128. Mountain after mountain (1)
The Olympic soccer game, which is scheduled to begin its second match today, has already been full of excitement.
Brazil, who is mentioned as a contender for the championship, won the first game with explosive scoring power, and Pato's hat trick in particular was creating buzz every day.
but.
Argentina, another title contender, drew with Ivory Coast, giving quite a shock to its fans who were expecting a big win.
It was not because Argentina did poorly, but because Côte d'Ivoire did well.
Meanwhile, at the Qinhuangdao Olympic Stadium, the upcoming match between Korea and Italy was emerging as a hot topic.
Not only in each country, but also in Japan, which was completely unrelated, there was great interest in this event, calling it the Kimchi Pasta Battle.
The same was true for Italian fans.
This could be seen just by looking at the 3,000 Italian cheering squad that filled one section of the stands.
In addition, most of the stands were filled with Chinese people cheering for Italy.
That's because the Italian team's popularity in China was second only to China.
Moreover, the anti-Korean sentiment that has recently been spreading online has had a significant impact.
Maybe that's why the stadium was already noisy even though the game hadn't even started yet.
About 20,000 Italian fans.
And about 3,000 Korean cheering squad.
As the athletes entered, the cheering sounds of the two forces clashed violently.
China, concerned about this situation, deployed about 7,000 police officers to prepare for unexpected actions by the audience.
Today's game is literally war.
It began in earnest with players from both teams shaking hands.
"Woo Ho-young. "We finally met."
"It's been three years?"
Hoyoung had a brief conversation with Giovinco and then tried to pass by.
But at that time, Giovinco spoke in a whisper with a calm expression.
"I will definitely win today."
Giovinco's innocent face from three years ago no longer remained.
Instead, only a poison that can be felt through the skin remains.
Hoyoung realized once again how important this game was today.
That's why I'm running today too.
It was Hoyoung's promise.
[Four games have begun. The proud Korean national team on the left takes the lead.]
As soon as the game started, the Chinese people's cheers filled the field.
"Jayou (加油)! Italy!"
It was enough to silence the cheering of the Red Devils.
In particular, whenever a Korean player caught the ball, Chinese voices rang out, interfering with the players' play.
It was an unfavorable fight for Korea from the start.
[It may be difficult for our players, but they must not lose focus even for a moment. Coach Casiraghi would have definitely prepared for a game.]
[That's right. As a young director, his spirit stands out. Just like in the first match against Honduras, they went with a 4-4-2 format, but they made some big or small changes in player selection.]
As expected, Italy came out with a 4-4-2 format.
Additionally, by using Giovinco as the left winger, the starting point of the attack was placed on the left side.
Up to this point, there was nothing much different from the previous match against Honduras.
However, in the midfield, differences were clearly revealed one after another.
[Montolivo was placed instead of central midfielder 'Nocerino'?]
[That's right. This means that we will play the game more defensively. Montolivo's offensive ability is somewhat lower than that of Nocerino, but his defensive ability is definitely superior. In particular, he is a player whose long-term goal is to tightly control the midfield with his good prediction ability and excellent pass blocking ability.]
In addition, Italy was balancing offense and defense by placing Marchisio in the center.
It was a tactic that put a lot of effort into possession and initiative.
In response to this, the strategy that Korea adopted was a counterattack.
"Geun-Oh! "If there is space on the side, run at all costs!"
Since the game started, coach Hong Young-bo has been repeatedly ordering counterattacks.
That was the only answer.
Inevitably, Italy's defense was excellent enough to be considered the most solid among the participating teams.
It was not for nothing that he was mentioned as a candidate for the championship.
However, the offensive line was not weak.
The top two, consisting of Aquafresca and Giucipe Rossi, continued to make threatening moves as they attacked Korea's defense.
The market share has long since passed to Italy.
There was no surprise when a crisis occurred.
[Giovinco! He takes on Kwon Chang-soo with a simple dribble! Ki Seong-ryong, Ki Seong-ryong must come!]
That moment.
Ki Sung-ryong, who was protecting the back four defense in the third line, tried to stick to Giovinco, but was unable to do so due to Marchisio's threatening movements.
