Chapter 135 – Asian Qualifiers (5)

135

『Overwhelmed! 7:0 splendid goal feast against China!』
“A match against China in the ninth round of the final Asian qualifier held at the Sangam World Cup Stadium in Seoul.
The national team once again brought out the three-back card that appeared as a surprise in the last game against Oman. The result was a 7-0 win.

What was more encouraging than the results was the performance of the national team, which overwhelmed China.
They also won against Oman, where the first three-back appeared, but at the time, the national team had to endure criticism due to poor performance, but this three-back against China was different.

The national team consistently displayed spectacular attacks against China and showed overwhelming performance. At the center of that change was Hong Min-jun (21, Frankfurt), a young player who had just made his debut.

Hong Min-joon, who led Korea to a silver medal by becoming Korea’s first and Asia’s second all-time top scorer at the last Olympics, is the first young player to be called up to the adult national team.

Hong Min-joon, the youngest member of the national team making his debut, led Korea’s offense with 3 goals and 2 assists, showing tremendous performance. (Photo Hong Min-joon completing a hat-trick)

After the game, coach Kim Gwi-jong praised him as “A player with genius talent”, And commentator Cho Tae-sik, who was in charge of commentating the match, gave a thumbs up, saying, “He showed the dignity of the next ace of the national team. Hong Min-joon’s splendid showcase stage for the whole nation!” Raised up

Meanwhile, the next schedule for the national team will move to Iran to prepare for the 10th round of the final qualifying round.”

* * *

Victory over China was expected.
We lost against China last time, but that was because of bad luck, and while preparing for the Chinese match, everyone was certain of victory.

However, the coach, seniors, and even I did not expect that a 7-0 victory would come out.
It’s true that the coach’s aggressive transformation of the three-back worked well and I did a great job, but the biggest reason is the Chinese players’ desperation.

Later, I heard that China expected to beat us and beat Uzbek, a relatively easy opponent in the 10th game, to rise to second place in the group.

However, when I looked at it, I was hit hard from the beginning, and the difference between 5 and 6 goals started to appear, and later I lost my motivation and collapsed.

Still, until the 4-goal difference, he possessed Shaolin soccer and made even a murder tackle.

Anyway, the big win against China raised the momentum of the national team.
However, the momentum was strong and the atmosphere itself was serious, because the next opponent was Iran, who is in first place in Group B of the final qualifying round.

The victory over China earned 6 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses with 19 points, but Iran also won the 9th game and climbed to the top of 20 points, still a difference of 1 point.

Depending on the results of the last game, the 10th round of the final qualifiers, against Iran, the ranking could be maintained or changed, so I couldn’t be happy that I had beaten China.

Moreover, considering that the 2 losses Korea suffered in the final qualifier were China and Iran, the only thing left is Iran because they took revenge on China.

Based on football, the atmosphere of the seniors was spleen as Iran, which has a deep bad relationship with Korea for generations, was their opponent.
What… It might have been different if the seniors and aces players who influenced the atmosphere of the team were indifferent to such things, but the current senior and ace line of the Korean national team are all players with a strong desire to compete and professionalism.

In particular, EPL duo Bae Chan-shik and Yu Man-ki, who are in charge of the national team aces, were burning with enthusiasm.

“This time we really win.”
“Let’s win at Azadi Stadium, please.”

Since debuting in the national team, he has never won a game in Iran, Azadi Stadium.
Oh my gosh, no matter how hellish an expedition is, the national team debuted and couldn’t win once.

Shaking my head inwardly, I was slowly avoiding the seniors participating in the training with enthusiasm, and returning to the dorm, senior Yoon Hyuk asked in a quiet voice.

“Yumma. Do you know since when did you lose a draw away from Azadi Stadium?”
“How do I know that?”
“Wow~ This bastard is so lacking in patriotism. It’s 1974, 1974.”
“What about patriotism? I went all the way to the military? I’m a soldier, a soldier.”
“Damn it. I went to the training center for 3 weeks.”
“Seniors are also 3 weeks old.”
“Enough. 1974.”
“Ah~ You’re lying. You’re lying.”
“Break? To the senior?”
“Ah~ I heard that you should treat me like a close older brother!”
“What? Is the junior talking back?”

I run away from senior Yoon-hyeok who puts on a headlock, but senior Yoon-hyuk shouts from behind.

“Hey! Search!”

… Why is this real?
It really was.

The national team’s away win at Azadi Stadium in Iran has been a record since September 1974.

“Huh… Why haven’t we won in close to 60 years?”

I was staring at my phone in embarrassment, opening my mouth when senior Yoon Hyuk sneaked up to me and whispered.

“How is it? If we win this match, we will break the 60-year jinx. Isn’t it an opportunity to leave our name in the history of the Korean national team?”
“The national team… History?”
“Yeah dude. Think about it. It was 1974. It’s a no-win jinx from then on. But they win at Azadi Stadium? Wow~ Wouldn’t it kill just to imagine it?”

… It’s a record
Okay. To become the greatest soccer player of all time, records are important.

“Senior. Let’s go to training soon.”

I entered Iran three days before the game.
Iran’s Azadi Stadium, where the game will be held, is a stadium located at a height of 1,273m above sea level.

The altitude of the Sangam World Cup Stadium in Seoul, where the match against China was held, is only 53m, the 63 Building is 264m, and the tallest Daegwanryeong is 832m, but the Azadi Stadium is 1,273m.

