The Olympic football tournament was about to enter the second round today, and there was already no shortage of talking points.
First, Brazil, one of the title favorites, secured a victory in their opening match with explosive scoring power, and Pato's hat trick had been a constant topic of discussion.
However.
Another title contender, Argentina, recorded a draw against Côte d'Ivoire, delivering a considerable shock to their home fans who had expected a big win.
It was not that Argentina played poorly, but rather that Côte d'Ivoire played extremely well.
Meanwhile, at the Qinhuangdao Olympic Stadium, the upcoming match between South Korea and Italy had become a hot topic.
Not only in the two countries involved, but even in Japan, where it was being called the Kimchi Pasta Showdown and drawing massive interest.
Italian fans were no exception.
That much was clear just from the roughly three thousand Italian supporters who filled one section of the stands.
In addition, most of the remaining seats were occupied by Chinese fans cheering for Italy.
That was not surprising, since within China, Italy's popularity was second only to China itself.
On top of that, the recent spread of anti Korean sentiment online also played a role.
Perhaps because of that, the stadium was already in an uproar even before kickoff.
Roughly twenty thousand Italian supporters.
And about three thousand Korean supporters.
As the players entered the pitch, the cheers of the two sides collided fiercely.
Fearing such a situation, China had deployed around seven thousand public security officers in preparation for any unexpected incidents.
Today's match was, quite literally, a war.
That war officially began when the players from both teams exchanged handshakes.
"Ho-young. We finally meet."
"Has it been three years."
Ho-young exchanged a brief greeting with Giovinco and tried to move past him.
But then, Giovinco whispered calmly,
"Today, I will definitely beat you."
The innocent face Giovinco had three years ago was nowhere to be found.
Only the hostility that could be felt through the skin remained.
Ho-young was reminded once again of how important this match was.
And so today, he would run again.
That was Ho-young's resolve.
[Yes, the match has begun. The proud South Korean national team on the left takes the kickoff.]
As soon as the match started, the cheers of the Chinese crowd filled the field.
"Jiayou. Italy."
It was loud enough to drown out the chants of the Red Devils.
Every time a Korean player touched the ball, the shrill noise from the Chinese fans rang out, disrupting their play.
From the start, it was an unfavorable battle for South Korea.
[Our players are having a tough time, but they must not lose focus for even a moment. Coach Casiraghi surely prepared a decisive move.]
[That's right. True to a young coach, his boldness stands out. Just like in the opening match against Honduras, he brought a 4-4-2 formation, but there were noticeable changes in player selection.]
As expected, Italy came out in a 4-4-2.
They also deployed Giovinco on the left wing, making that side the starting point of their attacks.
Up to that point, it was not much different from the Honduras match.
However, in midfield, clear differences began to appear.
[Instead of central midfielder Nocerino, Montolivo is starting.]
[Exactly. It shows their intent to play more defensively. While he is less attacking than Nocerino, Montolivo is clearly superior defensively. He is especially known for controlling the midfield with solid anticipation and excellent passing interception.]
In addition, Italy placed Marchisio centrally to maintain balance between attack and defense.
It was a tactic heavily focused on possession and control.
In response, South Korea's strategy was counterattacks.
"Geun-oh. If there's space on the flank, just run no matter what."
That was the only answer.
Italy's defensive lock was considered the strongest among the participating teams.
They were not being called title contenders for nothing.
And their attack was far from weak.
The strike partnership of Acquafresca and Giuseppe Rossi constantly threatened the Korean defense with sharp movement.
Possession had long since tilted in Italy's favor.
It would not have been strange for danger to strike at any moment.
[Giovinco. A clean dribble against Kwon Chang-soo. Ki Sung-yong, Ki Sung-yong has to step in.]
At that moment.
Ki Sung-yong, who had been protecting the back four from the third line, tried to close in on Giovinco, but Marchisio's threatening movement prevented him from doing so.
There was not a single easy opponent.
It was a complete crisis.
Giovinco completely beat Kwon Chang-soo and attempted a central breakthrough into the space behind.
Right then.
[Giovinco. A low pass into the center. It slips between the defenders. Rossi receives it. Rossi. He faces goalkeeper Jung Sung-yong.]
It happened in the blink of an eye.
With a build-up far too solid for young players, Italy created a decisive chance in an instant.
There was nothing the Korean defense could do.
By the time they realized it, Rossi was already one on one with the goalkeeper.
A perfect scoring opportunity.
And like a mainstay of Spain's top division, he did not miss it.
Jung Sung-yong threw himself desperately to protect the goal, but effort alone was not enough.
Thud.
The shot was planted cleanly into the right corner of the net.
Twenty two minutes into the first half.
Italy's opening goal, created by Rossi.
"Haa."
Watching from near the halfway line, Ho-young let out a sigh.
The wall of the Azzurri was indeed high.
It felt far more overwhelming than when he had faced Italy's Under 17 team three years ago.
With so many players active in Italy's top division, the overall gap in quality was unavoidable.
What was needed now was change.
Before kickoff, Head Coach Park Sung-ho had already given Ho-young various detailed tactical instructions.
Within that framework, Ho-young had to keep every possible option open.
In other words, this was a moment when the role of a playmaker was absolutely necessary.
'I have to change the momentum.'
But things never went exactly as planned.
This was the Korean national team, not Real Madrid.
Setting skill aside, the team identity itself was completely different, so turning the match around with his usual style would be difficult.
'Then I need to revive the flow first. At this rate, even our real ability won't come out. Everyone's confidence is shot.'
They had to seize the initiative in attack somehow.
To do that, they needed something that could break the opponent's rhythm.
'I'll create space with dribbling first. Montolivo is not strong in physical battles, so it should be easier than Alex Song.'
