Chapter 29 – Step Up (1)

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Until the 1980s and 1990s, the two leading regions of world soccer, soccer in Europe and South America, had distinct personalities.

A more organized, tactical, speed-and-power Europe.
South America focused on individual tactics, putting creativity and brilliance of each player first under more free and aggressive tactics.

Until then, the two regions had distinct tactical personalities, and depending on the season, whether at the level of the league or tactical capabilities, neither side was able to overwhelm.

However, in the 21st century, the accelerating globalization had a great impact on the soccer world.
The flow of globalization has turned soccer, which was a local feast, into a global festival.

Now people can watch matches from the other side of the world at home.
Especially Asia.

Asian football is still a periphery of world football.
Some of the leading groups in Asia are rated comparable to or higher than European second-tier leagues, but still not comparable to top-tier leagues.

Occasionally, players with exceptional skills are produced, but it is difficult to have a big impact unless they have the talent of the times like Pelena Maradona or Messi.

However, no one could ignore Asia’s economic value, and the European football world, which succeeded in attracting Asian attention, enjoyed enormous financial abundance that could not have been imagined in the past.

Overwhelming capital upset the balance, and talented South American players began to envy Europe.

Above all, globalization has had a bigger impact on tactical change, and managers no longer need to visit the pitch for tactical analysis.

There are still some coaches who prefer to see with their own eyes, but an era where you can do tactical analysis at home, whether it’s a game in Europe or South America.

The directors analyzed, researched, exchanged, and competed with tactics from all over the world, gradually coming to similar conclusions: ‘space’ and ‘pressure’.

These two are the most important factors in modern football.
Now, as before, it is impossible to distinguish ‘European style’ from ‘South American style’ only with tactics.

Of course, individuality according to the region still remains, but ‘space’ and ‘pressure’ were considered as key elements even in the university leagues of Korea, on the other side of Europe,

“Pressure, pressure! Don’t open up space!!”

The players move reflexively at the manager’s call.

The midfielders approach to press, and the defense blocks the space, blocking backups and passing routes.
Absolutely stellar defense.

But,

“It’s pierced again!”
“Stick!”

The breakthrough of the uniform number 15 quickly knocked two people out.
The centre-back measured the distance to the long-trapped ball.

‘It’s ambiguous.’

If you rush in now, you might be able to kick it off, but if you fail, even yourself, the final line of defense, will be pierced. After a very short hesitation, less than a second, the center back gave strength to his stepping foot and kicked the field.

‘Okay… !?’

The moment he stretches out his foot to kick it out of the line, one foot pushes the ball so lightly that it is disgusting and disappears.

In addition… It’s that kid again!
The ball, approached with unbelievable explosive acceleration and pushed lightly, passed between the center back’s wide legs, and the center back, who lost his balance, knelt on one knee on the ground and turned his head.

Back number 15, full of sight.

“Fuck!!”

* * *

After lightly trapping the long ball from the defensive camp and stopping it right in front, the distance is controlled through small touches.

I approached with a small touch with the confidence that I could react first whether the opponent rushed in or kept my seat… I drove and ran for a long time.

A center back who hesitates and rushes after passing by a midfielder who turns around belatedly.

‘Late.’

The goalkeeper with a bewildered expression hurriedly rushes out as the ball is kicked and passed between the legs of the center back who jumped out for the clearing.

Near the left corner of the penalty box.
The keeper lowers his stance and spreads his arms down, closes the angle as much as possible, but that’s all.

Puff, put your step foot in and kick the ball with your right foot inside.
Bang!

The ball, launched with a cheerful sound, headed out of reach of the goalkeeper, then curved inward— and disappeared over the goal post.

“Ah!!”
“Nice! Nice play!”
“Ogei~ Let’s go like this one more time!”

I hold my head and sigh, but the seniors clap from behind.
Swallowing regret, he turned around.

The score of 3:0 shown on the electronic board.
Of course, after looking at the 3-player score, our team shakes off any remaining regret and heads to the friendly camp, but a replacement sign comes in.

IN 19
OUT 15

Oh, it’s already 15 minutes into the second half.
Breathing heavily, he walked out slowly, and the director patted him on the shoulder with a big smile.

“Well done, well done! You did very well today!”

1 goal 1 assist.
Besides, there is no attack point, but even the last goal scored by our team was a ragged goal that became the starting point for my breakthrough, so it was decisively involved in all of our team’s goals.

