Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 138



Only Krnovel

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Before facing our archrival, Japan, we invite the powerhouse Mexico to our home stadium for an evaluation match.

Of course, Mexico is a stronger opponent than Japan.

The Football Association has been heavily criticized for administrative errors since the Qatar World Cup, and they are very concerned that if they lose this match against Japan, it will not just end with a fire under their feet, but will spread like wildfire.

Above all else.

Chung Mong-gyun, the current chairman of the Korea Football Association and the long-serving chairman of the 52nd, 53rd, 54th, and 55th terms, was also eyeing the next chairmanship.

There are many people who are tired of the long-term rule of Jeong Mong-gyun, who has monopolized the association presidency, and public opinion is also very negative, and above all, opposition figures in the soccer world have announced their position that they will not allow Jeong to run alone this time.

In the meantime, a third force, Proware, appeared out of nowhere and joined in, saying that they would save Korean soccer, and a three-way battle was predicted.

In this situation, if we have even a bad performance in these two games… no one knows what will happen in the next presidential election.

There were only two months left until the next presidential election.

And in this situation, bad news for Korean soccer came from a neighboring archipelago.

[Japan wins 3-1 friendly match against Uruguay… What will happen to Korea?]

If Korea chose Mexico as a warm-up opponent before its match against Japan, Japan chose Uruguay.

Uruguay even had many of their starting players on the field and lost 3:1.

It was Japan’s home ground, and the Uruguayan national team entered the country 3 days ago, so it was difficult to adjust to the time difference, but it was still a somewhat shocking score for Korea ahead of the match against Japan.

[Korean soccer is in crisis, but Japan wins 3-1 against Uruguay, Korea has a headache]

As the result came out a day before the match against Mexico, soccer fans looked at the Korean national team with concern, sighs, and a little bit of anticipation.

◆Yeah, Korea is a country that has Kim Min-woo (Please do Kim Min-woo, please)

→So Japan has a gold medal? LOL

→I won a bronze medal half a century ago lol

→Korea won in the Asian Cup, and Korea’s recent record against them is also a mess.

→That’s because Kim Min-woo wasn’t there..

→In the U23 with Kim Min-woo, Japan got screwed. You Japanese bastard.

After the match against Uruguay, the Japanese players and coach were interviewed by the press about the upcoming match between Korea and Japan.

“Coach Moriyasu. In a few days, we will face our archrival Korea in Tokyo. Unlike the last Asian Cup, Kim Min-woo, who has kept a clean sheet in every game since his debut, is expected to play in this Korea-Japan match. What do you expect the result to be?”

“Uh······ He is definitely a great player. But I’m not sure. I think Nippon will play a game that they can’t lose. There’s a big difference in depth between them and Korea.”

*Depth (skill of starters and backup players)

“Then, from Korea’s perspective, would a draw be the best outcome?”

“Well······ Since the ball is round, I can’t say for sure what the result will be. Korea is definitely a strong team. However, as the coach of the Japanese national team, I will do my best to help Japan win in Tokyo.”

Director Hajime Moriyasu said bluntly that there is a clear difference in power between Japan and Korea, while also being considerate of Korea in his own way.

Japan’s recent A-match results have been very good, and just like Korea, Japan also had a golden generation, so it was a display of confidence.

“Player Mitoma! This is another rematch with Son after the Asian Cup. Are you confident that you will win this time too?”

“Um… Actually, I feel a bit embarrassed to say that I won the last match. I have to do my best.”

Kaoru Mitoma, who has been showing great performance in the EPL recently, laughed off the reporters’ provocative questions.

But overall, Japan looked comfortable against Korea.

If there is a Japanese person who is pouring cold water on this, it is Kim Min-woo’s colleague from the other side of the world who was not selected for the national team.

Ken Muramoto.

Muramoto warned that despite hearing the news that Japan had won against Uruguay, the Korean team with Kim Min-woo should never be underestimated.

“I know this because I’m his teammate. It’s incredibly hard to break through Kim. Even if you’re on a Southeast Asian team, if Kim is the goalkeeper, you can never take him lightly. But if the opponent is Korea… Even the European powerhouses won’t be able to take him lightly.”

However, Japanese soccer fans who heard the news did not accept it and were busy mocking it instead.

→After struggling in the German 2nd division, he has now become a substitute player, having been pushed out of the starting lineup, and yet he is being praised as a teammate. It’s a tearful friendship ww

→I got too attached to Joseon-jing and ended up becoming Joseon-jing-hwa ww

→I understand Muramoto’s intentions, but it’s too much to worry about. Do you think Moriyasu or a Japanese national team player wouldn’t know that?

→No matter what, be careful not to get hurt. The Korean team is too violent.

→I hope they watch out for injuries more than winning or losing. Korea is behind in technique, so they will definitely come out rough.

→If we beat Japan, I’ll praise you then^-^ It’s impossible, but~

And there were some minority but supportive opinions.

→I don’t like Korea, but as Muramoto said, Kim Min-woo’s skills are overwhelming. If it weren’t for Kim Min-woo, Korea wouldn’t have even seen an Olympic gold medal.

→Looking at Kim Min-woo’s current form, it’s clear that he’s a monster goalkeeper. He’ll definitely join a big club next year. And more than anything, both the win and the loss against Korea are disappointing.

→Honestly, I think there is a possibility that Kim Min-woo will block all of Japan’s attacks and they will either draw 0:0 or lose 0:1.

→A country that I hate whether I win or lose.

→I agree with Muramoto’s opinion, but we need to show an overwhelming difference in power against an opponent like Korea so that we don’t get entangled.

