Chapter 283 – Easier Than Lying Down and Eating Rice Cakes (3)
283
Dubai 2036 Olympic Men’s Football Final.
It was the Netherlands that was waiting for Korea, who defeated Italy and confirmed their advance to the final.
The Netherlands advanced to the final by defeating France and Brazil, which were considered favorites for the championship, in a row, creating the best upset in football at the Olympics.
Although South Korea, an Asian country, advanced to the finals by beating a strong opponent, it was unexpectedly shocking, but it was called the ‘Hong Min-joon’ effect, and the name value of the world’s best players is overwhelming in age-restricted competitions.
Therefore, even though Korea is an Asian country, the ‘Hong Min-joon’ effect had the effect of offsetting all the disadvantages.
And in reality, didn’t Hong Min-joon transform Korea into a team that cannot be ignored from the Sydney Olympics, when he first made his name known, to the last World Cup?
For two years in a row, the skills of the Ballon d’Or podium, the Olympic silver medal and the World Cup semifinals were the achievements.
Therefore, the Korean national team that Hong Min-jun joined received an unusually high evaluation for an Asian country, to the extent that it was evaluated as a candidate for the ‘Jun’ championship.
Under these circumstances, Korea’s advance to the final was not a surprise.
From experts to fans, most of the reviews say that teams that are capable of advancing are advancing.
But the Netherlands was different.
There was once a time when the golden generation dominated the world, but is that already a story?
It is still regarded as the cradle of youth development, but now the Netherlands is a so-called second-tier country that is a little short of being a first-tier and too strong to be a third-tier.
Of course, Tier 2 is not low.
In Europe, where prominent soccer powerhouses are concentrated, it is not strange to hear that they are in the second tier anywhere.
However, on the international stage where the whole world gathers, including South America, including Brazil, the country of the soccer emperor, and North America, which is emerging as a new player, it is not enough to listen to strong voices at level 2.
Is that why?
Unlike the Euro, which produced quite good results, the Netherlands was often killed when it appeared only on international stages such as the World Cup or the Olympics.
Of course, it was the Netherlands that received low ratings at the Dubai Olympics, but this time it was a big accident.
After defeating champion France in the quarterfinals, they won 3:1 against Brazil in the semifinals, which could be called the biggest surprise in Olympic soccer.
The morale of the Netherlands, which received all kinds of praise for the biggest surprise, disruption, and upset of the tournament, reached its peak by defeating teams that were considered to be much stronger in terms of power one after another.
“When the conference first started, people said, The Netherlands should aim to pass the group stage. Even when we faced France in the quarterfinals and Brazil in the semifinals, everyone said we would lose.”
This was well revealed in an interview held the day before the game.
“There were a lot of expectations that we would lose. It will be the same this time too. The pundits will say we’re going to lose again, for all sorts of reasons, but how was it so far? Were they right?”
Dutch coach Van Seward smiled confidently throughout his interview.
“Not at all! They are all wrong! Do you know? What matters is our skills and results. No matter how they judge us, we always prove it with our results, and it will be the same this time.”
“What do you mean?”
“This time is no different. We will win again, and we will have the gold medal around our necks.”
Don’t be fooled by the confident manager’s remarks, and the team raises their voices.
People cheered for the ‘Underdog’ rebellion and expected it to be a sparkly finale, but—
“Ah~ Hong Min-jun succeeds in scoring goals in 6 consecutive gameshaha, just doing a simple celebration and returning right away. Aren’t you tired of scoring goals and celebrating?”
“Yeah, that’s right. The Netherlands has struggled so far, but it can’t work for Hong Min-joon. The Dutch fairy tale also ends here. Goodbye Pan Swords~ Goodbye~ Netherlands.”
The result was 5:1, Korea’s overwhelming victory.
It was Hong Min-jun’s first national team championship.
* * *
After the majestic BGM, the female announcer who neatly tossed her hair bowed her head.
“I am Seonhwa Han from Sports Today, delivering today’s sports news. From the start of today, we have a good news to tell you. This is very good news from Dubai, let’s see it together.”
The converted screen shows a soccer field in play.
“The Netherlands we met in the Olympic final. The Netherlands came to the finals after successively killing giants, but it showed an overwhelming gap against the Korean national team with Hong Min-jun at the fore.”