On the ball play.
Like Maradona carrying Argentina to a World Cup title despite inferior teammates, it was the kind of wonder play required just to draw level.
But Ho-young was not at that level, so he needed his teammates' help.
'Let's do it.'
Twenty eight minutes into the first half.
While the ball went out for a goal kick, Ho-young moved backward.
He spoke to Ki Sung-yong, who was wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Hyung, step up a bit and pass forward. Their interception ability is too good."
The pressing was strong, and passes meant for Ho-young were being cut off in midfield.
That was why they needed to close the distance between them.
"But that guy's awareness is no joke. He's not insanely skilled, but whenever I try something, he reads it instantly and sticks to me."
Ki Sung-yong nodded his chin toward a player.
Ho-young's gaze followed.
[Claudio Marchisio]
[Possessed Talents]
-Sculpted Looks (A+2)
-Precise and Quick Kicks (A+2)
-Threatening Sliding Tackle (A+)
-Cannonball Mid-Range Shot (A-)
-(More)
(You can obtain one talent if the conditions are met.)
(Condition 1: Play football together for 70 minutes.)
(Condition 2: Win the match.)
(Condition 3: Record an attacking point as an attacking midfielder.)
Even to Ho-young, he was clearly a player with excellent awareness.
But there was a way to deal with it.
"I'll drop deeper and draw Marchisio out myself."
"Then Park Joo-hyung will turn into a decoy. The defense will be more relaxed, and even if he gets the ball, the fullbacks' pressure will make it harder to attack."
"When that happens, feed a long pass forward. It's a warning to their defense. Don't let your guard down."
"And when you drop back toward me, I pass it to you."
"Exactly. Then push forward. Marchisio and Montolivo will get confused. We need to force chaos in midfield."
In simple terms, it was baiting the opponent, then striking them from behind once they took it.
"But they're not idiots. They'll catch on quickly."
"Then we have to decide it before that."
In other words, the plan required acting from Ki Sung-yong and Park Joo-hyung.
They had to succeed within two attempts at most.
After three, the chances of being figured out would rise sharply.
Italy's players were more than capable of that.
"Then I'm going."
"Alright."
Soon the match resumed, and Ho-young once again sprinted forward like a madman.
Watching him, Ki Sung-yong clicked his tongue.
'The more I see him, the more unbelievable he is.'
Ki Sung-yong himself had learned and absorbed countless tactics during his time abroad.
But there was a huge difference between learning tactics and actually applying them in a match.
It was something only possible with an advanced understanding of tactics.
'So this is why he can play for Real Madrid.'
At the same time.
This is what a playmaker is, he realized.
But the important part was what came next.
Whether Ho-young's plan would work could only be proven by trying.
Theory was just theory.
'Alright, let's try it.'
Spit.
He spat out a thick wad of phlegm.
Then he widened his vision and fixed his gaze on Park Joo-hyung on the front line.
'There.'
A short pass came from Ki Dong-jin at just that moment.
At the same time, Marchisio closed in.
But Ki Sung-yong's foot, already prepared, was just a bit faster.
Boom.
A long pass sliced through the air above the pitch.
The target was the space behind the front line, and Park Joo-hyung sprinted toward it.
Italy's center back Silvestri also moved to cover.
Park Joo-hyung's run failed in an instant.
That was fine.
It was only bait.
A few minutes later, the effect began to show.
As Park Joo-hyung made convincing movements on the front line and pressured Italy's defense, Ho-young was able to drop into midfield with relatively more freedom.
Montolivo followed him down, but instead, his movement overlapped with Marchisio's, creating another problem.
Like tangled threads, the spacing between the midfielders became irregular and chaotic.
Marchisio tried to calmly reorganize the line, but the more he did, the more Ho-young tore through midfield with quick and simple dribbles.
It was like storming into a banquet and flipping the table.
Overall, there was no dramatic visible change, but Ho-young could feel it.
The flow of the match was being drawn into midfield.
And a variable had emerged.
In fact, Ho-young was now holding the ball far more often than before.
The environment was finally being created.
The physical toll was heavy, but what mattered was that he could now play the football he wanted.
There would be only one chance.
'Just one goal.'
Tick.
After a few seconds, a small gap opened in the space Marchisio was watching.
At that exact moment.
Ho-young exchanged a one two pass and burst into the space ahead.
Marchisio tried to close him down, but Ho-young escaped to the right with his explosive acceleration.
Then.
Thud.
"Again."
He laid the ball off to right back Kwon Chang-soo and sprinted forward once more.
The return pass came immediately.
The pass from Kwon Chang-soo was slightly long, but it was fine.
Ho-young was absurdly fast.
And then.
"Ah."
Montolivo hesitated for a split second, unsure whether to cover left or right, and lunged late with his shoulder, but Ho-young's breakthrough was half a beat faster.
"Damn it."
Leaving Montolivo's curse behind him, Ho-young charged straight into the wide open right channel.
Just as a defender closed in from the side.
[Ho-young. Ho-young in front of goal. Ho-young. Shoooooot.]
He calmly struck the ball with the tip of his right foot.
A toe poke, half a beat early.
The goalkeeper reacted, but Ho-young's shot was sucked into the left side of the goal, showing incredible finishing.
The equalizer.
[Goooooooal.]
[Forty one minutes into the first half. Ho-young scores the equalizer.]
Ki Sung-yong and Park Joo-hyung rushed over and hugged Ho-young tightly.
"Woooooo."
The roar of the Red Devils echoed across the pitch.
A powerful shiver ran through his body.
Ho-young cupped his hand to his ear and strolled toward one corner of the stands.
The once boisterous Italian supporters fell silent, as if a bomb had gone off.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)