Asian Cup Focus. (4)
Ryu Ha-neul dominates La Liga scoring! What about the performances of other overseas players?
...Ryu Ha-neul, who scored a hat-trick in the 8th round La Liga match against Real Madrid, has risen to the double-digit goals mark for the first time in European leagues this season with 10 goals and 7 assists..., also including the Champions League, a total of 12 goals...
On the other hand, looking at the performances of players playing in Europe...
...Kang Yu-ri, a promising player from Barcelona like Ryu Ha-neul, has been on loan to Deportivo in the same league this season and is showing good performances with 1 goal and 1 assist in 4 games...
-Diena Coach, National Team Roster Selected!
...On the other hand, when Diena Coach was asked by a reporter if there was a plan to select Kang Yu-ri in this national team selection, “Kang Yu-ri is a player I've been watching since the Barcelona coach days, and if it weren't for La Liga's rules, she would have stepped onto the first team stage like Camila, Valentina, Bruna, the 'golden generation' players currently active at Barcelona. If I judge that her form has risen just a little more, I'll pick her anytime” he answered, and “There are many talented young players in Korea. Also, I like to nurture the talent of young players.”...
Diena Coach selected Park Hye-shin as the national team striker instead of Yang Hyun-hee in preparation for this evaluation match...
This A match period has Uruguay and Panama matches scheduled, and the matchup with Uruguay, which reached the quarterfinals in the last World Cup, is generating great expectations.
Marisol, Uruguay's flagship attacker, is active at Real Madrid, and the matchup between the two has Ryu Ha-neul leading with 2 wins and 1 draw... Marisol has recorded 3 goals in a total of 8 games this season...
So, Ha-neul. What do you think of Marisol?
"Marisol? She's really good."
"...Is that all?"
"Yeah."
After the El Clasico, Korea arrived immediately. The players' interest was, as expected, in Marisol, the key attacker for Uruguay. The interest was quite high, as every player arriving at the training center was asking about Marisol.
And that was, in a way, a natural story.
In the El Clasico, despite not showing a good performance and being substituted in the first half, Marisol's performance from last season was so impressive that it could be considered an all-time great season.
In the league, Champions League, and World Cup, the player who scored the most goals in these three tournaments in one season was, as far as I know, never done before, and Marisol's goal-scoring ability was unparalleled.
Honestly, I was envious of the World Cup top scorer.
"But, you don't have to worry too much. Her condition lately has been a bit off."
"Yeah? Well, since you're facing her soon, you'll know better."
While talking with my teammates,
"Ha-neul!"
Diena called my name with quite a surprising pronunciation.
'She said she lives in Korea, and her pronunciation improves every time I see her.'
From the articles, I heard she attends K League every day, but seeing that only one newly selected player, it feels like a formality, but because of such a coach, I was starting to think that my preconceived notions about Diena might not be right.
"Yes, Coach."
"Come to the coach's office, please."
And she's even studying Korean... Of course, according to my mother, it's not conversational level, just a few words, but a foreign coach, one who was even a Barcelona coach, making such an effort was somehow nice to see.
"Understood."
Following Diena to the coach's office, Diena was sitting with a smiling face.
"Sit down. There's something to talk about."
Of course, the words from Diena were naturally in Spanish. Since I didn't expect that, I answered Diena's words with a smile that a proper lady would have.
"Yes. What did you call me for?"
"Hmm, how has Marisol been?"
"Hmm... Her physical condition is good, but it feels like she's changing her style."
"I see."
Diena must also be worried about Marisol. I was about to tell Diena all the data I heard about Marisol from Barcelona, and wait for the next words from Diena.
"By the way, how is Yu-ri doing?"
"Yu-ri?"
But the sudden words from Diena made me a bit surprised. Suddenly talking about Yu-ri here... But since Yu-ri was more like a standby for the national team, there was no reason not to answer.
"She seems to be doing well? She's also playing football well."
"Haha, that must be it. She's playing as the starter in the league lately. Um, good. Good. Ha-neul, you should play with friends too, right?"
"Eh? Ah, well. If it's Yu-ri level..."
"Yeah, I got it. Then go."
"...Eh? Ah, yes. Understood. Good luck."
'What? Why call me to the coach's office to talk about such a sudden topic? Tsk, I have to tell my mother separately about Marisol.'
