Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 80



Only Krnovel

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And we moved on to the next step.

The semi-finals. Now we only have to play two more games to get back to Hannover.

Our next opponent was Australia.

The matchup went as I expected.

Korea beat Iran 1:0, and Australia beat Iraq 2:0.

Likewise, Saudi Arabia and Japan also managed to advance to the semifinals without much difficulty, defeating their respective opponents within regulation time.

And from now on, it was a real showdown.

One of these four countries cannot qualify for the Olympics.

To be precise, the fourth-place team will have to play a playoff against an African country for the final qualification spot.

‘Absolutely not.’

Putting aside the inconvenience of having to be called up to the national team again, this was a competition that suited my characteristics.

Absolutely unacceptable.

After our victory over Iran, we devoted the next day to recovery training and the remaining days to organizational training.

They are trying to quickly add Director Choi Yong-seok’s style, but it doesn’t seem to be going well because time is short.

Director Choi’s face was always shadowed, and Yoo Jin-ho always had a frown on his face.

The Asian Cup semifinals seemed slow and yet fast, and at some point they were right in front of us.

Coming to Qatar after only being in Germany, the background and atmosphere were different, so time passed really quickly.

And contrary to my expectations, life here was actually quite fun.

The senior members of the national team were all good people, although their skills did not meet my standards.

Is it because everyone has made it this far and achieved a certain level of success as a professional, so they have a sense of peace of mind?

“Okay, let’s go!”

“Minwoo, this game. Do you only trust me?”

“Yes. But please don’t be too stubborn···.”

My seniors were all surprised and proud of my great defense.

While saying this, he also murmured, saying that if the national team, including the overseas players who are scattered around, gathers together, wouldn’t they win a medal at the Olympics?

‘It’s Korea’s Olympic qualification story with the legendary first team. Hmm.’

Yeah. If possible, it would be better to not go to the Asian Games and just win a medal and be exempted from military service.

Even the Olympics are really ‘soon’.

‘The Paris Olympics will be held before the next season starts······about three months later.’

If we were to turn the happiness circuit around, it would look like this.

Hannover will be promoted to the first division, and Korea will advance to the Olympics and win a medal. It will probably be difficult to win a gold medal.

I can’t say for sure, but I think France will take the gold medal.

Since the Olympics are being held in their home country, France will be fully prepared, that is, they will prepare greatly to win the gold medal.

Even French President Macron personally asked Kylian Mbappe to compete in the Olympics.

If we use all three wildcards, not just Mbappe, then roughly speaking, the members that will come out······.

‘Mbappe. Griezmann. Chuameni? Or maybe Dembele or Coman will come up.’

If Korea and I perform better than expected and face France, that will probably be the day I concede my first goal.

Even though I’ve grown a lot, I still don’t think I can stop Mbappe.

Thinking about the Olympics and France made me wonder what Mbappe’s stats would be.

“Come on! Let’s fight, kids!”

I woke up from my reverie after hearing the argument.

‘Me too, I’m having other thoughts right before the game.’

The last Iran match had a big impact. But this time, it’s Australia, so let’s get our act together and go into it.

*

And the semi-finals were a re-incarnation of the quarter-finals.

With a few slaps, all of Australia’s attacking opportunities were squandered, and I was once again reigning as an iron wall.

The Australian striker looked tired as he watched me continue to block his attacks, then shook his head.

Even in the Bundesliga 2nd division, I had a pretty grand nickname, ‘The Wailing Wall’, but here, I’m just······.

“Fucking blackhole.”

It has become a fucking black hole.

‘I guess I’ve acquired some traits.’

They haven’t scored yet, but Australia’s offense is getting duller and duller. It must be driving them crazy because they can’t score no matter what they do.

It’s not even because the Korean defense is so good.

Opportunities have come quite often for Australia.

But I feel like I’m letting those opportunities slide by so easily.

Australia’s attacking opportunities became noticeably fewer as time went on, and eventually······.

“Whaaaaaaaah-!”

