2018 Russia World Cup: Germany (2)
Clearly, Germany was a strong opponent.
Putting individual skills aside, when players join the national team, there's not much time to sync, so their organization isn't great, and there are many misses in defense and passing. But Germany's starting players are mostly from Munich, so their organization is quite good.
In Barcelona, they definitely played in full condition after management, but now there's only about 3 days between matches, so my legs aren't moving like usual.
If I were players from mid-to-lower La Liga teams, it wouldn't matter, but the players I'm facing now are those playing for top teams like Bayern and Chelsea.
Playing against such players without being sloppy would risk losing the ball, so I've been playing as safely as possible so far.
But now, about 40 minutes into the first half. Germany, leading 7:3, but because they were too focused on attack, the defense line was loosening up.
'Germany has two center backs.... The midfielders are far from Jin, and the fullbacks are completely joining the attack.... Good, this is playable?'
Moreover, unlike other players who were constantly running, I had only minimal pressure and slightly replenished my stamina. With this condition, it seemed I could score once in a while, so I was waiting for the opportunity while praying for my teammates to block Germany's attack.
'First, towards Karl....'
The German center back duo, Sophi and Karl, were opponents who had experienced each other in the Champions League before. Back then, they scored by breaking Sophi, but with Karl's current body condition being a bit dull, it would be easier to deal with Karl, so I moved my body towards Karl.
'Huu.... Huu....'
Honestly, even back then, I had a memory of having to deal with them quite difficultly by dedicating the whole first half to shooting, so a slight tension was building. Moreover, unlike back then, if I made one mistake now, it could be fatal....
But from my previous life, situations like this have become more familiar only when joining the national team, so it was rather a familiar tension.
'Yeah, honestly, I've been too comfortable so far.'
By controlling the tension, I watched my teammates block Germany's attack. I wanted to run over there and help my teammates, but my assigned mission wasn't that, so I stood at the front waiting for the opportunity.
The cross from Sara on the right side hit Sophia's head. The fact that Sophia, who had been attached to me in defense situations and bothering me, had come up this far was telling how much Germany was focused on attack, but I couldn't just rejoice that I was free.
Pang!
Sophia's header connected to Hanna.
'Please! Please!'
A cannon-like sound from Hanna's foot, the ball heading towards the goal. I had no choice but to watch the scene while praying,
Tung!
... and it hit the post, the ball bounced out. And the one who caught that ball was Se-hye-won.
'Nice!'
Honestly, there was a slight reluctance because of what happened at the All-Star game, but when our eyes met in this situation, nothing could be happier.
But Se-hye-won's pass didn't come so happily.
'This bastard!'
The pass aiming to give to me was a high clearing pass rather than a pass to me. I quickly went to check the position, but Karl was already waiting behind me in the 190s.
'Chet, didn't want to use this method either.'
I felt Karl's body with one hand to check his position.
"Ueeut..."
Because my hand touched a harsh place, Karl made a strange sound for a moment, a bit embarrassing, but I didn't care, I felt the guy's movement. And when the guy tried to jump, I quickly moved my foot and stomped on the top of his foot.
"Kruek!"
It was very close to the whistle being blown, but the small groan from the guy told me the technique had properly entered.
And at that moment, I slightly jumped forward towards the ball and sent a header pass to Kim Seul-gi who was running towards me. The feeling of brain cells dying from one header in a long time, but now wasn't the time to care about such things.
'Good, no whistle!'
Fortunately, my technique, honed since the era of watching VAR, had avoided the referee's eyes and entered properly, and the match continued.
Now, all that was left was to run forward!
The one-touch pass Kim Seul-gi pushed forward aimed for the vast space between the goalkeeper and the center back. And behind me, who started running towards the ball, Sophi and Karl had attached themselves. In front of me, the goalkeeper Lea had already come out of the penalty box and was preparing to clear the ball.
Thump, thump.
My breath was rising to the tip of my throat, and my heart felt like it was about to come out of my mouth. But my teammates had blocked Germany's attack throughout the first half, and I couldn't let this opportunity created by them slip away.
'One more step! One more step!'
But Sophi, who had followed me all the way, grabbed my uniform. I thought of falling here to get a free kick, but since it was unlikely to break through the world's best goalkeeper Lea with a free kick, I pushed the thought of wanting to relax to the back of my mind and ran forward by elbowing the guy's arm.
'What's the power...'
But Sophi was also one of the center backs rated as the world's best. Ignoring my resistance, the guy grabbed the back of my neck tightly,
Tuduk.
... and my body became slightly free. Probably, the guy panicked when his uniform tore and released his strength.
Thanks to that, I could get one step closer to the ball,
'Chet!'
Unfortunately, Lea had already blocked all the shooting angles with his big body. I thought of gambling for some luck and shooting, but this opportunity was one my teammates had made with difficulty, so I couldn't take such a low-probability gamble.
