Chapter 189 – Multiple True (1)

189

Press conference held the day before the game.

Italy national team coach Bonetti, famous for being kind, and captain Rugani Bagg, known as a gentleman, showed respect to Korea throughout the interview.

“Korea is not an easy opponent. The team is good, and the individual players are great.”
“There is no easy team that has survived so far on this huge stage. In particular, Korea’s partial tactics stand out in the attack. Yes, it is threatening.”
“Not at all. I am purely praising Korea’s skills.”

Thanks to the two people who showed respect for Korea, their opponent in the quarterfinals, while avoiding the pitfalls of some extreme journalists aiming for provocative stories, the interview in Korea continued smoothly from beginning to end.

“I am happy to see a team like Italy on the big stage of the World Cup quarterfinals. We want to play well against Italy, a world-class team.”
“It is a difficult opponent. Still, you don’t know until the match is over, right?”

As the saying goes, interviews are also prepared in advance.

There are also interviews that provoke or undermine the opposing team, such as psychological warfare, which is also the specialty of famous director José Mourinho, who was popular in Korea.

Even more so, it is quite rare to diss an opposing country at the World Cup Quarterfinals Media Day, where the world’s attention was focused, so the moment when the interview between the two countries seemed to end in a moderately heartwarming way.

“This is Montelio from Gazzetta. I have a question for Minjun Hong. Minjun Hong used to pick legendary Korean soccer players as his idols. He especially often referred to members of the 2002 World Cup, the golden age of Korean football. Is that right?”

The interpreter, who had finished interpreting, gave the information in a low voice.
Lana is a reporter for the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

‘Ah, this bastard.’

I have mentioned many times that I respect Korean football legends intentionally for ‘Gukppong’, but I can’t say no here.

Hong Min-joon, thinking about how to get out of the obvious next question, suddenly,

‘… Wait a minute. No If you do this well… ?’

He nodded his head, trying to hide a smile at the thought that ran through his mind.

Before the interpreter finished translating, the reporter quickly continued with one corner of his mouth twitching.

“Then, what do you think about the erroneous decisions made in the round of 16 match against Italy in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup?”
“…….”

It was the moment when not only Ozize but also Italian director Bonetti covered his face.

“… Therefore.”

Among the players huddled together looking at their smartphone screens, the owner of the phone, Yoon-hyeok, managed to keep his mouth shut.

“You said you had a double bath there?”
“Ah~ Senior. It’s not twins, it’s twins. I am not stupid.”
“If this isn’t swearing, what is?”
“Everything has a reason. This is my big picture, senior.”
“Crazy… I fucking do it, really.”

『”You’re talking nonsense XX, it’s annoying” Hong Min-jun media day swearing scandal!』

* * *

『Soccer player’s interview attitude controversy!』
“In 2002, bad news happened to the national team, which was recreating the legend of the semifinals.

Media Day held the day before the quarterfinal match against Italy.
At the press conference, head coach Oh Ji-je and the national team’s young ace, Hong Min-joon, showed sharp reactions to a question about the 2002 World Cup match against Italy by Italian reporter Gazzetaj Montelio.

In particular, Hong Min-joon raised controversy by showing pressure on reporters by saying, “It was a fair match,” And “Isn’t it because you were ashamed to lose to the Asian team?”

After exchanging harsh words, Hong Min-joon left the interview room with the words, “The results of this match will tell.”

This incident, which could have been buried under the surface, spread as the situation at the time flowed through the broadcast of popular streamer Christopher Soereum, who was in the middle of a personal broadcast.

Regarding Hong Min-joon’s response, there were advocacy opinions such as “It was only against clear racism,” “Italian’s petty attack,” And “A low-quality question that shows no respect for Korea” And “It is difficult to think that it was shown in public.” With criticisms such as “Behavior”, “Unacceptable rudeness”, And “We need to be educated on how to deal with the press”, Interest in today’s quarterfinal match against Italy is growing.

—ㅅㅅ Italian bastards still going back to 2002;
—I didn’t even think about what they did, and I only frowned at what happened to themhaha
—No, the reporter was a little rude, but Hong Min-joon was a bit…
ㄴWhat are you saying?
ㄴThen did you have to be yehyeeh over there?
B came out Hong Min-joon too
—Hong Min-joon was overdoing it, but honestly, I understand his feelings…
—Seeing the interview before, he has a bit of a noodle soup ㅇㅇ;;
ㄴㅇㅋ Gukppong-type player
—Kyaa~ Be sure to watch this video.

