Chapter 54 – Controversial List Announcement (3)

054

A large space with a logo in the shape of a white tiger floating on a large beam projector in front.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) press room, which was normally free, was occupied by about a dozen reporters.

“Did you hear the rumor?”
“What rumors?”
“It’s because this friend’s information is so slow.”
“Ah, what is that? You know, I’m not originally a sports person.”
“Tsk tsk. What did you do to come here from the Ministry of Economy? I’ll tell you by looking at your face. This new manager.”

Reporters with a laptop on each desk exchange whispers.

“Director of Confucianism? Why is he?”
“I heard that the directors of the Livestock Cooperative Federation had a confrontation. With the technical directors.”
“Pause. Being with the technical directors at this time… Roster?”
“Already making rumors. They said it wasn’t even a fuss about the final list.”
“Ooh, but today is the list announcement. Hey, if you’re going to let me know, I’ll let you know sooner.”

The reporters who were buzzing shut their mouths like clams when a man appeared.

“Hello. I am Gong Jeon-seong, the coach of the Korean Olympic team.”

As befits the announcement of the national team’s final roster, which is broadcast on the Internet, he sat down with a clean face.

“We will announce the 2032 Australian Olympic team roster.”

The reporters’ hands became busy with the announcement of the publicity that went straight to the main point without any talk of mass.

“The first one is Song Chan-shik, who plays for Seongnam FC as the number 1 first goalkeeper.”

When a ballistic finger presses something, the beam projector screen with the KFA logo is over, and a picture of the player in uniform and a brief profile appear.

“Song Chan-sik is a goalkeeper who boasts animal-like reflexes in good physical condition at 193 cm, and has firmly guarded the back gate of Seongnam. At the young age of 22, Song Chan-sik, who has the experience of playing 65 professional games, has been able to secure the national team’s goal at the final stage of this Olympics.”

The reporters tapping their laptops watched the announcement with calm expressions.
Song Chan-sik was expected by everyone to be the undisputed first goalkeeper of the Olympic team.

Considering that the goalkeeper is the position with the highest average age among the defensive lines where skill is valued, Song Chan-shik, who is a regular player in a professional team at the age of 22, was a promising player who was considered the next national goalkeeper from an early age.

“The second goalkeeper is Ahn Hyeon-beom, who plays for Busan I-Park. Park Lee-hyeon from Jeonbuk was selected as the third goalkeeper.”

While the photos and profile screens of the two players were flipped over, reporters waved their hands expressionlessly.
The goalkeeper is a special position in soccer. Unlike other positions, the physical burden is low, so once a starter is decided, it is difficult for second and third players to play, so there was little interest in second and third goalkeepers.

“Next is the defender.”

The screen goes over again and the player’s profile pops up.

“I am Ahn Byung-gi, who plays for Gyeongnam FC. He is 188 cm tall, has strength in the air ball, and boasts strong anti-personnel defense skills. Next is Yuhyeon Kim. He is 185 cm tall and is in charge of Daegu FC’s defensive line with quick feet and agile defense.”

The Ahn Byung-gi-Kim Yu-hyeon center back combination is players who have been working together since their former coach days. It was a list that was expected enough as it was consistently moderated even in the unprecedented coaching system.

“Here is the first wild card. The first wild card is Seol Yo-han, who plays for the National Police Agency. Seol Yo-han, a veteran defender with a lot of experience, will be the center of gravity for the young defense.”

The reporters, who were expecting the first wild card, calmly tapped their laptops this time.
28-year-old Seol Yo-han, who played more than 50 A matches for the national team, was a European player from the German Bundesliga who returned to the K-League last year due to military service issues.

“Seol Yo-han. In the end, he couldn’t solve his chronic weakness, the side defense, and wrote a wild card.”
“In both the adult national team and the old school, the side is always poor.”

Although the side defense line is considered a weakness in the adult national team, it will be more than enough for the U23 Olympics.

In order to add strength to the side defense, Gongjeonseong selected Seol Yo-han, an active national team player, as the first wild card.

“Next, Ojiu—”
“Go Jae-beom—”

The presentation went smoothly.
Most of the players who could be evaluated as expected were confirmed to qualify for the Olympics one after another, and reporters had to type on their laptops with a lethargic expression.

“Next is the midfielder.”

The reporters’ eyes widened.
It was the midfielder’s turn, which was the most unpredictable, unlike the defensive or attacking team, who were relatively strong and easy to predict.

“Is the midfield position that tested the most players after taking over as head coach?”
“That’s right. We tested 17 midfielders in a total of 3 calls.”

In particular, it is said that he had a great fight with the technical directors ahead of the announcement of the final list, so there must have been a disagreement among the midfielders.

The gaze of the reporters turned to the mouth of Gongjeonseong.

