Weird Defender Joo Ji-Tae - Chapter 209



209 – Awakening 2,3

“Wow, this stadium is huge, just like Barcelona’s.”

“It’s really cool. I searched and found out that this is one of the most expensive stadiums, and it’s also the best dome-shaped stadium. So, what’s that stadium called Camp Nou or something?”

Jo Yeoshin rolled her eyes at her friend’s question.

“You idiot. Camp Nou is the largest soccer-specific stadium in the world, and this is a home stadium for an American football team.”

“Isn’t American football also football? What’s the difference?”

“…….”

However, Jo Yeoshin was speechless in the face of her friend’s unexpected question.

She quickly looked around for help, but everyone around her seemed to know the answer.

It was no wonder, since Jo Yeoshin and her family had booked a large number of seats at the AT&T Stadium, including family members, bodyguards, and friends who were part of the Jo Yeoshin & Ju Jitae Supporters, even before the World Cup started. It was a remarkable feat, considering the difficulty of booking seats for the final match.

As a result, Korean fans occupied a significant portion of the stadium seats.

Although it was only a small part of the entire 100,000-seat stadium, Jo Yeoshin felt relieved to find people around her who could help.

“That’s because it’s the largest soccer-specific stadium, and this is a stadium for a different sport. American football is a completely different sport from soccer.”

“But why is it called football, then? Yeah, Jo Yeoshin, isn’t that weird?”

“Ah, Kang Min-ah, you don’t know that either?”

“Do you know, Ha-yeon?”

“It’s American football, so it’s called American football!”

“So, what’s American about it?”

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

Jo Yeoshin’s expression turned pitiful as she watched her friends’ high-level discussion.

“Ugh, these friends of mine… I’m too kind to scold them.”

As the opening ceremony began, Jo Yeoshin and her friends, who had been chatting loudly, finally fell silent.

After the grand and lavish opening ceremony, the players finally entered the field.

Under the bright lights, the players appeared through the tunnel, their faces tense.

But Jo Yeoshin’s eyes were fixed on only one player.

She clasped her hands tightly, seeing Ju Jitae’s unusually tense expression.

“Oh, it’s Oppa!”

“Oppa Ju Jitae is out too! Ah, what do I do, his face is completely frozen!”

“What? His expression suddenly looks better?”

Just then, Ju Jitae suddenly spoke up.

Although Jo Yeoshin didn’t know what he said, the Korean players’ faces, which had been tense, suddenly relaxed, and their lips curved upwards.

“Before, I saw a documentary that said Oppa Ju Jitae is a born leader, and it’s true. What did he say to make everyone’s face look better?”

“Wow, crazy. Yeoshin’s boyfriend is so cool. His charisma is amazing.”

“But why isn’t Oppa smiling?”

The national anthem began to play.

As the Uruguayan national anthem ended and the Korean national anthem started, people began to stand up, one by one. Jo Yeoshin and her friends also stood up, energized, and sang the national anthem with passion.

“Wow, I got a little emotional when the national anthem started.”

“Me too. It’s so touching to sing the national anthem together—”

As the national anthem ended, Jo Yeoshin and her friends sat back down, still looking around in awe.

“Hying….”

“Are you… crying?”

“No, why would I cry!?”

Jo Yeoshin covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes brimming with tears.

“I’m too…”

“Too what?”

“Moved, I guess?”

“My husband is too cool. How can he be like that?”

“…Hul.”

“Crazy.”

* * *

＜ 2038 FIFA World Cup USA Final ＞

2038. 7. 11. (Sun) 18:00 (UTC+3, AST)

South Korea : Uruguay

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas 1 AT&T Way

[South Korea 4-3-3]

FW : Han Seung-joon / Park Hye-chan / Jo Jae-shin

MF : Song Ga-ram / Han Seul-gi / Kim Tae-jin

DF : Oh Taek-kyun / Joo Ji-tae / Gong Ji-hoon / Park Gyun-oh

GK : Lee Ha-seung

[Uruguay 4-4-2]

FW : Fernando Alvarez / Carlos Ferrone

MF : Lucas Jimenez / Alfonso Rodriguez / Rodrigo Ocampo / Emmanuel Barella

DF : Gaston Mendez / Mauro Rotangkur / Cesar Manuel Pereyro / Maximiliano Borbas

GK : Guillermo de Martinez

The opening ceremony had ended.

Joo Ji-tae, standing in the entrance tunnel, put on the captain’s armband and looked to the side. The Uruguayan captain was sending him a fiery gaze from right next to him.

‘Fernando Alvarez.’

The Uruguayan captain and ace.

