Chapter 178 – World Cup Convocation (2)
178
National team coach Oh Ji-je and head coach Shim Ki-cheol were in trouble as they looked at the tactics board.
For the two of them, who had already finished their big plans in preparation for the World Cup, the emergence of Hong Min-jun and Yoon-hyuk was a good but painful problem.
It’s only been about half a year since Hong Min-jun and Yoon-hyeok started playing for the adult national team in earnest.
More precisely, Yoon-hyeok was at the end of last year and Hong Min-joon was earlier this year. In terms of the number of matches, Yun-hyeok played 8 A-matches and Hong Min-joon only 6 A-matches.
The keynote of this World Cup was to quickly form a team and raise organizational power as much as possible. It was a conclusion.
If the quality of each player falls, the plan is to replace him with overwhelming organizational power.
As part of that, Oh Ji-je and Shim Ki-cheol, who were newly appointed as national team coaches and head coaches as soon as the last World Cup was over, were keeping pace by selecting the players early on.
Now, with only the last preparations left ahead of the World Cup, two new faces have suddenly appeared, and their skills are already organized, and if they are not selected, they will become national traitors.
Of course, I was happy to see the young players with excellent skills, but on the other hand, I was resentful of why it was so late.
“It’s a headache. I have to find the best place for these two, and I have to rebuild the organizational power that I barely matched… Ha.”
Too good to sit on the bench, 11 to include in the starting lineup… No, since 2 out of 10 field players have changed, the organization needs to be re-adjusted.
The two, who were looking for utilization of the two through the last friendly match, fell into greater trouble.
“Yunhyuk is the least bit better. He’s a reliable player who melts away without any discomfort wherever you put him. But Hong Minjun…”
Yoon Hyuk is better.
Since his national team debut, he has played as a midfielder, and it is only the difference between a more aggressive role and a more defensive role, because he easily melted into his existing tactics based on his unique excellent tactical understanding.
However, Hong Min-jun was different.
4 games as a side striker. Played 2 games as a midfielder—
“Why does he not melt into tactics and melt tactics into himself! Besides, why… Why is he so good in the 3rd line!!”
It got to the point where he adapted his national team tactics to his play.
When he was placed as a striker, his performance in midfield was regrettable, and when he was placed in midfield, his overwhelming attack power was regrettable.
However, he does not melt into the national team’s tactics, but changes the national team to suit himself.
It’s not what Hong Min-jun intended, or the coaching staff or the national team players.
The national team players are just attracted to Hong Min-joon’s overwhelming skills.
Hong Min-jun was already a tactic by itself.
“…I can’t help it. Simcoe. Let’s stick with the existing tactics as Plan A, and try new tactics in training and friendly matches.”
“Yes? Manager, are you serious? We left the tactics we prepared for 4 years, and it’s suddenly like this right before the World Cup?”
“Not all of a sudden.”
Ozzie looked out the window.
Hong Min-joon has long since disappeared, but he still catches the eye of countless fans hanging out at his entrance.
“Chul Ki. I never imagined that a player like that would come out of Korea all my life, from player to coach. It’s the future. The hope of Korean football, which has been stagnant since 2002 and has disappeared since Park Ji-sung and Son Heung-min. Yes… Messi, for example.”
Shim Gi-cheol, who was looking at Oh Ji-je with a solemn expression, gestured at her.
“Messi and Nabal and the director’s daughter is beckoning?”
“…”
The cell phone vibrates from time to time.
The content of the talk appears on the brightening screen.
—Dad, I couldn’t even say hello to Hong Min-joon ㅜㅜ Can’t I go in for a second?
“…Should I make a defender?”
* * *
“Hey~ Who is this! Isn’t this superstar Hong Min-joon?”
“Pyosik-senpai! Long time no see!”
I entered the Cheonan NFC with one day left before my call-up date, but there were quite a few seniors who came before me.
Roughly half… Is over Are you mostly early?
“No, senior. The convocation is until tomorrow, but why did you come so quickly?”
“You’re quick, you bastard. My brother came right after playing yesterday, so he’s going to die of exhaustion.”
Oh Pyo-shik, who was selected as a wild card in the last Olympics and played together, is a striker who plays for Shimadzu in the Japanese J-League.
