Field Commander - Chapter 43

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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 43.

Chapter 43.

Chapter 43.

As expected, Switzerland, who had been playing defensively throughout the match, suddenly switched to offense.

They started applying high press in the front, which they hadn’t done before, and it seemed like they were targeting me, who had just been substituted in.

It seemed like they intended to cause mistakes like Ki Sung-yueng’s before I could adapt to the game tempo and flow.

But there was something Switzerland didn’t know.

While my body had been sitting on the bench, my mind had been continuously playing the game.

I don’t know if other players do the same, but…

I had already made plans for what to do in this situation and how to handle that situation.

I was circulating the ball from the back field while glancing at the front, but there was no noticeable movement.

The comeback against Mexico was possible because Jung Joo-young had synced up with me.

– Tap

Switzerland applied full pressure, and our center backs, feeling burdened, kept passing to me even though I was surrounded by two players.

The Korean national team always conceded goals in situations like this.

Everyone would panic while circulating the ball, get dispossessed, and concede a comeback goal.

That would be the scenario when I’m not here, but…

Though I’m a defensive midfielder, I dropped almost to the center back position and quickly took the ball directly from goalkeeper Kim Seong-ryong to avoid the situation while keeping my eyes on the front.

‘Ah, this guy. Now he’s come to his senses.’

Jang Jin-woo, who had been taking a somewhat ambiguous position as if he didn’t know what to do, was quietly moving toward Player 5.

Since most of Switzerland’s players were participating in the high press, our forwards were being marked almost one-on-one,

When Jang Jin-woo moved toward Player 5, Gu Ja-yoon moved to Jang Jin-woo, and Player 3 who was marking Jang Jin-woo followed Gu Ja-yoon.

Kim Seong-ryong, who was being pressured by the front forward, passed the ball to me, and the two players following me instantly applied pressure.

‘They analyzed thoroughly.’

In the second half against Mexico, I had so many ball touches that it wouldn’t be wrong to say I handled almost all of Korea’s build-up.

But they probably don’t know.

That I can do this kind of thing too.

I only pretended to return Kim Seong-ryong’s pass with one touch but didn’t actually touch it.

Because these two players were forwards, not defenders, and forwards usually don’t react by watching but often react by predicting.

The two split to both sides and moved their bodies as if preparing for the next pressure, and I was aiming for this.

I just ran through the gap between the players splitting to both sides.

The ball was already moving forward.

‘This is what a mental battle is.’

From another angle, it would look like the Swiss players stupidly opened the path in front of me.

I completely escaped the pressure in an instant, and felt tremendous freedom.

And I saw Jang Jin-woo giving a fake and trying to run around Player 5, so I unhesitatingly chipped the ball forward.

Jang Jin-woo would get past Player 5…

Or so I thought, but I saw Player 5 just kick Jang Jin-woo’s leg as he was turning to run.

Jang Jin-woo fell down screaming.

That scream sounded pleasant on one hand, but also made me irritated on the other.

If there had been no foul, it would have definitely been an opportunity for Korea to score a goal.

‘Isn’t this a red card case?’

That’s what I thought, but the main referee didn’t even give a yellow card.

Naturally, when Gu Ja-yoon, who was watching from the side, protested strongly, the referee instead pulled out a yellow card for Gu Ja-yoon.

“Captain! Stop it!”

If Kang Bo-kyung hadn’t held Gu Ja-yoon back, it would have been an atmosphere for a red card.

“Hey hey! Please stop playing such dirty football!”

At the shout that came from our bench, the referee diligently ran over there and pulled out a red card for Manager Lee Sang-cheol.

It was truly a chaotic situation.

“These fucking bastards.”

Senior Kim Seong-ryong suddenly started swearing and running forward, but I firmly held him back.

If the eldest player acted like this, the rest of the players would be ready to clench their fists and go wild.

“Senior. Calm down.”

“Hey, let go of this.”

“Just bear with it. If you do this, there’ll be a fight.”

“Hey hey…”

“Senior, you need to calm the players down. Otherwise, military exemption will fly away.”

At those words, Kim Seong-ryong’s eyes that seemed to have snapped quickly returned to normal.

“Hey hey! Calm down!”

Kim Seong-ryong immediately changed his words.

I let him go, and Kim Seong-ryong very diligently began calming down the excited players.

Fortunately, the situation quickly stabilized, and Manager Lee Sang-cheol disappeared from the stadium.

