My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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The match between England, the Euro 2016 champions, and Germany, the winners of the 2014 Brazil World Cup, caught the attention of many.

In Russia, the media placed more emphasis on the England and Germany match than on reports of a Russian man battling a bear.

[Exclusive interview with a Russian man who fought a bear cub.]
└ What? A bear cub?
└ Even if it’s a cub, a bear can tear someone apart, you know?
└ ???: Aren’t bear cubs pets?

The fight between a drunk Russian man and a (bear) cub was a common and trivial occurrence in Russia.

Anyway, as the World Cup match between England and Germany approached, football fans settled in front of their TVs, eager for the game.

“Hey, did you order chicken?”
“Ah, right. I’ll order it now.”
“If you order it now, it’s going to take a long time.”
“It’s not a Korean game, so it shouldn’t… Oh, it says it’ll take 2 hours.”
“Hey! Didn’t I tell you to order in advance?”

This situation was not unfamiliar even in Son Jinho’s home country of South Korea.

The emotions of South Koreans toward Son Jinho, who chose to naturalize, were quite complicated. There was pride in having a Korean playing on the prominent European stage, mixed with resentment over him abandoning the nationality of his birthplace.

And this complicated love-hate feeling was clearly reflected in the viewership ratings.

Son Jinho’s fans tuned in to support him, while his anti-fans gathered in front of their TVs, ready to berate him at the hint of a mistake.

As the rising viewership ratings brought smiles to the directors, the match between Germany and England kicked off with the referee’s whistle.

[The match between Euro champions England and Brazil World Cup champions Germany has begun.]

The eyes of football fans, filled with anticipation, turned to the TV.

But as the match started, that anticipation turned to disappointment.

Perhaps it was due to the nerves of performing on the World Cup stage.

Or maybe it was the fatigue from just finishing the season.

[Are the players still warming up? They seem heavy on their feet.]

Players made mistakes one after another that normally wouldn’t happen.

[Son Jinho’s pressure works; he successfully strips the ball from Mesut Özil!]
[Son Jinho’s timing was good, but Draxler’s pass miss was critical.]
[That’s right. Son Jinho read Draxler’s intention to pass to Özil and used his quick feet to snatch the pass. And he passes to Harry Kane!!]

Son Jinho’s pass reached Harry Kane, who immediately took a shot.

[Oh! But Harry Kane sends it soaring into the air!!!]

After that golden opportunity was squandered by Harry Kane, it wasn’t long before England made a blunder of their own.

[Huh? It’s too short!]

Jordan Henderson’s back pass to Smalling was too short, allowing Timo Werner to snatch it away, creating an excellent chance.

[Werner intercepts! Werner! Shoots!!]

In a one-on-one against goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, Timo Werner, after successfully getting past Pickford, failed to put the ball into the empty net, leaving football fans in disbelief.

[Oh!! He can’t score this!! Timo Werner!!]

Timo Werner, having missed a prime scoring opportunity, fell to the ground, burying his head in his hands.

“Hehehe.”
Son Jinho burst into laughter. At Son Jinho’s lighthearted giggle, Timo Werner momentarily showed a look of rage, but since it wasn’t excessive trash talk, he didn’t get mad.

Anyway, both teams’ strikers had each missed a golden opportunity in a friendly manner.

[Wow, the players are making too many mistakes so far. The team that makes fewer mistakes in this match could win.]
└ Is this what you call major tournament winners…?
└ Are these guys fixing the match?
└ You better get ready for the Round of 16, you fools hahahaha
└ Hah… If we play this right, we might pass the group stage in first place?
└ Haha, this looks promising!
└ What, are we heading for a Korea-Japan match in the Round of 16? lol
└ Please just stop with the Korea-Japan stuff already ;;

Both teams showcased such terrible gameplay that it was hard to believe they were major tournament champions, and the frustrated viewers from South Korea began to shift into happy fantasy mode.

*

As the match between England and Germany continued into the 22nd minute of the first half, the only Asian player, Son Jinho, changed the flow of the game that was delivering boredom unworthy of their renown.

[Harry Kane passes to Son Jinho! Son Jinho!!]

Dodging Schweinsteiger, Son Jinho attempted a surprise long-range shot.
Boom—!
Son Jinho’s shot flew straight towards Germany’s goal.

‘That was perfectly struck.’
The moment Son Jinho shot, he sensed he would score. It felt so right that he couldn’t feel his foot at all.

But standing in front of Germany’s goal was Manuel Neuer.

Neuer watched the incoming ball, leaped, and managed to push the shot securely out of play.

[Neuer! A fantastic save by Manuel Neuer!!]
[Wow, I’d say that was really well taken and well stopped.]

Though Son Jinho’s shot didn’t result in a goal, it spurred England into building momentum.

