Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 142

After that, the game ended without any major changes.

As the referee blew his whistle, the Mexican players looked bewildered, while our teammates, on the other hand, had bright expressions.

The last expedition to the Middle East was below expectations. On top of that, they suffered a defeat, so they must have been feeling a sense of alertness that they had to do well this time. However, the results were better than expected, and the content was good, so all the players seemed satisfied.

“Wow, this is the first time in my life I’ve seen a goalkeeper take a free kick. Minwoo, congratulations on the goal!”

As soon as the game ended, Kim Min-je was the first to run over and offer encouragement and share his thoughts.

Probably most of them would.

What kind of crazy manager would put his goalkeeper in as a free kick taker?

‘This is impossible without a game.’

But I did it.

Information spreads so quickly these days that the whole world will soon hear about it.

Maybe Mexico will grab the back of the neck?

[They went all the way to Korea and played an away game, and they must have thought we were easy to fool around like that!]

This kind of reaction will be felt all over Mexico.

But I’ll show you clearly.

This isn’t a one-time event, it’s going to be my own weapon.

***

Korea wins 3:0!

The 3-0 win over Mexico before facing Japan was certainly encouraging for Leonho.

Above all, it was the first clean sheet win against Mexico for the senior national team since 1980.

In addition, since this was the first time that Leonho was crushed by a score of 3 to 0, people’s gaze towards him became more favorable after a long time.

The reporters were very curious about Kim Min-woo, who scored the final goal, even though this victory was a victory.

So, at the press conference after the victory, reporters questioned Kim Min-woo intensively.

“Coach! First of all, congratulations on your victory in this match! You completely defeated the powerful Mexican team! Above all, I cannot help but talk about the last goal. Was Kim Min-woo’s free kick a promised free kick? Or was it something Kim Min-woo did on his own?”

Leon’s expression was still elated, as if the excitement from his victory had not yet completely subsided, but he finally calmed down and opened his mouth.

“Of course, it was something that was agreed upon in advance. Kim’s free kick was a decision that was made with the consent of me, the coaching staff and the captain, Son.”

The reporters were groaning. And the reporter who had asked the question opened his mouth again.

“It is unprecedented for a goalkeeper to take a free kick. It seems like it would take a lot of determination to make such a decision in a friendly match before the Korea-Japan match, and against a strong team like Mexico. Is there a reason why you made this decision?”

The director nodded after receiving the reporter’s question through an interpreter.

“My coaching staff and I make decisions based on data and statistics. Kim showed great confidence in his free kicks, and his training data showed that his free kick success rate was very high, and most importantly, Kim said in this evaluation match that he would take the kick himself if this situation arose.

“I heard that Hannover had already appointed a dedicated free kick taker, so after much discussion, I made this decision. The result was great.”

“Then, if a similar situation arises in the match against Japan in Tokyo, will Kim Min-woo be able to take a free kick again?”

“Why not?”

ha ha ha.

A sea of ​​gentle laughter.

“Then, can we assume that Kim Min-woo will continue to take free kicks in the future?”

“It’s very dangerous for a goalkeeper to stand in for a free kick. If he fails, it can lead to a goal being conceded. I will have a lot of discussions with Kim about this later.”

And the mic went back to Son Heung-min and Kim Min-woo.

“Son Heung-min! You said that Son Heung-min agreed to the coach’s decision to use Kim Min-woo as the free kick taker. Why did you agree and do you think this decision would be successful?”

“Uh······ First of all, Minwoo was really good at kicking free kicks during training. When Minwoo was kicking, we set up a wall like in a real game, and it all worked. Also, he showed a lot of confidence, so after all, it was an evaluation match, right? That’s why I agreed. Just looking at what he showed during training, I thought Minwoo could score a goal.”

“Kim Min-woo may continue to take free kicks in the future. Are you not worried about that?”

“I think I need to talk more with the director and Minwoo.”

Next is Kim Min-woo.

Naturally, the reporters were very friendly to Kim Min-woo.

“Player Kim Min-woo! Congratulations on successfully completing your first debut match for the national team!”

“thank you.”

