Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 143

Because it was a sensitive issue, the Korea Football Association directly worked to help resolve the issue.

However, there was naturally a disruption to the training that day, and the news of this was relayed to Korea.

[Training ground provided by Japan to Korea]

◆Providing a lawn like chives ㅋㅋ

→What kind of grass looks like perm hair?

→What kind of grass is that? LOL It’s a spinach field.

→If you come to Korea for the second game, give me the playground of the local elementary school, you bastards.

→That kind of thing has to be overcome, home turf is inevitable

→’Fuck it’

→Because it seems like I’m going to lose, I can’t train properly… I’m just a rookie! A genius at strategy!

Not only the soccer community, but the entire internet, including news and YouTube, was on fire.

The good news is that Japan quickly acknowledged this and provided a new training site.

And that new training ground too.

“What is this?”

It is not an illusion that Eugene Ho’s impression feels like deja vu.

Eugene Ho kicked the grass hard and sighed.

“Why is the grass so dry?”

I heard that even though they had requested in advance to water the grass, it was not accepted.

Compared to the day before, this was something that could be overcome, and it was possible to finish it off by quickly spraying water.

Of course, the training was delayed by several dozen minutes and this was again broadcast on the Korean news.

Most of the public opinion was that Japan should do the same thing to Korea if it came to Korea, but I wonder. Can Korea, which shows itself as a pushover in this regard, really be that strong-willed?

anyway.

We proceeded with training normally.

Although there isn’t much time left, we used this short time to train to improve tactics and physical strength, and although my position is goalkeeper, I also received the same training as field players.

It wasn’t difficult.

Rather, it was fun.

During training, I also laugh and say “hahahoho” with the national team members.

And, this is kind of funny.

“No, but Minwoo.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Are you saying you’ve never conceded a single goal in official records so far?”

It was Hwang Hee-cheon.

A winger who survives in the tough Premier League and grows every season.

That’s why Hwang Hee-cheon seems to not believe my resume at all.

“I’ve had many close calls, but none yet.”

“Wow. How did you do that? And you almost always block it during training? Be honest with me. Are you an alien?”

“yes?”

“If you peel this skin off, isn’t it like an alien coming out? It’s been over a year since you debuted as a pro, how have you still managed to keep a clean sheet? Does that make sense?”

“Hey, hey. Leave it alone. I guess they can see the route it’s taking and block it.”

Hot.

Brother Hongmin, aren’t you sharp?

As expected, he is not called the emperor of Asia for nothing.

“Hey Minwoo. I’ll kick it once, so you try blocking it?”

Hwang Hee-cheon places me in front of the goal and kicks the ball.

Blocked.

Hwang Hee-cheon takes the ball and kicks it again.

Blocked again.

Hwang Hee-cheon shoots the ball towards the top edge of the goal, the so-called Yashin zone because only Yashin can stop it.

Since I knew in advance, I blocked it again. But even if you know it’s definitely a corner of the goal, it’s still hard to block.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you! Block it so well! Do you really know where I’m going to hit you?”

“No way.”

“But why is it blocked so well?”

“Just, you can see it. It’s obvious.”

“and.”

The older guys around me burst out laughing at my words and it was chaos.

Hwang Hee-cheon takes the ball again and this time tries to dribble past me.

Like Mbappe and Coman.

‘This might be some good training.’

I also put a lot of effort into this part.

Hwang Hee-cheon tried to get through me by folding here and there, but when I didn’t give up in the water fight, he kicked it to the far post.

“Tchcha.”

“Wow! This is driving me crazy!”

Hwang Hee-cheon wraps his head around the sack in one motion.

In fact, if it had been a real situation, it would have been much more difficult.

This is the current practice situation, and since I shine more in 1-on-1 situations, Hwang Hee-cheon, a Premier League player, might also feel a bit frustrated.

“Let’s see the end. I’ll keep going until I put it in today.”

Hwang Hee-cheon declared that because he had a bad feeling.

And they studied all sorts of methods to get through to me.

‘What is this?’

Hwang Hee-cheon pretending to drive and giving fake passes.

I knew the trajectory was somewhere else, but after giving a fake once and getting blocked, now he keeps giving fakes twice, three times, to an extent that even Football Manager can’t predict.

If this had happened in a real match, I would have definitely lost it to the defender who ran towards me······ But now it’s 1 on 1. So, in the end, I···

Crash-!

“Wow! I put it in! I put it in!”

The national team teammates, coaches, and even Hwang Hee-Cheon, who scored the goal, were all very happy and thought, “What is this?”

“Wow, it’s really hard to score! But I still scored my first goal against Kim Min-woo!”

Hwang Hee-cheon casts a Dor after scoring a goal against Kim Min-woo.

