Chapter 60 – Olympic Group Stage (6)

060

The first shot narrowly missed the goal and missed a good opportunity.
It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t sad, but I quickly got rid of my lingering feelings.

‘I feel good today. This match will be played aggressively around me, so another chance will come.’

I’m not a good goal-scoring player.
Nevertheless, the reason why he is scoring so many goals is because he has the ability to make up for his lack of goal-making ability.

Our team, which started to push aggressively after the first attack, continued to attack vigorously before the Spanish players came to their senses.

The opportunity finally came after overcoming several precarious situations.

“Hong Min-jun! Don’t overdo it and turn it! Hey! Yamma!”
“Pass this way!”

I ignored the clamor of my teammates.
It was because I felt something flashing when I saw the Spanish players coming under pressure.

‘You can do it.’

Fernando and Martin Subimendi, who gritted their teeth and ran, as if the earlier breakthrough was humiliating. The two rushed at almost the same time as if they were competing.

It would have been difficult if the two of them had properly pressed and backed up, but if they rushed like this… A narrow gap between two players.

I dug the gap.

* * *

Expectations rose with the great victory against Honduras, but football fans predicted defeat as the next opponent was Spain, famous for its golden generation.

I just expected the players to show their fighting spirit so that even if they lost, they could hear the sound of ‘I won well’.
However, once the game started, things changed. When the game just started, the situation that seemed to flow as expected changed dramatically with a sharp attack by the national team.

“A long ball coming in! Fernando jumps! Oh, Hong Min-Jun catches it first, then to Seol Yo-Han. Seol Yo-Han again to Hong Min-Jun. Hong Min-Jun, Hong Min-Jun runs!”
“It’s fast! It’s fast, Minjun Hong! Uh, our players can’t get excited! You can’t get excited!! We can’t all go in!!”
“You have to come back quickly, Hong Min-joon, you passed! Shoot as it is!!”
“Ah~ a shot that slightly missed the goal. A very disappointing shot.”

It wasn’t just the casters and commentators who were excited.

—What did you just do;;
—The speed is amazinghahajust crosses the soccer field?
—Who are you just now? Good job
Hong Min-joon
Who is that?
I just said that player
—Hong Min-joon I thought it was because he had no connections, but he is the best at ithaha
—I just turned on the TV, what movie star is playing soccer?

It wasn’t long before he let out a sad sigh at the shot that narrowly missed the goal.
The national team, which had gained momentum, began aggressively pushing Spain.

“Huh? I think the line is too high?”
“If you look closely, most of the players are in the Spanish half. This is dangerous. They are too vulnerable to counter-attacks.”
“Player Pyo-shik Oh who didn’t lose the ball by a narrow margin! Back to Kyu-seok Chae. Dae-sung Kim. Kyu-seong Chae again. Min-joon Hong.”

The Korean players, who were barely maintaining possession as if they would lose the ball at any moment under the strong pressure of the Spanish players, exchanged several passes and connected the ball to Min-Jun Hong.

Seeing Hong Min-jun stop the ball right in front of him with a soft first touch, the commentator quickly continued.

“Hong Min-joon, you can’t drag the ball at this time! You have to pass it quickly before the Spanish players attack!”

Unlike the Korean players, who were in a hurry to turn the ball under the strong pressure of the Spanish players, Hong Min-jun, who caught the ball, was relaxed. As far as the commentator sees it.

—ㅅㅅ What is that bird doing?
—You have to pass quickly, it’s fucking off
—Ah, I screwed up.
—I knew this, I’m good at it, I’m good at it, so I really don’t know the subject
Aren’t you the one who asked me who Hong Min-joon was earlier?
—Spanish kids are all settling down.

Hong Min-joon, who could not hear the clamor of the viewers, lightly tapped the ball in front of him with a relaxed expression and moved forward.

Spanish players surrounded on all sides rushed in an instant.

“Ah! It’s dangerous!! It’s dangerous Minjun Hong!!”
“Take away, no, I got rid of it! I got rid of it, Hong Min-jun!! Amazing La Croqueta!!”

Hong Min-joon, who was running face-to-face with the Spanish players who were rushing at him almost simultaneously, squeezed through a small gap in an instant.

A ball that travels between the insides of both feet like lightning.
La Croqueta. It was the so-called Phantom Dribble.

“A chance, an opportunity!! Hong Min-joon’s chance!!”
“Shoot! Gotta shoot!! Schout— oh, pass again, shoot!! Goal!! Gool!!”
“An amazing goal was scored!! Truly a fantastic opening goal! The main character is number 7 Hong Min-Jun! Hong Min-Jun!!”

The two people jumped up from their seats and shouted and cheered.

