The 2018 Russia World Cup: Part 7
Yoon Seo-hee's free kick! Ah! Ah!
It went in! It went in! Uwaaaaaah! Yoon Seo-hee!!
Yoon Seo-hee's amazing free kick! 1:1! It's 1:1! In the 42nd minute of the first half, Yoon Seo-hee creates a goal with an amazing free kick! This is her third goal of the tournament!
This is Yoon Seo-hee's power! Ryu Ha-neul doesn't miss the free kick opportunity created!
Ryu Ha-neul creates it! Yoon Seo-hee scores it! The perfect harmony between the old and the new is shown by Yoon Seo-hee and Ryu Ha-neul! This is Korea!
Ah, it's meaningful. It's so meaningful!
So, what I mean is....
'Ryu is dangerous...'
Josefin entered the locker room and continued to listen to the coach's meaningless words with one ear and let the scenes from the first half play in her mind.
Of course, ignoring the coach's words didn't mean Josefin didn't respect him. Josefin respected her as a manager. The leadership that united the Belgian players divided into French-speaking and Dutch-speaking groups was clearly something to be respected.
But having a respected leader didn't mean their tactical abilities were also respected. The Belgian coach Marina had excellent leadership as a former Belgian legend, but her tactical abilities were minimal.
That's why the domestic media poured out articles saying 'Belgium's tactics are the players' individual skills.'
That's why Josefin thought that listening to the coach's words was less important than figuring out how to stop Korea, especially Ryu Ha-neul, to secure victory.
Even when facing the guy in the El Clasico, Ryu Ha-neul was dangerous. The fact that the insignificant team of Korea had reached the quarterfinals and was competing equally with them was precisely because of Ryu Ha-neul's existence.
Josefin knew that the outcome of this match depended on how to stop Ryu Ha-neul.
In fact, from Josefin's rough image, many football fans thought she was a brute force player with strength, but Josefin was actually a very intelligent player.
Using her image to rough up the opponent's striker and kill his spirit, and committing fouls in non-fatal areas to cut off the attack's momentum, were things that couldn't be done by someone who was stupid. And Real Madrid wasn't a club with blind eyes that would hire a stupid player as a centerback.
In fact, it was entirely under Josefin's judgment to stop the Korean attack's flow by fouling in a non-dangerous area when Ryu Ha-neul was leading as a lone striker.
Although she was beaten by Ryu Ha-neul's play just before the end of the first half, it wasn't because Josefin was stupid, but because Ryu Ha-neul had a higher football intelligence.
And such Josefin's head was rolling only to find a way to stop Ryu Ha-neul.
'Hmm.... If it was a lone striker, I could go out first and foul him, but if it's a two-man, it's ambiguous. How should I stop him? Honestly, I'm not confident with 1:1 either.... But if I block in front and press with physicality, the space opens up too much. With that much space, Ryu could use any trick, making it dangerous.'
But in any situation, the conclusion that Ryu Ha-neul would be left behind in 1:1 situations kept coming up. And the World Cup stage was a stage where one breakthrough could lead to the country's elimination.
'Should I just trust my teammates? ... Trust? Wait, those guys have only one substitution card left, right?'
But then.
A thought flashed in Josefin's mind. Ryu Ha-neul's presence in Korea is overwhelming. Of course, Josefin was also playing an important role in Belgium, but it couldn't be compared to Ryu Ha-neul's presence in Korea.
And if they play football in a 10:10 situation without herself and Ryu Ha-neul....
'Hmm.... Then, do I even need to do it? In 10:10, having me is advantageous. Even considering the quarterfinal, it's better not to get sent off.'
Once her thoughts turned that way, Josefin's head started rolling quickly. Football fans had many misconceptions about Josefin, but one of them was not a misconception. It was that her personality was trash.
The person who could shed blood and tears for victory was Josefin.
"Coach."
And the mouth of Josefin, the main actor in Real Madrid's Champions League three-peat and the highest name value among Belgian players, opened, and everyone in the locker room focused on Josefin's words.
