33 – Running Because It’s Frustrating
033
‘This tsundere kid.’
Ju Jitae smirked.
Even though he spoke like that, he knew that it was a tactical move that would burden him excessively. Well, that kid has some sense of loyalty, after all. Even during the first round when he received curses from everyone, he treated him as a friend without change. Even when he was the only flawlessly respected player among all, opposite to himself.
“Oh? Not answering? Beep beep beep~ The Illeumbo train is departing. If the goddess sheds tears, you’re finished.”
“Believe whatever you want. Do you think I’d blink an eye just because of that?”
Kid.
Is he embarrassed? He’s twitching today for some reason.
Knowing the ‘sincerity’ embedded in the words, Jitae just smiled contentedly.
“Blink? If the goddess cries, our parents and your parents won’t just stand by. It’s been a while since they saw Jitae lying down like that.”
“…Did you say ‘mom’? Just one goal will do?”
This enemy…
* * *
The ground before the start of the game.
England players were visible at a glance to Ju Jitae, who was positioned at the back like a center-back.
“The basic formation is 4-3-3. Andrew McNeil is placed in the front, with Robert Nozumbria and Allan Brjackson supporting behind. As expected.”
Andrew McNeil.
He started playing soccer at an English youth club but originally hails from Scotland, having played for the Scottish national team until U-17. However, discontent with the situation where the Scottish youth team, belonging to a weak team, couldn’t even participate in the main tournament of a significant competition, led him to join the England national team after being eliminated in the Euro qualifiers.
From the perspective of the English Football Association, he welcomed the talent that would solidly take responsibility for the troublesome forward position, lifting a burden.
Up until now, it would have been crazy in Scotland, but to make matters worse, he rose to the level of a true national hero by boldly proclaiming, “Scotland is not big enough to embrace me,” in the face of persistent persuasion from the Scottish Football Association. In Korean terms, it’s akin to treating him like a notorious traitor, maybe even on the level of Lee Wan-yong.
But whether it’s Lee Wan-yong or anyone else, being a traitor requires a certain skill, and Andrew MacNeil’s skills were as real as it gets. The first tournament he competed in after naturalizing as English was the Youth World Cup.
Naturally, the attention of the entire Scottish nation was focused, and after a stellar performance in the group stage, he led Scotland to the round of 16, turning the attire of the Scottish people upside down.
The better he played, the more the dislike stack built up—an inevitable vicious cycle. Yet, Andrew MacNeil was a man who didn’t dwell on such trivial emotions.
By the way, a few years later, the dislike stack, meticulously accumulated up to the mileage, would explode, subjecting him to terrorism.
This was a significant event that Ju Ji-tae, who had resolved to become an exemplary and kind player, couldn’t just let go.
‘Even if it’s for him, I have to turn this match into the worst game of my career.’
So, this was not just a simple game.
It was a preemptive move to prevent future terror, something no one knew.
To achieve that, the first thing was to block the pass aimed at him.
As a player who knew how to make the most of his overwhelming physicality from a towering 191cm stature, he excelled in duels and aerial battles. He was also adept at post-play, commonly referred to as “backing and banging.”
Above all, what was terrifying was his sense of balance and shooting ability, knowing how to connect to the goal from any position. While always cautious of his natural scoring sense, he wasn’t without flaws.
‘He’s not the type to create goals on his own.’
Although his top speed was quite decent, the lack of acceleration was a problem in short-distance sprints, crucial in soccer, especially for a striker with slow speed and agility. While his trapping skills were good, his dribbling was not exceptional, making him not particularly skilled at breakthroughs.
Therefore, the best way to stop him, and consequently England, was not to target Andrew MacNeil himself.
It was all about how well you could stop the two playmakers who delivered the ball to him, Robert Nossumbria and Allan Brjangsong. This was the key to the game.
Of course, for Ju Ji-tae, it was not a difficult task.
However,
“Oh my. Can our seniors handle this?”
The problem lay with Myungjin and Kyun-oh, responsible for the left and right of the three-back.
Ju Ji-tae glanced at the two.
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As determined as their expressions were, the world doesn’t work solely on willpower.
“Myungjin senior, Kyun-oh senior.”
“Huh?”
“It might be tough, but you have to stick to that big guy. He shoots from anywhere if given space, and surprisingly, the ratio of effective shots connected is high.”
“Oh, really! Leave it to us!”
“But don’t stick too closely. I don’t know about anything else, but he’s quite good at shaking off a marking with just one trapping, especially from the back. Be careful about that.”
“…Are you telling us to stick or not to stick?”
You have to distinguish that estimate well for it to be an A-grade.
And sorry, but in Ju Ji-tae’s eyes, the two were not A-grade. They had to perform well to be B+ grade at best.
“So, the two of them need to synchronize their breathing well. Either sandwich the opponent front and back, making it impossible for them to receive the ball, or one person covers whenever necessary.”
“And you’re handling the rest?”
“Yes.”
In a brief response, Mingjin’s forehead slightly narrowed, as if something didn’t sit well with him.
Mingjin, who had been fidgeting with his lips, nodded without saying a word.
‘This is frustrating.’
Even though he wasn’t directing the seniors, attaching two seniors to just one person and taking on all the remaining roles didn’t sit well with him. But what could he do?
If it bothers you, then be better than me.
Fortunately, the stage is the World Cup Round of 16, and he can’t afford to act out. With the whole nation watching and considering it a crucial match for his career, he couldn’t afford to be petty.
