Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 101



Only Krnovel

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France lost 1-0 to South Korea in front of 50,000 spectators in their capital Paris.

No one expected France to lose this time, as they had already shown extreme force against Salah’s Egypt in the first match.

It was a disgrace to Paris.

However, it was not a complete defeat.

Overwhelming performance. Attacking power that is pleasing to the eye. Ball possession. Passing success rate. Possession control. Total distance traveled. Effective shots. Effective crosses. Corner kicks.

There was nothing to lose.

If you look at the data from the match alone, it’s hard to believe that France lost because they were so overwhelming.

But he lost.

So now it was time for judgment.

After the match, reporters swarmed like piranhas towards France, who had shown overwhelming performance but played poorly. Why? Of course, to bite their fat prey.

Soon, the French Olympic team coach, Thierry Henry, appeared at the press conference.

His expression was very stiff.

The reporters, regardless of nationality, were all smiling. They seemed to be thinking about how they could come up with interesting stories at this press conference.

And as soon as Thierry Henry took his seat, the first person to raise his hand was a French journalist.

“Coach? Why isn’t Les Bleus captain Kylian Mbappe coming out with you? He was definitely there at the pre-match press conference. Doesn’t Mbappe take responsibility for the defeat?”

*Les Bleus (referring to the French national football team)

Henry picked up the microphone with a blank expression on his face.

“This press conference is originally a solo press conference. Mbappe is not avoiding the result, but this place is not a place where players normally come out.”

whatever.

The reporter had that kind of expression on her face.

Yeah, facts aren’t important.

Since you’ve lost, shut up and bow your head, that was it.

Henry felt bitter, but the next question came right away. It was from a German reporter.

“The French national team, which was supposed to teach Kim the bitterness of life and the lessons of life, suffered the worst result today. Do you think the Berlin Wall is stronger than you thought?”

A German reporter with a faint smile.

Henri also likes that kind of sarcasm, but when he hears something like that in a situation where he’s not in a good mood, he feels like throwing the microphone and hitting the reporter’s nose.

“Yes, he was great. I knew he was a great goalkeeper, but I didn’t know he was this great. Even if Yashin was in front of the goal, he would have scored a goal. We were unlucky, Kim blocked it really well, and yes, we learned a lesson from life.”

Kim’s life lesson to Henry and the French national team: Don’t be proud…

And again, a question from a French reporter.

“You really hit a good one, but France broke down Korea’s defense several times. In a 90-minute game, they took 36 shots, more than 20 of which were on target, but failed to score a single goal. I think this is a problem with the coach’s ability. What do you think?”

It was a straightforward way of speaking. If it had been another bad-tempered director, he might have immediately started cursing his parents. Henry held back.

“It wasn’t a matter of tactics. France dominated Korea throughout the game. We played a game that was practically a win, except we didn’t score a goal.”

“So was Mbappe the problem? Were Griezmann and Coman the problem? They had countless shooting opportunities, but Kim blocked them all.”

“That’s not what I meant! It’s not a tactical problem, nor a player problem! We were just unlucky in this match!”

“So you’re saying that we had 36 real scoring chances but we were unlucky and missed a single one. I see.”

“Kim was a very lucky goalkeeper···.”

When the reporter next to him muttered so loudly that everyone could hear, the reporters nearby burst into laughter.

As Henri watched the scene, his forehead became swollen with veins.

The reporters were completely turned off by Henry.

Nationality didn’t matter here, because all the reporters attending the press conference were hostile.

It could be seen as karma. Anyway, Henry and Mbappe had completely looked down on Korea before the game even started, and they were arrogant in their interviews.

How cool and refreshing would that be for other countries?

How humiliating and embarrassing would that be for France?

Anyway, Henry had to face the aftermath of the result with his whole body. Because he was the manager. Because he was in a position of responsibility.

“Coach, you were cut with the worst performance at AS Monaco, but it seems you didn’t learn from that experience. France had to beat Korea at all costs. The difference in value between the two teams was incomparable. If you don’t win the gold medal, do you think you’ll step down as the national team coach?”

Eye contact, tone of voice, facial expression.

Henry couldn’t help but chuckle. Of course, the reporters were laughing, but it was just too funny.

Isn’t this like hanging someone with a noose around their neck and asking, “Do you want to die?” Even if they say they don’t want to die, they’ll pull the lever and kill them.

“Right now, I’m just thinking about the next game. From now on, every game for France is a final.”

