Chapter 55 – Olympic Group Stage (1)
055
In the world of soccer, the two biggest festivals in the nature of national competitions are definitely the World Cup and the Olympics.
Although the two competitions are held on a global scale beyond a specific country or region, there are many differences if you look closely.
Although there are differences in various parts such as the subject or nature of the event, provisions and duties, the schedule is the most important thing to the players.
While the World Cup is held in about a month, the Olympic football schedule is only between 15 days and 17 days.
From the group stage to the finals, it is a tight schedule that requires 6 games to be played within 15 days, and the size of the team is only 18, so it is a schedule that can never be carried out according to the Olympic season.
That’s why the group stage starts before the opening of the Olympics, and it was the same for the 2032 Australian Olympics.
July 28, 2032, Central Coast Stadium, New South Wales, Australia.
Central Coast Stadium, located in Gosford on the Central Coast, about 80 km north of Sydney in New South Wales, opened in 2000 and is the home of Central Coast Mariners FC, a club in the A-League, an Australian professional league. It was being used as a home stadium.
This stadium, which can fill a total capacity of 20.059 people, had only about 3,000 spectators, less than half of its capacity, as it celebrated the Olympic group stage today.
“This is the Central Coast Stadium in Australia where the Korea vs. Honduras and Honduras vs. Korea matches will be held. I am caster Han Seung-cheol.”
“I’m Jo Seok-gi, commentator.”
“Ah~ this Australian Olympics. There is a saying that the formation of our Korean group is not that easy.”
“That’s right. Korea is in Group D of the group stage. The countries in the same group are Honduras, who will play against us today, as well as Morocco and Spain.”
“I’m sure the Invincible Armada Spain is the scariest, right?”
“You’re right! There are many predictions that Spain, a strong player in Europe, will be the biggest challenge. But our players. Don’t be discouraged!”
“Yes. Since there are only two tickets for the finals, our players… “
Prior to the start of the game, casters and commentators exchange diligently prepared lines.
The front of the two men, which briefly reminded viewers of information such as the region where the game was held and the grouping of Korea, along with a natural introduction. ), The letters came to mind.
The two people who confirmed the contents stuttered and glanced at the PD.
‘It’s okay! Proceed!’
The two of them continued talking naturally as they sent gestures with that meaning over and over again.
“… Yes, our players. Don’t give up and do your best! I hope to show you. By the way, commentator Cho Seok-gi. They say there is something special about this team.”
The two of them paused for a moment and licked their dry lips.
Judging by the PD’s gesture to continue, it seems that the Livestock Cooperative also gave permission… The problem was that if you walk the tightrope incorrectly, you could end up hurting the viewers, not the livestock cooperative.
No matter how many words there are, it was to bring up the controversy of the national team ahead of the Olympics.
“That’s right. These are two unknown players who have never been called up to the national team, Hojin University Yoon Hyuk and Hong Min Jun. He was a great player in the collegiate league, but it was very tumultuous that two players who had never matched before were selected for the final roster.”
“Yes. Public opinion was very hot. As the controversy continued, director Gong Jeon-seong held a press conference and suggested a head-on breakthrough. I’ll look at the data screen for a moment.”
[-No see. As everyone knows, I took office half a year before the Olympics. The former coach and I have different tactical views, so the team’s tactics and style had to completely change, and the composition of players also needed a change.]
[It’s not just a matter of a few players getting their feet right. Because the national team has a completely different personality from the club—]
[—This also applies to players selected as wild cards.]
[I will prove it with the result.]
A huge controversy erupted after the announcement of the final list.
Chae Ki-duk and Yoon Hyuk. And Hong Min-jun.
All three are unknown players.
At least Chae Ki-duk had a justification for being active in the last call-up, aren’t Yoon-hyeok and Hong Min-joon not even on the list of the national team’s standing army, let alone called-up? When the fact that they graduated from the same university was added, public opinion was turbulent.
As the controversy continued, director Gong Jeon-seong held a press conference and declared, “I will prove it with results.”
I was able to manage public opinion with the head-on remarks of the coach, but the words were settled, and to be precise, the atmosphere was to wait and see how well he would do.
In the midst of this, the Football Association, which should have calmed down public opinion, almost stood by and threw another piece of rice cake, the conflict between the association and the achievement, to the point that it was literally the most controversial national team of all time.
“In the two friendly matches ahead of the Olympics, I wanted to check the skills of the two players who were in a veil, but both matches were played behind closed doors.”
“That’s right. The national team was convened in Paju on the 14th, and after training for about a week, they entered Sydney, Australia. And he raised the sense of the game by playing two friendly matches. What is unusual is that the two friendly matches were closed behind closed doors.”