[Once more with the ball, Son Jinho looks to the side.]

England’s attack continued.
[Rashford receives the ball and attempts to dribble! But Philipp Lahm cleansly tackles and sends it out of touch!]

As the fans of England grew more restless with opportunities that didn’t seem to multiply, Son Jinho, who had shifted the flow of the match, managed to break the deadlock.

[Dele Alli to Son Jinho! Son Jinho shoots—!]

The pass from Dele Alli, who had exchanged one-two passes with Henderson, connected perfectly with Son Jinho.
Son Jinho’s shot hit Jerome Boateng’s arm and deflected.

“Referee! It touched his arm!”
England immediately rallied around the referee, claiming Boateng’s handball.

With England’s players protesting fervently, cards could easily be issued.

“Step back, everyone, calm down.”
Son Jinho, the captain of England, calmed his excited teammates and cautiously appealed.
‘Hmm. I didn’t see it touch his arm…’

Meanwhile, the referee, who had not witnessed the incident, pondered.
Since the referee and linesman could not see the detailed scene clearly, normally it would have gone to a German goal kick, but fortunately for England, the VAR system had been instituted just for this World Cup in Russia.

– VAR review confirms it hit Boateng’s hand.
The referee, after discussing with VAR, moved to check it.
[The referee is reviewing VAR. Ah! It touched his arm! In fact, until now, every time it hit the arm, they just gave a penalty! So…! It’s confirmed! The referee is calling for a penalty!!]

Having checked the VAR, the referee pointed to the penalty spot and declared England’s penalty.

“You all must respect me; I am the successor and rival of Lionel Messi, who won the Ballon d’Or three times and will dominate the new era of football, becoming the football emperor…”

Son Jinho waved his hand dismissively at Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane, who were eager for the penalty kick, then prepared himself to take it.

*

‘Hoo.’
I steadied my breath as I prepared for the penalty kick. It wasn’t shortness of breath from nerves, but rather from earlier when I attempted a rapid-fire rap while chasing down Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney.
Anyway, I composed my breath and turned to face the German goal.
‘Keepers are definitely big.’
There stood Manuel Neuer, seemingly filling the goal.

When watching players miss penalty kicks on TV, you’d wonder how they can’t score, but standing at the penalty spot, you’d feel differently.

With giants reaching nearly 2 meters guarding the goal, it felt as though the goal itself was constricted.

Anyway, the penalty kick is a direct showdown between keeper and kicker from a mere 11 meters away.
As a man, I couldn’t afford to back down in this clash.

In my lifetime, I had successfully converted countless penalties, including in my past life.
Plus, I clearly knew Germany’s weakness.

Historically, Germany has been weak against freedom and democracy.
And it was considered “common sense” for Germany to lose against an Asian team in the group stages of the World Cup.

‘Therefore…’
According to Aristotle’s syllogism, Germany could never defeat an England side with an Asian player.
‘Okay, if I miss this penalty, I can just immigrate!’
Having brushed off the burden of the penalty kick, I wore a smile and slowly ran toward the ball.
‘I’ll kick to the right.’
I decided on a direction as I approached the ball, intending to kick where I first chose.

Suddenly—.
But at that moment, I sensed foreboding from Neuer’s expression.
Trusting my instincts, I switched directions for the penalty kick. Based on past experiences, I had never faced bad results when I followed my instincts.

I saw Neuer jump to where I initially planned to kick.
Thanks to changing my direction at the last moment, the ball found its way into the back of the German net.

‘Whoa. That was close!’
Having calmed my racing heart, I dashed to the corner flag, roaring in celebration.
“Wohoooooo─!”

*

[GOOOOOOOAL! Son Jinho completely deceives Manuel Neuer and scores from the penalty kick!!]
└ Ssssssssssssssss
└ Wow, VAR was great.
└ Let’s beat Panama and aim for a draw against Germany and England~~

*

With Son Jinho’s goal, the atmosphere of the match shifted dramatically.
Fast transitions between offense and defense followed, showcasing an intense game.
Still, nerves lingered as players occasionally displayed uncharacteristic performances.
However, the leadership of the great captain Son Jinho shone brightly, guiding England towards victory.

“If you miss a pass, your salary gets cut!”
“Rae, raeuwuh!!!”

Upon hearing Son Jinho’s words, Rashford snapped back to attention and began to wreak havoc on the German defense from the side.
[GOOOOOOAL─! Marcus Rashford’s goal is a severe blow to Germany!! The score is now 2-0, with England pulling ahead by two goals!!]

Shortly after, England secured a third goal.
“Harry Kane, abandon your humanity. You become a beast that aims for goals.”
“Ke, keuwuhhhh!!!”

Thus, the barbaric Anglo-Saxons, inspired by Son Jinho, gradually started to evolve.