It was a remark reminiscent of the Qatar World Cup and Lionel Messi’s interview, but the atmosphere was completely different.

The interview continued after that.

It was supposed to be an interview, but in reality it was a time of beating.

There aren’t any constructive interviews, only emotional ones.

German reporters watched with amusement and interjected as the French reporters went wild.

***

While the icy atmosphere continued in France, Korea was creating a warm, if not friendly, atmosphere.

Because we defeated France, a strong contender for the championship that no one expected!

This was exactly like taking down an aircraft carrier with an old diesel submarine.

Of course, the performance throughout the 90 minutes was dismal, but Korea won with just one goal, and in sports, the ‘result’ is more important than the ‘content’ of the game, so Coach Choi Yong-seok began to be treated as a great coach who made people completely forget about his predecessor.

“You won in front of 50,000 spectators in Paris, at home against the host country, Kim Min-woo. How do you feel now?!”

The reporter asked questions in a slightly tearful voice, as if he was talking nonsense. I answered incoherently as well. ‘I’m so happy!’

“What an incredible result! Of course, you were selected as POTM for this match! Did you expect that?”

I answered humbly, ‘Of course! If not me, who will receive it?’

“You were playing in the Bundesliga 2nd division and were recently promoted to the 1st division, but you played against world-class players and kept a clean sheet again. How do you feel as a goalkeeper against France!?”

I replied in a polite tone. ‘That was really strong. I almost lost. Our defense, let’s do a little better. Do you believe in it?’

“We’ve secured two wins in the group stage and secured a spot in the round of 16! Now, our next match is against Egypt! After Mbappe, we’ll now face Mohamed Salah. How are you planning to prepare for the next match?!”

I replied, muttering, ‘Griezmann and Coman stopped Mbappe, but Salah is alone? Where did they put him? Are you going to scold him, Mr. Reporter?’

Of course my actual answer is···.

“They are a country that is just as threatening as France, and although we have now secured our spot in the round of 16, the countries we will have to face will vary depending on whether we advance in first or second place, so I will prepare well during the remaining time and do my best to block them like Salah or Mbappe!”

“Yes! Thank you, Kim Min-woo!”

I finished the interview and went to catch the bus provided by the Football Association.

‘I’ve really had a lot of interviews.’

I didn’t talk nonsense in the past either, but I wasn’t this skilled either. Hmm. Isn’t that right? Is it because I haven’t met any clever and sly reporters yet?

Maybe it’s because I’ve never met a reporter who made me feel awkward by asking me trap questions or leading questions.

‘Ah. I also want to meet those reporters once. I can have a discussion about death right there.’

Why are all the reporters standing in front of me so friendly?

“My baby.”

As soon as I got on the bus, Eugene Ho hugged me. And he even gave me a surprise gift.

“Okay. Banana milk and cream bread.”

“Oh, my. You really bought it for me? It must have been hard to get in France.”

“You should show this much sincerity, hyung. Okay?”

As I picked up the banana milk and cream bread with a slightly impressed expression, the fellow players around me chimed in saying, “Oh~”

“Coach, why aren’t you buying it for me?”

“Mom. You try to block it like Kim Min-woo. I’ll pick the stars from the sky for you.”

“Then give me some.”

As I interjected without fail, my colleagues applauded and cheered, and Yoo Jin-ho smiled vaguely and changed the subject.

“Okay, okay. Come in. The director is coming in too.”

I nodded and went inside. I can’t resist the banana milk and cream bread after the game~

***

The Olympic match between South Korea and France was everyone’s attention.

This means that since it is a major international competition held after a long time, it is not just Korea and France that are the interested parties that are watching.

This means that Germany, which is next to France, also watched with interest, although it was unable to participate.

“Wow! Kim! Kim! Kim! Kim!”

The conference room in Hanover.

The match between Korea and France was being broadcast on a large TV in the center, and Hannover players, coaches, and even manager Jan Rytl were gathered together to watch it.

Every time Kim Min-woo made a save, Korsic would jump up and keep shouting like that.

When you start by singing “Kim Kim Kim Kim Kim,” the other players follow suit by singing “Kim Kim Kim Kim.”

Sophie Riva also joined in to film the players watching the game together for the Hannover official SNS account, which was quite an entertaining sight.

“Are you doing well?”

“Oh? Oh, yes! The camera is expensive.”

It was Jan Rytl who approached Sophie Riva, who was taking pictures in the corner. Jan Rytl chatted with Sophie while carrying her luggage on his back.

