170. 2018 Russia World Cup vs Sweden (Part 2)

The pressure of the first game on the big stage of the World Cup is indescribable. The slight tremble and excitement that I, who was a world-class football player, had made my heart race.

But that was the same for the other players.

Usually, when in this state, the trembling subsides, and until they adapt to the stage, they play passively or get excited and rush without looking at their teammates.

And Sweden's state after 12 years of failing to advance to the group stage is clearly different.

Sweden has been passing the ball around in their own half for 5 minutes since the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠start of the game, without making any notable attacks.

Only once, when they long-kicked towards the attacking side, but it was when Kang Yeon-ji cleared it and the ball went back to Sweden, which was a bit unfortunate.

Because once they have the ball, I have no doubt they would pass it back to Sweden.

The players Sweden needs to be careful about are Lena playing for Arsenal and Pia, a winger from Dortmund. There are a few other players from big leagues, but most are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from lower-tier teams, so not at a level where I need to be cautious.

But Lena is a highly regarded creative midfielder in the EPL for playmaking at Arsenal, and Pia is a winger rated as the second best after Charlotte in the Bundesliga, and Sweden, who couldn't be considered a strong team in Europe, reached the World Cup with them, so both are players of no small skill.

But that's about the attack side.

Among Sweden's defenders, there was no one to mark me.

'Just once, just once...'

Usually, the excitement of the first game lasts about 2-30 minutes. After that, they start showing their true abilities after adapting to the pitch.

If there's just one chance for me to show my full potential while Lena and Pia are not playing at their best in this first World Cup appearance, it would be perfect...

Pia, playing as left winger, attempts a breakthrough on our right side. But our right fullback is Park Hye-ri playing for Mainz. Pia doesn't seem to be taking a risky attempt, and since they are in the same league, Park Hye-ri completely blocks the space Pia wants to enter, and the ball goes back to Sweden's side.

And the ball was received by Lena, the central midfielder. Lena looks around and connects the ball to the center back.

Actually, the reason Sweden's attack is stagnant is because of this backpass. Even if it's just Lena in the midfield, there was no one to help Lena, so Lena had no choice but to turn back and catch her breath.

Why?

Because Margarida, Lena's partner, was hovering near me even when Sweden was developing the ball.

Well, that's natural.

Real Madrid, who achieved three consecutive Champions League titles and is the undisputed strongest team of this era, also got beaten up badly by me after not marking me in the cup matches, and fans around the world saw it. On this important stage where one goal means going home, it was unthinkable for Sweden not to mark me.

Of course, even if it's not someone like Clemence from Real Madrid, with only one person marking me, I couldn't be blocked, so what was needed was just one chance.

...And that one chance started with a save.

Bang!

The ball bouncing off Kim Eun-hye's hand was connected to senior Seo-hee who went into defense.

'Senior Seo-hee!'

Perfect counter-attack situation!

Margarida was already sticking to me, but I raised my hand towards senior Seo-hee. And senior Seo-hee gave a strong ground pass.

Currently next to me is Margarida. And in the Swedish defensive formation slightly below the center line, there are two center backs and Kim Seul-gi waiting.

'Okay.'

While running towards senior Seo-hee's pass, I quickly judged the situation. I decided to focus on the immediate task at hand. Although I reacted a bit faster, my speed was similar to Margarida who started a bit late, and the pass from senior Seo-hee reached us.

Tuk.

In that situation, the one who took the ball was me, who started first from a better position. Normally there would have been plenty of time, but since Margarida was right behind me, the time given to me was only about 1 second at best.

But that was enough time.

Receiving the ball with my left foot, I feinted to go left. And the guy's shadow follows my figure.

'Good reaction?'

If I hadn't reacted, I would have gone left, but since I reacted, there was no need.

I moved my ankle to send the ball to the right. And I shot the ball again with my right outside.

The guy who reacted to my first move couldn't reach it, and it was at a distance only I could reach.

In that way, all the movements flowed like one action, and I succeeded in turning my body towards Sweden's goal.

With only 4 players left in front of me, the vast empty Swedish field is in front of me. But there was no time to enjoy this sight. If I delay even a little, Margarida would catch up to me.

I quickly dribbled the ball and ran forward. As I advanced, the opponent's center back retreated. It seemed like they judged that Margarida could catch up to my speed, so no one was coming in front of me.

The best here was to poke a pass towards Kim Seul-gi. But Kim Seul-gi, who hasn't properly touched the ball in this game, could she react sharply to my pass between the two center backs?

Suddenly, I thought that if I don't take this chance, Sweden's attack would continue for a few minutes. And at that time, the Swedish players who blocked our counter-attack would have relaxed.

Kim Seul-gi might have reacted and scored a wonderful goal, but that would be too dependent on Kim Seul-gi's individual skill. Even I in my previous life had missed goals in counter-attack situations, and I didn't want to depend on someone else's individual skill in this important stage instead of myself.

So I decided.

I would do what ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I do best.

The moment Margarida who was chasing me touched my shoulder, I turned my body in the opposite direction the guy was coming from and looked back at our field.

Counter-attack is what a weaker team does against a stronger team.

And South Korea, where I am, didn't need to do a low-probability counter-attack against Sweden.

"Slowly, okay! Slowly! We're not losing!"

I pass to Han Ye-jin, who is in charge of ball distribution in the midfield, and shout loudly.

The expressions of the players running towards me with tense faces slightly relaxed.

"We can win even if we go slowly, right?"

Me, Kim Seul-gi, Yoon Seo-hee. And Jo Seo-won playing for Lille and Han Ye-jin playing for Crystal Palace.

The attacking resources were sufficient. Rather, it was better here than in my previous life.

And Han Ye-jin who received the ball from me passed it to Kang Yeon-ji as per my intention, and our attack started.