LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 267
[Panama, the Miracle Draw. Germany Falls Victim After South Korea.]
The shocking fact that Panama and Germany ended in a draw quickly spread throughout the world.
[The Downfall of Germany and the Chaos in Group D.]
└ Damn, it’s not that we’re weak, it’s that Panama’s defense is strong.
└ For real, lol, our striker must be an idiot.
The horrific downfall of Germany, the top-ranked team in FIFA and the reigning champions.
Germany, which had showcased its strength by eliminating host nation Brazil 7-1 in the 2014 Brazil World Cup, sent football fans into a frenzy over Germany’s fall from grace.
England’s media, traditionally viewed as Germany’s rivals, made headlines with Germany’s ranking.
[UK Media Mocks German Football, Comparing It to a ‘Rusty Tank.’]
└ LOL, carve Germany’s ranking into your memory and look at it whenever you feel down, hahahaha.
└ This is too spicy, lol.
└ Which newspaper is this from?
└ The Sun, lol.
└ How does a newspaper have a name like the solar system’s GOAT? 😂
Brazil, which had once suffered the tragedy of Mineirao, also reported extensively and celebrated Germany’s downfall.
It felt as if the entire world was blessing Germany’s collapse.
Amidst this atmosphere, South Korea began to dream of hope.
[South Korea’s Chances of Advancing to the Round of 16 at Full Throttle!]
└ Haha, with this, even a draw against England is totally possible?
└ But can we even draw against England?
└ … Well, who knows?
*
As the match between South Korea and England drew closer.
[2018 Russia World Cup, ‘England vs South Korea’ Starting Lineup Announced!]
The starting lineups for South Korea and England have been revealed.
[Son Jinho’s Name Listed in the Starting Lineup.]
[Manager Southgate: “The World Cup isn’t over yet. South Korea is not a team we can take lightly. We will give it our all until the end.”]
England fielded several of their main players in a 4-5-1 formation, declaring their intention to secure advancement to the round of 16 in this second group stage match.
[Manager De Zerbi: “The football is round.”]
Meanwhile, South Korea, revitalized by Panama’s efforts, promised to never give up and to do their utmost.
It was a slender hope, but while South Korea expressed expectations for advancing to the round of 16…
[(Before the Match) South Korea 0 : 0 England]
└ Damn, is the England squad real?
└ Wow, they’re all people I’ve seen in the Premier League.
└ Oh, that’s my brother.
└ Ah, Jinho, please just do well in today’s match T_T
The match between South Korea and England was almost upon us.
*
[Welcome to the Rostov Arena, where the match between South Korea and England is taking place. The stadium, with a capacity of about 45,000, is already packed.]
[There are many neutral fans from Russia and elsewhere in the stadium, with the majority wearing Son Jinho’s jersey.]
[Oh! At this moment, we see Ki Sung-yueng chatting and laughing with England’s captain, Son Jinho.]
[Current captain Ki Sung-yueng and next-in-line captain Son Jinho. This scene is surely heart-wrenching for all the fans in South Korea who love football.]
└ Ugh, damn it, Football Association.
└ Honestly, Son Jinho’s naturalization isn’t entirely their fault.
└ For real, lol, judging by the comments back then, the public practically shoved him into naturalization.
└ I still remember that article.
└ What about it?
└ Was there no fault on the football fans’ part regarding Son Jinho’s naturalization?
└ LOL 😂
└ But it’s true, though?
└ The fact that it’s true makes it even worse.
└ Are you gonna play the coward card and go with facts, or are we gonna settle this fairly with some fabrications?
└ Damn, if we fabricate, we get called out for being media trash, and if we recite facts, we’re called cowards.
*
I shook hands with my brother, the captain Ki Sung-yueng, and returned to my team.
“Let’s have a good match.”
“Yeah, let’s not get hurt and give it our best shot.”
We shared a handshake and a smile, but honestly, it felt a bit strange.
Even after naturalizing to England and winning at Euro 2016, I still felt like I should be wearing the red uniform for this match.
Well, it can’t be helped.
After nearly 20 years donning the red national team uniform since my youth team days, it’s only natural.
And back when I was reborn, I had thought I’d be sporting the Taegeuk mark on my chest this life too.