— Minjun Hong!! Minjun Hong!! Minjun Hong!! Minjun Hong!! Minjun Hong!! Minjun Hong!! Minjun Hong!! Minjun Hong!!
—Mom, I want to be Hong Min-jun when I grow up!! Mom, I want to be Hong Min-jun when I grow up!!
— Shivaaaaa What did you just see? Why is Messi in Korea All University?
ㄴI saw this when Messi was in his heyday, but why are Korean kids doing it?;;
– It’s the best ever… This is a really great goal
—That’s a college leaguer… ? Where is the alternative college league?

* * *

Mikel Merino opened his mouth.

“My God… What did I just see? Why is Messi in Korea?”

Muttering the same words as the Korean netizen, Michael picked up the pen he dropped and looked around blankly. The Spanish crowd, which had been loud enough to hurt their ears, was frozen in the cold.

“Hmm? That guy is… Frank? Isn’t Ericsson next to him?”

People in the soccer world who have worked as soccer reporters for decades and have learned to know each other. Frank was a scout for Hertha Berlin and Eriksson was a scout for Chelsea.

There will be more scouts if you look for them.
Their original purpose would have been Spanish players, not Korean players. They must have been trying to check the performance of the young Spanish talents of the golden generation.

‘This… Showcase. Did you say Hong Min-joon? That player has good skills, but he also has luck. If you find an unexpected jewel, it will shine even more.’

What will the numerous scouts who have been seated to observe the Spanish players think after watching this game today?

Perhaps, it was clear that Hong Min-jun would receive the attention of the European football world in the future.

“Back number 7… Hong Min-joon. A new star is born.”

It is an honor to see the game where a divinity is born. Even in Mikel’s long career as a reporter, it was the first time he had intuited a game where a new star was born.

‘It would have been nice if the opponent wasn’t our Spain….’

Swallowing his regret, Mikel busily played with his pen.

[Korea’s back number 7 Hong Min-joon showed off an elegant cheek touch and incredible technique just like Messi. Smooth trapping, gaze and body path when receiving the ball, and even a flash of genius. He’s just a bit lacking in passing, but he has Barcelona’s DNA— ]

* * *

As soon as the second half started, the Spaniards pressed hard.
It must be his determination not to be pushed back by our aggressive team. Our players, who were not as good at releasing pressure as the Spanish players, often turned the ball backwards under pressure, and the point where the ball came and went was lowered, naturally lowering the overall line of the team.

“Go up! Line up!!”

Our team’s players were at their limit just not scoring a goal against the Spanish players who were applying intense pressure despite the head coach’s constant shouting, as if he didn’t consider their stamina.

However, the fact that the line was lowered due to the opponent’s active pressure means that the space behind the opposing team was also widened. The defense, who was in a hurry to block Spain’s attack, managed to clear a pass that was heading inside the penalty box.

Unexpectedly, the ball hit the back of the Spanish defensive line, which coincidentally reached almost the half-line, and I instinctively ran toward the opponent’s half.

The moment he traps the falling ball, Fernando, who has run like a buffalo, stretches out his foot,

‘Clumsy.’

Jump and catch the ball with your outstretched right foot inside and put it in a good running position.
Fernando, who is not far behind in terms of his physical ability, quickly caught up and tried to steal the ball, but he also stripped it off with a light painting and ran.

I see the Spanish goalkeeper running out of the goal in front of me.
His name was Alvaro Fernandez. As a wild card player, he is a veteran goalkeeper with strong bones in La Liga… In my eyes, it’s so hot.

Perhaps preparing for a ground ball, he lowered his stance and watched the goalkeeper with his arms stretched out to the left and right approaching hurriedly before putting in the shooting paint.

Stepping on the stepping foot, continuing the cool follow-up swing— at the last moment, he hits the ball and leaves.
The goalkeeper, who predicted the shot, twisted his body belatedly and sat down, and I lightly kicked the bottom of the ball a few steps ahead.

The floating ball flew past the struggling goalkeeper’s hand and headed for the goalpost, and the Spanish defender ran desperately past me and threw himself in front of the goalpost.

Beep, beep, beep!!
Not in the lineup already.

It was the second goal.

“Stop it!! Stop it properly!!”
“Damn it, shut up Jose!! Did you stop it!!”
“Fuck… Fuck…!!”

3rd goal.
The Spaniards, who were furious with the defenders, stared blankly at the goal with a stunned expression. It was already the 3rd shaken goal.

“We… Scored three goals?”
“Why? Why can’t I stop one person? Why…?”

Until the second goal was scored, the Spanish players, who were burning with anger and enthusiasm, stood with pale expressions.

The game restarted, but the fluttering figure seemed to be moving instinctively.
The only one who did not give up until the end and made a threatening move was Jorge Garcia.

However, even Jorge Garcia, a genius representing Spain’s golden generation, could not prevent the team from losing.

Beep, beep, beep!!
Game over.

South Korea 3:0 Spain
1st Half 7 Minjun Hong
2nd Half 11 Minjun Hong
Second half 23 Minjun Hong

It was Korea’s victory.