Cho Young-woo with his tight hair has done it again.

It’s hard to believe that Jo Young-woo is a former soldier, but he did really well. He penetrated the goal with perfect timing and flew up to head the ball.

Now that Korea has scored a goal, the game is over.

Coach Choi must have realized that Cho Young-woo’s goal was the turning point of the game, so he sent all his players to defense, and Australia, whose opportunities were already decreasing, was now completely floundering in a swamp.

and······.

Beep- beep- beep-!

After 90 minutes of fierce battle, Korea defeated Australia and advanced to the final.

I smiled heartily and raised both my hands in the air. A cheer pose.

“and!”

It’s a trait!

The reason I came here.

And Football Manager was quick to give the trait without hesitation.

[Trait: Wedge Goalkeeper]

[Description: When participating in an attack, attack ability is greatly increased.

==

After reading the characteristics carefully, I tilted my head for a moment.

“What is this?”

And the voice bursts out.

“Hey! Kim Min-woo!”

When I looked beyond the hologram, Eugene Ho was running towards me with a big smile. And before I could even react, he hugged me tightly.

“This kid! This lucky kid!”

Eugene Ho is expressing his joy by hitting the back of my head. He’s relieved that he’s qualified for the Olympics, is that it?

Well, if it weren’t for me, even if I could’ve made it to the tournament somehow, I wouldn’t have been able to guarantee what would happen after that.

Rather, I was troubled by the characteristics. What is this, really? Are you telling me to become a sick-type goalkeeper? Like Neuer in Germany?

‘I guess I’ll have to play a game to find out.’

First of all, putting aside the characteristics, I also enjoyed the joy of victory.

*

With the goal achieved, the remaining matches felt like bonus matches. However, the moment the final bracket was finalized, I felt ashes scattering in my heart.

“Well, I expected that.”

japan.

If Iran is a rival, isn’t Japan a mortal enemy?

Japan advanced to the final by defeating Saudi Arabia 3:1.

Japan also had a well-prepared team because they had to go to the Olympics in three months.

And Japan was the perfect team to test out my new talents.

“hmm.”

I was sitting up against the head of the hotel bed, with the blanket over me.

[Kim Shin-ah: Good luck advancing to the finals]

[Kim Shin-a: We lost in January, but we’ll win this time, right?]

[Kim Shin-ah: By the way, how’s Hanover? ㅋㅋㅋ The fans are protesting to find Kim Min-woo who ran away from home?]

I read Kim Shin-ah’s message, but I didn’t bother to reply. Perhaps because I had acquired a new trait, my thoughts deepened.

[Kim Shin-ah: Excuse me?]

[Kim Shin-ah: Are you going to chew on it?]

‘I achieved my goal, but when I think about going back, I’m scared again.’

Now, there is only one match left in the Asian Cup. I didn’t feel pressured because the opponent was Japan, but watching Hannover’s situation getting worse, I suddenly got scared.

If things get so twisted that Hannover fails to get promoted because of me······.

“Ugh.”

My hands tremble just thinking about it.

It’s good that I’ve gained the trait, but it’s something, something.

What if I put a cornered Jan in the game as soon as I return to Germany? What if he doesn’t adjust to the time difference and shows his worst performance?

And then it goes from bad to worse, and Hanover ends up-

[Kim Shin-ah: If you saw it, answer!!!!!!!!!]

[Kim Shin-ah: You’re watching right now!!!!!!!!!]

I sighed and picked up my phone.

[Kim Min-woo: Your brother is lost in thought]

[Kim Shin-ah: Why? It’s good to be at the Asian Cup, but are you worried about what happens after you return to Hanover? Did I get it right? It’s obvious, lol]

I chuckled silently. How can this guy read people’s minds so well?

[Kim Shin-ah: Just do it because nothing will change even if you worry]

[Kim Min-woo: Haha, please refrain from acting cool]

[Kim Shin-ah: Haha, you’re the one pretending to be cool, right?]

