Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 100



Only Krnovel

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France floundered, unable to adapt to the sudden change in the game pattern.

And more than anything, this was a time of opportunity.

When the opponent can’t adapt to the sudden change in atmosphere and is momentarily lost, scoring one goal at this point can turn the game around.

‘We have to do something before France adapts and re-tools their tactics!’

It wasn’t just my thoughts.

My teammates who are playing the game, especially the attackers, will think this way even more.

Cho Young-woo disrupted the French players at the front line by following the movements of his teammates.

‘···These kids?’

Is it because the first half’s influence is still greatly felt?

The French defenders didn’t mark Jo Young-woo too much and let him move freely. Even so, they were able to block him easily in the first half.

‘These guys who are the same age group are really ignoring people.’

I wondered how many times I had died in the first half, but for now, I focused on the game.

On the way back up, Park Seung-ho passed the ball to Eom Won-seok on the side.

Eom Won-seok was moving close to the touchline, so there were no French players around him.

Eom Won-seok ran as if he was on a highway to the corner kick area without much resistance, and now he was able to cross the ball between the legs of the French fullback who was blocking his way.

And Griezmann’s clean cut has come down to this point.

Griezmann lost his balance and fell over as he spun around halfway while cutting, and the ball he kicked forward rolled helplessly.

And the unowned ball was quickly picked up by Lee Kang-im.

‘!?’

And Lee Kang-Im, who sends a pass that looks like a shot with one touch.

Jo Young-woo was surprised and thought, “What is this situation?” while trapping.

The nearby defender who had been loosely attached was also surprised and tried to cut right at Jo Young-woo, and at that moment, Jo Young-woo forgot what he was thinking and acted according to his body.

Trapping like a pitcher, holding it and shooting.

The sequence of events was so slow that it almost got blocked by the defender, but luckily the shot went out first.

The goalkeeper in front was so flustered that he could do nothing, and Jo Young-woo’s shot went straight into the right net.

‘What the heck? Is this really a goal?’

Even though I saw the goal with my own two eyes, I was still dumbfounded. It only really hit me when my teammate and top striker Park Jae-young hugged me and Lee Kang-im, who had scored the goal for me, ran over and screamed.

“Whaaaaaah!”

It’s a goal! He really scored! The first goal against France!

“I won-!”

It was Lee Kang-im’s cry.

Even though we were only one goal ahead, we were confident of victory.

In fact, it was expected.

Because our goalkeeper is none other than Kim Min-woo!

“We won! We got it!”

Colleagues gathered in a circle and cheering.

Jo Young-woo enjoyed the joy of victory by laughing out loud, forgetting that he had to salute.

***

I won!

The coaching staff also felt this way. However, Coach Choi told the players to remain calm, saying that the game was not over yet and that a tying goal or a comeback goal could be scored at any time. However, in Yoo Jin-ho’s eyes, the game was already over.

‘Our goalkeeper is Kim Min-woon, what are you worried about?’

From his days at Suyang High School until now, he has never conceded a single goal, except for the three goals he scored in an event match against Lee Kang-im.

Even in the first half, he showed incredible defensive ability as if he was possessed, so if Kim Min-woo hadn’t suddenly twisted his foot and been substituted in the second half, this match would have been as good as over.

It was while I was watching the game with such joy and excitement.

Coman was playing the role of a volante instead of a winger due to switching, and he made it seem like he was going to pass to his own half, but he sent it long forward.

And Mbappe’s crazy breakthrough.

He receives the ball with a clean trap and quickly runs out, causing the defense to collapse.

It was a scene I had seen countless times before, so it felt like watching a replay.

‘You’re trying hard, kid. But still, our goalkeeper is Kim Min-woo.’

And in a 1v1 situation, Kim Min-woo came forward, and Mbappe looked like he was going to kick, but instead he hit Kim Min-woo and went forward further.

“Huh? What the hell!”

Eugene Ho shouted in surprise.

