Chapter 188
Chapter 188
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Special Commentator Park Chan-hyuk -1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
***
Even after Lee Sung-jae's opener, the match between South Korea and Uruguay continued.
"Strong pressing from South Korea! They've forced a pass mistake from Uruguay!"
Buoyed by the early goal, South Korea pressed Uruguay hard.
Lee Sung-jae and Park Ji-sang's tireless work rate devastated Uruguay's midfield.
As they stole the ball in midfield, South Korea launched another counterattack.
"Lee Sung-jae to the onrushing Park Joo-young! Park Joo-young unleashes a shot!"
Lee Sung-jae, with the ball at his feet, immediately passed it to the penetrating Park Joo-young.
"Oh! Park Joo-young's shot is blocked by Fernando Muslera, the Uruguay keeper."
"Yes. But it was a good strike."
Park Joo-young's shot was saved by the Uruguay goalkeeper.
But the fans watching the game cheered the strong performances from the Korean players.
"Great—South Korea!"
The cheers from the Korean supporters grew louder, and soccer fans watching thought South Korea would cruise to victory at this rate.
"Sending the ball to the opposite side from Edinson Cavani. Forlan crosses!"
However, Uruguay's resistance was tougher than expected.
Despite South Korea's relentless pressure, Uruguay kept trying counters.
And South Korea eventually conceded an equalizer all too easily on one such break.
"Huh? Oh no! They can't let that one slip."
"Ah. Such a soft equalizer. The defenders needed to track back and mark that runner properly."
"Yes... Luis Suarez has equalized. But it's okay! The players are performing well today? They can score another one!"
South Korea had failed to deal with the cross properly and conceded, but with Park Ji-sang rallying them, they refocused and hammered Uruguay again.
"Good pass from Park Ji-sang! Son Hong-min gets it! Son Hong-min! Shoots!"
Then, right before halftime, Park Ji-sang's through ball found Son Hong-min.
"Goaaaalllll! It's in! Son Hong-min! Son Hong-min's second goal! South Korea leads Uruguay 2-1!"
"Wow—such a calm, clinical finish! Son Hong-min bags a World Cup brace!!"
Son Hong-min slotted home a low, driven shot with composure.
***
I kept watching the South Korea vs. Uruguay match with my family.
"Ah... they couldn't stop that one."
I sighed at Son Hong-min's goal right before halftime.
"Oppa, aren't you being too biased toward Uruguay?"
"That's what makes watching games fun."
Park Jung-ah called me out on my attitude, but I had no shame looking up at the sky.
"I'm not rooting for Uruguay just because of the bet, am I?"
"Hey! What do you take your oppa for!"
Sure, I'd placed a traitorous bet, but I genuinely hoped for a South Korean win. After all, players I'd personally developed were on the national team.
And the country of my birth—and my current nationality—was South Korea. It was only natural for a kimchi man to the bone like me to cheer for Korea.
'The bet was unavoidable anyway.'
With the whole family betting on South Korea's win, there was no real wager.
I couldn't very well tell Charles, the German, to bet on South Korea losing.
A Korean betting against Korea is a joke, but a German doing it would make a documentary.
"Kids, have some fruit while you watch."
"Okay."
"Ah. Soccer matches are for chicken and beer."
I smacked my lips regretfully at the fruit. There were Korean fried chicken places in Berlin, but sadly, none close to our house.
Better fruit than soggy delivery chicken.
"Oppa knows what's up. Ugh, I want a beer."
My little sister reacted naturally, homesick for the taste.
"...Park Jung-ah. Come to the master bedroom."
Suddenly, the living room temperature dropped, turning icy.
'Park Jung-ah, you idiot...!'
I sighed inwardly.
Mom dragged her still-underage daughter off for a thorough scolding.
Whatever. It had nothing to do with me.
As long as she didn't rat out that I'd bought her the beer.
And fortunately, Park Jung-ah had enough loyalty not to snitch.
Anyway, Suarez's stunning curling shot found the net in the second half, and the South Korea vs. Uruguay match went to extra time.
***
Meanwhile, at that time.
The South Korea vs. Uruguay match was generating some buzz in Germany too. After all, the manager who'd taken promoted Union Berlin to back-to-back league titles and a Champions League win was Korean.
"The South Korean goalkeeper is amateur level. Any properly trained keeper could have saved both goals."
Oliver Kahn, Bayern Munich and German legend, watching the game, tore into the South Korean keeper.
In the eyes of the world-class keeper, the Korean's skills were truly dismal.
"The Korean FA should have sent goalkeeper prospects to Union Berlin before sending forwards to study abroad."
Word of the Korean FA sending overseas trainees to Union Berlin was already well-known among fans, and Kahn lightly criticized that too.
Of course, the Korean FA had wanted to send keepers too.
But after spider-handed Lee Jae-woon and charging keeper Jo Byung-ji, Korea lacked promising goalkeepers.
From Park Chan-hyuk's position, bringing in another prospect felt off with Manuel Schmidt already there.
And even if they had, that keeper would likely still be the starter for this South Africa World Cup.
Field players could overcome experience with talent, but goalkeepers needed both.
That was why Park Chan-hyuk had called up Manuel Schmidt early from the lower leagues to build experience.
"South Korea is a really good team aside from the keeper."
"No issues with the defenders?"
"Defenders snap to attention after a keeper clears once. If they play dumb defense, that's on the keeper."
Anyway, separate from Kahn's criticism, the South Korea vs. Uruguay match continued evenly matched.
"Manchester United's Park shows great off-the-ball movement!"
And right before extra time ended.
"Oh! South Korea's captain Park saves the team from penalties at the death!"
"I've run into him a few times. Good player."
"Haha, the Korean fans are erupting!"
South Korea advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals as Park Ji-sang scored.
***
[South Korea beats Uruguay 3-2 after extra-time thriller.]
After the match ended.
[South Korea reaches World Cup quarters away from home for the first time!]
South Korea erupted in euphoria.
[The legend of Korean soccer continues! Reliving the 2002 fever!]
Koreans recalled the hot summer of 2002, just eight years prior.
"Hey, did you watch yesterday's game?"
"Yeah, man... Lee Sung-jae and Son Hong-min were insane. Can't believe they're our age."
"Whoa... we might actually hit the semis again at this rate?"
"Quarterfinal opponent is USA or Ghana, so we got a shot!"
Koreans everywhere—at work, school, anywhere—started talking World Cup.
[Son Hong-min and Lee Sung-jae, next World Cup stars?]
The two goalscorers from Union Berlin became Korea's next sports icons.
[Park Chan-hyuk, the hidden hero behind South Korea's quarterfinal run?]
└ Ah, just praise praise praise ㅠㅠ
└ Chan-hyuk, please develop a keeper ㅠㅠ
The acclaim from Korean viewers watching the game extended to Park Chan-hyuk, who'd nurtured them.
'Always thrilling. Always fresh. Praise me more.'
As Park Chan-hyuk puffed up at the Koreans' adulation.
Ghana vs. USA kicked off.
[Ghana defeats USA to reach World Cup quarters.]
South Korea's quarterfinal opponent was set: Ghana.
***
Meanwhile, at that time.
[Union Berlin's Park Chan-hyuk, who produced World Cup stars: "South Korea needs to praise me a bit more."]
Park Chan-hyuk began preparing to head to Korea.
[Park Chan-hyuk as special commentator for 2010 South Africa World Cup?]
He'd been invited as a special commentator ahead of the Ghana quarterfinal.