251. The ultimate score in soccer (4)
South Korea.
The moment the goalpost swung, the red wave that filled the stands split exactly in half.
The Spanish national soccer team’s supporters, the ‘Invincible Armada’, all looked in disbelief.
It was literally like that.
“I can not believe it.”
“Does this make sense?”
“Huh….”
“Crazy.”
Looking at it objectively, Korea was definitely a mid-to-upper tier team.
They had the best squad in Korean soccer history and even Woo Ho-young, so they deserved that evaluation.
However, they were clearly weaker than Spain.
Before the game started, everyone expected Spain to win and were confident they would score first.
Professional gamblers placed the odds on David Villa’s first goal at 5/1.
Woo Ho-young’s odds were one level higher, 4/1, but when all players were combined, Spain’s odds were overwhelmingly low.
In other words, the probability of Spain scoring the first goal was evaluated as high.
but.
“Woo Ho-young….”
He ended up having to do the work again today.
World Cup 12th goal.
I had no idea that would be the first goal of today’s game.
“I’m sure we won’t lose at this rate, right?”
“Don’t be ominous.”
“If we fall from here… I will curse you for the rest of my life.”
“who?”
“Who is it? Of course it’s Woo Ho-young. “I was already preparing for it.”
Most of the Spaniards who came to South Africa to cheer were Spanish La Liga soccer fans.
And among them, there were many people who disliked Woo Ho-young.
The reason was simple.
Because every team except Real Madrid had the experience of being robbed by Hoyoung.
In particular, Barcelona fans (Cule) hated him so much.
They had so much ill will that in a survey asking how they would react if they met Woo Ho-young on the street, “Swearing and spitting” ranked first.
In this situation, it was obvious what would happen if Woo Ho-young sank Spain.
What kind of evil relationship is this?
Spain had a greater desire to win the World Cup than any other European country.
Although they were predicted to be the favorites to win every World Cup, they have never been able to lift the championship trophy.
The more I did, the deeper my obsession and desire to win became.
Then, it was not until this World Cup that I was able to realize that dream.
It was a dream that all Spanish people wished for.
But that dream was falling apart.
“Damn it….”
“You don’t have to be afraid. “The game is only 10 minutes old.”
“That’s more of a problem. “There’s no way to know what tactics they might have prepared.”
I was even scared when I saw the Korean coach standing under that bench.
“Huh…? Where on earth did this director come from? “Are you a manager who has been in charge of a big club?”
“I’ve never heard of that…”
The perception of Korean soccer was becoming tinged with fear.
On the other hand, the Korean national team’s supporters, the ‘Red Devils’, were literally immersed in enthusiasm.
What do I need to say?
It was a festival itself.
There was no need to worry on site and online was on the verge of flooding.
[Aren’t we going to go to the finals like this? I feel like my heart is going to explode right now]
└ My heart is shaking right now and I feel like I’m going crazy. At this point, my heart really exploded….
└The person above exploded. Please take the post down.
└I don’t want to get excited. But we are very good at it.
└I had to pee for the first time in my life while watching soccer. I have a question.
└Where do you use diapers?
└Hmm. It’s still good so far… but I’m scared of how Spain will turn out. Our defense is still unstable, but how can we stop it for the next 80 minutes?
└If it works, you can add it again. Didn’t you just see it?
└This is ‘Korean Tikataka’.
└Kimchi Taka ㄷㄷ
└Get the cabbage… pickle it in salt water… mix it with seasoning… wrap the boiled pork in the cabbage kimchi and pop it in one bite…
└Kimchi Taka ㄷㄷㄷ that even Casillas can’t refuse
└They’re a bastard Haha, it’s still 10 minutes in the first half. Are you going to call Spain crazy again? Looking at it now, it looks like they are already discussing measures.
While the Korean players were celebrating their goal lightly, the Spanish national team gathered at the third line and hurriedly entered into a meeting.
It was a terrible scene.
“Is everyone out of their minds? Does it make sense to miss out on a move while taking on the interpersonal mark? “In particular, Pique, why are you so distracted?”
Casillas, wearing the captain’s armband, harshly reprimanded his teammates.
It wasn’t a division.
It was Casillas’s way of awakening the players.
Carles Puyol, who has a fiery personality, agreed and scolded.
“Stupid guys.”
Shock therapy.
It’s not even a friendly game, it’s the World Cup semifinals.
I couldn’t lose my mind even for a moment.
And it was the veteran’s role to remind the players of this.
Puyol said as he grabbed the players’ cheeks with both hands and pressed their foreheads together.
“The moment one person loses their mind, everything falls apart. Don’t just look with your eyes, think of the ground in your head. Those who make mistakes will not be able to return to Spain safely. “I guarantee it.”
gulp.
Pique and Busquets, this being their first World Cup, swallowed dryly and nodded.
The game resumed soon after.
[Time is currently approaching the 18th minute of the first half. Spain’s pressure is gradually increasing, but our players’ performance has also improved a lot.]
[The organization is reviving. Ki Sung-ryong and Kim Jung-hu are showing their fighting spirit in midfield. [He is fighting very well without backing down one bit.]
There were some biases, but most of what he said was correct.
Korea gradually became stronger.
Iniesta was experiencing it firsthand.
Korea was on a different level from when it played a friendly match in Austria last month.