Unlike the European season, the Asian season was in full swing, so Pyo-shik Oh said he had been playing until yesterday.
“Looking at YouTube, you’re doing very well? You got a car parade in the city, got a shower… It was really crazy. How was it?”
“Ha. Don’t even talk about it. It was so crazy. German kids just say Hong Min-jun~Hong Min-jun~, kya~ You won’t know this unless you really experience it. Real.”
“Ah, I’m so jealous. I’m going to Europe right after this World Cup.”
“Ah~ Are you a senior?”
“What the fuck? How can you avoid it? You grew up a lot?”
Pyo-sik senior is 28 years old this year, so there is a big age difference, but he ran together in the last Olympics, appeared in variety shows together, and most of all, he was one of the members of the trio who enjoyed the Olympic Village together with Yoon-hyeok senior, so he was a close senior to the point of cracking jokes.
“The youngest fell out. Quickly recover and come, dude.”
“Wow… Senior Yohan was at the Police Agency, so his tone became military. What is Hwanbok, Hwanbok?”
“How are you happy?”
Seol Yo-han, who played nearly 60 games as a national team member, is also a senior who played together as an Olympic wild card.
He once played in the Bundesliga, but returned to the domestic league due to military service issues.
… I must have already done half of my military service.
“Min-Jun, hyung, I really want to go to Europe. You know, because you play in Germany too, right?
“…Yes. I will do my best.”
If it wasn’t for the military service, he would have been active on the main European stage, but this senior’s career was really twisted.
I am stunned by that earnestness without even realizing it.
I feel it again.
World Cup… It’s a stage where a lot is involved.
I have to achieve good results in this World Cup without fail, not only for the ambition of my seniors to advance to Europe, but also for my ambition to become a national hero and be cheered.
“It’s been a while. I heard you won the Europa this time. Congratulations.”
“Thank you!”
“Yes, yes. Let’s do well in the World Cup.”
“The youngest has to be quick! Dammit, why are you so late!”
I also greeted seniors of the EPL duo, Bae Chan-sik and Yu Man-gi, who were the former aces of the national team, and exchanged warm greetings with captain Choi Tae-shik.
The national team seniors naturally gather around me.
Seniors who have a lot more experience than me, seniors who are older—
“Uh huh. The youngest is our ace. Don’t treat me carelessly, dude.”
They recognized me as an ace.
Because 6 A matches were enough for me to be recognized by the seniors of the national team.
* * *
『Oh Je-ji-ho started the 2034 World Cup in Italy!』
『(Photo) Hong Min-jun entering Cheonan NFC』
『(Photo) Hong Min-joon playing around with his seniors during public training』
『It’s finally starting! Who is the 26 final roster for the World Cup?』
『The group stage, what is the opponent’s strength?』
The opening day of the 2034 World Cup in Italy is June 14.
And the schedule that ends on July 15 after a month-long journey.
In preparation for this, the Korea Football Association (KFA) announced a preliminary list of 30 players at the end of April, and after a 15-day discussion with the coaching staff and technical directors, the final list of 26 players was finalized in mid-May, with four members reduced.
After the entry was expanded from 22 to 23 in 1998, on June 24, 2022, 24 years later, FIFA expanded the entry from 23 to 26 again in consideration of the aftermath of Corona, and the settled 26-man entry will be maintained at the 2034 World Cup in Italy, and Korea’s final roster has also been confirmed with 26 players.
However, the announcement was made at the end of May, according to FIFA rules that call-up is possible from three weeks before the start of the World Cup.
Some players who finished the season joined the national team in advance, but players from the Asian League during the season or those who were on vacation entered the Cheonan NFC leisurely after the final list was announced.
A total of 26 players, consisting of 3 goalkeepers, 9 defenders, 8 midfielders and 6 strikers, trained at the Cheonan NFC until May and had one evaluation match before departing through Incheon International Airport on June 1st.
The destination is Salzburg, Austria.
As Salzburg, Austria was used as a stopover for the Korean team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2018 World Cup in Russia, KFA was able to choose a good accommodation, training ground, and opponent for the evaluation match through the previous two experiences.
June 1st.
The final preparations for the World Cup have begun.