My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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– “Player Son Jinho, your next match is against South Korea, shouldn’t you repay the favor to the motherland that raised you?”

“Favor?”

I was a bit taken aback by the journalist’s sudden remark about repaying the motherland’s favor, but the press conference wrapped up fairly well.

The journalists from other countries around us seemed to interpret the Korean journalist’s comment as dark humor.

‘From his expression, he seems to mean it sincerely.’

Anyway, back at the Base Camp located in Repino, Saint Petersburg, I fell into quiet contemplation.

The journalist’s sentiment wasn’t entirely off the mark.

After all, Korea is where I was born.

So, it’s true that Korea is my homeland.

As for favors, I honestly wasn’t sure.

‘Favor, huh… was there such a thing?’

I do remember the military service office fiercely trying to enlist me into active duty.

Could that even be considered a favor?

Well, if a zombie apocalypse suddenly broke out, maybe military service would come in handy, but even if a zombie apocalypse occurs, I can’t really call military service a favor, can I?

While I was pondering what favor I had received from Korea, good connections I had made in Korea, including Gi-hyun Choi, reached out to me.

– Gi-hyun Choi: Is the man feeling frustrated after watching the interview? It’s me…

Since I had built relationships in Korea, there were quite a few people rooting for South Korea, but that didn’t mean I would take the game lightly.

– Son Heung-min: Hey, Son Jinho, don’t listen to the journalists and take it easy. Just give it your all.

– Kang Chan: Finally, we’re up against each other. I’ll show you how much I’ve grown.

Giving it my all would be out of respect for the players representing a country at the World Cup and would be my own way of repaying the homeland.

And since the South Korea National Team players had their own pride, they’d surely prefer to give their all rather than just run around lazily.

Having concluded my thoughts, I sent a heartfelt message to the players of the South Korea National Team.

– Ho-woo: Got it. I’ll give it my all.

– Ho-woo: I’ll also ask the coach to field all the starting players tomorrow.

– Ho-woo: Let’s put on the best performance so there are no regrets.

Seeing there was no response for a while, I quietly nodded my head.

Hmmm.

Did they forget to reply because they were too happy?

*

With the South Korea National Team having drawn against Panama, alarms were sounding.

Since they had to win against Panama to secure a spot in the Round of 16, they were now in a situation where they needed at least a draw against England.

‘Right now, we’re a weak team. That’s an undeniable fact.’

The coach of the South Korea National Team, De Zerbi, began brainstorming ways to secure a victory against England, disregarding the results of the match against Panama immediately after the game ended.

Even if I regretted the past game now, I couldn’t change the present.

In any case, De Zerbi’s coaching career was riding on South Korea’s advancement to the Round of 16.

‘England will certainly be overconfident against us at the beginning of the match….’

De Zerbi holed up in his room all night, contemplating strategies for the game against England.

Eventually, he realized that his plan was already shattered by a single journalist.

– “Player Son Jinho, your next match is against South Korea, shouldn’t you repay the favor to the motherland that raised you?”

His plan had been destroyed long before.

*

England was in a festive mood after winning decisively against Germany.

After all, having overcome the massive mountain that was Germany, the remaining matches for England were against South Korea and Panama.

It was essentially confirmed that England would make it to the Round of 16.

However, the England players had to prepare for the next game before enjoying the joy of victory.

This was all because of the England National Team captain, Son Jinho.

The day after England’s victory over Germany, the players arrived at the training ground with a lighter heart.

“Hey, you idiots! Is the World Cup over just because we beat Germany?! Advancing to the Round of 16 is what makes the World Cup successful!”

They had to endure Son Jinho’s roar as they lolled around during training.

“Our Rashford is lacking in professionalism.”

“Rae-u─!”

“Wellbeck!”

“…I’m now with Arsenal, you know.”

“Ugh… Are you arguing with the owner?”

Training began to shift as the Manchester United players, held hostage by their wages from the tyrannical owner, Son Jinho, adjusted their attitudes.

‘What excellent leadership!’

Coach Southgate nodded in satisfaction at Son Jinho’s leadership, which held the team together.

“With ideologies instilled in our bodies, we can endure even a nuclear bomb!”

