243. In the World Cup scoring rankings in the first round of 16 (1),
Ho-Young Woo was in first place with 6 goals, followed closely by Ronaldo with 5 goals.
Among them, Hoyoung emerged as the number one candidate for the Golden Ball.
It was because there was a performance that would never be performed again.
It’s not that it wasn’t, but the reaction didn’t seem to cool down even a few days after the game.
[Woo Ho-young’s 65-meter breakthrough from various netizens around the world]
└ Damn (Japan)
└ Damn (China)
└ Thank you for letting me see this play before I die. However, the Ballon d’Or has already surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s (Portugal) Messi and Maradona.
How far will he grow? Can he surpass Pele? (Brazil)
└What a disaster. Please come to Manchester. If he comes to Manchester, I will take off my pants and play guitar in the square. (England)
└Are Woo Ho-young and Usain Bolt half brothers? (Uruguay)
└This proves that kimchi is a super food. Let’s import kimchi too. (Sweden)
└The only way for us to beat Korea in the round of 16 is to send a cartel to South Africa. Whether it’s drugs or a handgun… I think we need some definite measure. (Mexico)
└Mexico… See you in 4 years. (Chile)
As time went by, the number of posts praising Woo Ho-young increased exponentially.
The prevailing opinion was that Mexico could not defeat Korea.
In fact, the people of Mexico generally had similar opinions.
The same goes for Mexican coach Javier Aguirre.
As the day of the game approached, my stomach became more and more upset.
The strategy had not been finalized until today, two days before the game on June 24th.
“For now, I’m glad I avoided Argentina.”
“sure. Fortunately…”
Head coach Miguel sympathized with those words but scratched his head.
“Of course it’s fortunate, but it’s still a thorny road.”
“This is ridiculous.”
Aguirre, who was the coach of AT Madrid until 2009, has been in charge of the Mexico national team since last year.
Since taking office, he has been Mexico’s hero, leading Mexico to the World Cup finals with a strong record of 6 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses.
However, as they were placed in a group with England and Uruguay, foreign media said that they would not advance to the round of 16.
It was not an easy fight.
No matter how strong and mobile Mexico was in the highlands, England was still strong and Uruguay was no slouch either.
Nevertheless, Coach Aguirre used irregular tactics at the right time and advanced the team to the round of 16.
The next opponent is South Korea.
If it were like before, it would have been a joyous event.
However, the current Republic of Korea was evaluated as a team with stronger power than Uruguay.
Because of just one person, Woo Ho-young.
“I never thought this day would come.”
Who knew that Mexico, the powerhouse of Central America, would be afraid of Asian teams?
‘I’m going crazy.’
It is a persistent evil relationship.
Just thinking about how badly he was beaten by Real Madrid when he was in charge of AT Madrid makes me shiver.
But this game was also an ‘opportunity’.
Being able to achieve a strategic victory over Woo Ho-young may have been the best career a manager of this era could have.
Aguirre was greedy.
I thought there would be a chance if we pushed back with unorthodox tactics like we did well against England.
but.
“It’s impossible to stop Woo Ho-young in the first place.”
“I agree. Even if Germany’s Beckenbauer returns, it won’t be possible.”
“okay. “If you die like this or die like that, there is only one way.”
A cliff at the end of a cliff.
There was no longer any way back.
All that was left for them was to move forward.
Aguirre, who finally made a decision, spoke in a voice full of determination.
“Assemble the players.”
Saturday, June 26th.
Port Elizabeth, located at the southern tip of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, which can accommodate about 42,000 spectators, was the venue for the first match of the round of 16.
And at 15:50 that day, players from Mexico in green uniforms and South Korea in red uniforms entered side by side.
The sound of vuvuzelas rang out along with the cheers of the spectators who filled the stadium.
At the same time, the atmosphere in the stadium heightened.
A huge battle of nerves broke out between Heo Seong-su and coach Javier Aguirre, who were shaking hands.
It was no different for the players.
There was a lot of tension every time we shook hands.
And it was around the time that Hoyoung shook the young man’s hand.
“long time no see.”
Write it.
Then Bella smiled bitterly.