‘Then can I do things a bit my way?’

Gu Ja-yoon became unable to play in the Gabon match due to the warning he received this time.

Switzerland committed the foul, but Korea suffered all the damage.

Whether it was misfortune or fortune.

Jang Jin-woo received treatment and got up.

But his face was still contorted, probably still in pain.

“Does it hurt?”

“Shut up.”

“Your expression feels exactly like looking in a mirror.”

“…”

The guy tried to force his expression to change as if he didn’t want to resemble me.

But I couldn’t leave it at that.

“Just follow the manager’s orders properly. Can’t even finish what’s given to you… Are you really a Bundesliga top scorer challenger?”

“Ugh.”

Well, anyway, it was true.

That he couldn’t finish what was given.

The free kick was ready, and I also entered the penalty area.

Then Player 5 stuck to me.

“Ching chong?”

He was quietly muttering something, and the desire to throw a punch filled my chest.

“What the hell is this bastard babbling about? Do you want to die?”

I muttered back in Korean.

But this bastard’s spirit wasn’t broken and he kept rolling his eyes.

‘Is he in the same department as me?’

While the referee was calling players who were fighting too intensely in the penalty area to give warnings, I quietly asked Gu Ja-yoon.

“Captain, do you know Swiss?”

“No. But he probably understands German? It’s an official language.”

Ah, really?

“Thanks.”

I returned to my position, and the guy kept muttering something.

Since we’re in the middle of playing football.

Whether he swears or not, I’ll first destroy him with football…

Following the referee’s whistle, Kang Bo-kyung’s free kick followed.

The trajectory of his ball appeared as a black line.

‘Too short!’

Number 5 was really grabbing my uniform with all his strength, and he seemed to have some confidence that the referee wouldn’t blow the whistle.

Our players in the penalty area rushed inside in sync with the kick.

I also joined them, pretending to run, then pressed down hard on the foot of the guy holding my uniform with my soccer cleats while changing direction.

“Ugh.”

With a short scream, the strength left the hand gripping my uniform, and I used the momentum to leap sideways like a crab.

The Swiss goalkeeper saw me and shouted.

‘But it’s too late.’

My marker had fallen away.

In a perfectly free situation, I couldn’t make a mistake with the header.

– Thud!

Watching the incoming ball, I threw my body and just changed the ball’s direction by turning my head.

I saw the goalkeeper belatedly diving, and after that, only the clustered players came into view.

– Thump.

I fell straight onto the grass with a dull impact.

‘That hurts.’

And immediately the roar erupted.

“Goal!!”

“Ahh!! Goal!!!”

A thunderous cheer echoed from the stands.

– Ohhh!!! Victory!! Korea!!!

My first goal in the Olympics.

And a goal that broke the opponent’s spirit.

A momentum shift.

A thrilling sensation covered my entire body.

As I tried to get up, my teammates who had run over threw themselves on top of me as I lay there.

My teeth clenched with each strong impact.

‘Hey, this isn’t my celebration!’

After the celebration ended, I grabbed Gu Ja-yoon’s hand and stood up.

“As expected, Kim Sang-hyuk of Maedong High School!”

“Captain, when will that be an old title? It’s Kim Sang-hyuk of the Olympics now.”

“Right! You’re amazing!”

This kind of praise feels good.

As I returned to the center receiving cheers from the players, the guy whose foot I had stepped on was running to the referee to protest.

The referee’s troubled gaze was directed at me.

‘You didn’t see it, right? The assistant referee probably didn’t see it either?’

And Number 5 is also stupid.

He should have stayed down holding his leg.

Would anyone believe him if he springs up like that and protests to the referee?

‘Not very smart.’

The journalists’ cameras might have caught it, but the referee can’t see everything like that.

Eventually, the main referee who had been pondering ignored the Swiss players’ protests and declared the goal.

Soon Number 5’s menacing glare was directed at me.

‘I’m the type who gives back more than I receive.’

I might not be able to stop a bastard like Jang Jin-woo who pretends to be nice while breaking legs, but I can handle attacks from a guy like you who’s all talk about killing?

‘Now that I know Jang Jin-woo isn’t a nice guy, I won’t be caught off guard anymore.’

Then Jang Jin-woo, who had followed behind, said.

“You stepped on him, didn’t you?”

“What?”

“It’s going to be front-page news today anyway, so let’s not talk about it.”

“Tsk. If you’re grateful I got revenge for you, just say thanks.”

