Chapter 225 – Scandal (1)
225
The Premier League round 5 win over Liverpool on Sunday, September 2nd was a very impressive victory for me and the team, but we didn’t have time to indulge in the sweetness of victory no matter what anyone said outside.
And of course, the next match on Wednesday, September 12th is the Champions League, the stage many footballers around the world look forward to and long for.
Even though it is a group budget, the champions are the champions.
Last August 27th.
Immediately after the Premier League round 4 match against Fulham, the 2035-2036 UEFA Champions League group draw was held in Lyon, France.
Newcastle managed to secure 4th place last season and achieved the feat of advancing to the Champions League, their first comeback in 33 years since the last season in 2002/03.
Even when Saudi Arabia’s state-run fund took over, they made it to the Europa League, but in the end, it must have been an emotional moment as Newcastle, which slipped to the second division after failing to cross the wall of the Champions League.
Given this situation, of course, all the club’s attention was focused on the Champions League match, and after the match against Liverpool on September 2nd, until September 12th, the first group stage match, they would have wanted to make good use of the 10 days.
But those precious 10 days are—
‘Your precious 10 days have been replaced with A matches.’
Disappeared due to the selection of the national team.
* * *
As soon as the match against Liverpool was over, I got on the plane to Korea.
Because the schedule for the World Cup Asian 2nd qualifying round, which starts in September, has been waiting for me.
Two months have already passed since the World Cup semi-final legend.
The team that had set their goal of advancing to the round of 16 has made it to the quarterfinals, so it must be thrilling.
Perhaps that is why the national team has undergone many changes over the years.
“Hey, who is this? Aren’t you Hong Min-jun, the conqueror of the Premier League?”
“Yes, I am Hong Min-joon. Can I sign it for you?”
“Yes, 10… No, do 100 and go. Let’s see how much you get if you upload your autographed ball on the Internet.”
Change… Should be…
I thought I was in a bit of a hurry, but the familiar faces arrived earlier than me.
“Hey Shiva. It was good that I moved. If you stayed at Leicester, wouldn’t you have been robbed by this bastard? Wow~ Senpai, you almost lost your face.”
“Why does your face get more grumpy every time I see you? You will be so damn envious.”
“Guys, it’s so nice to see you. When the protagonists of our four-legged myth gather together like this again, don’t you feel the excitement of that day again?”
“… Why is the claim like that? What did you eat wrong?”
… Well.
These are all too familiar faces.
I thought I’d know when I joined anyway, but I didn’t know because I didn’t look at the roster… The composition of the players is the same as the members who advanced to the quarterfinals.
Not a single one really changes.
“No claim. The captain said he would retire from the national team after the World Cup?”
“I will. I will… Aren’t you like that now?”
“How are you now?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
Looking at him blankly, the captain nodded his head.
“Mind! Aren’t there a lot of discussions going on about bringing coach Wolkl from abroad to prepare for the next World Cup? That’s why this call-up went over to the temporary supervisor system. But at a time like this, when you retire, will you buy Gao or not? Huh? I’m still the captain of Shinhwa in the semifinals, but I get a little washed out at the grand retirement ceremony. Eh?”
Come to think of it, I remember seeing it while browsing the local news.
Mirae Group chairman was moved by the unexpected World Cup promotion.
Future group.
It is a place inseparable from Korean soccer, and it is in fact the owner of the Korea Football Association and the biggest pillar supporting the Korean soccer world.
Due to the K-League situation where financial independence is impossible, Mirae Group runs as many as two clubs, acts as the K-League’s property owner, and pours a huge amount of money into the livestock cooperative.
Well, there are a lot of downsides, but they say that if it wasn’t for Mirae Group, I might have given up playing domestic soccer.
Anyway, from what I saw in the soccer community, the chairman’s grandpa jumped around with joy when his investment in soccer, which he thought was a waste of money, returned to the semifinals of the World Cup.
Perhaps that is why the manager who will be in charge of the next World Cup is brought in from overseas at the level of a wall clock.
Well, looking at the article, it seems that I am seriously challenging myself to constantly link up with directors with high name value who want to say, “A director like this is coming to Korea!?”
The important thing is that there are countless chirashi, and the director has not been decided until the national convocation date.
So now the national team is returning to the temporary coaching system.
“So what about the interim manager?”