[Kim Shin-ah: You can’t put spilled water back in. Isn’t that what makes life interesting…]

[Kim Min-woo: Where did you watch Ddangjung YouTube again?]

[Kim Shin-ah: Be careful with your words. Life is always a series of uncertainties about the future. Even if Hannover fails to get promoted, that too shall pass.]

[Kim Shin-ah: But if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to go to the Olympics, so don’t blame yourself too much, okay?]

[Kim Shin-ah: It wasn’t a wrong choice]

What did this kid eat wrong?

Why are you suddenly getting teased?

But if you think about it carefully, it’s not wrong, so I don’t know what to say.

[Kim Min-woo: lol]

[Kim Min-woo: Thank you]

[Kim Shin-ah: lol]

I shook my head.

Then I turned off the lights and lay down on the bed.

After tossing and turning for a while, I finally fell asleep.

*

Three days later, the scheduled finals were set to take place.

The final is a match between Korea and Japan.

A match where they have secured a spot in the Olympics but are not allowed to lose.

And it was also the day when Hannover had a match scheduled.

Hannover vs Paderborn.

Because Hannover’s game was played first due to the time difference, I waited anxiously for the result of Hannover’s game before the game.

and.

“Phew···.”

Hannover beat Paderborn 1-0 at home. Nervousness, goosebumps and hairs on the skin, and a lot of pressure.

I felt a little removed from them.

I felt my heart pounding with relief.

Suddenly, I remembered the children I had met at the hospital. The children who looked at me like a hero and desperately wanted Hanover to be promoted.

“I have no face.”

Why do these emotions only arise after acquiring characteristics?

Until then, I was so focused on the traits that I couldn’t see anything, but after achieving my goal, I finally started to see things next to me.

They must be really disappointed, right?

A goalkeeper who is so annoying at such a crucial time. Hmm…

Even after hearing the news of Hanover’s victory, I continued to prepare for the Korea-Japan match with an anxious mind.

Did I come for nothing? No. But still, the characteristic… Ah, damn it. The characteristic. Why are you making things so difficult for me!

‘I hope the trait I gained this time isn’t anything special.’

If it’s not a big deal, what can I do?

Of course there’s nothing I can do.

It’s just like that.

*

Korea-Japan match.

The Korea-Japan match is not just a simple rivalry match.

As everyone knows, this is a matchup where national sentiments are complexly mixed and the importance is also very high for both countries.

First of all, if there is a Korea-Japan match, it is bound to attract national attention even if it is an unpopular sport.

And even though that Korea-Japan match was a U23 match, it was held in the Asian Cup final.

If something like this had happened on the national team, all attention would have been focused on it, but this is the U23 team.

However, since I made my debut in the U23 Korea-Japan match, which the people had been waiting for so long, a lot of attention was focused on me.

‘I’m not sure if I can guarantee victory.’

Choi Yong-seok’s U23 team somehow managed to win, but because they were playing with a weak squad, Choi Yong-seok was always a starting member no matter who they were playing against.

Even in the match against China, they were still starting members until the victory was confirmed, so that says it all.

And the game began.

A team whose mindset is bound to be different from any other team they’ve ever met.

Korea and Japan did not rush at each other from the start of the game, but played the game slowly.

Since Korea was given the lead, the ball was passed to me, and I caught the ball and watched the front.

‘Where should I give it?’

Should I just throw it away or spread it around?

After thinking about it for a moment, I gave a powerful kick to Jinseop Lee, who was playing as a defensive midfielder today.

‘uh?’

But it doesn’t feel like the usual cold.

What is this?

Feeling more comfortable?

What should I say, it tastes better?

The ball I passed smoothly to Jinseop Lee. And Jinseop Lee quickly passed the ball to a nearby player.

The audience watching let out a “Wooooh” cheer full of anticipation.

I thought, wiping my lips with my tongue.

‘Could this be the effect of a trait?’

I don’t know. I guess I’ll find out after a few more tries. Is this just a coincidence or is it really a trait?

I returned to the goal to observe Korea’s attacking situation.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am