The top of Chiaksan Mountain is at most 1288m, so this is the same height as playing soccer at the top of the mountain.
On top of that, the game has to be played amidst one-sided booing from about 80,000 spectators, so I think it’s not for nothing that the nickname of the visiting team comes to mind.

In fact, when he practiced to adapt to the field, he felt that his body was heavier than usual and out of breath.

‘Wow sir… How can I play 90 minutes here?’

From my point of view, where instantaneous movements are important, the subtly slow response and sluggish stadium environment can be said to be the worst.

Besides, I’m not on the good side, so if I run like usual here, it’s sure to spread in the middle.

“Sweet… Iranian bastards are still childish.”

After the time to adapt to the Azadi Stadium, I went to the auxiliary stadium for training, and there was no spectacle like this.

This is the ground, this is the grass.

“How the hell do you train here!! Protest right now!!”

In response to the protests of the coaching staff and livestock cooperatives who checked the condition of the training ground, the Iranian livestock cooperative changed the training ground.
The problem is that a day has already passed since then.

The national team already lacks training time, but with these petty pranks, the time for tactical training has become even more scarce.

“The more you really think about it, the more you suck. Senior. You must win.”

I can’t afford to lose to these petty bastards.

“Be honest. Is it because of the record?”
“…No? Do you think I’m doing this just for the sake of honor? I’m just outraged by Iran’s vicious harassment of our national team—”
“I can’t hear you.”

* * *

One hour before the start of the 10th round of the final qualifying round between Korea and Iran.

“Hello! This is Iran’s Azadi Stadium, where the 10th round of the group stage between Korea and Iran will be held! I am caster Kim Ki-hoon.”
“This is Park Kwang-seo, who was in charge of commentary.”
“Ah~ Today, an important match to determine the top spot in the group is being prepared. Didn’t our national team gain momentum from the recent victory over China?”
“That’s right! With the tremendous firepower of the aggressive three-back coach Kim Gwi-jong showed, we had a cool goal feast by scoring as many as 7 goals.”
“Commentator Park Gwang-seo. How do you view this match?”

In response to Caster’s question, he looked at the paper the commentator had taken notes on and continued talking.

“Anyway, the game seems to be going on with the national team’s advantage.”
“Can you tell me why?”
“Yes. Last time we lost to Iran, the national team wasn’t at its best. The two most important players in the national team, Bae Chan-shik and Yu Man-ki, were out due to injuries. But today, not only the two players, but also Hong Min-jun and Even Yoon Hyuk is scheduled to be selected.”
“Ah~ Everyone knows Bae Chan-sik and Yu Man-gi who play in the EPL, but please explain what kind of players Hong Min-jun and Yoon-hyeok are.”

There is no soccer fan who does not know Bae Chan-sik and Yu Man-ki, who have been active in the national team for a long time.
However, if you are a light football fan who only watches national team games, Hong Min-jun and Yoon-hyeok may be unfamiliar to you. Basically, they are players who have just made their debut on the national team.

“Both players are playing in the Bundesliga. Hong Min-Jun is 21 years old and Yoon Hyuk is 22 years old, the youngest line of the national team, but their skills are very good. In particular, with the addition of technician Hong Min-Jun, who is good at on-the-ball, and Yoon Hyuk, who is good at playmaking, the national team has improved. It seems that the play of share will be strengthened.”

While the two were exchanging words, a local relay camera showed the Azadi Stadium.

“There are no empty seats. According to information received, the capacity of 78,116 has been filled.”
“The fear of Azadi Stadium is famous. But unlike in the past, women are allowed to enter, so it’s a little better, right?”
“Yes. It is Azadi Stadium, which allowed female spectators to enter the World Cup qualifiers in October 2019 for the first time in 39 years. At that time, only 3,500 seats out of 80,000 spectators, or about 4%, were open to female spectators, but as of September 2033, 8,000 seats, about 10% are said to have been opened.”

Compared to the booing of 80,000 men, it is less of a burden to have women mixed in.
While talking like that, the local relay camera focused on a woman in the audience.

“Oh! Tennis Empress Yoon Hee-yeon. I think she came to cheer for Yoon-hyeok.”
“Yoon Hee-yeon and Yoon Hyuk are famous as sports star siblings.”

Wearing her unique tennis skirt and her ponytail hair, Yoon Hee-yeon smiles and eats her popcorn, then holds out her popcorn to the seat next to her.

Following that, another woman was revealed on the camera screen moving sideways to her.
Even though she wore a hat and sunglasses, she couldn’t hide her beauty with gorgeous blonde hair.

“Wow! It’s Elena Stewart, a track and field star famous as America’s national sister!!”
“The way you share popcorn with Yoon Hee-yeon seems friendly.”
“Come to think of it, Elena is famous for being an avid fan of Minjun Hong, right?”
“Ah ~ that’s right. He once became famous for posting pictures of Min-Jun Hong on social media. I heard that Min-Jun Hong volunteered as a guide when he took his parents on a trip to the US before the season started.”

Elena grabs a handful of popcorn and passes it back to the side.
The camera screen follows again.

“Huh? This person… Ah! That’s right! Hong Min-Jun’s agent.”
“Ah. He became famous as a beautiful agent after being photographed with Hong Min-joon.”

A beautiful agent who distributes the popcorn given to her by Elena.

“Huh? This guy looks familiar too… I see. He’s Hong Min-jun’s personal trainer.”
“I heard that she is not only beautiful, but also has excellent skills. It is famous for helping Hong Min-jun overcome his slump.”

The camera moves sideways again.

“Is this… A beautiful spectator?”
“Hmmmm. There are a lot of beautiful people today.”