“Kim Dae-sung, active in Daegu FC—”
“Gyeongnam’s Park Jin-je—”
“Oh Pyo-shik—”

However, by the time the reporters’ hands slowed down on the list that continued smoothly, which was different from expected,

“It’s strange.”

While Gongjeonseong drank water for a while, a reporter untied his fingers and muttered.

“What’s wrong?”
“I’m not the kind of person to go this easy. The list of people who talked with the technical directors is this easy?”
“The director must have broken something.”

Even at the words of a colleague who was cold, the reporter who tilted his head sparkled in his eyes.

“No. Now that the four midfielders have been announced, it’s time to come out soon. They’ll blow something up.”
“Then… Hojin University’s Yoon Hyuk.”
“Yoonhyuk? Who is Yoonhyuk?”
“Face to face, college leaguer?”
“Hojindae… Hojindae… Ah, this time I won the college league….”

The gazes of the reporters, who had been typing quickly while buzzing, widened.

“Next is Changwon’s Chae Ki-duk.”
“Chae Ki-duk? Who is Chae Ki-duk again!”
“Two people to make an unprecedented selection…?”

Ignoring the reaction of reporters, the publicity continued to announce.

“And the midfielder’s last place… Hojindae’s Hong Min-jun.”
“What…? Hojin University? Another college leaguer… That’s the university I came out of earlier.”
“Where is the public director’s university?”
“You’re crazy. There’s a degree of exceptional selection. Did you pick three unknowns?”

* * *

Pulled out
I was worried, but I safely boarded the Olympic team.

It’s already been several months since I lived in Oh Harin’s penthouse, so I didn’t go back to my own room. I was going to my room for the first time in a while to pack my things, but Oh Harin stopped me.

“You don’t have to go.”
“I have to pack my things. They say I have to stay for a month in Australia?”
“Here. I’ve got everything.”

Big carrier.
When I opened the seemingly luxurious suitcase, everything from underwear to toiletries and cosmetics was prepared.

“Harin!!”
“Kyaaak! Don’t cling to me!!”

Thanks to that, I was able to get on the car driven by Oh Harin and go to Paju.
Itinerary to join in Paju, train for a few days, and then depart for Australia, where the Olympics will be held. Lulu Lala comfortably goes down to Paju and looks at her article on her phone…

“Uh. Why are all the articles like this?”

[Unconventional or stubborn! The Olympic team selected a large number of unknown players!]
[Former national team coach “It is incomprehensible to select unverified resources for the Olympic finals!”]
[Only you and I are college leaguers? The only college league among pros! Why are they from the same background?]
[Only 2 Hojindae! What caused the call to battle!]

Even if the title pretends to be neutral, if you look at the contents, it is the content of the Gosa that everything is ruined. It’s very bad-speaking.

‘Is this okay?’

The news went wild, but public opinion on the Internet went beyond the frenzy and exploded.

[Isn’t Gong Jin-seong crazy?]
—No, this isn’t even the 90’s.
ㄴㅇㅇ : That’s 2 peoplehahaI turned around
ㄴㅇㅇ : That’s only Hojindae, 2 peoplehaha
ㄴ윾동: That’s also for 1st and 2nd yearhaha
ㄴ Gorei: ㅅㅅ Buried in Hojindae, so who knows if it’s Changwon or Cheongwon?
Nganna Agichugbungi: That’s a semi-professional team
ㄴㄱㄱ : Sheekkkk

[It really sucks]
—Ah b*t there isn’t a single European member this time, so I don’t like it b*tch
ㄴㅇㅇ : If I can’t solve my military service this time, I have to aim for the Asian Games in 2 years.
ㄴNaughty Dog: Bae Chan-sik must be really fucked up. They do so well in the EPL.
ㄴWriter: Really crazy, why don’t the clubs get hired!!

[Both Bae Chan-sik and Yu Man-ki were rejected for the jobhaha]
—European bitch.
ㄴㅇㅇ : This was a chance for both of them, but what the heckhahaDo you really see them in the K-League?!
ㄴ Harin is a baby: Ah ㅜㅜ ㅜㅜ I don’t like the taste of congratulations.
Nㅇㅇ : Harin? Han Harin?
ㄴHarin is agaaeoh: This is Oh Harin
ㄴㅇㅇ : Who is O’Harin?
ㄴHarin is agaaeoh: yeshaha

“I’m here. Get down.”
‘Ugh! I was grinding without even realizing it.’

Seeing off Oh Harin in front of the NFC (National Football Team Training Center)… When I went to the entrance with my suitcase, I managed to escape the barrage of questions from reporters.

The coach, who summoned the national team gathered in Paju, said,

“Public opinion is noisy. But there is nothing to worry about.
“…”
“Aren’t you going to win a medal? Do you want to enlist in the army?”
“No!!”

At once, they were motivated, and regardless of whether public opinion was on fire or not, the national team came together as one, received a great training, and left for Australia.

And now.
3 days before the start of the Olympics.

The first match of the group stage has begun.