Chapter 132 – Asian Qualifiers (2)

132

Paju NFC, which was created in preparation for the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, reached saturation over time. From coach training to age-specific national team training, the Football Association recognized that Paju NFC could no longer handle the schedule and announced plans for a new comprehensive soccer center in 2017.

After various discussions and difficulties, the facility that started construction in Cheonan in April 2022 was completed in 2024 and opened the era of a new soccer comprehensive center, which was Cheonan NFC (National Football Center).

It is the sacred place of the national team that any dreaming Korean soccer player dreams of entering.
Unfortunately, during the last Olympic team, I couldn’t enter here using Paju NFC, but this time I was called up to the adult national team and entered Cheonan for the first time.

As I entered the Cheonan NFC while leisurely waving to the dozen reporters who had flocked from the entrance… Wow, the facilities are different.

“Huh… This is the smell of the national team.”
“What nonsense is this country boy talking about?”

Damn, this smirk… Looking back, as expected, Pyo-sik senior was standing there.
No… But what is this bizarre outfit?

“Senior Pyo-sik. What are those… Clothes?”
“Clothes? Why clothes?”

Pyo-sik senior’s hand, which was about to brush his hair, hesitated and then came down.
Whoever sees it, the set hair that the touch of an expert touches. In addition to luxurious classic suits and shiny shoes.

“Where are you going for the interview?”
“What about an interview? Just dressed as usual.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?

Some athlete in the world wears a full suit!
Seeing my expression, Pyosik senior hesitantly asked.

“…Is it strange after all?”
“Very.”

Oh my gosh.
Who wears this on the national team convocation day?

It’s dizzying to imagine what kind of expressions the reporters would have looked at outside… No wait reporter?
No way… This brother… ?

“Senior. Just in case, I’m asking, but I wore this to show reporters… Isn’t it?”
“…”
“OMG….”

Okay. This is Oh Pyo-shik senior.
This senior is still there. It’s so nice to see that it’s the same.

“Senior, no matter how much I think about it, I don’t think it’s that outfit. You should have just dressed comfortably like me.”

In my sincere advice,

“I-ssi! You can say that because even if you dress like that, it becomes a picture!! If I came dressed like you, the comments would be giblets!!”
“Ah…”

The reason for being so sad was hiding!
I was convinced of the behind story that I couldn’t bear to hear without tears.

“Still, senpai, the suit is over. Please change your clothes quickly and come back.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. Please.”

I thought as I looked at Pyo Sik sunbaenim’s drooping back as he walked away to recover.
I’m glad you’re handsome

Players who were on the call list after senior Pyo Shik began to enter.

“Hello!! I’m Hong Min-jun, the first convened!! Thank you very much!!”
“Uh, uh uh. Yes. Are you Minjun? Nice to meet you. But don’t hold on to your discipline too much. The national team isn’t like that these days.”
“Yes! Can I call you senpai?”
“What about senior, call me hyung?”

I was the first to come in for this.
I changed into my training clothes early and whenever a senior came in, I lowered my waist.

Wherever you go, the first image of a newcomer is determined by his or her personality.
I heard from senior Yoon Hyuk, who was convened to the National University before me, and I know that there is no shit discipline in the National University. If you show a cuter figure that is burdensome, you will feel comfortable later.

If you can take care of your image by bowing down a little on the first day, wouldn’t it be a profitable business?

“Hey… You bastard Hong Min-joon… Since when did you say hello to the folder so politely?”
“Ah~ Isn’t that my junior who is always polite?”
“Wow, I’m dumbfounded, I’m dumbfounded.”
“Hello, senior Yoon Hyuk!”
“It’s disgusting, so get out of here!”

Senior Yoon Hyuk, who appeared early like the maknae line, was taken aback by my appearance, but… Well, this is all image making.

Under… I’m tired from doing so well, I’m tired.

* * *

With the support of seniors Yoon Hyuk and Oh Pyo-sik, who also appeared in variety shows as members of the Olympic team, I was able to quickly become close with the national university seniors.

It’s been a long time since the national team has lost serious bad habits, and the atmosphere within the team tends to follow seniors and aces.
If that’s the case, I’m fine.

As he was making an image for the seniors with a cute youngest child position, the coaching staff rushed to appear.

“Is everyone gathered? Where, our rookies! Come out.”

A gesture from coach Kim Gwi-jong, who has been leading the national team for three years.
Ugh… Do you have a report here too?

This time, after loudly introducing himself and bowing his waist, he chose a song called Shingo Ceremony.

“…Wow. What is it? You sing really well.”
“What kind of idol trainee were you?”
“Oh, this is an SNS engraving.”