The goal was empty! Kim Min-woo was behind Mbappe!

And Mbappe’s shot, calmly grounded, ended up in vain, with the net splitting.

“Ugh!”

Yoo Jin-ho opened his mouth wide and held his head as if he couldn’t believe it.

Mbappe must have been desperate for this goal because he ran all the way and tried to sweep the grass coolly. I could only see his back, but it was a cool way to sweep the grass.

“What the fuck···.”

Kim Min-woo scored a goal. I can’t believe it.

Kim Min-woo lay face down in a daze, his mouth dry.

‘No matter how well he blocks, a goalkeeper is a goalkeeper. It’s just a matter of time before he concedes a goal, but I’ve been watching Kim Min-woo’s clean sheet for so long that I’ve come to believe he’s invincible.’

He sighed and ran his hands through his hair.

But that’s okay. It’s a 1:1 tie. However, it was disappointing. Kim Min-woo, who seemed invincible, got beat.

‘I couldn’t help it because the opponent was Mbappe. Ugh···.’

It really sucks to quit smoking.

Should I go out for a bit and come back?

But then it happened.

The referee briefly put his hand to his ear and then did something ambiguous.

‘Huh? No way?’

After waiting a little longer with an anxious heart, the referee nodded and made a sign with his hand.

A sign drawing a square TV.

It was VAR.

“Oh! Please!”

Eugene Ho swallowed hard and prayed earnestly. Please cancel the goal. Please…

***

I put my hands on my hips and looked at the ground, waiting for the referee’s decision.

The referee had moved to the monitor installed in the technical area for video review.

‘The blood is drying up.’

Was it the first goal conceded, or was it like what happened in Hannover last time where the goal was ruled offside?

I swallowed dry saliva and waited for the referee’s decision.

I felt like a prisoner waiting for the judge’s judgment.

The referee watched the monitor for a while, then turned around and made a hand gesture again and shouted.

“France’s goal is ruled offside!”

“Minwoo-!”

Lee Jin-seop was the first to run to me and hug me. I also let out a sigh of relief and reviewed the situation.

‘Mbappe did a good job. He didn’t score the goal the same way, so he tried a different way this time, but I was too careless.’

It was truly a blessing.

By the way, Mbappe must be feeling a little upset.

I glanced over at Mbappe and he was looking up at the sky with a gloomy expression.

“Mark Mbappe well. When he goes to hear tactical instructions from the coach, follow him.”

“T-That much?”

When I glared at him, Lee Jin-seop nodded vigorously.

“Yeah, yeah. I will!”

*

And I became more actively involved in the game.

As I did in the evaluation match, I was part of the build-up and sent the ball forward.

‘This is why a wedge-shaped goalkeeper is good.’

Coach Choi did not do the same thing as in the first half, where he focused on defense just because he had scored one goal.

As the second half started, we were less aggressive but still aggressive, and if France pushed forward like in the first half, we were ready to attack France’s backline at any time.

‘There are still a lot of quick and accurate kicks left, so we’ll counterattack as soon as the opportunity arises.’

Many countries have already fallen after making fun of Korea’s counterattack. France must have been watching and analyzing it too.

Although less so than in the first half, manager Thierry Henry, who had sorted out the chaos in the second half, continued to push Korea.

“Stop it! Stop it!”

Coman breaks through the flank for the umpteenth time, and this time the ball bounces off Seol Young-wook’s leg, and Griezmann threatens the goal with a header.

“Tchcha!”

A header like this is easy.

I smiled and looked ahead.

Since France was preparing for a counterattack, there was no place in particular to send them.

As there was no French player near Lee Hyun-jun, who was substituted as a winger, he threw it to him.

“Take it slow, take it slow!”

I also added some advice without forgetting it.

We were ahead by one goal, but there were several heart-stopping crises after that, and I saved them every time.

However, even I couldn’t block all the attacks of Mbappe, Griezmann, and Coman who were running with all their might.

So, every time, the person who helped me was not the defense, but the goal.

