183. 2018 Russia World Cup: Quarterfinals (Part 2 Complete)
The quarterfinals of the World Cup. A stage he had never stepped on, even in his previous life as the greatest football player. In his previous life, he had challenged himself to step on that stage somehow, provoked his national team teammates, and even done provocative interviews knowing he'd get hate from the entire nation.
Honestly, he didn't expect to win the tournament. Well, he did hope for it, but he didn't think he could. He was quite realistic. But if the seniors had reached the quarterfinals, he thought he could somehow do it too.
What, even in the last World Cup where his skills were at their peak, he had said things like "I should have defected to Spain after exiting in the round of 32" or "reaching the quarterfinals in this country is a miracle," but he got a lifetime ban from the national team.
And the fact that he was angry meant he had expectations. At that time, he was taking the World Cup seriously enough to say such things.
But now, with this unknown stage right in front of him, the stage he had dreamed of, and his ankle not broken, he couldn't just lie down like this after stepping on it.
"Really, are you okay?"
"Ah, I'm fine."
Even while being carried out on a stretcher and arguing with the trainer, the match was ongoing. No matter how much it was a 10:10 fight, if one side could control more space, Belgium, who was faster, had better physicality, and gave better passes, would have the advantage.
So, there was no time to argue with the trainer.
"Bu-but..."
"If we get eliminated here, can you take responsibility?"
The trainer became speechless at his words. Even in the middle of arguing with the trainer, we had lost the ball to Belgium, and Belgium was coming out aggressively to tie the score.
"So, I need to be on the team."
Leaving the trainer speechless, he got up from his seat. When he put strength into his foot, pain was felt in his ankle, but by putting strength into his uninjured right foot, he managed to stand up without much difficulty.
'Hmm... already swollen.'
But the moment he started walking, pain rose from his ankle. If this was the case, jumping would be impossible. This foot might not even be able to take a step. Honestly, even if I entered the field, I'd be a useless human being. But if he didn't show pain, just hovering in front of the defenders would be enough to be threatening.
Anyway, Belgium had to pay attention to his side in case of some unforeseen situation. And if it was a real situation, if a high ball came, he could at least head it once.
'I don't want to head, but what can I do.'
While thinking how to help the team, he was timing his return to the field when he felt a touch on his shoulder.
"You really are okay, right?"
He didn't even look at the trainer trying to stop him and opened his mouth.
"Ha-neul-ah."
But the voice that came was not the trainer's.
"...Coach?"
Why is the coach here...?
"Ha-neul-ah."
"...Yes."
He wondered if he had gone out of the technical area, but since the coach's voice was so serious, he couldn't voice that doubt. And the coach's mouth opened again.
"You are still 18 years old. For you, there are 2022, 2026, 2030, and maybe even 2034 left."
"..."
Korean age 18, in Western terms 16, but anyway, 18 is still young. As the coach said, even in 2034, if he does well, he can board the World Cup team.
But the coach knew only one thing and didn't know the other.
No guarantee that a better opportunity would come during these 4 chances. Next World Cup, surely Seo-hee-senior would not be there, and no guarantee of meeting Switzerland in the round of 16. Moreover, no guarantee of leading 2:1 against a strong European team like Belgium in the quarterfinals.
So, perhaps this could be the last chance to reach the quarterfinals.
"...I, I'm really okay."
"Ha-neul-ah. I can hear the words 'incompetent coach who failed in tactics and mercenary play.' But I don't want to hear 'coach who ruined the future of a talented player like a bastard.'"
"..."
It wasn't a big injury. Just a light injury. Since he had endured countless fouls even in his previous life, he knew that this much would heal with a few days rest.
But that was the story after resting after the injury.
Since he had never played with such determination before, he had never played with an injury.
But could he heal so easily even when playing with an injury? Could he guarantee that this injury wouldn't leave aftereffects? If he slowed down more here, wouldn't his player career basically be over?
If someone here stepped on his ankle again, ... would he have the resolve not to regret it?
Countless worries swirled in his mind at the coach's words.
"Bu-but. I, I need to be here, right?"
And even in the moment of thinking that way, Belgium's attack was targeting the Korean goal. The spot where he was missing was empty and being trampled by Belgium.
Korea needed him, as always.
"Ha-neul-ah. If you mess up here, how am I supposed to face the national team?"
But the coach's next words stopped him from walking onto the field.
'If anyone sees, they'll think I'm retiring.'