Lee Kang-im, who was watching, also became interested and asked me to compete.

“Ah. Now that you know the skills for 1v1, how about this? 2v1. Can you stop this too?”

“Let’s give it a try.”

I’m curious too.

So this time, Lee Kang-im and Hwang Hee-cheon both carry the ball and slowly approach.

I stood in front of the goal, lowered my body, and concentrated, and Hwang Hee-cheon looked like he was going to kick it, but it went to Lee Kang-im.

Lee Kang-im was about to kick right away, but when he saw me hurriedly moving my body, he turned back to Hwang Hee-cheon.

‘Fuck!’

I go back to Hwang Hee-cheon.

Hwang Hee-cheon also to Lee Kang-im.

I also want to say this to Lee Kang-im.

Lee Kang-im to Hwang Hee-cheon again.

······.

“Gasp, gasp. Just put it in.”

I was out of breath and collapsed on the floor in front of the goal. How can you stop me from passing the ball until I get tired?

Then the national team members started laughing.

I also laughed out loud while lying down.

When I see things like this, sometimes it seems like my teammates from the national team are more childish than my teammates from Suyang High School.

*

The Korea-Japan match is always a match that attracts attention and becomes a hot topic, but it was not perceived as a burden.

Japan and Korea are currently competing for 1st and 2nd place in Group B of the 3rd preliminary round.

If Korea wins against Japan in the away game in Tokyo, their record will be tied at 4 wins and 1 loss.

If it is not a multiple-goal game, the rankings will remain the same, but a picture will be created where Korea blocks Japan’s dominance in Group B.

On the other hand, if Japan catches Korea, Korea will have 3 wins and 2 losses, and Japan will have solidified its lead with 5 wins.

Above all, it is very encouraging to win the first match against every country.

If Japan can shake off the challenge of Korea, which is closest to Japan’s power, there will be no upside for Japanese soccer.

And, the third case is a draw.

The results for both are disappointing and leave a bitter aftertaste.

Japan will be unable to beat Korea, which is considered to be inferior to them at home, and this will raise questions about the coach, and likewise, Korea will only be able to relieve its immediate discontent, but it will not be a very satisfactory result for the people.

And really, whatever it is.

It is clear that if one country wins, the other country will be in a very bad situation.

If Korea wins, Japan will continue to harshly criticize coach Moriyasu, and conversely, if Japan wins, Korea will be criticized by not only the coach but also the Korea Football Association.

‘Is this why the coach was whining so much about the Korea-Japan match being over?’

Yoo Jin-ho was the person who knew this physiology better than anyone else.

Even though it was clearly due to the difference in strength between Korea and Japan, how much criticism did Bento have to face after getting beaten 3-0?

Even the chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation posted an apology in the aftermath of the Korea-Japan defeat.

The weight of the Korea-Japan match.

Although the Asian Cup has not been that long ago, and I am not as knowledgeable as Yoo Jin-ho, I am proud to say that I know a little bit about it.

Coach Klinsgel also said that if it weren’t for the loss to Japan, the KFA would have somehow managed to pull it through.

“Isn’t anyone nervous?”

The claim is made by Son Heung-min.

After a short but long training schedule, we now enter the stadium.

To the Tokyo National Stadium, the home stadium of the Japan national soccer team, which is filled with countless Japanese people.

*

Tokyo National Stadium has a capacity of 68,000 seats.

Compared to Sangam, this overwhelmingly large stadium had thousands more seats, and Japanese flags were fluttering everywhere.

And then there’s the Rising Sun Flag, which most Koreans frown upon seeing. This is a bit too much.

‘That’s what it feels like.’

The pressure from the opposing team’s players entering Sangam.

This wasn’t even an evaluation match, it was a qualifier for the World Cup.

Now, we are in a direct confrontation with Japan, which is no less powerful than European countries.

I was both excited and nervous about the upcoming game.

I was excited at the thought of thwarting all the Japanese players’ attempts, and at the thought of what would happen if their clean sheet was broken here at the Tokyo National Stadium.

‘Not only are we here, but the Europeans are also there in full force.’

Takehiro Tomiyasu, a centre-back playing for Arsenal.

Hiroki Ito, a left back playing for Stuttgart.

Wataru Endo, a midfielder playing for Liverpool.

Hidemasa Morita, a midfielder playing for Sporting.

In addition, there are Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton, Junya Ito of Reims, Kubo, Ritsu Doan, Ueda… there are so many.

What the heck, most of the Asian teams are Europeans.

‘Actually, we’re not being fooled either.’

I know it’s hard to say it myself, but Kim Min-woo is an iron wall.