“First of all, you did a great job in today’s game. Do you feel any pressure about continuing to keep a clean sheet both with your club team and the national team?”

“Uhhh… I would be lying if I said I wasn’t burdened, but I do think that I will concede a goal someday. However, I hope that I don’t concede a goal in a pointless way. Like getting eaten by my teammates or something.”

“Ahaha. And you even scored a goal in this game. I think this is the first time in the world that a goalkeeper has scored a debut goal in his debut match. How do you feel about it?”

Kim Min-woo smiled faintly and said.

“First of all, I would like to thank the coach for allowing me to take the free kick. I also heard that Hong Min-hyung and coach Yoo Jin-ho actively supported me, and I think I was able to score my debut goal thanks to them.”

“The next game is in Tokyo, but can we expect Kim Min-woo to keep a clean sheet against Japan as well?”

“Of course. Not only will we keep a clean sheet, but if given the chance, we’ll also aim to score in two consecutive games.”

“Oh! I understand!”

***

Naturally, after the Mexico game, the community was in an uproar.

Kim Shin-ah didn’t have time to check the comments during the game because she was just watching the game, but now that the game is over, she goes through the timeline in chronological order and savors each and every comment.

First of all.

[Korea vs Mexico Kim Min-woo’s crazy saves right from the start of the first half ㄷㄷㄷ]

→Aren’t you really in a defensive mood?

→Wow, Neuer in his prime ㄷㄷ

→There really is a world-class goalkeeper in Korea. It’s a country where a genius appears whenever something is tilted.

Next.

[Kim Min-woo’s crazy save again in the early hours of the second half of Korea vs Mexico;]

→It’s creepy

→It’s the guardian deity itself, really

→What kind of football has Hannover been playing?

→Kim Min-woo does the defense all by himself;

→Kim Min-je also seems to trust Kim Min-woo and act more aggressively like before

→It really feels like watching Jo Han-woo play against Germany. He blocks it so well;

→Seriously, this is better than Jo Han-woo’s defense against Germany.

→There is no decline in form even in the national team

→He’s just the current world’s No. 1 goalkeeper.

And, this is the most delicious part.

[Korea vs Mexico Kim Min-woo preparing for free kick??????]

→What is this?

→Minwoo, that’s not it

→No, what the heck ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Even if we’re winning 2:0, this isn’t right

[Korea vs Mexico ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww Kim Min-woo’s free kick is crazy wonder goal ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ]

→This kid is just good at soccer

→No, what kind of goalkeeper scored a goal? LOL He’s just a soccer expert

→Added Kim Min-woo highlight scene ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

→Wow, look at the 60,000 spectators jumping up ㅋㅋㅋ

→He blocks goals well and scores goals well too. He’s the Otani of the soccer world.

→Kim Min-woo says soccer is easy

→Goalkeeper debut goal in debut match Wow… Kim Min-woo is making history

→Hahaha, now you’ve even cut down on free kicks, Kim Min-woo?

“Hehehe.”

And that’s not all.

As the Korea-Japan match is coming up, naturally Japan is also paying attention to this match.

→What is this goalkeeper? He’s scary…

→Son Heung-min on offense. Kim Min-je on defense. And Kim Min-woo as goalkeeper. Where do you see Japan beating Korea? Kim Min-woo wasn’t there in the last Asian Cup.

→This is really amazing. Not only did Kim Min-woo block all of Mexico’s crucial goal chances, he even scored a goal from a free kick. Why can’t we have players like this in Japan?

→Kim Min-woo has not even been playing soccer for two years yet. He has surpassed the level of a genius.

→Now all that’s left is to get beaten up by Koreans and have the Taegeukgi planted in Tokyo.

→A goal by a goalkeeper. There is no way in the world that a goalkeeper can do something like this ww

Last time, he seemed arrogant, proud, and relaxed, but now he seems to be feeling quite a sense of crisis.

“And actually, we will win.”

The scary thing is, whenever Kim Min-woo plays, the team never loses.

The same will be true for the Japan match.

No matter how bad you are, you will either draw or, with a high probability, win.

***

After the game, I received congratulations from many places.

My Suyang High School colleagues. My Hanover colleagues. My elementary, middle, and high school classmates. And even my director, Jan.

