Field Commander - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 38.

Chapter 38.

Chapter 38.

– Ugh, how many shots off target is that?

– Why isn’t Jung Joo-young being substituted?

– Of all times, Jang Jin-woo has to be injured!

– This is driving me crazy. He should have scored 3 goals by now, right?

Over 20 minutes into the second half.

The score was still 0-1

With Mexico leading.

Just like in the first half, they had Mexico trapped in their own half and kept pounding away, but as the goal remained elusive, the fans’ comments began turning increasingly hostile.

– I could play better than those guys.

– What kind of Korea’s best striker? Damn, what kind of striker can’t score goals? Just retire already.

The expression of Choi Do-hoon, who was doing live commentary, also began to harden.

Switzerland was a team that had fought through the treacherous European qualifiers, and Gabon was a team with simply unreasonable physicality.

Currently, both teams were at 0-0, and if the match ended like this, Korea would immediately drop to last place in the group.

– Damn it! Japan sank Spain.

– Wow, is that for real?

On top of this, Japan had defeated Spain, one of the tournament’s strong favorites, 1-0, which only heightened the fans’ dissatisfaction.

– Take out that damn Joo-young!

– Please take him out. Just tell him to play baseball!

Jung Joo-young strangely couldn’t score in international tournaments.

I had even read in foreign media that he wasn’t getting much playing time at Arsenal due to his seriously declining finishing ability in those intense physical battle situations.

“It looks like tactical changes are needed. Mexico seems intent on ending the game like this and isn’t attempting any attacks at all. Their defense is too solid for possession play to work. We need to create situations like set pieces.”

– Other than damn Joo-young, no one can even win headers properly, so what set pieces? Football noob.

‘Ugh, this bastard. Did he change his ID and come back in again?’

Strangely, the Mexican players were on average 5cm shorter than our country’s players, but as the comment said, the header contest success rate was definitely not even 50%.

‘Are they being pushed around in physical battles?’

Certainly, the Mexican players were more aggressive in physical battles than the Korean players, and they seemed to throw their bodies into every situation without considering injuries.

Moreover, the Mexican team, knowing their weakness of being short, tried their best not to give away corner kicks.

“Oh, finally… it’s a substitution.”

– Who is it?

– It’s Kang Bo-kyung and Kim Sang-hyuk.

– Damn, our attack isn’t working and they’re putting in defenders!

– Kang Bo-kyung is a winger resource though? Football noob.

– What kind of winger is Kang Bo-kyung, he’s a midfielder. You’re the football noobs.

‘Ugh…’

Kang Bo-kyung is a multi-position player.

A player who can play center, left, right, midfielder, winger, and even defense.

Taking out captain Gu Ja-yoon at this point and putting in this player definitely means the manager has a plan.

And since Jang Jin-woo is the only forward who can replace Jung Joo-young, they can’t substitute him just because his condition is poor.

But as a broadcaster, I can’t reveal all my inner thoughts.

“Let’s see if Manager Lee Sang-cheol’s substitution will be successful.”

* * *

When practicing separately with me, Jung Joo-young showed truly excellent form.

But in actual games, with players good at physical battles marking him, he couldn’t show even 1/100th of his ability.

I actually produce better results when engaging in physical battles, so he’s completely the opposite.

‘If he continues like that, he’d probably be better suited as an attacking midfielder or shadow striker.’

But since he was a genius from birth and has been the only player carrying on Korea’s traditional striker lineage from age 18 to his current 26, it would be difficult to easily change his position.

It’s like a trademark of sorts.

Jung Joo-young is a striker.

Before the substitution, the manager asked me a question.

– What do you think is the sure way to score in this situation?

That didn’t require much thought.

– Set pieces.

– Who’s the tallest player on our team?

– Me.

– I’m counting on you.

– Yes.

– If the opponent concedes a goal, how do you think they’ll come out?

– They’ll attack.

– Who do you think will be most threatening then?

– Player 9. His link-up play is quite good.

– Can you mark that guy?

I smiled.

He’s a very good player.

At a glance, he’s about 190cm tall, good at physical battles, decent ball skills, and his link-up ability is truly amazing.

However, his ball skills weren’t as good as expected and he sometimes made risky plays when attacking.

Like breakthrough attempts or through passes…

And like today’s Jung Joo-young, his finishing ability didn’t seem very good.

Sometimes he takes mid-range shots in counter-attack situations, but many go way off target.

He did that early on, then after getting a word from his manager, now he just focuses on link-up play.

