Chapter 134 – Asian Qualifiers (4)

134

Gui Jingjing, head coach of the Chinese national team, set a realistic goal of a draw while preparing for the match against Korea.
What… It’s better if we win by luck like the last Korean match.

I won against Korea last time, but that was the result of luck.
Who in the world would expect a defender’s back pass to the goalkeeper to hit the rough ground and cause an irregular bounce?

Whatever the process, victory is victory.
The Chinese media was enthusiastic about the victory in the match against Korea, and this match was also a great opportunity for China, who ranked third in the group, to beat Korea and rise to second place in the group.

‘Damn it… Beat Korea and advance to the World Cup as second in the group? Are you kidding me?’

Gui Jingjing is a realistic director.
The last victory was just luck, and I was fully aware that it would be broken mercilessly if I faced it with real power.

However, the slogan of defeating Korea and advancing to the second place in the group, which was ignited by the media, hit all of China, and Gui Jingjing was pushed by public opinion and had to give an interview full of confidence.

‘Stupid guys who don’t even know the reality!’

Contrary to the confident interview that he will beat Korea this time following the last match, Gui Jingjing prepared his defensive tactics in preparation for the match against Korea.

“Korea will run wild from the beginning to avenge their loss in the last match. Our top priority in this match is a scoreless goal. At least a draw.”

In this Korean match, Gui Jingjing’s realistic goal is a draw.
Since they boasted victory to the press, they should at least avoid defeat.

“In the first half we go 5-4-1. We put four midfielders in front of five defenders to clear up the space in the middle. The biggest threat here is… This one.”

Hong Min-joon, the player who hinders Gui Jing-jing’s plan to win a draw with space defense.

Although this was his first call to the national team, Guo Jingjing knew this player well.
Isn’t it the player who has created sensational popularity in China by recording the 2nd Asian Olympics scorer with his naturally attractive appearance?

In addition, just looking at his performance in the Bundesliga, it was only a matter of timing to the point of wondering why he hadn’t made it to the national team, and he was a player who would not be strange to debut in the national team at any time.

“It’s the first selection for the national team, but it’s not strange to start this game. He is a dribbler who can easily break through even the leading European defenses, and can never be stopped 1:1.”

After analyzing the video several times, Gui Jingjing came to a conclusion.
Can’t stop

Unless he brings in a Wallcle defender, he can never be stopped by the Chinese defense.

“Then what about it, Director?”

I can’t let go of my hands though.
Gui Jingjing, who was worried, found a way.

“As a player who is weak off the ball compared to on the ball, the best thing would be to isolate him so that he cannot catch the ball.

No matter how many defenses he deploys, he can’t cover all the wide ground.
I don’t know about the center, but especially about the sides.

“That’s why I give it to the side. Allow me to catch the ball. Don’t rush into it, just keep the spot.”
“Leave me free?”
“Only from the side. This guy is overshadowed by the scoring record, but his shooting skills are poor. It’s easy to say, it’s a shooting style. Besides, most of his scoring records were inside the penalty box.”

Hong Min-joon’s number of shots per game was staggering, although it was hidden behind splendid records such as the top scorer in the Olympics and the top scorer in the 2nd Bundesliga.

“Everyone was fooled because he was covered in fancy hair, but not me. Hong Min-joon’s shooting accuracy and mid-range are his weaknesses. So, just block him from entering the penalty box! Never let him shoot from the center! If you interfere, Korea can’t break through our defense! Just like the last game!!”

I was so sure.
He was definitely so confident.

I was confident… I sure did…

“Damn it!! How did this happen!!”

From the moment I saw Korea’s starting lineup, I felt a surge of uneasiness.
Guo Jingjing grabbed his head as he watched the ball barely bounce off the post.

‘Already the second… It’s the second goal! It’s only been 5 minutes in the first half!!’

Unexpected three hundred.
Contrary to the expectation that the beginning of the game would be stuttering due to the low level of skill, Korea was showing splendid attacking soccer with Hong Min-jun at the center.

“Liwei!! The center! It’s the center! Don’t be dragged out! Defend the area you’ve been assigned and clear the space!!”

* * *

Thanks to the Chinese kids who moved more stupidly than I thought, I was able to seize a good attacking opportunity right from the start.
Senior Yoon Hyuk, who caught the ball in the center of the three backs between the friendly center backs, moves forward in an instant.

Since we can’t just leave the center back climbing up into the midfield almost like a midfielder, a Chinese player is dragged out to mark it, and another player moves to cover the vacant spot.

Then, another friendly player infiltrates into that empty space, and a Chinese player moves to block it, and another Chinese player moves to block the empty space, and another space is created…

The end of the vicious cycle that occurs momentarily reaches its climax when the two strikers, who played as two tops, fall to the left and right sides respectively.

A Chinese centre-back who reflexively splits left and right following the two strikers.
And in the meantime, I see the embarrassed look of the center bag who is left alone.

As they quickly dig into the empty space according to the promised pattern, a pass sent by Senior Yoon Hyuk arrives in a timely manner.

The markman, who missed my momentary off the ball, came in late, but with a simple turn, his pressure was nullified, and the only thing left was the center back.