[Carlos Vela]
– Amazing dribbling (S-)
– Fast legs like a Lamborghini (A+3)
– Unstoppable hitting and running (A+2)
– Sure goal-making ability (A+2)
– (See more)
(Available There is no talent)
‘Talent is not much different from then to now.’
The crown prince of Mexico whom I met at the U-17 Peru World Cup.
Carlos Vela’s talent is not much different than it was five years ago.
That told me about his current condition.
‘I said Arsenal are not doing well these days.’
However, he was a dangerous player for Korea.
The reason he was able to play as a starter was because Coach Aguirre intended to attack Korea’s slow defense.
‘As expected, they came out with aggressive tactics.’
Mexico’s offensive line was at a level where it could not be defeated no matter where it went.
From Javier Hernández, known as ‘Chicharito’, to Giovanni dos Santos Andrés Guardado.
They had a fast and decisive attack line.
As expected, Mexico began to push hard as soon as the game started.
[The Mexican trio of Dos Santos, Hernández, and Vela in a 4-3-3 formation launches a sharp attack.]
[We continue to aim for the space behind Korea’s defense. [We need to focus on Jo Yeon-hyung and Lee Jong-su.]
Carlos Vela, who was placed as left wing forward, moved into the center and continued to attack Jo Yeon-hyung, whose speed was his weakness.
Lee Jong-soo, who had the quickest ability, was there to cover, but it was not unusual for a crisis to arise at any time.
[Hernández throws the ball back. Guardado takes over. Park Ji-seok approaches.]
[Unfortunate situation. Guardado ends up turning the ball back.]
[Attacks are constantly occurring, but the attacking style is very cautious. Once they have the ball, they try not to give up possession.]
7 minutes in the first half.
Mexico has not lost the ball since taking possession.
Although they had a very strong aggressive tendency, they only exchanged stable passes to secure space and avoided gambling offensive developments.
The intention was to never create a situation where the ball could be lost.
[They seem to be very concerned about Korea’s counterattack situation.]
[The explosive counterattack speed and decisiveness that Woo Ho-young showed in the last group match. Considering all that, it makes sense. This means that we will only aim for clear opportunities.]
Meanwhile, the number of Mexican attacks gradually increased.
Ricardo Osorio and Carlos Salcido, who were used as left and right fullbacks, attempted active overlapping even as they crossed the halfway line.
All resources except the two central defenders participate in the attack.
That was Director Aguirre’s strategy.
‘Anyway, if you get counterattacked, no matter how many defenders there are, they can’t stop it.’
Woo Ho-young is beyond imagination when it comes to counterattacks.
There is no defensive tactic that can stop him.
If you can’t stop it anyway, it’s better to attack with everyone.
And you’re only looking for one chance.
That’s why Javier Hernández focused on goal-scoring training over the past few days.
[Coach Aguirre seems to think that conceding goals is inevitable no matter what. That’s why it seems like they’re going to fight back against Korea. We need to pay special attention to our players’ defense.]
[As the commentator said, Mexico’s attack is getting stronger. Dos Santos and Vela on the left and right flanks are shaking up the Korean defense by repeatedly contracting and expanding.]
Counterattack strategy.
It was definitely a good attempt.
If he did well, he would be able to score the first goal and take the lead.
But in the end, all of that was just Director Aguirre’s wish.
10 minutes in the first half.
“…!”
Director Aguirre saw an unusual appearance in Hoyoung.
Hoyoung, who was in charge of the attacking midfielder in the 4-2-3-1 formation, lowered his line and joined the defense.
‘crazy.’
Aguirre’s face distorted.
It was as if the strategy that had been prepared with great care had suffered a setback.
In the first place, a counterattack is only established when the opponent responds, but Woo Ho-young gave up the attack and sat down to take care of the situation.
The game went in an unpredictable direction.
[Gerardo Torrado looks at the right flank. Dos Santos receives it.]
[Woo Ho-young approaches him!]
Tak.
“shit!”
Dos Santos, who received the pass, narrowly missed the ball.
Juarez, who was right behind him, kept the ball, so he didn’t lose it, but it was a very dangerous situation.
[Our players are great! If there is space, we can fill it by helping each other. This is how we do it.]