-Kim. I haven’t assigned you the free kick kicker yet. What happened?

“···Ahahaha.”

I think Jan saw Leon’s interview.

I also felt a chill after watching that interview.

But Jan didn’t seem to take it too seriously, as he laughed over the phone.

-Well, actually, I’m fine with it. It’s like blowing your nose without using your hands. I’ll have a meeting with the staff to see if Hannover can put you forward as a free kick kicker after a brief verification. Kim. And the next match is against Japan, right?

“yes.”

-Want to make a bet with me?

“yes?”

-If you score a free kick goal against Japan, I’ll make you the Hannover kicker. What do you think?

“uh······.”

Of course it’s a call.

“Good!”

-Okay. Then, after finishing the match against Japan, be careful and come back to Hanover.

“Yes, sir.”

A day has passed since the game ended.

And as expected, the world was in chaos.

A free kick taken by a goalkeeper.

In fact, it was a story that would only appear on the news.

In Korea, the goalkeeper scored a goal by kicking a free kick! Wow!

To the average person, it’s just a passing gossip, like, “Wow, that’s amazing.”

But if this is repeated two or three times, people’s attention will change from novelty to something else.

‘I don’t know if there will be a free kick situation in the match against Japan, but if there is one…’

One shot, one kill.

The island may also sink.

Once I score one goal, I can win the game no matter how sluggish it is.

‘Okay. First of all···.’

We are now ready to head to the archipelago for our next match.

In fact, since Japan is right next door, you don’t have to worry about time difference, and since your body has already adjusted to the time difference in Korea, you just need to train well.

I left the departure hall with that feeling.

Of course, he didn’t forget to sign autographs for the fans who followed him to the airport to cheer on the national team.

“This is a letter! Please read it!”

“Oh, thank you.”

And I received a lot of handwritten letters.

I thought receiving a letter from a woman was something from another country, but it happened to me too···.

I’ll have to collect them and read them later when I get back to my accommodations.

*

The day I arrived in Tokyo.

We took a bus and went to our assigned training ground.

The training ground we received was the North Seaside Multipurpose Stadium in Kasuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture, located above Tokyo. They said that this was the place where the Olympic team was assigned during the previous Tokyo Olympics.

And when we arrive at the training ground, let’s check out the surroundings.

“Ooh.”

As expected.

Home team dominance.

It was obvious at a glance that the lawn had not been maintained at all.

“What is this rice cake grass?”

Eugene Ho kicks the grass with his foot, as if he is dumbfounded.

Every time that happened, some kind of crumb-like thing would fly out.

“Isn’t this grass? It’s just a bunch of weeds.”

And Lee Kang-im.

Lee Kang-im was amazed, saying it was the first time in his life he had seen grass like this.

“Wow… this is a bit.”

No matter how much it is a home team preference, this is excessive.

“It’s just seaweed soaked in water.”

Seriously, Suyang High School’s artificial grass field looks better. Is that right? I think it would be better to play on dirt instead.

“It was a hitch from the start.”

Lee Kang-im started to complain, then gave up and started lifting. He is definitely good at it, considering he only ate rice and played soccer since he was young.

“If you look carefully in the grass here, you might find something like a bug.”

Training on this type of grass is virtually impossible.

Coaching staff and football association officials also began to get busy as they realized the seriousness of the situation.

But anyway, whatever it is.

‘It came out so dirty that it made me burn with fighting spirit.’

It was really disgusting to see Chinese kids do things that they wouldn’t even do. Don’t they know that if they are given grass like this, they will be covered in the news?

Of course, the few reporters who followed along to film the training scene were the only ones happily taking pictures of the grass.

The players’ disgruntled expressions are also included as a service.

If it goes up on the internet, there’s going to be a huge fuss. People already have bad feelings toward Japan, and now they’ve given us this kind of grass as a training ground, so we’re basically in a dilemma.

‘We must win.’

You have to approach the game with the mindset that if you don’t win, you’ll drown yourself in the Korea Strait.

I feel like I need to show the passion of the peninsula to those islanders who use such dirty and lethal methods in order to feel better.

ⓒ Doctor Am