‘That settles it then.’
It’s not like he’ll meet these talents again in the adult national team, and even if he does, if the team ace is lacking, then critique him.
In the pros, what matters is not age but skill. A difference of only 2-3 years is nothing in the face of skill, unlike when there’s a gap of 5-6 years.
“Here they come. Get ready.”
The match began with England’s kickoff.
Steadily moving the ball, England, observing Korea’s movements, started attempting forward passes in earnest.
Whatever it is, England’s strength lies in its powerful core line.
From the forward striker to the goalkeeper, the straight line connecting the players, especially those positioned centrally, had astonishing quality.
‘It’s like a highway.’
Still, as it wasn’t an attacking situation, a central defensive block was formed, but it was quickly pierced.
A pass cleverly threading between the central midfielders, Captain Song Hoon and Baek Jung-sik.
And as if anticipating that pass, there was a player who sprinted faster than anyone else, moving nimbly despite his bulky frame – Andrew McNeil.
In an unconscious movement, Korea’s two center-backs were lured out, and in response, Robert Nsombría turned sharply to the flank, penetrating through the gap.
In the group stage, Andrew McNeil, who had solely focused on scoring upfront, and Robert Nsombría, who displayed the role of a classic playmaker, unexpectedly broke through the backline in a split second.
“What are you doing?! Someone needs to cover the back!!”
At the coach’s shout, the center-backs, finally grasping the situation, hesitated.
Both of them.
“No…!”
In that moment of hesitation, Andrew McNeil, without any hindrance, caught the ball, twirled his body, and made a move anyone could predict.
Swish!
A direct pass.
The two center-backs trailed Andrew McNeil’s sudden movement, heading towards the now-empty space behind.
Right from the start, Ju Ji-tae appeared unexpectedly in a crisis situation that could have resulted in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Having observed the movements of Andrew McNeil, the two center-backs, and Robert Nosenbria, Ju Ji-tae, though starting later than anyone else, arrived first, sweeping the ball away with a tackle-like motion.
“What are you doing! Instead of hesitating there, just keep following and pressurize!!”
After barely clearing the ball, rising swiftly and forcefully pressing forward, despite being senior players, the two center-backs simply lowered their heads.
It was an obvious mistake to anyone.
However, despite that, they should have continued following and pressurizing. If they had done that, Andrew McNeil wouldn’t have had the comfort to control the ball. If he had managed to receive the ball under the pressure of the two players, even someone like Andrew McNeil wouldn’t have been able to turn as easily or pass comfortably as he did now.
At least giving other players some time to prepare for it could have been possible.
But due to a momentary hesitation, both players stopped, and as a result, the space behind was exploited as it should be, and the player who should have been pressed comfortably turned and connected a pass.
“Should we drop the line a bit?”
Worried about the defense that was easily pierced just now, Captain Song Hoon asked, but Ju Ji-tae shook his head.
“It’s a tournament, I understand the concern about conceding, but it’s okay. I can handle it, so seniors, focus on the planned side attack.”
“Got it.”
“Instead, tell the official senior to step back a little… about 3 to 4 steps, act like you’re ready to press at any time. It seems we need to loosen the connection on that side.”
“Okay.”
Song Hoon just nodded his head.
Despite the crisis of almost conceding an open chance to the goalkeeper just now, Ju Ji-tae’s commanding presence, sharp-eyed and instructing without a hint of concern, shone brilliantly.
It was so dazzling that it made people think it was Ju Ji-tae, not Song Hoon, who was the captain.
Song Hoon felt the yellow badge on his arm getting heavier.
—
Momentum is crucial.
Even though it may not be visible or measurable, any player playing the game can feel it. Whether we are riding the momentum, or we have lost it.
A team with momentum sometimes displays a level of gameplay beyond their skills, and a team without momentum can show a performance more lackluster than their actual abilities.
And now, Ju Ji-tae realized that England had gained momentum.
“Damn it! Stop dilly-dallying!”
“Myung-jin, hold your position! I’ll go!”
“What’s this! Why are you so close!”
“You, hold your position! What are you doing!”
As if the static and classic movements shown in the group stage were a fake, the dazzling switching of the England attacking duo, Andrew McNeil and Robert Nosenbria, had the two center-backs in a daze.
‘Attacking in this situation is impossible. We need to stabilize the defense first.’
No matter how impressive Ju Ji-tae might be, he can’t cover the entire area alone.
First, the two center-backs need to organize the defense, combining their efforts to handle at least one person’s share.
In that case, first—
“I need to build up momentum.”
The surging momentum of England had to be broken.
There are various ways to do it, but the most appropriate now is… Ju Ji-tae’s eyes swiftly scan the ground. Judging from the way they are moving, it seems there’s no need to do anything.
“It’s serious.”
No matter how much Andrew McNeil shows different movements compared to the group stage, Myung-jin and Kyun-oh are easily being dominated.
“Both of them can’t grasp it.”
Each player has an assigned area, a region they respond to, but Andrew McNeil cleverly maneuvers between them.
The calculated plays are not visible… Is it intuition?
Some natural goalkeepers instinctively disrupt the defensive senses. It seems Andrew McNeil is also one of them.
Since this is not clearly visible, pointing it out is useless.
It’s just a difference in players’ talents.
So, Ju Ji-tae doesn’t say anything special to the two.
Speaking won’t change anything; pointing it out will only undermine the play.
In times like this, just—
“What!?”
Just do it, like I would.