[With Woo Ho-young dropping down, the defense has definitely become stronger. [I am very confident.]
Hoyoung put pressure on his opponent with his vigorous activity and made Mexico passive.
The situation, which seemed like a crisis could come at any moment, gradually became stable.
[An environment has been created where our players can move forward more and more. Ki Sung-ryong and Park Ji-seok are applying pressure from the front.]
[Park Ji-seok trying to block a pass!]
[Oh, that’s a shame.]
Hoyoung’s participation in defense had a positive effect on the team.
And eventually.
They succeeded in driving the Mexican players out of midfield around the 13th minute of the first half.
Nevertheless, the intense pressure from South Korea continued.
Hoyoung ran forward with a momentum that seemed to devour his opponent and gradually took control of the midfield.
“shit.”
“Turn to the side! “You need help from the side!”
Due to the ever-increasing pressure from the front, the Juarez-Torrado-Guardado line in midfield had no choice but to turn the ball to the side.
“Badger! Close the gap! “You have to come here and get it!”
widely.
Right fullback Osorio went directly to the center and received the ball.
And immediately went out to find a place to pass.
but.
Tuk.
“Ah!”
[Woo Ho-young cuts off Osorio’s ball!]
Ho-young did not tolerate even that short period of time.
He applied pressure with his explosive instantaneous speed and eventually succeeded in winning the ball from Osorio.
The location was 40 meters away from the goal.
[The ball comes to Korea for the first time in a while! Woo Ho-young is running!]
Switch to offense and defense.
Hoyoung pushed hard as if he had been waiting for this moment.
Osorio, who lost the ball, tried to catch up, but the gap between the two only grew wider.
And 30 meters.
“I’m blocking it!”
Whoop!
“…?!”
Torado hurriedly tried to cover, but Hoyoung had already turned to the other side.
Direction rotation.
It was such a rapid movement that my stomach turned just by looking at it.
Despite this, Hoyoung just ran towards the penalty area with a clear face.
And 25 meters.
“Stop that crazy guy!”
“Go and throw it away!”
“The fuck is coming! Wake!”
The next person to step up was central defender Rodriguez.
Thinking that he couldn’t do anything like this, he raised his foot slightly higher and aimed at the area next to Hoyoung’s ankle.
It was an inevitable choice.
It’s much better than receiving death threats from Mexican cartels.
With that determination, I placed my center of gravity on my lower body and stretched out my feet as hard as I could.
“Get away from me!”
But it was that moment.
“Wow.”
Rodriguez lifted his feet into the air.
In vain.
Then he lost his balance and fell to the floor.
In a short moment, Hoyoung took his foot back slightly and turned to the right.
[Woo Ho-young! There is only one person left at the door!]
[Marquez stretches his feet!]
Bwaaeng!
Marquez then responded with a sliding tackle, but the ball was already heading toward the goal.
A quick and concise right foot shot.
That was the end of it.
Crash!
[Gooooooooooo! A mid-range goal like a cannonball exploded! Woo Ho-young’s 7th World Cup goal! Woo Ho-young makes it!]
[A scathing shot that destroys Mexico! Ah~ I like it!]
The heavy shot went into the net before goalkeeper Oscar Perez could even reach out.
It was the moment when everything Mexico had prepared for collapsed.
“downpour!”
Hoyoung ran to the corner and jumped up.
Wonder goal in the World Cup round of 16.
It was natural to jump for joy.
However, Hoyoung finished it off there, ran to the bench, picked up a T-shirt, and unfolded it in front of the camera.
Then at that moment.
“Ooooooooo!”
Excited cheers poured out from the audience.
[Is this Woo Ho-young’s family?]
[This is a ceremony for the family who came all the way to South Africa. We must be very proud.]
Ho-young’s family photo printed on a T-shirt appeared on a large electronic display board.
I have scored many goals so far, but this was my first time celebrating for my family.
I had been holding back until now because I wanted to do it on a big stage if possible, but I was able to do it thanks to the T-shirt I requested from Lucci arriving yesterday.
At the same time, the atmosphere in the stadium became even hotter.
Advancement to the quarterfinals for the first time on the road was becoming a reality.
![Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]](https://cpunovel.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/arcane-sniper.jpg "Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]")
