My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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*
A common man who couldn’t become the god of football.

That was all I thought about Ronaldo.

Unlike Messi, who became a god of football by lifting the championship trophy at the Qatar World Cup in the twilight of his career.

Ronaldo, true to the saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” once again pulled a no-show against 1.4 billion people, effectively becoming an honorary Chinese.

[Cristiano Ronaldo, surprise press conference. “I’m not a loser.”]

Perhaps I unknowingly looked down on him because of his shabby and petty behavior.

“Ho-Woo──!”

“Son Jinho────!”

However, the moment I heard the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd echoing at Sangam World Cup Stadium.

‘Did he just turn these fans into anti-fans in an instant?’

I had no choice but to reevaluate Ronaldo. Respect began to grow within me.

“Ugh… Even with 50 million, that’s overwhelming. And he pulled a no-show against 1.4 billion?”

He was not an ordinary man.

He could easily yell “Ho-Woo!” after forcibly shutting off a monitor while his child was gaming, and casually throw his dog into the pool.

GOA.T

He was the true GOA.T.

*
As the game time approached.

The Dortmund and U23 Olympic National Team players took to the ground and started to warm up casually.

“Coach! Long time no see!”

“Yeah, Jinho, it’s been a while.”

Having completed yet another sudden worship of Ronaldo, I approached coach Han Myung-bo and the U23 Olympic National Team to greet them.

“Oh, the baby!”

“Seems like Germany is treating you well? Look at your face!”

“Jinho, he was always good-looking. Just a brat.”

Even though I couldn’t join the national team due to conflicts with the association, they welcomed me warmly.

“Hey, don’t treat me like an older brother; be sincere.”

“Really, you won’t treat me kindly?”

“…Just play it cool.”

Guys like Seong-ryong and other overseas members also returned to Korea to sync up before the Olympics. They made it onto the starting list for the friendly match against Dortmund and the U23 Olympic National Team.

After greeting every player on the Olympic National Team without exception, I returned to the Dortmund side, warming up lightly while chatting.

“Wow… Jinho was a total superstar, huh? How many commercials has he shot?”

“Hey, you can also become a superstar.”

The main topic among the players was my fame in Korea. Just in time, a commercial featuring me as a model played on the specially set up billboard to recoup Dortmund’s invitation costs. It was a CF of me dancing with ice cream in both hands.

“Wow. You really can’t dance at all.”

I casually ignored Ivan Perišić’s fact bombardment, stemming from his ugly jealousy.

*
[Hello, football fans of South Korea. This is the holy land of South Korean football! Seoul Sangam World Cup Stadium! The stands are packed with fans eager to see Son Jinho from the early hours.]

└ No, does our country have no pride? Is it right for the national team to face a club team?

└ The Olympic team isn’t even the senior national team; what are your complaints?

└ Is it right for a national team to face a single club?

└ No ;; Just saying the Olympic team is U23 doesn’t mean there are many players who’ve settled into pro.

└ Plus, the national team consists of selected pros, so this is actually a good experience for the Olympic team, right? They’re facing the German champions.

└ What the heck is this guy talking about? With the generational change, our Olympic team is practically at the same level as the senior national team now.

└ Wow, lmao, except for a few, they’re basically the senior national team.

└ For real, it’s a legendary golden generation.

└ I really hope they just keep growing this way, lol.

[Indeed. Did someone from Jeju Island come to see Son Jinho? As a football fan before being a commentator, it’s a moving moment to witness Son Jinho play in South Korea.]

└ Hah… Why do I feel so thrilled watching my brother warm up?

└ If only it wasn’t for the KFA, I could see him more often.

└ Even the commentator trolled the KFA, lmao.

└ Ah, my bro is warming up, and I’m loosening my voice, lol.

└ Why are you loosening your voice?

└ Ah, lol, I have to shout “Ho-Woo!”

└ In this match, my bro is an offensive midfielder. For real, 3 Ho-Woos is totally possible, lol.

└ With 3 Ho-Woos, my voice will probably need some rest, lol, I should warm up my voice too.

[That’s right. And we should pay attention to Son Jinho’s performance as he plays as the offensive midfielder since Shinji Kagawa’s transfer.]

└ But does my bro even know how to play as a CAM?

└ I’ve heard he can play all midfield positions.

└ Can he play the role number 4 too?

└ Yeah, but then his offensive abilities might be lacking.

[During his time at Geumsun High School, and in the U17 and U23 national teams, Son Jinho played as an offensive midfielder. I wonder what kind of performance he will show today.]