I knew very well that the Football Association was idiotic from the future’s perspective, but I never dreamed they would try to bury me, who was deemed the future of South Korea.
As a result, I had no choice but to naturalize for England, while the Football Association began reforms unlike in the original history.
‘All these faces are so familiar.’
Anyway, I could see several faces I was used to in the South Korean national team.
“Da~~ehanminguk!”
The familiar cheering song echoed in my ears along with the sound of drums.
Hearing the cheers from Korean fans after so long made my heart race, and while I vowed to repay the football fans who traveled so far with good performance, the referee’s whistle sounded in my ears and the match began.
*
[The match has started with England’s kickoff.]
With Harry Kane’s kickoff, the match between South Korea and England began.
[De Zerbi’s strategy worked like a charm. England is flustered by South Korea’s strong pressure!]
From the very start, South Korea launched a strong attack against England, clearly showing that De Zerbi’s strategy had caught England’s players off guard.
[Ki Sung-yueng’s pass goes to Son Heung-min! Instead of a shot, it’s a pass! Son Heung-min’s pass goes to Kang Chan.]
[Kang Chan, Kang Chan shoots!!]
[Ah!! So close! Kang Chan’s shot goes straight at the goal!]
Though it was still early, South Korea’s relentless pressure caused the enthusiasm of Korean football fans to heat up.
Harry Kane’s pass connected to Son Jinho in an attempt to escape South Korea’s fierce pressure.
[South Korea’s strong pressure! But Son Jinho easily sheds the tackle.]
Son Jinho deftly sidestepped the pressure and lifted his head to survey the field.
His gaze caught the focused demeanor of South Korean players, completely centered on him.
He began to slowly dribble the ball forward.
As the South Korean defenders shifted their focus to Son Jinho—
[Oh! It’s dangerous! South Korea! Rashford is invading the empty space!]
Rashford darted into the space behind South Korea’s defense.
[Son Jinho noticed Marcus Rashford. Jinho isn’t the type to pass up this opportunity! Son Jinho’s sharp lofted through pass connects to Rashford.]
Son Jinho’s lofted through pass found Rashford accurately, and Marcus Rashford, checking the goalkeeper’s position, calmly attempted a shot.
After only a brief time into the match, a golden scoring opportunity presented itself.
Marcus Rashford shot as comfortably as if he were playing for Manchester United.
[Ohhhh─! Thank goodness! Really thank goodness! Rashford’s shot goes wide of the goal!!]
Rashford’s shot narrowly missed the goalpost.
“Wow…. I thought my heart was gonna drop.”
The South Korean football fans breathed a sigh of relief.
“Rashhhooo….”
Marcus Rashford, having received a fantastic pass from Son Jinho, gave him a bright thumbs-up but recoiled at the deadly glare he received.
*
While Marcus Rashford’s shot did not result in a goal, the England players gradually regained their pace, thanks to Rashford’s threatening shot.
To be precise, it was more due to South Korean players recoiling from the threat of Rashford’s shot.
“Pass it! Don’t be greedy!”
“Press him more!”
Regardless, England began to maximize the momentum that had shifted in their favor.
Raheem Sterling, playing as a right midfielder, stormed down South Korea’s left side and pushed into the penalty box.
‘Chance.’
A South Korean defender desperately cleared the ball, which fell near Son Jinho.
Thump—
And in that moment, Son Jinho’s ear was filled with the fierce thudding of his heart.
The surroundings fell into silence.
Just then, the figure of goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo, yelling at the defenders, appeared in Son Jinho’s line of sight.
‘I see it.’
In his mind, the trajectory of the shot was drawn automatically.
His body, honed through countless practice and training, was already in motion, and the ball left the tip of Son Jinho’s foot before the South Korean defenders could react.
The shot traced a beautiful curve as it sailed toward South Korea’s goal.
Although goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo leaped in time with the shot—
Swish—
Son Jinho’s shot evaded the tips of Cho Hyun-woo’s fingers and went straight into the corner of the net.
In the 8th minute of the first half.
Having scored a wonder goal against his own country, Son Jinho found himself running forward, celebrating, all without even realizing it, in the familiar red uniform.
“Woohoooo──!!”
The fireworks show thanks to Son Jinho began to spark excitement among the South Korean football fans.