“Private. It is quite peculiar.”
“Right. Usually, it is conducted in public, but this time it is said to hide the power and tactics.”
“Ah, sure. This national team, the trick is considerable. The opposing teams must be very confused.”
The PD, who was watching the two of them, glanced at the chat window.
—ㅅㅅ We’re confused too
HahaTrick to fool allies
—Since you proved it with the results, let’s wait and see, is this correct?
—He’s an all-time crazy guyhahaI only use 2 wild cards, so I don’t know what kind of confidence he has.
Overwhelming negative public opinion that is hard to find advocating articles.
Paddy let out a sigh.
‘I was told to do it once… What are you going to do? Medal ticket… At least 4 rivers. If I don’t achieve that level of achievement, my career is over.’
In the PD’s eyes, the two people who urgently continued the presentation were caught.
“The roster has just been announced!”
“Yes! Congratulation ceremony to the goalkeeper… Ah! Out! The two players who were piled up in a veil, Yoon Hyuk and Hong Min-jun, will start!!”
“Finally! We can finally see the two players! This is Sydney, Australia, Central Coast Stadium! This is the stadium where the match between Korea and Honduras and Honduras and Korea will be held!!”
* * *
10 minutes before the game starts.
The players gathered in the waiting room were preparing for the game in their own way.
The Olympic team is also referred to as the U23 team. True to the name of the national team under the age of 23, except for the wild card, all players are in their early 20s.
There were few young athletes who were not nervous in the big event of the Olympics, and Hong Min-joon, one of the few athletes, was leisurely using his smartphone.
[10 minutes before extinction like a dog]
[Am I the only one who can’t look forward to soccer at this Olympics?]
[Looks like I’m going to fuck Hondurashaha]
[I will prove it with results!! Result eliminated from preliminary round]
‘Anyway, let’s watch and talk.’
I clicked my tongue and threw my smartphone into the locker room, and the manager came in as if I had been waiting.
“Everyone pay attention.”
Wiping down his tired, crumbly face, he came in and approached the tactic board with magnets cluttered with it, but stopped abruptly.
“Are you nervous?”
“…Yes.”
The coach looked around the locker room after noticing that defender Oh Ji-woo, who was seated at the door, was trembling with his legs.
“If the Olympics fail, I will retire.”
At the director’s declaration of a bomb, everyone widened their eyes and raised their heads.
“Did you see my interview? I shouted loudly that I would show you the results. If I fail after shouting like that, would I be embarrassed and live as a director?”
Crazy… He said he’s a tactical maniac, isn’t this just a maniac?
“It’s making a lot of noise outside. They’re praying for us to perish. As you all know, this time I was taken by the association. Is it only by the association? It’s just a nationwide state. How are you guys, is the situation worse than me? Hey hey , Song Chan-sik. Answer me.”
“Oh, no.”
“Opinion?”
“If I don’t win a medal this time, I’ll have to spend a year and a half at the National Police Agency… But the coach won’t be able to do that.”
Senior captain Seol Yo-han, who was sitting with a relaxed expression on his face, trembled.
“Isn’t it? There are people who are more serious than me… Well, there are a few. Hong Min-joon. You have to do well. You and I are a community of destiny. If I fail, don’t even think about playing in Korea.”
This crazy It’s not a water ghost, so why are you dragging me in?
“I’m going to Europe anyway.”
“Look at what the maknae says. Are you guys going to go to Europe alone?
“You’re right!”
“I’m going to Europe too!”
“I’m going to Europe!”
At the words of the director, the seniors screamed and screamed.
Only then did the coach smile and lightly clap his hands.
“You know that I was educated as a leader and coached in Europe, right? I take responsibility for those who do well in the Olympics and connect them with European clubs.”
“Wow!!”
“I love you, Director!”
The director spoke heavily as he looked around at the seniors who exaggeratedly cheered even though he knew these were empty words.
“Let’s go. Go out and step on Honduras.”
July 28, 2032, 17:00 local time.
Central Coast Stadium, New South Wales, Australia.
South Korea: Honduras
GK Song Chan-shik / GK Guiti
RB Ojiu / RB Maldonado
CB Ahn Byung-gi / CB Decas (c)
CB Yuhyeon Kim / CB Melendez
LB Seol Yohan (c) / LB Nunez
DM Daesung Kim / CM Reyes
DM Yoon Hyuk / CM Rodriguez
RW Chae Gyu-seok / RW Benguche
AM Oh Pyo-sik / AM Rivas
LW Hong Min-jun / LW Elvir
CF Yoo Ji-ho / CF Ferreyo
Directed by: Gong Jeon-seong / Palero