66 – Youngest Scorer
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The A-match schedule is too short for the players to synchronize their movements sufficiently.
Naturally, it was different from the pro league, where they could steadily synchronize throughout the season.
“Got it? When we advance, you need to come down and create a path for me. The player who catches the ball in any situation should have more than two passing options, and instead of relying on individual skills, it should be supplemented by team movements. Always think. Run while thinking.”
With the game imminent, there is no time to leisurely do stamina training or polish basic skills, so national team training mostly revolves around tactical training.
“Now, how should we move in this situation? That’s right! When Hong infiltrates, Park should create a screen play. Got it? Think! Thinking is important! Always move while thinking about your play. It’s not just about holding the ball for a long time. The ball is threatening when it’s in the opponent’s territory, and it must finish with a shot to end the phase!”
Coach Marchio’s training started with visual sessions.
After extensively discussing his direction, style, and concept, he showed various situation videos, asking players individual questions about how to handle them, how to solve them, what judgments to make.
If the player’s answer wasn’t completely off, he would ask for the rationale behind the decision and discuss it with other players before adding his thoughts—a kind of strategic discussion.
As the player considered the best in the country, most answers were not bad, at least above the basic level. However, the most dramatic moment of Marchio’s reaction was saved for the last, the youngest ones’ turn.
Ju Ji-tae and Jo Jae-shin, perhaps because they were the youngest, received questions last. Having experienced all kinds of battles as a versatile mid-front veteran, Ju Ji-tae watched the previous discussions and finally grasped what Coach Marchio wanted.
“Bravo! Buon lavoro!”
Even without the interpreter, everyone understood the joyful exclamation, and after a series of cheers,
“Good, clever boy! Now, what would you do in this situation? That’s right! A very good choice! What’s the basis of your judgment?”
Continuing with the questions—
“Mamma mia!!”
He grasped his head and reached the climax.
It wasn’t a sight for the faint-hearted.
“Well, if you grab it like that without any hair, it might all come off.”
The next session was the stage of testing their feet on the ground. While the coaches were preparing the setup, players warming up their bodies soon began to play with the ball.
Naturally dividing into small groups, one of the players playing with the ball handed it to Ju Ji-tae as a joke.
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“Rookie, catch.”
A pass with an excessive force for a short pass. Even with a pass that suddenly popped out from an unseen place, Ju Ji-tae’s trapping showed no sign of error.
“Oh… what was that just now? Is there a sponge attached to the soccer shoes?”
Even for a national representative, it was difficult to deal with sudden passes from unseen places, and everyone was genuinely impressed by the youngest’s soft trapping.
Seeing one move tells you ten, and with just the trapping a moment ago, one could guess how solid the basics were.
Stimulated by this, two senior players rushed towards Ju Ji-tae at the same time.
“Hey, steal it!”
“If stolen, one extra round of Yul-dong!”
It was at that moment that Ju Ji-tae’s movements, which had been lazily rolling the ball with unnecessary enthusiasm, changed.
Scenes that one might see in highlight videos of a player famous for their technique followed. Dodging the ball skillfully between the alternating stretches of feet on both sides, he pulled the ball behind in an instant, then swiftly passed through the gap.
“Huh?”
“Wow… what was that just now?”
“Wait a minute. I saw it with my eyes, but why don’t I understand? Why is the ball flying out like this with a light tap?”
“Amazing. Is that a flip flap? Doing that backward?”
Originally a technique originated from Brazil, more famous as “Flip Flap” than its original name, Elástico. Pushing the ball outward as if painting, then quickly pulling the ball back inside when the opponent’s weight is leaning forward after being deceived, the technique is naturally difficult.
Even for most professionals, it’s a level that they can’t muster the courage to use in a real match after practicing, as agility and technique are needed not only to control the ball momentarily but also to maintain balance, flexibility, and precise ball control while shifting the entire weight to one side and then to the other.
Watching him perform this technique backward left the national team players, as well as coach Marzio, nothing short of astonished.
“If he can do this, he really seems fit for the starting lineup…”
Initially thinking of introducing him gradually to adapt to the team atmosphere and gain experience, Coach Marzio, for the first time, considered the possibility of making him a ‘starter.’
“What the heck! Joo Ji-tae again!?”
“Youngest one! Seriously!! Stop blocking so much!!”
“Ugh, is it Jo Jae-shin this time! Can’t you guys just calm down as a pair?”
He solidified his determination while watching the practice match.
“Starting lineup? Coach, those two have just joined, and they haven’t fully integrated into the team yet. They need some time to prepare.”
“Don’t burden these 18-year-old young players too much. It’s their first game as starters.”
During the meeting to determine the starting lineup, the coaching staff expressed concerns, but Coach Marzio’s decision was firm.
“No. What Joo and Jo need is not time to adapt. They just need a stage to prove themselves.”