So I just need to block that.

– Yes.

Ki Sung-yueng, who looked clearly exhausted, came off as a substitute and said to me.

“Those bastards’ physical battles are no joke. And Player 9 is more agile and fast than expected. His headers are too good too.”

Giving advice to a positional competitor.

Rather than competition, it’s probably because of the military service issue, right?

It was all content already in my head from watching the game, but I nodded vigorously.

“Thanks for the advice. Don’t worry and rest up.”

“Alright.”

To think this guy played in the same tournament as me in high school…

I don’t remember, but this guy remembers me.

As soon as I went in, I briefly bent down and ran my hand through the grass.

The smell of natural grass always feels good.

The moisture level is just right too.

It seems to be permeated with the sweat smell of the fierce players.

Hot competitive spirit surged up from deep in my heart.

An opportunity I never expected to get.

‘I absolutely cannot waste it.’

I straightened up and looked at the sweat-soaked players.

‘You guys might have military service issues at stake, but for me, it’s a serious matter with my entire life on the line.’

I absolutely cannot lose.

No matter what game it is.

Because that could be the end of my life.

For that reason, games we’re losing must be drawn, games we’re drawing must be won, and games we’re winning must be protected at all costs.

* * *

“Ah, Korea in crisis! Manager Lee Sang-cheol has finally made changes to the formation. But what kind of players are being substituted in?”

The commentator opened his mouth at the caster’s question.

“Kang Bo-kyung is performing well at Cerezo Osaka in Japan’s J League. He’s a multi-purpose player who can do everything except defend, selected under Manager Hwang Ki-ho’s system. And number 18, Kim Sang-hyuk… he’s currently playing for Freiburg II in Germany’s 4th division and performing very well there.”

“Ah, Germany’s 4th division? What level is that?”

“It’s about the level of K3 League.”

“Looking at just his club, he seems like a somewhat disappointing player, but taking out Ki Sung-yueng for this player… does he have some strengths?”

“First, his defensive ability that contained Jang Jin-woo during high school is his strength. Moreover, he’s currently the tallest player on the team. There’s a high possibility they’re targeting set piece situations. Also, it looks like this player will face Raúl Jiménez.”

“Ah, I see. I hope Manager Lee Sang-cheol’s substitution works out.”

Choi Do-hoon listened to the broadcast while turning his attention to the rapidly rising comments.

– Wow, Kim Sang-hyuk really came out.

– Look at that face. His presence is intense. I hope he plays soccer as well as he looks?

– That guy could defend just with his expression, right?

– Agreed. Too scary to approach.

– But why is he suddenly checking the grass?

– Go ask him yourself.

– Does this mean we can no longer see the switching passes that Ki Sung-yueng used to deliver from the back?

– Won’t the attack become more frustrating without that?

Ki Sung-yueng was playing for Celtic, one of Scotland’s top teams.

Though it’s not comparable to Germany’s 4th division, Choi Do-hoon thought that if Kim Sang-hyuk put his mind to it, he could deliver switching long passes as well as Ki Sung-yueng.

‘I wonder if they made up? It would look good if Jang Jin-woo and he played together.’

The game resumed and Choi Do-hoon could understand Manager Lee Sang-cheol’s intention.

“With Mexican players densely packed in the center, Gu Ja-yoon couldn’t do anything. But Kang Bo-kyung is moving around left and right like a free role, creating numerical superiority.”

Lee Sang-cheol’s tactics were clear.

Increase numbers on the sides to attack while inducing corner kicks.

Choi Do-hoon momentarily caught Kim Sang-hyuk quickly passing by on camera.

‘No one’s paying attention.’

To what that player could do in set piece situations.

Cheongju FC games flashed through Choi Do-hoon’s mind like a panorama.

Back then, Kim Sang-hyuk created highlights every game.

Thanks to that, Cheongju’s attendance even tripled.

Of course, it only increased from 150 to about 500 people…

He thought Raúl Jiménez, who was good at headers, might mark Kim Sang-hyuk, but he was sticking to Korea’s center back Lee Young-kwon.

It seemed to be because he had made several threatening headers in set piece situations.

The second tallest player was marking Jung Joo-young…

The player marking Kim Sang-hyuk was clearly a head shorter at first glance.

‘The Mexican manager… made a mistake.’

Choi Do-hoon could be certain of that thought.

“Everyone, I think we’re going to score in this set piece situation.”

* * *

Kang Bo-kyung took the ball and headed to the corner kick position.