“Whoa.”

Now it’s a warm spring day, but I’m sitting on the bench wearing a jumper to prevent my body temperature from rapidly dropping as my sweat cools down.

“Hey~ This bastard really is me.”
“Bitch! You’re not really on drugs, are you?”

Oh stop hitting me And what about the medicine?

“Your personal skills improve no matter what kind of drug you take. Of course not.”
“Is this a new drug?”

I leaned back on the bench and watched the game while playfully flirting with the booing seniors.
… It’s really not fun.

Our team is already very defensive, but since I, who led the attack, is missing, the mediocre offensive development does not continue.

The mentally outgoing opponent team also made mistakes, so the performance was truly eye-opening.
If you are watching this, you should think about the future development direction while looking at the status window.

【Skill】            【Spirit】         【Body】
Skill 070(▲3)  ｜Field of sight     046｜Main strength      067(▲5)
Dribbling 068(▲8) ｜Anticipation ｜ 044｜Acceleration ｜ 068(▲1)
Trapping 067(▲10)｜Judgment｜ 049｜Balance｜ 065(▲9)
Short Pass 048       ｜Concentration    056｜Agility     065(▲6)
Long pass 041｜Off the ball 047｜Reaction speed 079
Shooting 045 ｜ Space Mark 038 ｜ Power 054
Free Kicks 042｜ Composure 052｜ Jumps 046
Header 038 ｜Leadership 040｜Endurance 053
Tackles  032       ｜Teamwork    039｜Resilience    065

【Hidden】
Genius 046 ｜ Charm 095 ｜ Intelligence 028

【Height 175cm｜63kg】

【Possessed Points】 0P

‘Maybe he raised his stats too rapidly.’

It’s been a month since I got 36 points from Heeyeon noona and reporter noona.
As a result of working hard on her waist for a month, including the existing Ji-gyeong noona and Ha-yeon noona, she was able to get a whopping 42 points.

There were 4 women in one month, but I only got 7 points, from 36 points to 42 points.

‘Ugh. Why is everyone so busy?’

Because all four of them were too busy.
Jikyung noona and Hayeon noona are still in their 4th year graduation class, so they are busy preparing for a job. Heeyeon noona left early to participate in the Open held overseas.

The reporter’s older sister said she couldn’t take a picture of my finger, but she didn’t get fired, and she’s still working for a magazine.

… Of course, she’s whining about wanting to hit the company every day, but she’s doing well anyway.
Listening to the reporter’s older sister, it seems that she is already full of pride because she has already been taken by the company. So it’s not easy to meet.

In the end, there are 4 women he meets, but since they are all busy, he has become a poor situation in the midst of abundance that is difficult to meet often.

Still, I managed to raise 42 points, and the stat window became very colorful.

‘Ah. I want to make something with the first 8.’

When I first distributed the 32 points, I even thought about giving up on one or two.
However, while I was raising my skills, my stats went over 70, so it took 2 points to raise 1 stat.

No matter how much I thought about it, I thought it was a bit wasteful to spend 2 points to raise 1 stat and focus only on technique.

I don’t know if the front seat is about 9, but I’m not sure if I’m in my 80s.
So, I changed my mind to match the other stats first, and divided them appropriately… What is this Rather, it felt much better.

‘Techniques work better when they are based on other abilities.’

So, I realized it belatedly.

No matter how good your individual skills are and how brilliant your dribbling is, if your body is out of balance, your opponent won’t be able to trick you in the feint.

In the end, technique is also powerful when it is based on physical ability in order to apply it to the actual game.
… Why did I only know this now? It’s all I’ve learned before.

This is why my intelligence is 28… Neither.
No matter how you think about it, I am definitely a genius.

I wanted to raise an intelligence stat just in case, but the hidden stat required 5 points per stat. Pestilence.

I must have distributed the points that were initially given to my soccer skills for no reason.
So, how would you go about earning points? Even if you want to raise your charm belatedly, it’s 1 stat for every 5 points… Wow, just imagining it is terrifying.

Beep, beep, beep!!
I was sitting on the bench looking at the stat window and thinking about this and that, and the time passed quickly. It looks like the game is over.

“With this, it’s been 7 consecutive wins since the opening.”

7 matches 7 wins 0 losses.
I became a rising star by showing off my insane performance of 8 goals and 9 assists in all starting matches.