Hong Min-jun, who caught the ball among the dense Dutch players, swung his foot a few times, and when he shook his body a few times, the path opened like magic.
“Hong Min-joon, who is regarded as the best player in the world, broke through the 5 Dutch players surrounding him in the 14th minute, shot straight and split the net to score his 17th goal of the tournament.”
The ensuing video is literally Dutch’s desperate mop defense… No, it was a physical defense.
“The Republic of Korea successfully attacked one after another. In the end, Hong Min-jun’s hat-trick won the championship with a 5:1 victory. With this game, Hong Min-jun rewrote Olympic history by scoring 19 goals in 6 matches.”
With Hong Min-joon’s wonderful goal scene, which can be called the highlight, the screen switched back to illuminate the studio.
“Yes. Congratulations on the wonderful gold medal of Taegeuk warriors. Hong Min-joon proved his reputation as a ‘record breaker’ by setting a new record this time as well, right?”
At the words of the female announcer, the middle-aged male panel nodded and listed the records,
“Thanks for the explanation. I heard that the interview is ready, so I will come after watching Minjun Hong’s interview.”
Hong Min-jun’s sweaty smile appeared on the screen that was switched once again.
“I was a silver medal four years ago, but I am happy to be able to win a gold medal this time.”
“It is always a pleasure to play for one’s country. In addition, there is nothing better than being able to bring a gold medal to your country. The silver medal last time and the gold medal this time gave me the nickname ‘legal military service broker’, but I will work as a military service breaker for a long time.”
“I will continue to win with the Taegeuk mark. Still, since I devoted myself to my country up until now, I intend to live for myself a little longer, so please don’t look too badly~”
After the last mischievous wink, the screen switched to the studio.
The announcer, who blinked for a moment, comes to his senses belatedly.
“Hmmmm. Yes. It was an interview with Minjun Hong. How do you see it?”
With the female announcer at the center, the panelists, two on each left and right, open their mouths.
“Generally, for athletes, the Olympics are an event for the purpose of ‘exemption from military service’. Once you win, you don’t have to participate again. It’s an inconvenient truth. Besides, how comfortable would it be to be able to make an excuse that the club does not allow borrowing? In that sense, Minjun Hong is a very good mindset.”
“Wanting to win with the Taegeuk mark in the future is a statement aimed at next year’s World Cup, isn’t it? I think he secretly revealed his ambition to win the World Cup.”
From winning a gold medal, to being evaluated as the best player in the world, to immense popularity based on his overwhelming appearance.
It’s been a long time since good words poured out as if it was literally ‘Hong Min-joon’s praise time’.
The female announcer, who was shaking her head, asked another question.
“After the interview, Minjun Hong’s comments became a hot topic. ‘Since I have dedicated myself to my country, I will now live for myself a little longer’… But commentator Park Ji-sol, what the hell does that mean?”
“I do not know… It’s not easy to guess what he is thinking because he is a player who enjoys interviews that are so unpredictable.”
Hong Min-joon’s unexpected remarks during the interview are already famous, and Park Ji-sol, who laid the groundwork for everyone to understand, carefully continued.
“Looking at your remarks alone, it seems that you mean that you will live more freely than now… Well, isn’t he still a very free-spirited player? How much more freely does he live here… “
After a moment of silence, the old professor in the last seat licks his dry lips and raises his hand.
“I think it has something to do with the Newcastle club… And is guessed. To be precise, with the royal family of Dubai behind Newcastle.”
『Korea Men’s Soccer Gold Medal!!』
『Pour down golden fireworks!』
『New record, new record again!! ‘Record Breaker’ Hong Min-joon breaks a new record again!!
『”A legal military service broker? I will continue to do so!” Interview with Hong Min-joon』
After winning the championship, articles poured in.
It was men’s soccer that attracted the most attention, but with the best result of the gold medal and the absurd record of 19 goals in 6 games, it was inevitable that it would become a hot topic.
And among the articles pouring in like that, there were one or two articles with strange nuances.
『Dubai’s Al Maktoum Royal Family, Starts to Recruit Special Talent』
『Dubai’s love call for Hong Min-jun? Will the world’s greatest treasure be stolen from Dubai?』
『Is it possible to naturalize the Middle East to marry girlfriends? Hong Min-joon’s naturalization rumors in Dubai