...He wanted to say that, but his mouth wouldn't open.
If he really stepped on his ankle again here, or if aftereffects remained and he really retired..., he wouldn't have the face to look at his parents. Probably, if he couldn't play football, they'd be even sadder. His parents remembered him before he played football.
And he couldn't guarantee that the him who couldn't play football wouldn't return to that time. For the first few years, he'd endure, but after that, could he endure without playing football?
"Trust your teammates. Ha-neul-ah. South Korea is not that weak."
"Bu-but, Coach. Please return to the technical area."
The coach seemed to have something more to say, but he had no choice but to return to the technical area.
...And he followed the coach with support, receiving assistance.
- Coward.
He had a feeling that someone was calling him a coward.
Coward....
Yeah, it was scary. Really, scared that he might not be able to play football again. If he removed football from this strange world, he'd really be nothing.
But because it was this strange world, he wanted to trust his teammates. There were teammates who had advanced to the quarterfinals with him, weaker than in his previous life.
"Well thought. This match is not over."
"...Yes."
Now, all he could do was quietly sit on the bench and pray. The trainer said to get a checkup at the hospital, but he wanted to watch this match with his own eyes until the end.
'Please, please.'
Time passed. Belgium's attack became more fierce.
- Waaaaaaaah!!!
...And Anni's equalizer goal was scored.
"Ah..."
He had expected it to some extent. Belgium was Belgium. No matter how well the other teammates were playing, the one who had been leading the match was
The Korean build-up without him was not smooth, and it was a natural flow for Belgium, who was touching the ball more, to score.
And that goal became the trigger, and our defense gradually lost strength, and soon after extra time was declared, Belgium's shot shook our goal net again.
He had known this would happen. That's why he had tried to enter the field even with a sprained ankle. Maybe he could help. But, the moment he turned towards the bench, it was obvious that this would happen.
Yeah, he knew. He knew, but why was his eyelid getting hot.
"Ha-neul-ah, you did well. You did well enough for the quarterfinals too. Don't cry."
The coach's hand stroking his head made him want to burst into tears.
"Ah, I'm not crying."
But since crying after losing is the ugliest thing, he held back his tears.
And countless thoughts flashed in his mind.
If he had scored just one more goal.... No, if he had avoided that foot....
It was naive. He should have done a little better and been a little more careful.
'Next World Cup...'
While promising not to make such mistakes next time, the whistle blew and players fell onto the field.
And like other World Cups he had participated in so far, seeing players fall on the field crying, seeing Korean fans crying in the stands, it felt real that the World Cup was over for us.
When will we be able to finish the World Cup while smiling.
One thing was certain: to do that, he had to do better than now.
More perfectly.
'Next time...'
He engraved each scene in his mind, promising the next.
*
- Lost but fought well! South Korea loses 3:2 to Belgium!
……But, after Ryu Ha-neul walked onto the field due to injury, allowing Anni's long-range goal and conceding a header goal from a corner kick to Josephin......
Meanwhile, South Korea, which achieved the record of advancing to the quarterfinals in the away World Cup,......
*
- Waaaaaaaah!!!!!
'...Eh?'
The moment he stepped onto the airport, a thunderous cheer echoed in the airport. And the crowd filling the airport was shooting flashes.
"Ryu Ha-neul player! Please give a word as the main player in South Korea's quarterfinals advancement!"
It wasn't press conference time yet, but a reporter handed him a microphone in front. The reporter's face was smiling brightly, but it wasn't that different from others. And the moment he realized that fact, his body stiffened.
He hadn't thought of such a situation.
Actually, until before returning home, he had been thinking what kind of face to apologize with. After participating in the World Cup, it was the set procedure to apologize to the nationals with a sorry face.
If he couldn't endure that, now it would be like in his previous life saying 'I should have defected to Spain.'
But, to be waiting for us with a smiling face....
- Ha-neul-ah! I love you!
- Ryu Ha-neul! Ryu Ha-neul!
And, welcoming him like this after failing to advance to the quarterfinals....
"Th... I'll work hard from now on?"
Shocked by the unexpected situation, he said something anyone would say in a daze.
- Waaaaaaaah!!!!!
But seeing the people cheering for his words, the feeling wasn't that bad.
"Wait a minute! There's a press conference, so questions later! Sorry, Ha-neul player!"
...Seeing the bodyguard with a sullen face, he felt a bit sorry.