Kim Min-je of Munich, Lee Kang-im of Paris, Son Heung-min of Tottenham, Hwang Hee-cheon of Wolverhampton, and others such as Cho Kyu-seok, Lee Ja-seong, Hong Hyun-seong, Jeon Woo-young, Hwang Eul-jo, etc.

Although Japan may have a deeper overall depth than Korea, Korea is definitely not being pushed back.

“Guys, let’s show them clearly today. Who is the best in Asia? And Minwoo.”

Before the game, we gathered in a circle and got together to cheer each other on. Son Heung-min was giving a speech to the players to evoke a sense of unity when he suddenly called me.

“Yes? Why?”

“The youngest member of our national team. We can’t ignore the youngest’s ambitions. Say something refreshing before the game!”

“Wow! Great!”

“Show me, Minwoo!”

“I’ll keep my ears wide open.”

Cheers from the national team brothers.

I froze for a moment and then smiled.

“Um… Last time, in the Asian Cup. We lost 2:3 to Japan, right?

“Oh, that’s right!”

“That will never happen again. I will stop it.”

The next thing that came was a scream of “Wooooooh!”

Son Heung-min also smiled brightly at my ambition, and Kim Min-je let out his signature tone.

“Wow, that’s cool! Come on! Let’s go!”

“Let’s go!”

The handshake with the Japanese players was over in the evening. Now, all that’s left is the war.

***

Kim Seung-gu was previously the national team’s starting goalkeeper.

And now, he is forced to sit on the bench and watch the game with Jo Han-woo, whom he had pushed out.

A hard-fought competition for the starting position.

And then I found myself sitting on the bench again, just like before.

It didn’t make me feel sick or anything.

Kim Min-woo, who is much younger and plays in the Bundesliga, was such an overwhelming goalkeeper that it was hard to feel jealous.

Even Salieri, who was jealous of Mozart, did that because he had a certain level of skill. When you watch him, you wonder, “What is this? Is he an alien?” and you can’t help but admire him.

‘Perhaps in order for me to feel jealous of Minwoo······ I think my skills would have to be at least good enough to be a starting goalkeeper in one of the top 5 European leagues.’

Because Minwoo is already doing that.

He joined the Bundesliga 2nd division and made a brilliant contribution to promotion to the 1st division, and won an Olympic gold medal in soccer, something that had never been achieved in Asia.

Even his rivals were Mbappe and Messi.

He finally defeated those two players who competed against each other in the World Cup final and took the gold medal.

That was truly amazing, admirable and wonderful as a fellow goalkeeper.

So much so that I don’t even dare to feel jealous.

And when a junior has such overwhelming skills, it was only right for him to act beautifully as a senior.

‘Okay. My role in the national team is over now.’

From now on, it is Kim Min-woo’s era.

Last time, I was satisfied enough to advance to the round of 16 of the Qatar World Cup as a starter.

And, if we’re lucky, we might even be able to go to the next North and Central American World Cup as a sub.

Even though he’s a little older, he can still teach Minwoo some of the experience he has as a goalkeeper, as well as some of the tips he learned while playing.

And Minwoo actively participates in the build-up.

When I look at him like that, he looks more like a field player than a goalkeeper.

A third center back, something like that.

and······.

Boohoo─!

Kim Min-woo kicks forward with all his might.

It was a powerful shot, and the amazingly powerful shot fell right in front of Son Heung-min.

The accuracy is so amazing that it’s hard to believe even after seeing it.

‘No, what the… haha.’

Is there really such a thing?

Did you even fix the coordinates with GPS?

Son Heung-min receives the ball that falls on him out of nowhere and breaks through the flank.

Fullback Yukinari Sugawara, who was facing Son Heung-min, hurriedly retreated, and Son Heung-min played a psychological game of deciding whether to go sideways or break forward, but gave it sideways and broke forward himself.

Yukinari, who realized that there was no space, turned away from Son Heung-min, and Cho Kyu-seok, who received the ball from Son Heung-min, passed it back to Son Heung-min, who ran all the way to the goal line and received the ball again and crossed it into the penalty box.

The cross was received by Lee Ja-seong, who finished it with a header, but it was an attack that went over the goal.

Although the result was disappointing, the process was surprisingly great.

“Hey···.”

Kim Seung-gu was more clearly visible as a goalkeeper.

This is an attack that would not have been possible without Kim Min-woo.

The goalkeeper’s long ball is so accurate that it must feel really threatening to the opponent.

‘He’s good at blocking, but look at his feet too. He’s so good, but he’s only eighteen.’

What was I doing when I was eighteen?

I don’t even remember now.

Well, anyway.

‘It’s worth a try. I can win this.’

Kim Seung-gu began to focus on the national team’s performance from the bench, feeling that they might win the game.

End