“If that bastard takes it out on me because of you, I won’t let it slide.”

Ah, that’s right.

I don’t have many opportunities to clash with Number 5.

“Then that’s a good thing.”

“What?”

* * *

“Goal!!! Goal!!! South Korea!!! They scored right after conceding. Kim Sang-hyuk, who was substituted in the second half! He opens Switzerland’s goal with an amazing diving header!!!!”

“What an incredible jump. It looked like it wouldn’t reach his head, but he brilliantly redirected it.”

“Following the Mexico match, he’s truly a savior-like player who saves Korea.”

“This goal makes us understand why Manager Lee Sang-cheol urgently picked this player.”

“Though he’s a defensive midfielder at his club, Kim Sang-hyuk records scoring points comparable to a forward. He’s showing that class well in this tournament.”

“Was it a planned play? It seems like only Kim Sang-hyuk figured out where the ball would drop.”

“The Swiss player who lost him is today’s man of the match.”

The commentators’ anger, which had been incomprehensible when Gu Ja-yoon received a card and Manager Lee Sang-cheol was sent off, was slightly showing through.

Meanwhile, Choi Do-hoon also patted his chest in relief and applauded.

It was clear that the Korean players were flustered by Switzerland’s sudden high press after gaining momentum.

When watching national team matches, there were often cases where they conceded in such situations and the game was turned around.

Kim Sang-hyuk reversed such a situation with a header goal in just 5 minutes.

– Wow! Crazy!

– Fuck! It’s not just me who thinks that big guy looks like a bird, right?

– How is he so light? I mean, how is his jump so high?

– Wow, what a fucking cool goal! Let’s go celebrate!!!

– He’s really a savior.

– 2 games, 1 goal, 2 assists. Isn’t he a forward, not a defender?

– My chest feels so fucking majestic.

– Wow, if we beat Switzerland here, that’s the quarterfinals, right?

– With this kind of performance, isn’t even winning possible, not just a medal?

– With England and Brazil there, where does Hell Joseon get off presenting its business card?

…

Choi Do-hoon smiled watching the players pile up on Kim Sang-hyuk like stacking bricks.

‘He’s trusted.’

Unlike players who had played together for a long time, quite a few players were joining Kim Sang-hyuk considering he was urgently brought in.

And he noticed the scene of him walking and talking with Jang Jin-woo.

‘Did they make up?’

Choi Do-hoon, who had thought Korean soccer’s future would be amazing while watching their rivalry in high school, felt like tears might well up just from that scene.

‘What are they saying?’

Choi Do-hoon was so curious about the conversation they were having.

Choi Do-hoon zoomed in with his phone to check their lip movements and muttered based on their mouth shapes.

“Son of a… bitch…”

“Fucking… bastard?”

They say it’s tragedy up close, comedy from afar.

The two looked harmonious, but they were exchanging curses with their mouths.

I guess Jang Jin-woo’s tackle was too murderous for them to make up…

Choi Do-hoon gave an awkward smile.

Anyway.

‘Let’s grow well like this and raise Korean soccer’s status!’

Choi Do-hoon organized his thoughts and opened his mouth.

“First… this set piece seems to have been planned. Players including Jang Jin-woo and other tall players rushed toward the goal, drawing all the Swiss defenders with them, while only Kim Sang-hyuk shook off the defense and moved into the perfectly empty space. Kang Bo-kyung’s strong, short cross landed precisely in that position.”

Choi Do-hoon began explaining using the tactical note tool.

“According to records so far, England is the only team to score from set pieces against Switzerland, who have many tall players. This goal will likely be a huge shock to Switzerland.”

Choi Do-hoon spoke as he watched the game restart.

“Currently Mexico is leading Gabon 2-0. If Switzerland loses this match, advancing to the quarterfinals could become difficult. So there’s a high possibility they’ll push forward more aggressively.”

Though it was only Cheongju FC and German 4th Division League matches, when Kim Sang-hyuk played as a defensive midfielder, did the opposing team score?

He felt like he had hardly seen it happen.

Rather, they had conceded many goals from sharp crosses that started from Kim Sang-hyuk’s feet.

“Korea also cannot give up first place in the group, because if they advance as second place, they could face England. It would be easier to face Senegal, who are second in Group A. The upcoming situation seems like it will become more interesting. We should especially keep an eye on the Kim Sang-hyuk and Jang Jin-woo combination.”

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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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