Shaking Haiti's Right Flank
U-17 Brazil World Cup 2 — Ha Sunmoon is tearing apart Haiti's right flank! After bursting deep down the line, Ha Sunmoon pulled up and scanned the pitch. [Perfect! I've got depth! Can I cut back to the holding midfielder? You see the lane?] ‘Holding midfielder?’ The view wasn't clear, but when Harrison spoke, Yang Ji-seong's position suddenly stood out. ‘Is that space really open?’ The doubt lingered, yet Ha Sunmoon followed Harrison's instruction and slid the ball toward the defensive midfielder.
The pass found its man! And then!!! Whoosh! Thud! Clang! So close! Yang Ji-seong unleashed a long-range strike, but it crashed against the crossbar. ‘Whoa… so that actually works.’ Ha Sunmoon jogged back to his position, thoughts racing. With Harrison calling from above, his passing options had multiplied. The left-back's deep runs and cutbacks were proving devastatingly effective.
“Exactly. Overseas players really do bring something special.”
Yang Ji-seong flashed Ha Sunmoon a thumbs-up. Ha Sunmoon nodded and settled into his defensive shape. Haiti's attack restarted, only for Ha Sunmoon to intercept and surge forward himself. “Excellent! Keep going!” After cutting out the pass to the right winger, he drove upfield and the entire line pushed higher.
[Try the middle this time. A 2-on-1 or a dummy run — either works.]
Ha Sunmoon slipped the ball to attacking midfielder Kang Hyun-jun and immediately made his dummy run. Without any verbal signal, Kang Hyun-jun recognized the move. As Ha Sunmoon sliced into the right half-space, the right center-back was forced to track him, leaving space for center forward Kim Jun-ho. Kang Hyun-jun threaded the pass through.
“Beautiful! The middle is wide open!”
Kim Jun-ho shoots! Whoosh~! Goooal! It's in! South Korea takes the lead! “Ah, wonderful. These young players are producing some truly beautiful football!” The domestic commentary team could hardly contain their admiration for the creative play from Ha Sunmoon and the rest of the U-17 squad. A perfect start to the tournament.
Ha Sunmoon felt the chemistry with his teammates was solid. The forwards especially made his job easier, setting screens and making dummy runs to create space. Thanks to them, passing lanes kept appearing so frequently that Harrison barely stopped talking.
* * *
[Sunmoon? Aren't you glad you came here?]
After the match, resting in the hotel, Harrison asked the question. “Hmm? I'm not sure. It's more familiar than Spain, but I don't know if it's that much better.”
After a moment's thought, Ha Sunmoon nodded. “It definitely feels worthwhile. Still, it's not just a holiday. There's real meaning to it.”
The national team. Though Koreans usually meant the senior side when they said “national team,” the U-17 squad was undeniably a national team too. Wearing the Taegeukgi on his chest felt strangely new, and he could sense how much the other players cherished the experience. For Ha Sunmoon, Lucas had been the bigger reason for coming…
“Well, it's better than just drilling crosses until the final whistle.”
“You think so?”
“Huh? You're here?”
Ha Sunmoon turned as Felipe entered the room. The agent smiled at the comment about crossing. “That's exactly why I supported you coming. The fact that it's in Brazil helped too, of course.”
“Haha… right.”
Ha Sunmoon had worried the conversation with Harrison might cause trouble, but relief washed over him.
“Think about it, Sunmoon. For a player, minutes on the pitch matter most. Espanyol already have two senior left-backs, and Rancho is the starter in the B team. Not having a clear path upward wasn't good news.”
Ha Sunmoon nodded. Even against weaker opposition, simply playing had eased the frustration that had been building.
“But what if I still can't break through? What if that Villa guy delays retirement forever?”
“Then you'll have to keep performing. The U-17 World Cup is no small tournament. Do you know I watched your match from the stands today?”
Ha Sunmoon shook his head.
“Why else would I go? There are always scouts in the crowd looking for the next talent. I spoke with several who saw you play.”
“Eh? But I'm already contracted to Espanyol.”
“What does that matter? If they won't use you, another club will. The more you shine here, the more scouts will remember your name. A team desperate for a left-back might pay a serious fee.”
“What if the club refuses a sale?”
“They could. But you're at a Spanish club. Every player there has a buyout clause. Yours is set at ten million euros.”
Felipe, ever the sharp agent, knew exactly how to ease Ha Sunmoon's worries.
“Aha… so that's how it works.”
Brazil was Felipe's home ground. Here he could meet scouts freely, and with Ha Sunmoon both client and adoptive son, he could promote him without hesitation.
“Sunmoon, just focus on playing well. That's all a footballer needs to do. Show your best on the pitch and the right people will come to you. Understand?”
“Yes!”
Ha Sunmoon nodded firmly.
* * *
The next match was against France. Before kickoff, Coach Kang Jung-ho addressed the squad.
“France are title favorites. But does that mean we'll definitely lose? Not at all. We have quality. You overseas players are at respected clubs, and the same goes for those in the K League. How else would players your age earn senior-team spots? Only the best are here. We won't be pushed around.”
Besides Ha Sunmoon, several U-17 players were already at European clubs. The attacking line — left winger Kang Min-woo, center forward Kim Jun-ho, and right winger Bae Sung-jin — played in Germany, Scotland, and Italy respectively. Their presence meant they could respond instinctively to Ha Sunmoon's forward-thinking style.
“We have two choices: sit deep and play for a result, or attack and play entertaining football. I've thought about it, and I believe attacking suits us. Points are fine, but let's give them something to worry about. Otherwise everyone just drops into a low block.”
Pointing at the formation, he continued.
“Sunmoon and Min-woo.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“We'll dominate the left. Sunmoon, push high and focus purely on attack. Jun-su, Jin-su, and Tae-seok will cover behind you. Tae-seok, as right-back, stay more disciplined defensively. Clear?”
“Yes! Understood.”
* * *
“Is Sunmoon doing all right?”
Espanyol B-team coach David checked in on his player.
“Sunmoon? He's causing quite a stir right now.”
“What?”
David tilted his head at the youth-department staff member's words.
“Good stir or bad?”
“Good, obviously. Look at this.”
The third match of U-17 Brazil World Cup Group C — South Korea versus France — had been expected to be a comfortable win for the favorites. Instead the scoreline read 4-5. Commentators called it a madcap game. Ha Sunmoon recorded three assists and inevitably became the center of attention.
“Check this out. There's already a highlight reel.”
A video titled “Espanyol's Future, Sunmoon” had appeared on social media platform Y. His performances, especially against France, had reached even senior-team fans.
— Good heavens. This is the player we just signed?
— His name is interesting too. Ha Sunmoon.
— Where's he from? Looks Brazilian.
The clip showcased Ha Sunmoon's dribbling, vision, and cutbacks from deep, the young fullback repeatedly dismantling the opposition's flank.
“This is… troublesome.”
“Why, Coach?”
“If I don't play him when he returns, the fans will turn on me. His crossing still isn't fixed either. This is going to be a headache.”