* * *
Commonly referred to as an ‘A match,’ it means a match where the first representative teams of two member countries without age restrictions, recognized by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), participate.
In other words, only adult representative team matches without age restrictions are acknowledged as A matches. So, despite Joo Ji-tae and Jo Jae-shin participating in various matches through different age group representative teams, this A match, in the strict sense of the term, is their first.
The scheduled events for South Korea during this A match week are two evaluation matches held in Sangam, Seoul.
Facing Syria in the first match, Coach Marzio selected Jo Jae-shin as a starter.
“Senior Chang-seop prefers attacking the left side. When passing, it’s better to give the ball to a space where he can utilize speed rather than looking straight ahead, especially because he enjoys penetrating behind the opponents quickly.”
“Okay.”
“When you have the ball on the wing, senior Ho-jin will keep asking for passes or crosses, just ignore that. That senior is the type who keeps asking for the ball as soon as he gets it, so if you dribble past him, it’s fine.”
“Got it.”
“When Jun-ho has the ball, his field of vision narrows, so you should actively appeal for the ball. And above all, if he doesn’t get bossed around, the coordination tends to get loose during the game—”
“….”
In the tension of Jo Jae-shin’s first starting appearance in an A match and national team debut, his gaze blanked out while maintaining a steady breath.
“What are you doing? Are you listening?”
“Uh, yeah. I’m listening.”
“Good. And senior Woon-kyu—”
“Hey, how on earth do you know all that?”
“What?”
“I mean, seriously. How do you know that? Have you played with the seniors? Do you know every little detail?”
At the bewildering question from Jo Jae-shin, Joo Ji-tae, after a brief thought, simply replied.
“Studying.”
“Studying?”
“Yeah, studying. It’s the national team call-up. You should naturally come prepared, right? It’s the national team call-up, after all.”
Jo Jaeshin’s mouth hung agape.
“When in the world…”
“Well, after training, I studied match videos diligently before bedtime.”
Certainly, it was a lie.
I know from just one experience.
“…This guy is amazing.”
Of course, Jo Jaeshin, who didn’t know that fact, just admired.
“So, you’re telling me you didn’t watch it every night just to study…?”
“…Well.”
In fact, he went out to meet Chae Yeojin.
By the way, did she settle down in Germany? When did she return? Even though she’s wealthy, she doesn’t seem to have any plans to return to school, just shopping every day in Germany. Did she send any photos today? I should message her later.
Watching Jo Jaeshin, who had become absorbed in other thoughts, mutter to himself without realizing it, Ju Jitae looked at him puzzled.
“I’m really pathetic.”
“…? What?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Jo Jaeshin, who had started to burn with a strange enthusiasm, mumbled without realizing it.
Well, this kid is not normal at all.
He’s naturally talented, so he’ll do well on his own.
And—
“Goal!! He finally scored!!”
“A debut goal in the debut match!? He’s completely crazy!!”
Jo Jaeshin became the youngest goal scorer for the national team by scoring the opening goal and debut goal in his debut match.
『Syria Match 4:1 Victory!』
『The youngest scorer in the history of South Korea is born!』
『Debut match, debut goal, multi-goal!! Jo Jaeshin, the young giant of the Bundesliga, records a multi-goal in his debut match, becoming the youngest goal scorer』
『Breaking a 35-year record! Jo Jaeshin surpasses ‘Angpanterible’ Go Jongsu!!』
The third match for the South Korean national team under the management of coach Marcelo Del Neri, the Syria match, ended in a resounding victory.
Not only did the game show a much more organic and aggressive performance compared to the first call-up after his appointment, but the highlight of this game was undoubtedly Jo Jaeshin’s multi-goal.
Even in a situation surrounded by Syrian players, he calmly took a shot to score the opening goal, then used a delicate trapping from a pass from the side to escape pressure and score the second goal.
South Korea has achieved a historic record with the young genius.
“Congratulations to the youngest scorer, damn.”
Ju Ji-tae also sincerely congratulated his friend’s record.
“Thanks, Juji. It’s all thanks to you.”
“Me? Do I have anything to be thankful for?”
“I’m really grateful. I’ve learned a lot because of you. I’ll continue to do my best without regrets. Even more than now.”
For a moment, Ju Jae-shin’s somewhat strangely sentimental demeanor puzzled him.
“Well… I’m thankful too. Thanks, damn.”
“…Me? Why?”
“There’s something like that. You’ll know soon.”
The heartwarming smile on Ju Ji-tae’s face as he looked at Ju Jae-shin, head cocked with a smirk, instantly transformed into a sly grin.
The upcoming match against Indonesia, the next opponent for South Korea’s evaluation game, was in two days. And Ju Ji-tae’s birthday was a week after Ju Jae-shin’s.