It was definitely stronger than the quarterfinals of the round of 16.
They were becoming one team as they went through actual battles.
‘You must never relax. They’re not easily defeated by us.’
After allowing a goal, a back-and-forth fight took place for 10 minutes, and Korea’s resistance was formidable.
Against the invincible Xabi Alonso-Busquets line.
‘The fighting spirit is no less than ours.’
Especially Woo Ho-young.
He was the final boss.
Like Sabi, he had a wide perspective, was creative, and had excellent spatial perception.
What he lacked in practical experience and psychological warfare, he was making up for with other talents.
His soccer sense seemed to have improved significantly compared to before.
‘I didn’t realize it during El Clásico…’
But I definitely realized it when it was a national competition.
The fact is that Woo Ho-young did not benefit from Real Madrid, but quite the opposite.
Then Iniesta even had this thought.
‘How would it feel if I played on the same team as Woo Ho-young?’
While vague hopes and curiosity were settling in my heart, there was a player who was looking at Iniesta harshly.
It was Hoyoung.
[Andrea Iniesta]
Talents
-Flawless midfielder (T)
-Flawless depressing (SU)
-Advanced ball keeping (SSS-)
-Unrivaled soccer intelligence (SS+3)
-Phenomenal dribbling (SS+2)
-Clear tactical understanding (S+3)
-(More)
(You can acquire one talent when you meet the conditions.)
(You can acquire part of the sense when you achieve T rank (Title). Only 18 You must be over 30 years old to covet.)
(For those of S rank or higher, you can covet only if you achieve the hidden condition.)
(Condition 1: Play together for more than 90 minutes in a national match)
(Condition 2: Record attack points in this match)
( Condition 3: Make more breakthroughs than Andrea Iniesta)
(Condition 4: Be selected as the official man of the match in this match)
(Hidden condition: Open when one or more talents are desired) A
world recognized by others as having raised all the virtues necessary for a midfielder to a high level The best midfielder.
In particular, his ability to release pressure is unrivaled.
The reason why Spain rarely faced a counterattack no matter how much they pulled up the line was because of his ability.
‘I’ll definitely get it.’
It was a talent that was so coveted that it was ranked among the top three unique talents that Hoyoung had ever seen.
This is because pressing is the most required ability in modern soccer, where pressure has become very important.
The conditions were not much different from Sabi’s.
I was able to covet it enough.
but.
‘It’s getting harder and harder.’
As time went by, the game was becoming more difficult.
It was fine until 10 minutes ago, but as Xavi Hernández moved down from the second line to midfield, he was slowly being pushed out of the power struggle.
However, with Hoyoung actively participating in the midfield, Pedro and Iniesta were moving too actively on the flanks.
[Iniesta’s pass looking at the other side. Sergio Ramos penetrates.]
[Cross straight to the center! You can’t miss Villa!]
[Ahh, Lee Jong-su kicks it!]
Korea was still responding actively.
It was a determination not to allow unnecessary goals due to sloppy defense.
However, as stamina was exhausted, gaps were becoming apparent one after another.
[It may be difficult for our players, but we must still give our strength. If we score an additional goal now, we can take a very advantageous game into the second half. We’re almost there!]
[South Korea is attacking everyone again. Kim Jung-hoo is slowly raising his line. I look at Woo Ho-young in the front.]
[Ah! Pique’s tackle! We have to avoid it…!]
Pique, who came forward, cut Kim Jeong-hoo’s ball.
Spain then switched the defensive line to a three-back, with Pique and Busquets taking charge of the rear build-up and the Xavi duo taking charge of ball distribution in the midfield.
counterattack.
It was a major crisis that occurred within 30 minutes of the first half.
Spain’s unique sense of rhythm came to life and a beautiful passing play was unfolding.
[Our players must stay alert until the end.]
[That’s right. All we have to do is prevent this crisis!]
The Korean players, who had gone on an all-out attack, hurriedly returned and formed a defensive formation, but Spain’s unique sense of rhythm was not easy to overcome.
“Doorim! “Just knock it over!”
“…!”
Cha Doo-rim returned at crazy speed and stood at Iniesta’s feet.
and.
“Sigh!”
It was the moment when I thrust my shoulder too hard, prepared to receive a warning.
Whoop!
[iced coffee! Iniesta is gone!]
[Ki Sung-ryong should join in!]
Iniesta quickly changed direction and lightly pushed Cha Doo-rim away.
Moreover, it did not end there.
“Ugh!!”
He then tried to break through directly by toying Ki Sung-ryong with a flashy dribble.
Immediately after, he delivered a quality cross to Pedro who was coming from the other side.
What followed next was Pedro’s no-touch volley.
[Jeong Seong-yong! We have to stop it!!]
Poop!
Jeong Seong-yong’s animal-like reaction speed.
It was like a miracle.
But no real miracle occurred.
David Villa, who was looking for an opportunity, drove the second ball into the goal.
Crash!
40 minutes in the first half.
The game returned to square one.
And after 5 more minutes had passed, 2 minutes of additional time was given.
During that short period of time, both teams traded attacks once in a while, but no additional goals were scored.
Beep!
The first half ended there.
As the whistle sounded throughout the stadium, heavy breathing came from all over the stands.
The game was moving in an unpredictable direction.