Thus, under Coach Southgate’s tacit approval, Son Jinho naturally instilled a strong sense of ideology in the England players.

*

As England diligently trained without becoming complacent, time flew by.

The second group stage match of the 2018 Russia World Cup was about to begin.

[Portugal loses 2-1 to Denmark….]

Portugal found itself facing a crisis of elimination after losing to Denmark.

[Right after the match, Cristiano Ronaldo throws his captain’s armband.]

Ronaldo appeared to be mentally out of it, caught on the broadcast.

I quietly took out my smartphone and sent him a wake-up call.

– Ho-woo: The owner is here.

– Crybaby-do: ….

A few years ago, I wouldn’t have helped him, but we’ve built a bond from playing on the same team since then.

– Ho-woo: I watched the match against Denmark.

– Ho-woo: I think I might get this Ballon d’Or.

– Ho-woo: Chris, you might as well just sit in the stands and clap like last time.

– Ho-woo: By the way, your performance has been lackluster since last season. Could it be that the aging curve is hitting you, Chris?

– Ho-woo: If you are indeed hitting the aging curve, how about announcing your retirement after this season?

– Ho-woo: Honestly, if you keep expressing frustration toward teammates for not scoring with a dropped form, it’ll just look pathetic.

Ronaldo, who had been trying hard to ignore my message, began to show signs of responding to my heartfelt words of comfort.

– Awakening-do: Just you wait, Son Jinho!!!!!

– Awakening-do: I and Portugal will definitely make it to the finals!!

– Awakening-do: And I will crush your England and take the trophy!

– Awakening-do: By then, you’ll be crying and begging Manchester United to please re-sign you!!!

– Awakening-do: SIUUUUUU─!!!

My smartphone vibrated wildly, and I nodded my head with a satisfied smile.

Wow.

This still has killer effects.

‘But doesn’t this guy have some resistance? Why is it always the same fixed deal?’

*

The match between Japan and Senegal in Group C ended in a draw, and the match schedule for Group D approached once again.

Before the match between South Korea and England unfolded, there was a match between Germany and Panama.

As expected, the match was dominantly led by Germany.

Panama couldn’t overcome the objective power disparity between them and Germany.

Recognizing their limitations, Panama set up two lines of defense like in their match against South Korea, refusing to leave their own half, while Germany relentlessly attacked.

Panama’s players barely managed to block the non-stop assaults from Germany with fearless physical defending.

Clad in mud and panting heavily on the ground, the image of the Panama players was pitifully broadcast.

“Panama, fighting!”

“You can do it!”

Due to the underdog effect, the crowd slowly began to cheer for Panama.

Miraculous saves from the Panama goalkeeper kept unfolding, and the German players started to get increasingly anxious as scoring opportunities came and went.

Mario Gómez continuously attempted headers towards the goal, and Toni Kroos tried mid-range shots, but the Panama players united to fend off Germany’s onslaught.

BEEP—!

[The match!!!! has ended!!! Panama records a 0-0 draw against Germany!!!!]

Panama once again succeeded in rewriting their own history.

‘Perhaps, if they can draw with England too, they can make it to the Round of 16…?’

And it was only natural for the players of Panama, who had drawn against Germany, to let their happy circuits start running.

*

[Panama earns 1 point against Germany after South Korea.]

[Panama writes their own history in the World Cup.]

[Germany national team facing elimination? The curse of the defending champions continues.]

*

At the very moment Panama drew against Germany, a pre-interview for the England National Team organized by FIFA was taking place.

In response to a journalist’s question regarding the power disparity between England and South Korea, Son Jinho spewed out dazzling lip service.

“The soccer ball is round, and anything can happen. Both South Korea and Panama are teams representing a continent in the World Cup, hence they hold their own strengths. Therefore, we cannot let our guard down until the very end.”

At that moment, the journalists nodded in admiration at Son Jinho’s interview filled with sportsmanship.

Suddenly, a journalist who had checked the results of the Panama vs. Germany match raised his hand.

– “As you mentioned, the ball is round; Panama has just drawn against Germany.”

Hearing the reporter’s words, Son Jinho failed to manage his expression.

“…Is this a prank?”