There was no easy corner.
It's truly a total mess.
Giovinco, who completely removed Kwon Chang-soo, attempted to penetrate the center of the space behind him.
It was right then.
[Giovinco! A low pass to the center! Get through the defense! Giucipe Rossi received the pass! Giucipe Rossi! Looking at goalkeeper Jeong Seong-yong!]
This happened in the blink of an eye.
Italy quickly created a decisive opportunity with a solid build-up that was unusual for young players.
Korea's defense did not have the talent to deal with it.
When I came to my senses, Giuseppe Rossi was dealing with the goalkeeper alone.
It was a perfect scoring opportunity.
And as a key player in the Spanish first division, he did not miss the opportunity.
Jeong Seong-yong tried his best to defend the goal, but it was not a problem that could be solved by working hard.
Crash!
A shot that hits the right corner of the goal.
22 minutes in the first half.
It was Italy's first goal created by Rossi.
"Huh…"
Hoyoung, who was watching the scene from the halfway line, sighed.
As expected, the walls of the Azzurri corps were high.
I felt that it was much more difficult than when I faced the U17 Italian national team three years ago.
Since there are many players playing in the Italian first division, there was bound to be a difference in overall skills.
What was needed now was change.
Before the game started, coach Park Seong-ho had already assigned various detailed tactical tasks to Ho-young.
Hoyoung had to be open to the possibility of everything he could do within that framework.
In other words, it is a time when the role of a playmaker is absolutely necessary.
'We need to change the atmosphere.'
But just because you set your mind to it, things didn't always go as you wanted.
Because this was the Korean national team, not Real Madrid.
Regardless of skill, it was difficult to turn the game around using the existing style because the team colors were completely different.
'Then we have to keep the flow going first. If things continue like this, my skills won't show up properly. I'm so discouraged.'
We had to take the lead in the attack somehow.
To do that, something was needed to break the opponent's flow.
'Let's create space first by dribbling. Montolivo is not a player who is good at physical fighting, so it will be relatively easier than Alex Song.'
Play on the ball.
It was a moment that could only be matched by such a wonder play like Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina, which was lacking in skill.
However, since Hoyoung was not at that level, he needed help from his teammates.
'Let's do it.'
28 minutes in the first half.
While the ball was out of the goal line, Hoyoung's steps headed backwards.
I spoke to Ki Seong-ryong, who was wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Brother, please come up a little closer to the front and pass. "These guys' blocking ability is really good."
The pressure was quite strong, so all the passes to Hoyoung were being cut off in the midfield.
Therefore, it was necessary to narrow the gap with Ki Sung-ryong.
"But that bastard's wit is no joke. "It's not that my skills are crazy good, but whenever I try to do something, they notice me like a ghost and quickly catch up with me."
Ki Sung-ryong pointed to a player with his chin.
Hoyoung's eyes turned towards that direction.
[Clouded Marchisio]
Talents
– Sculptural beauty (A+2)
– Precise and fast kick (A+2)
– Menacing sliding tackle (A+)
– Cannonball-like mid-distance shot (A-)
– (See more)
(Conditions ) You can covet one talent when you meet the requirements.)
(Condition 1: Play soccer together for 70 minutes)
(Condition 2: Win the game)
(Condition 3: Record attack points as an attacking midfielder)
In Hoyoung's eyes, he is definitely a talent. He was a keen player.
But there was a way to deal with it.
"I'll go down and pull Marchisio up myself."
"Then senior Park Joo-hyung will be reduced to a scarecrow? "The opposing defense will be more relaxed, and even if they receive the ball, the attack will be more difficult due to the pressure from the left and right fullbacks."
"If you see something like that, distribute long passes to the front. It's a warning to the opposing defense. "Don't think twice."
"And then you come down to me and I distribute the balls to you?"
"that's right. And please go to the front. Then Marchisio and Montolivo will be confused. "We need to induce a melee in the midfield."
To put it simply, it was a strategy to lay the groundwork and then strike back when the opponent bites it.
"But they're not stupid and they'll figure it out quickly."
"We have to see the outcome before that."