He was once hailed as the best player, and until recently, he was evaluated as the best striker, but now he’s a player who’s even threatening the top spot among strikers.

The Fernando Alvarez of the past was different.

He was a rival-like rival, the absolute best player. His current position was exactly where he belonged.

Was it the influence of changed history?

It wasn’t just Fernando Alvarez’s career and evaluation that had changed. His playing style had changed too.

‘7 goals and 7 assists.’

When they began their thorough analysis of the opponent before the final, they were shocked by his stats.

They had heard that his playing style had changed a lot recently, but they didn’t know how or to what extent until they analyzed him intensively this time. They realized how much Fernando Alvarez had changed.

The Fernando Alvarez he knew was no more.

He wasn’t the unstoppable, record-breaking striker of the first generation, who seemed like he could surpass anyone.

His unique, flexible, and elastic dribbling, his incredible goal-scoring instinct, and his beast-like attacking prowess were all gone.

Despite still being an exceptional attacker who could reach the highest level, his talent, which had once surpassed the greatest, was now only a shadow of its former self…

Joo Ji-tae felt a pang of regret.

Just as a brilliant lead actor needs a talented supporting actor, a true champion needs a fierce rival to reach greatness. The downfall of the one who had been his most intense rival until now brought a mix of emotions, including a hint of joy, but more so sadness and regret.

But what if he had been a real threat?

…Or did I secretly enjoy the thrill?

As the entrance signal sounded, Joo Ji-tae went through his usual routine, analyzing his opponent one last time.

“When Fernando Alvarez pulls the defenders, the side midfielders and Carlos Ferrone’s penetration become a threat. If we get caught up in the penetration, Fernando Alvarez will receive the ball with a cut-in play and take a mid-range shot. I’ll take the center and lead—”

But Joo Ji-tae’s routine was interrupted.

At the end of the long entrance tunnel, as they passed the entrance where the bright lights poured in, the deafening cheers of the crowd, exceeding 100,000, shook the ground.

And—

“The World Cup… Trophy.”

A 36cm tall, 4.98kg gold trophy.

The FIFA World Cup, awarded to the champion.

What made this gold trophy so precious was that it was the last one to be used in this tournament.

The original Jules Rimet Trophy, awarded to the first World Cup winner, had been permanently retained by Brazil in 1970, and a new trophy had been created, used since 1974. The trophy, with a 15cm base, featured two players holding up the globe, with the names of past winners engraved on it. However, only 17 countries could have their names engraved this time, making this the last tournament to do so.

But, putting all that aside—

“I’ve finally made it here. Now, there’s only one step left.”

For Joo Ji-tae, who had over 20 years of professional experience, including the Champions League final, the World Cup trophy was what gave him the biggest thrill.

All the players on the field, regardless of their nationality, felt their nerves drawn to the trophy.

Even Jo Jae-sin, who was usually calm, couldn’t help but gaze at it with a sense of longing.

From noble mtl dot come

Joo Ji-tae called out to his friend in a low voice.

“Hey, focus.”

“Right.”

The tense atmosphere was broken, and the Korean players’ faces relaxed, while the Uruguayan players looked puzzled by the sudden change.

The referee and linesmen stood in the center, flanked by the players.

The national anthem began.

The 2028 Qatar World Cup had established a new tradition of live performances.

First, the Uruguayan national anthem, “Orientales, la patria o la tumba” (Easterners, the fatherland or the tomb), played.

After a brief pause, the Korean national anthem began.

The 105,000-seat AT&T Stadium was filled with Korean fans, who sang along to the anthem with passion, exceeding expectations.

Joo Ji-tae, who usually sang the national anthem in a low voice, found himself raising his voice, caught up in the fervor of the crowd and his teammates’ enthusiastic singing.

“Long live our nation—”

As the national anthem ended, the crowd began to stir, and the players’ gazes were fixed on the giant screens installed around the stadium.

On the screens, an Asian woman, her face hidden behind her hands, tears streaming down her face, appeared.

It was none other than Cho Yeo-jin, her natural beauty amplified by her stunning makeup, radiating a destructive charm.

“Wow… crazy. What’s with her beauty?”

“Her face is shining.”

The players, who were as noisy as the cheering crowd,

“What’s going on? Why are you crying!”

They quickly changed their attitude, looking at Joo Jitae with tears welling up in his eyes.

“Hmm, daring to make the captain’s wife cry! You’re such a bad guy!!”

“This is unforgivable!!”

And one person who felt left out,

“My younger sister… I’m trying to break the scoring record…”

was furious.

“Eh-mee.”