“Eeeeek······!”

Kim Shin-ah, who happened to be watching Japan’s reaction, saw the comment and her face turned red as if she was going to burst, but there was nothing she could do.

I just want the Korean team to do it.

I just hope that those arrogant Japanese guys are silenced and crushed to a pulp.

And if it was the Kim Min-woo she knew, she knew full well that even if he won the match, he wouldn’t let the Japanese win.

And back again, the Korean national team is one day away from the match against Mexico.

The players were a little nervous after hearing that Japan had performed well against Uruguay, but overall the mood was good.

To be exact, the players who had been together at the Olympics led the atmosphere.

“Yeah~ Anyway, our goalkeeper is Kim Min-woo~”

“Hyungs, don’t worry. I told you that our Minwoo blocks everything. Did you see it during the practice match?”

“Minwoo. I believe in you!”

The Olympic members are already obsessed with Kim Min-woo from head to toe.

I felt a little burdened by those players’ reactions.

“I’m not invincible either······but our defenders are really good so I’m not too worried.”

First of all, the fact that Kim Min-je was included in our defensive numbers was a solid one.

The next game will be the first time we really get to work together, but if we play like we did in the Bundesliga, we won’t be able to see the same performance.

And I thought back to the conversation I had with the current national team coach, Leon Harpers.

Actually, I sold the drugs to Leon.

“Wow, Kim. Why is the goalkeeper so good at taking free kicks?”

After the practice match, I turned on the quick and accurate goal kick and kicked free kicks in the free practice that followed, and Leon Harpers happened to be watching me.

Was it a coincidence? No way.

“Oh, Director. Now that I think about it, I forgot to tell you that.”

“Huh? Do you have something to say?”

I went to Leon after successfully taking the fifth free kick in a free kick duel with Lee Kang-im.

“Actually, I was put in charge of the free kick taker at Hannover.”

“······Huh? What did you say?”

“Did you see? I took five free kicks and they all went in.”

Even the goalkeeper who blocked the free kick was Jo Han-woo. He was the goalkeeper who showed off his divine saves against Germany in the 2018 Russia World Cup.

I kicked the ball five times against that goalkeeper and scored five times.

“Yes. I’ve been watching you since a while ago. By the way, you’re taking the kicker role in Hannover? The free kick kicker?”

Leon blinked his eyes wide as if he couldn’t believe it even after hearing it.

‘···This isn’t a lie. It’s really going to happen. That’s why I’m just saying it in advance.’

It wasn’t decided yet, but it was a certain future. In fact, it might be absurd to hear that not only Leon, but also Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-im, who are in charge of the free kick kickers for the Korean national team… I didn’t want to let these great weapons go to waste.

“Yes. Do you think I could be a free kick taker for the national team? If that happens in the match against Mexico, I want to prove it by taking the kick. After all, the match against Mexico is a friendly match, right?”

“Kim. Um… I understand because I just saw you take free kicks really well… But… Well. I don’t know.”

“The most important game for us is against Japan, right? If there is a situation where I can hit a free kick myself in the game against Mexico, I can prove it.”

Leon looks troubled by my words.

And then I withheld my choice.

“I understand what you’re saying. I’ll have a meeting with the coaching staff and let them know before the game.”

“yes.”

This could perhaps become a virtuous cycle.

In fact, not only Leon, but also Jan from Hannover is not confident about my free kick.

But in this situation, what if I score a free kick goal in the evaluation match? Without a doubt, I can play as a free kick kicker in Hannover too.

It’s that magical moment when a white lie turns into the truth.

***

“······So, Kim wants to take the free kick against Mexico. What do you all think?”

The manager spoke in front of the coaching staff. Most of them looked embarrassed.

“Even though he became a free kick taker in Hannover, he hasn’t shown it in a real match yet. The match against Mexico is a friendly match, but it is a prelude to the next match. Kim’s request should be rejected.”

That was the head coach’s response.

Most of the other coaches agreed.

Then, the director’s gaze naturally turned to Yoo Jin-ho.

Eugene Ho crossed his arms while listening to the interpreter’s words, then expressed his opposing opinion.

“Let Minwoo do whatever he wants.”

“Why do you think so?”

Yoo Jin-ho takes a quick look around the conference room, which is a foreign field. And then he explains the reason.

“I was the high school coach who discovered him, and I was with him at the Olympics. I know Kim Min-woo’s personality better than anyone else, except for his family. If Min-woo said that to the coach and appealed so strongly, there must be a reason. He must be really confident.

And as Minwoo said, it’s not a preliminaries, it’s an evaluation match. If it goes well, it will add one more weapon to use against Japan, so there’s no reason not to give it to us. Even if Son Heung-min scores a free kick and wins against Mexico, if we lose to Japan, public opinion will go down the drain.”

Yoo Jin-ho glanced at the interpreter and laughed to himself. After taunting him a few times, he’s finally talking at length.

Leon Harpus also began to worry again, wondering if he had been half-hearted from the beginning, or if he had thought that Eugene’s words had some merit.

“Certainly, he doesn’t seem to be the type to brag. Even in training, he kicked five free kicks and scored all of them, so he’s good at it. And since Coach Yoo, who I’ve watched over him for a long time, even gave me a guarantee… That’s good. Do the other coaches have any opposing opinions? If they do, I’ll listen.”

The head coach hesitated for a moment and then shook his head.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of right or wrong, but rather a difference in perspective. If that’s what the director wants, then do it.”

“good.”

Leon Harpers clapped his hands and thus ended the meeting that day.

The lineup to be presented before the Mexico match had already been decided.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am