In other words, this is an operation that requires the acting skills of Ki Sung-ryong and Park Joo-hyung.
You had to succeed in at least two attempts.
If it went over three times, there was a high chance of being seen through.
Because the Italian players were at a level that was more than enough.
"Then I'll go."
"okay."
Soon the game resumed and Hoyoung ran like crazy to the front again.
Ki Seong-ryong, who was looking at that scene, stuck out his tongue.
'The more I look at him, the more interesting he becomes.'
Ki Seong-ryong also learned and learned numerous tactics while studying abroad.
However, there was a big difference between simply learning and putting what you learned into practice.
It was difficult to do unless you had a high level of understanding of tactics.
'This is why I can play for Real Madrid.'
At the same time.
It was the moment when I realized that this was a playmaker.
But the important thing was from now on.
You have to try it yourself to know whether Woo Ho-young's tactics will work.
Because a theory is just a theory.
'Okay, let's give it a try. These pasta bastards. "I'm going to throw it away."
Hehe.
He spat out a lump of phlegm.
He then took a broader view and cast his gaze on first-line player Park Joo-hyung.
'There it is.'
Just then, a short pass was delivered from Ki Dong-jin.
At the same time, Marchisio followed.
However, Ki Seong-ryong, who had been preparing earlier, was slightly faster.
Cough!
A long pass split the air above the ground.
The target was the space behind the front line, and Park Joo-hyung ran towards it.
Italian central defender Silvestri also joined there.
Park Joo-hyung's infiltration failed in an instant.
It was okay.
Because this was just bait.
After a few minutes, the effects began to take effect.
As Park Joo-hyung showed reasonable movement in the first line and caused tension in the Italian defense, Ho-young was able to move down to the midfield with relative ease.
Montolivo, who was in charge of Hoyoung, followed him down, but his movement route overlapped with Marchisio, causing another problem.
The spacing between the midfielders became irregular, as if the threads were tangled.
Marchisio tried to calmly organize the line, but the more he tried, the more Hoyoung wreaked havoc in the midfield with his simple and quick dribbling.
It was literally like going into a banquet hall and upsetting the banquet table.
Overall, there was no noticeable change, but Hoyoung could feel it.
The flow of the game is focused on the midfield.
And a variable has been created.
In fact, Hoyoung had more possession of the ball than before.
Currently, such an environment has been created.
Although this cost me a lot of stamina, the important thing was that I was able to play the way I wanted to.
There is only one chance.
'Just score one goal.'
Tick.
As a few seconds passed, a small gap opened in the space where Marchisio was watching.
Right at that moment.
Hoyoung, who was watching this closely, exchanged 2-on-1 passes and penetrated the space in front.
Marchisio quickly tried to catch up, but Hoyoung succeeded in running away to the right using his instantaneous speed.
and.
Percussion!
"also!"
He gave the ball to right fullback Kwon Chang-su and ran again.
The return pass came soon after.
Kwon Chang-soo's pass was a little long, but it was okay.
Because Hoyoung was fast like crazy.
And after that.
"ah!"
Montolivo, who was worried about space left and right, put his shoulder in late, but Hoyoung's breakthrough was half a beat faster.
"shit."
Leaving Montolivo behind, who let out a sigh, Hoyoung broke through without hesitation to the wide open right front.
And when the opposing defender is right next to you.
[Woo Ho-young, Woo Ho-young, in front of the gate, Woo Ho-young, sooooooooooooo!]
I calmly hit the shot with the tip of my right foot.
It was a toe kick that was half a beat fast.
The goalkeeper tried to react, but Hoyoung's shot was sucked into the left goal post, showing off his tremendous decisiveness.
Equalizer.
[Gooooooooooo!]
[Woo Ho-young scores the equalizing goal in the 41st minute of the first half!!]
Ki Sung-ryong and Park Joo-hyung ran over and tackled Ho-young and hugged him.
"Waaaaaaaa!"
The Red Devil's voice echoed across the ground.
A strong shiver ran through my body.
Then Hoyoung put his hand to his ear and walked around a corner of the audience as if taking a walk.
Italy's noisy cheering crowd became quiet as if a bomb had been dropped.
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