Although the sudden call from Diena made my heart a bit uneasy, seeing Diena's recent actions, I thought maybe I was overthinking the meaning, so I erased that thought from my mind.
After that, after telling my mother the analysis data on Marisol from Barcelona, I came back to the lounge, and Kim Chae-ri's bright face appeared.
"Oh, Ha-neul! Early arrival?"
"I came with my mother."
Kim Chae-ri's face looked really bright, but in terms of her player career, it wasn't such a good situation. She had completely been pushed out by Yu-ri and changed position from left wing to central midfielder.
Well, I know she has been playing in both positions in Korea, but since the left wing is her best position, it would be natural to be annoyed, but Kim Chae-ri didn't seem to be like that at all.
And I knew the reason all too well. The reason was the Asian Games held in September.
The national team won there and all received exemption from military service, and one of the people who benefited from that was Kim Chae-ri. So, even if her main position was taken away during the Asian Games, she could smile like that.
I knew that feeling all too well, so I didn't particularly want to say anything.
'Now is the time when the world looks beautiful.'
And besides Kim Chae-ri, players like Kang Yeon-ji and Han Ye-jin, Jo Seo-won, who are a bit younger, had very bright expressions. Without asking, one could guess who went to the Asian Games.
Anyway, after greeting Kim Chae-ri in that state, while chatting in the lounge, other national team players arrived one after another, and everyone gathered. The unfamiliar faces were only Park Hye-shin, newly selected for the national team.
"Ha-neul, first time meeting. I'm Park Hye-shin. I'm 23 years old. Ah, in European terms, 22. Nice to meet you. Let's do well."
"Yes, Senior."
"But, what kind of person is Coach Diena? I feel like I should give a thank you gift..."
"Ah, he doesn't really like those things."
Well, in my preconceived notion, Diena liked such gifts. But I didn't know well, and if I did something like that and it caused some strange article, it would be troublesome, so I drew a line at Park Hye-shin's words.
"Ah, really? I almost made a mistake. Thank you."
"Yes, Senior. Please do well from now on."
After talking with the new face, a simple meeting and training began. The schedule wasn't particularly different, but one different point was that Kim Chae-ri was participating in the training sessions for central midfielders.
Anyway, Diena must have been watching Kim Chae-ri's recent games.
'Still, it seems she's steadily assessing players. Good. Maybe I was looking at it with too much colored glasses?'
Perhaps, instead of Kang Sae-young, she was thinking of using Kim Chae-ri as a midfielder in this match. Although Diena is well-liked in Korea, there have been some critical articles because of her poor scoring ability, but it seems she was thinking of strengthening the attack by putting Kim Chae-ri in the midfielder position.
After the training ended, in the evening, the analysis of Uruguay continued. Well, instead of Diena who couldn't speak Korean, my mother was conducting most of the meetings.
"...The key player of Uruguay is, of course, Marisol... Also, the midfielder playing for Everton, Paula, is evaluated to have excellent football intelligence, and overall, it's a player with a hexagon of shooting, passing, physical, defense, etc. Sl-gi, you've played against her many times. How is she?"
"She's really good. Probably will transfer to a big club in a few years? She's also a key player at Everton. But, I've heard some rumors. The Uruguayan national team, Lola, says that after the World Cup ended, Marisol and Paula had a fight in the locker room."
"Yeah? Then it's fortunate. Anyway, if there's a clash between the key midfielder and the striker, it might not match well. For now, our tactics against Uruguay will be 4-2-3-1..."
While my mother and Kim Seul-gi were having a lively conversation, Diena was nodding while watching the scene.
It felt like she had left all her work to my mother, so I felt a bit uncomfortable, but to avoid creating another preconception, I focused on my mother's words.
"Then, Ha-neul. As you know, your role is important this time too. You may have to play many games and come to Korea, but while you come a bit lower, you have to connect the attacking line and the defensive line."
"Yes, Mother, no, Coach."
After repeating training and meetings, time passed, and soon the time for the Uruguay match arrived,
"It's been quite a while."
"Ah, yes. It wasn't long ago, and it's been a while."
Inside the tunnel going to the stadium, Marisol spoke first.
"Today won't be easy."
...With a quite stern expression.