'If I were to gamble...!'
For a moment, if I hesitated, Lea's foot would touch the ball in an instant, I hit the ball hard with my heel and sent it to the left back.
Expecting one person running from the left back.
Many teammates were running, but the reason I chose that person was simple.
That person was clearly the most calm in this situation because of the most experience, and had the courage to shoot from a long distance without worrying about failure.
Pang!
And as expected, a cool shooting sound came from behind.
'Done...!'
The ball flying in an arc towards the empty space, bounced once in front of the goal and entered the goal net as is.
- Waaaaaaa!!!!
"Senior Se-hee!!!"
Running towards Se-hee senior who scored a wonderful goal as per my belief, cool wind was felt through the torn uniform. But in the situation of scoring the first goal against Germany, that wasn't particularly important.
"...You, clothes."
Of course, Se-hee senior who hugged me wasn't that, but.
Actually, in this world, even if men take off their tops, it would be broadcast worldwide, but fortunately, there was a wearable vest-like sports bra inside the uniform, so an unprecedented incident didn't occur.
Slightly pulling the uniform to check, it was torn quite a bit, but.
'Hoo, good it tore. If it hadn't torn, I would have fallen or couldn't catch the ball.'
I don't know if the seam was torn with cheap fabric, but anyway, this luck was welcome.
"Ha-nia!"
Turning my head at the voice calling me, from the bench, they were calling me while holding my extra uniform. I didn't mind, but since there was common sense, I quickly changed the uniform in the aisle and came out, and by now the ceremony was over.
I couldn't fully enjoy the afterglow of the goal, but since it was the first goal against Germany, it was enough.
'Good, if I hold on for just 4-5 minutes, it's the second half.'
With that, the game started again, and we blocked Germany's attack with ten men, and the first half ended.
"All doing well! Now, just 45 minutes left! Let's make Korean football history!"
The coach was not hiding his excitement as he encouraged us. Thinking of the coach's age, who is now old enough to be detached from the world, it was not common to be so excited like this, but in fact, I felt the same as the coach.
Scoring 3 wins in the World Cup group stage was an event I had never experienced in my life.
'Hoo, 45 minutes. If I hold on for 45 minutes...'
Now, if I hold on for 45 minutes, I can build a new tower in Korean football history.
... with that thought, the second half began.
Germany was still Germany.
Germany immediately pushed us hard after the second half started, and we who had been holding on throughout the first half had no choice but to concede a goal with Freida's pass and Hanna's shot.
Actually, the number of shots was already 3-4 times more. It wouldn't have been strange if this situation came in the first half, so I didn't feel like blaming the defenders.
'But if I get a draw, it's 1st place.'
But in this situation where I was trapped, I was not a helpful player, and unlike when I conceded the first goal, the center backs were more tense and pressing me, so I couldn't continue the counterattack.
If it was a time when concentration was disrupted, but unfortunately, our situation couldn't wait for me to that extent.
"Player substitution!"
"Ha-neul, good work. Now trust your teammates."
"...Yes."
In the end, the coach made a decision, and I had no choice but to leave the field, and in my place, defensive midfielder Hong Yae-eun entered. And as soon as I left, Germany started pressing us more aggressively since they no longer needed to worry about defense.
So the time passed painfully.
'Please, please.'
I sat on the bench watching the game with both hands clasped, but Germany, who had been rough, eventually had no choice but to concede the goal to Sophia's medium-range shot that had become free.
- Waaaaaaa!!!!
'...Ha, bastard.'
The only thing coming out was swear words. I thought if my condition was at the best, but since it was a World Cup, I couldn't blame anyone.
'...But it's 16th place.'
Honestly, looking at the opponents in the group, they were opponents I couldn't guarantee advancing to 16th, so advancing to 16th could be called a relief, but having the group 1st snatched away, the regret was even greater.
'...Then next opponent is Brazil, sigh...'
Moreover, since the 16th opponent was likely Brazil, the regret piled up.
"All, good work. Lost, but I think we showed our power. Prepare well for the 16th round and surprise the world once again."
Unlike the half-time, the director's words were a bit desolate, the atmosphere slightly calmed.
'Lost again, but fought well. Such articles will come up.'
Probably in the newspaper, after many World Cups, the article 'lost but well fought' that I've seen too many times will come up.
I didn't want to see that article title anymore, so after finishing 1st in the group stage, I abandoned the plan to check the praises towards me, and returned to the accommodation, lying on the bed and turning on the TV.
And not long after, when we returned to the accommodation, we all had no choice but to shout.
"Waaaaaaa!!!!"
"Hey! Come out! Are you watching the match?"
"Bastard! This is it!"
"Assa! Switzerland!"
... Switzerland, who beat Brazil after drawing with Serbia or whatever, became 1st in Group E.