‘What? Is this why you don’t run?’

Contrary to my expectations, I put a shooting fake on the appearance of firmly holding the spot, but

‘What? Aren’t you blocking this too?’

The center back, who was firmly in place, was immediately hit with a shot.
Unfortunately, the ball hit the goal post and went out of the goal line.

It seems that his posture has shifted slightly while trying to paint but belatedly switching to shooting.

“Well done!”
“Good good! Let’s calm down a little!”

The bright expressions of the seniors who roughly stroked their hair or slapped their shoulders or back seemed to give them a good feeling with just the first attack.

And as predicted, our attack was fiercely deployed.
Against China, who crouched down as if he had no intention of attacking, Yoon Hyuk in the middle of the center back popped out from time to time like a midfielder and led the playmaking, and the left and right wingbacks dug into the opponent’s side like side strikers, as if they didn’t care about defense.

It is a sight to push one-sidedly, but this was the same as the last match against China.
At the beginning of the first half, after an unfortunate own goal, they pushed China as fiercely as they do now. However, at that time, I couldn’t overcome the thick Chinese defensive wall in the center and had to lose 0:1…

“No, stop it!!”

It’s different this time.
No matter how thick the wall is built up in the center, if there is a player like me who can easily peel off pressure from one or two players and create space on his own.

Cracks begin to appear in various places in the defensive camp, which were thick with the efforts of seniors who dazzle Chinese players with active off-the-ball movements.

Still a small space though.
If you’re a player who doesn’t have much confidence in ballkeeping, the moment you choose to pass, I boldly dig into the narrow space.

It is not an exaggeration even if you squeeze into it, but it penetrates the narrow space with a delicate cheek touch.
No matter how much you want to keep your spot, you can’t stand still when you’re breaking through the dribble. The ball slips lightly between the crotch of the Chinese player who reflexively stretches his foot.

When the nutmeg, which looked very simple, continued twice in a row, the Chinese player blocking the way disappeared and a pure white stripe appeared.

A line representing the penalty box.
If you take the shot like this—

Instantly, memories of the past come to mind.
Even though the method was different, it was like now when he beat the Chinese players one after another and fired a shot from the front of the penalty box. Hitting the post with a play that skillfully dragged his uniform and broke his posture.

‘Pass?’

The pass came to mind reflexively.

‘I kick it.’

First national team match.
Debut, to miss the opportunity for a debut goal? It can’t be.

Rebuttal The fast-paced shot was—
Tang!

This time, it hit the goal post and bounced out.

“Ah! What kind of man—?”

As if overlapping wasn’t enough, it was towards Seol Yo-han’s head, who was digging into the penalty box.
Puck.
The ball, which was as fierce as the momentum of the shot and bounced off the post, hit Seol Yo-han’s head and split the goal.

“Gol?”
“Goal!”
“Hey!! Goal!!”

Ah… My debut goal before my debut…
I approached Seol Yo-han, who was lying on the floor with a bewildered expression in a happy and sad mood. I was watching the back of him running on the ground in a frenzy after realizing the goal belatedly, but senior Yoon Hyuk approached me.

“What’s wrong with your expression?”
“What’s wrong with my expression?”
“Why? It looks like a child who was deprived of sweets.”
“I thought it was a debut goal… But one record was blown.”
“Yes?”

Senior Yoon Hyuk with a strange expression said.

“Isn’t that a record before debut?”
“…!?”

… Is that so?

“And there’s still a lot of games left, man. Act like it’s over.”

… That’s right!

* * *

“Goal~!! Goal again!!”
“Hey!! In the 33rd minute of the second half!! South Korea scoring the 5th goal!! It’s Hong Min-jun again this time!! Hong Min-jun, you’re running out of control today!!”
“Hong Min-joon scored 2 goals and 2 assists in the 33rd minute of the second half! It’s amazing!”

After scoring a goal, Hong Min-joon smiles and suddenly runs towards the goal.
The Chinese goalkeeper, who was stunned, looked up curiously, and Hong Min-jun caught the ball rolling in the goal post and started running toward the center line.

“…Huh? What’s the situation?”
“Hong Min-jun, take the ball and head toward the center line. What is it? You mean start quickly?”

Seeing Hong Min-joon hastening the game without any ceremony, the referee blows the whistle in his mouth bewildered.

“Huh, huh. I don’t know what this is.”
“This is something you can only see in a team that is losing a match… Korea is winning 5:0 right now? Minjun Hong, you came out with a lot of determination today!!”
“Ah… I see! Hong Min-joon is making his national team debut today. Besides, he must have been very upset because he lost the previous match against China!! I should have played! It would be different if I played!!”
“Vengeful Minjun Hong is so scary!”

Casters and commentators did not know.
That Hong Min-jun is aiming for a debut goal, a debut assist, and a hat-trick in his national team debut.

“Huh? Huh? Chinese players, you can’t give up here! What are you doing, you have to run fast… Go, Goal! Hong Min-Jun scores another goal in 1 minute!!”

It was only then that Hong Min-jun, smiling brightly and driving backwards on the ground, was reflected on the display board.