– If a set piece situation occurs, target Kim Sang-hyuk.

In such a desperate situation, it wasn’t exactly welcome to have to trust a player who hadn’t been properly proven yet, but looking at the players marking them, they had no choice but to target Kim Sang-hyuk.

Kang Bo-kyung gave a hand signal.

A planned set piece.

Just because it’s planned doesn’t mean all set pieces succeed.

His kicked ball could go to the wrong place, or other players could forget the planned movement.

Even when the opportunity comes, the defense might block it.

Set pieces that connect to goals with roughly a 3% probability.

If this opportunity flies away, when will the next one come…

The pressure and tension are on a different level.

He took several deep breaths, but the anxiety rising from deep in his chest wouldn’t easily subside.

– Tweet!

Still, he had to kick this ball to where he wanted it.

That’s what being a pro means.

– Thump!

The moment he kicked the ball, Kang Bo-kyung’s eyes shook greatly.

‘Ah shit. It’s long.’

* * *

‘Sticky.’

If I had to describe the Mexican players’ defense in one word, that’s exactly it.

They say South American players are sneaky with their hands, but it seems they’re not just good with hands but also with elbows and knees.

When the referee isn’t looking, they do all sorts of things.

When I need to move, they subtly poke my joints with their elbows and knees, which is quite distracting.

But it’s not like I’m a fool who’ll just take it.

Since it’s fine as long as the referees don’t see it anyway.

I also dedicated myself to the team’s victory by gently stepping on the soccer cleats of those skilled with footwork.

Whether that became a foundation, guys who were usually masters at handling the ball started making mistakes, and it finally led to a corner kick.

And I knew that an opportunity for me to header was coming.

What made it even better was that the guy marking me was only about 180cm tall.

That player might be good at physical battles in his own way, but I’m someone who played soccer with physical battles rather than feet since childhood because of Jang Jin-woo.

But…

‘This bastard?’

He keeps trying to hug me but the referee doesn’t blow the whistle even when he sees it.

I wouldn’t mind if a woman hugged me, but a sweaty black mass hugging me?

So I instead hugged the guy tightly so he couldn’t move and pushed him to one side.

“…Nngh…”

A moan escaping from the guy’s mouth.

– Tweet!

Then the referee blew the whistle.

“What are you guys doing? Play soccer. One more time and you’ll both get warnings.”

The guy marking me had received one warning in the first half, so he didn’t hug anymore.

Instead, he’s grabbing the back of my uniform.

‘Wow, these sticky bastards.’

Still, I couldn’t help but focus since they were giving me a chance to score.

The moment Kang Bo-kyung kicked the ball from the left corner, I saw something I hadn’t seen in a while.

A thick black line drawn as if with a thick brush painting watercolors, going over the players.

But…

‘Ah, what? It’s longer than promised!’

I was running inside but changed direction and put strength in my legs.

Thanks to the guy grabbing and hanging onto the back of my uniform, my neck feels like it might break, but even if my neck breaks, my will cannot break!

Riiip…

The sound of uniform tearing.

At the same time, I saw the guy who was chasing me lose his balance and tumble down.

All the players were rushing toward the goal post, but I was the only one running to the right side.

“Bloquear!(Block!)”

The guys who were rushing to the goal post started shouting while pointing at me, but the ball was already dropping toward my chest.

Maybe because they were short, they all bounced out nimbly, making it impossible for me to take a shot here.

– Thud.

Before the ball that hit my chest and dropped could touch the ground, I flicked it to the opposite side with my right foot.

– Swooooosh!

Instantly, the sound of grass being scraped echoed in my ears.

‘Ah, these crazy bastards. What kind of killer tackle is this in the penalty area?’

It meant they were that desperate and had no time to think, moving purely on instinct.

Fortunately, the guys making the deep tackles only grazed the grass as they passed by, creating a brief moment where I could kick with my left foot.

However, the players were blocking all the shooting angles…

At that moment, I saw the thick black line extending from the opposite side like before.

– Thud.

I pretended to shoot while pushing the ball diagonally to the left, and the Mexican guys thought I was shooting and jumped up to block.

‘That’s right!’

The ball that rolled between their legs moved between Jung Joo-young’s legs as he penetrated, and immediately a powerful shot exploded.

Jung Joo-young’s ball flew high again this time, but since it was too close to the goal post, it tore straight through the upper net.

That kind of shooting is impossible for a goalkeeper to respond to.

Watching the swaying net, something surged up from deep in my chest.

“Goal!!! Goooal!!!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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