└ Wow… I used to go to watch games when he was at Geumsun High; it’s nostalgic.

└ For real, lol, that was already two years ago.

└ Now that I think about it, my bro has changed a lot compared to two years ago.

└ First of all, he seems taller and fitter now.

└ Isn’t my bro’s height 183 cm?

└ It’s 184 cm, but his growth plates are almost closed, so he probably won’t grow anymore.

└ What is this? Am I going through menopause? Why am I about to cry looking at Son Jinho?

└ For real, it hits deeper because I’ve watched him since his school days,ㅠㅠㅠㅠ.

└ No, that’s not the reason.

└ ? Then what is it?

└ I ended up getting married after making eye contact with my wife while watching Son Jinho play.

└ Ah, lol, so it’s not tears of sadness but tears of blood, huh? lmao.

[Marriage is hell…no! With the referee’s whistle, the match between Dortmund and the South Korea U23 Olympic National Team begins!]

└ Lmao, don’t react looking at the comment section, lol.

└ Ah, lol, it’s a comment I just couldn’t ignore as a married man, lol.

*
The match began.

Dortmund used a 4-2-3-1 formation, just like last season, and the transferred Marco Reus was also in the starting lineup.

Unlike Barcelona in 2010, which garnered criticism with their lackadaisical attitude, Dortmund’s players were diligent in their schedules, with me as a key player on the team. South Korean football fans wore satisfied smiles.

[Title: Dortmund players spotted at Everland.]

[Title: Dortmund players experience Hanok.]

[Title: What kind of style is Marco Reus in Hanbok? Damn, lol, it’s epic.]

At a time when not much was known about Korea, the Dortmund players actively experiencing Korean culture was enough to instill national pride.

Football fans started to compare and criticize Barcelona’s visit to Korea.

“Barcelona got reevaluated due to that no-show incident. Ah, it’s not Barcelona but Messi, who played through a cold and fever, getting reevaluated instead.”

Well.

Messi also pulled a no-show in Hong Kong later on.

Anyway…

With Marco Reus at the center quickly destabilizing the flanks, Dortmund relentlessly overwhelmed the U23 Olympic National Team.

Sure, there was a skill gap between individual players, but more significant was the issue of teamwork.

The national team has relatively less time to sync compared to club teams.

Perhaps that’s why most national teams that succeeded in international tournaments had players who usually played together in the same club.

Spain, which succeeded in a three-peat with the 2008 Euro – 2010 World Cup – 2012 Euro, had most of their players from Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

Germany, too, had its core players from Bayern Munich and Dortmund when they won the 2014 Brazil World Cup trophy.

“Seong-ryong! Be careful with the press!”

Whack.

“Damn!”

Dortmund successfully stole the ball from the Olympic National Team’s territory with a strong forward press.

Dortmund’s trademark short counter was quickly unfolding. Ilkay Gündoğan’s pass reached me, entering the penalty box.

Boom─!

As I intercepted the ball, I promptly took a shot slightly off-target. Though it didn’t go exactly where I wanted, I had perfectly distracted the goalkeeper, and the ball tore into the net.

“Fire!!”

I shouted words of consolation to goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong, who seemed regrettable about conceding, then turned to face the stands.

As I scored, the atmosphere in Sangam World Cup Stadium began to buzz.

The crowd’s eyes turned toward me.

Gazing with hope.

I slowly turned my right hand as if fulfilling their desire and ran toward the corner flag.

“Waaaahh─!”

As I spun my right hand, the roar grew louder.

As I got closer to the corner flag, the audience stood up with excited faces.

In that moment, I crossed my arms and showcased a Ho-Woo celebration.

“Ho-Wooooo─!”

A thunderous Ho-Woo echoed, shaking the Seoul Sangam World Cup Stadium.

*
[Goooooooal─! It’s in! Son Jinho’s opening goal has struck! Son Jinho’s celebration unfolds on the ground! It’s the first time in 2 years and 3 months that his celebration has taken place in Korea!!]

└ Ho-Wooooo─!

└ Who would have thought I’d shout Ho-Woo in Korea again?ㅠ

└ Ho-Wooooo─! ㅠㅠ

[The boy who left Korea to study football has returned as a world-class player to the holy land of Korean football in just 2 years!!]

[Even though the whole nation scolded and pointed fingers!! The boy never gave up his nationality!! This boy is the proud football player of South Korea, Son Jinho!!]

*