I am proud of my ability as a singer.
After the exciting ceremony, the training session began immediately.

First, check your body condition.
Unlike clubs, national teams are operated by recruiting players here and there.
Naturally, there are players like me who play in Europe, players who play in East Asia, including the K-League, and players who play far away in the United States or the Middle East.

As a result, some players have just started the season, and some players are nearing the end of the season, so their physical condition is bound to be very different.

In addition, the national team is not always convened, but it is convened occasionally, so the coaching staff has a lot of difficulty in grasping the players’ status.

To this end, in the first session, with the help of the medical team, the physical condition and physical strength are measured, and in this convocation, the coaching staff’s biggest interest was me.

“More! More! More! Stop! Now rest 10 seconds…Again, go! Faster!”
“Ready… Go!!”
“Put it exactly where the light comes in.”
“Lean, balance!”

After receiving a health check from the medical team and taking various measurements under the guidance of a physical fitness coach, my stamina quickly runs out.

‘Hey, heh…’ Brother, it’s really hard, I’m going to die.’

It is said that they are getting stricter physical fitness measurements than the existing players who have data, and the seniors who finished the measurements first are giggling and shouting “Fighting”. Oh mad!

“Everyone gather. Now that your body is warmed up, let’s go to a light practice game.”
‘It’s not my body, it’s my legs!’
“Hong Min-jun! Our cute maknae. Can we play a game?”
“Of course!!”
“Okay!! The momentum is good!!”

… I’m going to run out of breath

* * *

“What do you think?”

At the question of national team coach Kim Gwi-jong, the coaches who were flipping through the report summarizing the fluttering measurement results nodded.

“It’s nice. It’s fast and the balance is good.”
“It’s quite agile. The reaction speed is also fast.”

The national team of Korea’s best soccer players.
Of course, the national team’s record is well above the average of most players, but Hong Min-joon’s measurement record was far better than that.

“But it’s not as fast as I thought. The top speed of 34.3 km is the 3rd in our team. It looked faster during the game.”
“It’s probably because his running speed and running speed with the ball are similar. His top speed while dribbling is almost the same.”
“Ah~ I think it’s possible because the technique is good.”
“The problem is that I’m running out of strength, so I think the central competition will be difficult.”
“No, no, he’s well balanced, so he’ll hold on. Watch how he defended his possession in the practice game earlier, even though it looked dangerous.”

Director Kim Gwi-jong, who was scribbling something while watching the coaches exchange opinions, banged on the desk.

“So what’s the conclusion?”

Among the coaches exchanging glances at the coach’s question, the physical fitness coach opened his mouth.

“It’s as expected.”
“Is that the end?”
“And it seems that the making skills are better than I thought.”

At the tactics coach’s afterword, the manager nodded.

“Yeah. Unexpectedly, he’s good at linking. It’s strange. It wasn’t like this originally.”
“Director. Now that it’s like this, let’s go with Plan B, right?”
“No. That’s too risky. It’s enough to go as usual.”
“Is your opponent Chinese?”
“…Then is that so?”

By the time the tactics are being prepared one by one,

“Uh! Coach! This is Choi Chang-bok’s technical director’s call.”
“I-ssi! What else! Give it to me! Yes, I am Kim Gwi-jong.”
—Uh, Director Kim. I am Choi Chang-bok. What are you going to do with this China match?
“Yeah? What should I do, I have to win.”
—That’s normal. You have to win coolly, man.
“It’s up to you. But since we’re doing it in Sangam this time, I’m thinking of going a little more aggressively.”
—Hey, do you remember losing to China last time?

In the painful memory, Kim Gwi-jong closed his mouth.
The fact that one of Korea’s 5 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in the final Asian qualifier was China was a disgrace to him.

—Gee, the Chinese kids are messing around right now. If this article is published, public opinion will be outraged. Coach Kim, we have to win big in Sangam this time. You know what I mean
“Don’t worry. We win by more than two goals.”
-OK! I only trust Director Kim.

Pop.
When the booming speakerphone cuts off and the coaches pay attention and save their words.

“Did you hear that? Go with Plan C.”
“…Yes? With three hundred?”
“What are you surprised about? It’s the same tactic I used in the previous match against Oman. This match against China, we’ll go with 3-5-2.”
“That… Didn’t work well against Arrogant, so didn’t you struggle? Here, who’s trying to build this position?”

When the coach’s finger pointed to a part of the tactics board, Kim Gwi-jong answered right away as if he had been waiting.

“Hong Min-joon. Let’s put this guy in.”