“I guess you haven’t come yet. The summoning day is until tomorrow, so you should be able to come safely.”
The atmosphere was so loose that it was difficult to see that it was ahead of an A match.
But whatever you say
The game to be played this time is the second qualifying round for the Asian region of the World Cup.
The reason why it is not the 1st qualifying round is because only the 12 lowest-ranked countries among the total 46 FIFA member countries in the Asian region participate in the first qualifying round. And the top 50% of them, 6 countries will participate in the 2nd qualifying round.
The other 34 countries? Well, of course it automatically advances to the second qualifying round.
And in the 2nd round of qualifiers, 34 countries and 6 countries that passed the 1st round of qualifiers, a total of 40 countries will form 8 groups of 5 countries each.
Since Korea is a tier 1 country in Asia, it is naturally in the top seed, and teams like Japan, Australia, and Iran belong to the top seed.
One regrettable thing is that although they have the same top seed, they are assigned in order of highest FIFA ranking, and Korea is number 3. Well, good It’s good that Korea is number 3… Number 1 is Japan, number 2 is Iran.
I can’t stand this.
“Hey~ Why am I number 1 in Asia when Japanese bastards are being developed by me?”
“That’s right, it’s because we developed it before you debuted in the national team.”
“Under. Seniors! Really, what would I have done without me— quack!”
In the second round of Asian qualifiers, Korea was drawn into Group C with Iraq, Thailand, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
To be honest, from our point of view, Iraq, Thailand, Afghanistan, or Hong Kong, can’t you see it?
Just two months ago, I beat countless strong teams in the World Cup and reached the semifinals. The memories and impressions of that are still vivid, but it was a game against Asian top-tier and lower-tier teams.
For the members of the National University, who gathered as they were in the semifinals, it is a game that does not require even the slightest bit of tension.
There is an old saying that lions do their best even when catching rabbits… No matter how nervous you are against those teams… At least, except for Iraq, we have to think about how many goals we can score, not win or lose.
Korea’s goal in the 2nd qualifying round is a series of victories.
And in the first match held at home, they won 9:0 against Indonesia as if it was natural.
I played as a substitute in the second half and scored 2 goals and 2 assists after only playing 30 minutes, showing an overwhelming skill gap.
To be honest, it was harder to go back and forth from England to Korea than the game, and dealing with the fans who came to see me, it was a game.
In the second game against Iraq held a few days later, he scored 3 goals in just 65 minutes and contributed to a 6-1 victory.
Immediately after the start of the game, as if they had no intention of attacking at all, it was not enough to shut themselves in their own camp.
No matter how much I do, I can’t dribble without touching an opponent who is tightly packed.
I’m used to the fierce competition in the Premier League, so I put up a strong shoulder fight, but it’s not a bit of a rush.
Iraq’s bed soccer, which cut the tempo, was clearly effective, and the score lasted 0:0 until the first 20 minutes.
However, Iraq’s arrogance, which secretly counterattacked as if they had thought of attacking, collapsed when I scored a goal by breaking through 5 people with a single dribble in a counterattack that proceeded straight ahead.
Once the goal was conceded, Iraq, who was in a hurry, released all defense and started to attack, and space began to be created, and that was the end.
After that, he scored consecutive goals and sank Iraq with a great victory.
After the national team schedule was over, I met Harin and Daye’s parents, greeted each other, and finished the good impression work safely and boarded the plane to England.
‘Write. Something feels strong.’
How great is the human sixth sense!
His ominous premonition was not wrong, and as soon as he landed in England, a huge crowd was waiting for him.
‘Ha. Is this the popularity of a superstar? I’m tired. I’m tired. It’s hard to be too popular.’
Still, I cannot disappoint the fans who have been waiting for me, especially the pretty girls.
Embarrassed, I pushed the airport cops who were blocking me and waved with a charming smile—
Puck!!
Something flew
I looked down at the feeling of something exploding in my chest… Raw egg? But why does it smell… Wow! It’s a rotten egg!
“No, what is this… “
“Traitor!!”
“Isn’t that my brother?! My brother can’t do that! Right!!”
“Ooh!!”
What is it
What is the situation?
There was nothing to think or say.
Because it was written like this on a large placard held by a tearful woman in front of me.
We don’t want flirts!!
Please explain that this is a lie!!