hye-won, Kim Min-seo. In the midfield line, from the right, Jo Seo-won, Han Ye-jin, Son Ju-hee, Yoon Seo-hee. And the top two are Kim Seul-gi and Ryu Ha-neul starting.
4-4-2 formation, right? The formation we practiced the most in the friendly match. It means we'll face Sweden properly.
Now the players of Sweden. ........
Sweden also came out with 4-4-2. Of course, the detailed tactics are different, but since Ryu Ha-neul and Yoon Seo-hee are holding the line, we can say that we have a slight advantage in power.
Then, let's start the match with Sweden's kick-off. The white uniforms on the right are South Korea.