“Good job my kid!”

I saw Griezmann’s shot bounce off the goal post again and gave the goal a kiss.

This lovely guy.

How many times has this happened already?

Especially in the second half, there were a lot of shots that hit the goalpost. Was it because the opponents got nervous? Or was it just France that had no luck?

Whatever it is······.

“You’re lucky.”

I couldn’t hold back my anger and smiled happily to the sound of Griezmann’s screams.

I was really lucky in this match.

*

Beep- beep- beep─!

And at the end of the six minutes of extra time, the game was over.

Some of the French players lay down, looking exhausted, some stared blankly into space, and some sat and looked around.

1:0.

Korea has caught France, the biggest contender for the Olympic title. It has caught a big fish.

The players ran towards me without saying who should go first.

“Our Alison!”

“Our Neuer!”

“Our Donnarumma!”

“Our Onana!”

I muttered in disbelief.

“How many bows should I do···.”

“Tch! Where are we putting third-rate goalkeepers like that against our Minwoo now! Alisson is Brazil’s Kim Minwoo, and Neuer is Germany’s Kim Minwoo!”

It was Lee Jin-seop. Suyang High School’s Ko Young-jun, Hannover’s Corsic, and all the center backs I meet are cheerful characters.

Even if it’s a little pierced (actually, it’s too pierced), can’t you hate it?

“Wait a minute. Everyone, just wait a minute.”

I also wanted to give a gift to Mbappe, who had been talking to me before the game.

So I approached the dejected Mbappe and smiled brightly and said:

“Bonjour. Uniform change?”

Mbappe pretends not to hear.

Just looking at the sky.

“Oh. If I had asked Messi to trade, he would have accepted it right away. What a shame. I should ask Messi to trade next time.”

And then he added in a faint, barely audible voice.

“If France advances to second place in the group anyway, they won’t be able to meet Argentina and make it to the finals.”

And then he smiled brightly again and said:

“Anyway, Mbappe. You’re really good. You’re the best striker I’ve ever met.”

And again in a faint voice,

“Maybe it will be updated when I meet Messi?”

As I split the ball right in front of me, Mbappe’s eyes turned to me. His eyebrows twitched widely, and he made an expression as if he was going to eat me up at any moment.

“Then goodbye.”

And I ran away in a hurry. I didn’t look back. Ah. The lip-licking was so much fun.

‘What goes around comes around. You were the one who got it first, right?’

At an official event, too.

At least I didn’t rip it off in front of reporters and cameras?

“Hehehe.”

When I went back to the players smiling, they looked at me like I was crazy.

“What did you say to Mbappe?”

It was Lee Kang-im. I said with a smile.

“When I asked you to exchange uniforms, you didn’t even pretend to know?”

“···He’s just like that.”

Lee Kang-im patted my shoulder as if to tell me to understand. I nodded.

There is a reason why Neymar and Messi run away.

*

The game ended and the settlement money was received.

I mean stats.

The result of blocking the French trio, which is said to be popular even in Europe, brought about surprising results even in the current situation where the correction rate is falling.

[You have kept a clean sheet against a country with a large difference in power in the second match of the group stage. As a reward, your ‘Physical Strength’ stat increases by 5, your ‘Stamina’ stat increases by 5, and your ‘GK Reaction Speed’ stat increases by 3.]

[Running mate ‘Cho Young-woo’ scored the winning goal that decided the match. As a reward, the ‘GK Speed’ stat increases by 5. The running mate’s ‘Decision-Making’ stat increases by 5.]

“Kiyaa···.”

What the heck. I finished one match and it gives me a total of 18 stats?

‘It’s so sweet that my teeth are about to rot?’

Let’s see. How many days do I have to struggle to get 18 stats?

If you were to fill it with just training, wouldn’t the amount of sweat have to be several tens of liters?

I smiled happily as I watched Jo Young-woo dancing properly in the locker room.

The more I look at it, the more charming it becomes.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am