The atmosphere of the national team changed dramatically in just one day.
Originally, the national team ahead of the quarterfinals had a relaxed and loose atmosphere.

After all, there is no one who is not satisfied with the achievement that far exceeded the original goal.

In the round of 16, an expedition that has been achieved in 24 years since 2010, in the round of 16, they defeated their lifelong rival Japan and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Under these circumstances, who would criticize the national team even if it lost to Italy in the quarterfinals?
Korea is not a strong team seriously aiming to win the World Cup, and the quarterfinals are a great result that anyone can acknowledge subjectively or objectively.

Even if they lost against Italy, if they didn’t show eye-popping performance, they would be able to return home with the whole nation’s warm welcome, saying, “You did well enough!”

Given this situation, the atmosphere is bound to be loose and relaxed.
In particular, the match against Japan in the round of 16, the previous match, was very solemn and determined, so the current atmosphere seemed to stand out even more.

There is no player to jump around, but that doesn’t mean they don’t run with their teeth clenched desperately.

It’s not that this mindset is bad. But… Too bad.
Seniors acting like full-bodied bears just because they made it to the quarterfinals. The coaching staff were happy as if the World Cup had already ended.

If you are a man, if you are a country that has Hong Min-joon, shouldn’t you be more greedy and ambitious?
There is a player like ‘me’. Championship… Even if it’s difficult, aren’t you greedy to recreate the semifinal myth?

I was dissatisfied in my heart, but few players had such thoughts.
Again,

“Aren’t you being too greedy?”
“Young. When I was young, I was overflowing with ambition. It seems too easy since I advanced to the quarterfinals in my first World Cup, but the world stage is not so easy.”
“River 4? Of course good. That’s why it’s tiring to just look up and run. You should enjoy your current achievements.”
“With our country’s pool of players, this is a miracle. You have a desire to improve, but if you cling too much, your life will be ruined, right?”

There were many players who said they were too greedy.
But I couldn’t agree.

Are you greedy? Of course you have to grow up How can a player without greed aim for the best?
Isn’t the world stage easy? I have always fought on the world stage. Olympics, La Lira, Bundesliga, Europa League… And now until the World Cup.

And proved
That I am a player who has the qualifications to become the best in the world.
Winning the World Cup with an underdog team is obviously a difficult ambition that is close to impossible, but it is worth aiming for.

Why is Messi not considered the greatest of all time?
Personal skill? Performance? Stats?

Messi is arguably the best player in football history.
However, when discussing the best of all time, there is only one thing that is inferior to Maradona, the legend of his country, because he has not won the World Cup.

In fact, the 1:1 comparison is unreasonable because the soccer of the 1980s when Maradona played and modern soccer are so different, but anyway, the symbol of leading the country to victory in the World Cup is just as great.

What if I lead Korea to win the World Cup?
I don’t worry about my club career.

With my skills, my star quality, and my potential, I can join a championship club, and as long as the team’s squad doesn’t fall behind, the championship will follow.

But the World Cup… World Cup is impossible.
So, isn’t it more valuable and meaningful?

Leading Korea to World Cup victory… Because I can become the greatest football player of all time.

Is this your first World Cup?
Would it be different if I was a senior?

It’s an acceptable excuse, but I still wanted to do my best.
However, as the youngest member of the lineup, I cannot replace the coaching staff and the senior team members by polishing the squad.

No matter how much an ace is, there’s no way the team’s team’s maknae can’t get the mood right, and doing so for no reason will only break the team’s harmony.

While I was struggling with how to do it, an Italian reporter who asked aggro questions that anyone could see gave me a good opportunity.

‘If I make enemies on the outside, they say the inside unites?’

If the whole nation’s attention is focused on winning or losing this game… And what if your country, your race, your self-respect and your pride as a player are at stake?

Athletes are corpses except for the desire to compete.
And if you are a national representative, you have a lot of pride.

What motivates these simple people?
Come to think of it, it wasn’t difficult.

Why didn’t there be a pride switch unique to men?

Are you afraid?
I’m not good at games

Same.

And the result.

“Fuck. Pasta bastards are fucking arrogant.”
“Hey, this won’t work. The youngest has come this far, is he going to lose to Italy?”
“It sucks, so I drop it in the quarterfinals in Italy.”
‘… Five.’

The effect was direct bread.