"If those guys use their last substitution card, let's drown him."
"Eh, eh? What does that mean...."
"Even if one gets sent off, if we make sure he doesn't play in today's match, it's 10:10. Honestly, those guys except Ryu are nothing special, right? Honestly, Ryu is a weird guy even in Barcelona."
"That much?"
"Yeah. I played against him directly. Kone, you also played against him in the Champions League, right? You got hit, right?"
"Yeah, but that's a bit...."
"Why are you all saying weak things? Did I say I wanted to kill the guy? Coach. Is it particularly strange to rough up the opponent's ace?"
"Of course not.... But that is correct...."
"I have no idea how to stop the guy. If you have a better way, tell me. But I'm not saying to end the guy's playing career. I just want to make sure he can't play in today's match. Is this level of thing impossible?"
"......"
In the Belgian locker room, silence filled the air after Josefin's words. Roughing up the opponent's ace was a common story, but Ryu Ha-neul was a 16-year-old young player, and a man. To boldly say to drown such a player.
'A trash guy,'
The players spat out curses at Josefin, who casually said such words in her heart. But Josefin remained bold even in that atmosphere.
"Let's win and go to the quarterfinals. The people want it."
"...... Then who will take on that role? You? Josefin?"
"We have to think about the quarterfinals too. Won't we go to the final? Anyone except me, Annie, or Chloe would be fine."
"This crazy...."
Moreover, the guy who made such a proposal, if Ryu Ha-neul got seriously injured, would throw the role that would make him hated by the whole world to someone else. He was truly a trash guy.
"Well, your expressions look like you don't want to do it. Okay, if you don't, I'll do it. But think carefully who should do it for the quarterfinals. Before I step in."
Josefin's eyes, as if carrying killing intent, pierced the players. And the place where that gaze finally reached was, as expected, Deborah, the midfielder whose area most overlapped with Ryu Ha-neul. Moreover, although Deborah was the starter, since there was a substitute player in the Belgian national team, it was perhaps natural for Josefin to look at Deborah.
Deborah looked at the coach Marina, but Marina slightly avoided Deborah's gaze.
"Then when...."
"When those guys use up their last remaining substitution card."
"...I'll try."
And Deborah, who was also looking forward to Korea's World Cup win, had no choice but to nod at Josefin's words.
"Good. Annie."
"Eh, eh?"
"To drown that young guy. I don't feel at ease either. So, let's score as many goals as possible as soon as possible to prevent any accidents."
"...Okay."
In the cold atmosphere, the halftime passed. And the second half began.
[The second half starts with Korea's kick-off. Ryu Ha-neul passes the ball back.]
Korea, as always, started passing the ball around Ryu Ha-neul, and another sharp pass flew from Ryu Ha-neul's feet, and Kone, the goalkeeper, barely blocked Jo Seo-won's shot, and one crisis passed.
And as Ryu Ha-neul's play continued, the Belgian players understood what extreme prescription Josefin had taken. No matter how you thought, it seemed impossible to stop Ryu Ha-neul's play with normal methods.
[Annie's shot! Ah! It misses!]
[Fortunately. Annie's player's shot accuracy isn't that good today. It seems like we just need to be careful with the passes today.]
Moreover, the thought that they didn't want to ruin the promising prospect in the football world made the Belgian players urgent. As Ryu Ha-neul's play got heated and the Belgian play got rushed, an accident eventually happened.
[Ah! Ryu Ha-neul! One! Broke through! Now two in front! Josefin gets taken down! One! Situation with only the goalkeeper left! Shot! Ah! Shot fake! Another shot! It goes in! Comeback! Ryu Ha-neul creates a comeback goal!! 2:1! In the 23rd minute of the second half! Korea successfully comes back!]
[Uwaaaaaah! Ryu Ha-neul! Ryu Ha-neul! Ryu Ha-neul! Ryu Ha-neul did it in the end! This player! He's really an amazing player! It's not because I'm Korean! He's a treasure player in the football world who plays beautiful football!]