“I really don’t know how a player like that came to our team. Isn’t it amazing?”

“Isn’t it because the scouts stationed in Asia are doing a good job?”

“Haha. Sophie. Do you believe in fate?”

“Fate?”

Sophie tilted her head and looked at Jan. As far as Sophie Riva knew, Jan was the type of person who didn’t believe in superstitions at all. Why, ghosts. Fate. Or something like that.

“Yes. Fate. You don’t know how Kim came to Hanover? It would be quite interesting to hear the whole story.”

“is it so?”

Jan grumbled. Sophie didn’t show it, but she felt that Jan was a more lonely person than she thought. Well, it was the place to be…

Regardless of his own feelings, Ian’s ramblings were quite interesting. Especially since it was related to Kim Min-woo.

The story of Dieter Kramer, who was previously stationed in East Asia, and the intern who assisted Dieter Kramer. And the countless stories of negotiations that almost got stranded in the middle.

Sophie was so absorbed in the story that she turned off the camera altogether. She had already saved all the footage to be uploaded to the official SNS anyway.

“Wow. Was there such a backstory? Sure, if it had gone a little wrong, Kim wouldn’t have been able to come to Hanover.”

“When coincidences overlap, they become destiny, and that soon becomes fate. If we go back in time to just one year ago, who would have imagined that Kim is blocking Mbappe’s shots over and over again? It’s ridiculous.”

“That is… yes.”

Kim Seon-chang of Korsic jumped up again and shouted. Then Jan glanced at Sophie and asked.

“So, how’s your relationship with Kim going?”

“H, huh? What’s your relationship?”

Sophie’s decibel level went up in surprise. Jan smiled cutely.

“I heard you’re still Kim’s German teacher?”

“Well, what about that?”

“You study German at Kim’s house?”

Jan made a sinister expression as Sophie nodded.

“I heard that Kim’s mother lives in his house. That’s too bad.”

“Wh, what!”

Sophie felt her face flush with heat.

“Kim is an adult now anyway. How long are you going to put it off? Or are you just not brave enough?”

“I told you, it’s not like that, Director!”

“Or why is your face red?”

Hannover’s players and coaches are roaring again. No one here seems to care.

On the broadcast screen, Mbappe is getting angry, and Kim Min-woo is also jumping up and making big gestures. Corsic’s Kim’s passionate singing is once again on the rise.

“You know what? Sometimes in life you have to act crazy and have 20 seconds of courage.”

Sophie looked straight at Jan. Jan spoke as if he was teaching her a lesson as a senior who had lived life first.

“If you feel embarrassed for just 20 seconds, you’ll gain courage. I guarantee you, something amazing will happen.”

“······.”

“Thinking too much before doing something can actually prevent you from doing it. Kim will be with us this season, but keep in mind, she doesn’t have much time left.”

And Jan turned around and left the conference room. Sophie stood there blankly for a while, staring at the place where Jan had left.

“Courage… too many thoughts….”

Sophie bit her lip. What could be more foolish than betting on a very low probability? During German class, Sophie had once mentioned something to Minwoo about her girlfriend.

Surprisingly, Minwoo has never had a girlfriend (with his looks? That’s ridiculous), and if he were to date, he would want to date a Korean girlfriend.

I might meet a foreigner someday, but I’m not interested right now.

After hearing that, I pretended like nothing happened and went back to class, but I was depressed all day that day, that week, that month.

‘But you want me to be brave for just 20 seconds?’

Jan said that if you just have 20 seconds of courage, something amazing will happen. It definitely will. Something amazing will happen. In a negative way.

Minwoo, who felt burdened by Sophie, could have told the club to replace the German teacher, or he could have avoided meeting her or having personal conversations with her altogether.

Even though we were just talking and joking around like we were now, the relationship could have ended, but that couldn’t happen.

But what Jan said wasn’t wrong, and anyway, the time was set. Minwoo would not extend his contract with Hannover after this season and would leave for another club.

So would it be right to just let it go without doing anything?

If you don’t tell them your true feelings because you’re afraid they won’t accept you and you’re afraid of being rejected, are you sure you won’t regret it later when you look back on the present?

‘I don’t know.’

Sophie looked at the broadcast screen with a dejected expression. And for no reason, she felt angry at Jan. She had been living without thinking about it and forgetting about it, so why did she suddenly light a fire again?

Anyway, I’m telling you, he’s a very broad-minded director!

Feeling suffocated, Sophie turned around and left the conference room. Right now, she just wanted to go for a walk.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am