[And Lee Young-hee, the coach, makes a decision. Excluding Han Ye-jin, she sends out Gang Hae-young.]
[This is a prepared tactic, right? Now that we're leading, it seems like she's putting in Gang Hae-young, who has better defensive ability than Han Ye-jin, to stabilize the defensive line. Gang Hae-young is often evaluated as having less attacking ability than Han Ye-jin, but she's a hexagonal player who can balance offense and defense.]
[Lee Young-hee's trump card.... How will this trump card end....]
But that accident was also the one Belgium was waiting for.
"Deborah."
"......"
"If you don't, I'll do it. But think carefully who should do it for the quarterfinals. And if you do well, it might end with a yellow card."
"...Okay."
Deborah nods her head at Josefin's words. Korea had no more substitution cards left, so if Ryu Ha-neul is taken out here, the game is 10:10. If it's just a yellow card, it would be 11:10, and even if Ryu Ha-neul doesn't get taken out, if we make him unable to play, we can solve this situation.
'Hoo.... I've done a lot. It's just because he's a guy that it's uncomfortable.'
And Deborah, who had taken on such roles from time to time at her club AC Milan, hardened her heart. The hesitation felt now was just because the guy was a man.
Grinding the opponent's ace was too common in Serie A.
Whistle - Click!
So the whistle for restarting the game sounded, and Belgium's attack missed, and Korea's attack started again. As always, the ball was directed where Ryu Ha-neul was.
'What? Did they switch to man-marking?'
Seeing Deborah approaching without paying attention to the ball's position, Ryu Ha-neul thought if Belgium changed tactics. If it was his previous life, he would have felt something strange looking at Deborah's tense expression, but in this life, Ryu Ha-neul's senses were dulled because he hadn't been subjected to such rough play due to the reason that he was a man.
And the price of that dulled sense was quite high.
"Aaaack!"
Unlike when inducing the free kick, Ryu Ha-neul's scream with genuine feeling echoed on the ground.
[Ah! Deborah stepped on Ryu Ha-neul's ankle!]
[Ah, what is this? The ball clearly left the foot.... Ah, it shouldn't be a big injury.]
[Ah! A red card! Direct expulsion! Deborah leaves the ground.]
[Ah.... Ryu Ha-neul's condition is worrying.... He can't get up....]
"Ha-neul-ah, are you okay?"
"Shit...."
"Eh...?"
Players around him showed surprised expressions at the curse that came out of my mouth. But there was no time to worry about that.
'I was too naive. Shit. I should have expected this....'
I wasn't expecting such a natural situation.... The easiest way to control a good player is to take him off the ground. Even Neymar-level players get such control, and I've been too naive so far.
Slipping the ankle a bit, pain was felt from the ankle. But since he was trying to move, it didn't seem like a big injury that would require several months of rest if the bone was broken, but it was certain that walking was difficult with this state.
'It seems like it's the ligament side.... Fortunately, it wasn't a big injury....'
My body, which had endured countless fouls, was telling me. Even if my current state wasn't a big injury, it seemed like I would have to use crutches for at least 1-2 weeks.
"Ha-neul-ah, can you run?"
The trainer who approached asked me while examining the ankle's condition.
'What should I do? 2:1.... Wouldn't it be okay to just trust and leave it? If I run more here, the injury could worsen. He's still 16 years old. Even if it's not this opportunity.... If the injury worsens, it might really end, shit....'
At that moment, countless worries swept through my mind.
"...Yeah."
But my choice was one.
If I leave the ground here, that's what the opponent wants.
The quarterfinals I dreamed of were right in front of me, and my ankle wasn't broken, and I couldn't leave the ground just like this.
Even if I couldn't walk, the difference between having me and not having me was heaven and earth. Even if I wasn't there, the difference between 11 and 10 was such. If 11 people face 10 people, just standing could draw the attention of one defender.
"...Are you really okay?"
"Just, like earlier, do some action. I'm really okay."
I didn't want to leave the ground even if I had to crawl on it.