Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 193

< Three Lions! >

Like a temporary mercenary, Johann played alongside the West Ham players.

The game ended in a 3-1 victory, with Johann scoring two of West Ham’s three goals.

He felt that his physical condition wasn’t what it used to be.

He felt a bit heavy, and his stamina had noticeably decreased.

Fortunately, it wasn’t as bad as his brother had feared—he wasn’t gasping for air after just 10 minutes. However, towards the end of the first half, he could feel his breathing becoming labored.

But the important thing was that Johann wasn’t a player who relied solely on stamina.

He knew how to use his available energy as efficiently as possible.

Even though he had returned after retirement, he was still only eighteen years old.

The age when most of his peers were still in youth teams.

Therefore, his stamina issues didn’t seem like a critical problem.

Also, his instincts were still sharp.

It wasn’t like he had been out for 3 or 5 years.

It had only been a period of less than a year.

This was a gap that even active players sometimes experienced.

Players who suffered injuries that sidelined them for the season often had similar breaks.

Of course, that was enough to significantly dull their senses, but Johann’s instincts were simply innate.

Not something gained through training, but something he was born with.

It couldn’t just disappear in an instant.

Johann’s goal-scoring ability was the same as last year, and his knack for delivering in crucial moments hadn’t changed.

“Johann is Johann.”

“You shouldn’t doubt a god.”

Since it was only a short-term return for the World Cup, this was Johann’s first and last game playing in a West Ham uniform again.

However, the fans were overjoyed and moved.

Some fans were even shedding tears.

Just being able to see Johann on the field again was enough for them.

Also,

his teammates, with whom he had achieved great things, felt the same way.

“It was great to be able to play with you again, even for a short time.”

“See you at the World Cup.”

“See you in the final. We’ll be waiting.”

“Hehe, you poor guys. I’m going with him.”

“Lucky you, Bellamy.”

Bellamy was the happiest of all.

Because Bellamy would be able to play with Johann on the national team as well.

Everyone was envious of Bellamy.

Anyway, Johann was Johann.

A year-long hiatus or a slightly changed physique didn’t seem to matter.

With Johann leading the charge, all the teams participating in the World Cup would be trembling in their boots.

ㆍㆍㆍ

-Coach Chris Ranister announces the final 26-man World Cup roster… Includes Johann Van

-What’s going on? Johann Van, who played in only one game this season, is listed in the Ballon d’Or [annual football award presented by French news magazine L’Équipe] odds rankings… Low chance of winning, but confirms fan support

-Three Lions [nickname for the England national football team] arrive at St. George’s Park! [England national football team training facility]

-England national team to depart after friendly match against Denmark

-[Friendly] England 3 : 1 Denmark, Johann Van plays 45 minutes, scores 2 goals

-Goal drought resolved in one fell swoop… Class is eternal

-Three Lions arrive in Spain, the land of the decisive battle!

-Group stage begins on the 12th with a match against Senegal… England aims to advance as the top team in the group

ㆍㆍㆍ

Brother: You know we’ve already booked tickets for the final, right?

Brother: We’re definitely watching until the final

Brother: If you don’t want to go home alone, you absolutely have to make it to the final

Brother: No, wait

Brother: Absolutely win!!

Johann shrugged after checking his brother’s message.

Well, he wouldn’t have come back if he was just going to play a game or two.

The reason he ultimately decided to return was to bring back the smiles that had disappeared from his family’s faces.

The more he played, the more his family would smile.

To do that, he would have to play until the final, of course.

Grumble-

“…”

Johann, who was lying on the bed in his room, rubbed his stomach.

Sigh.

But on the other hand, he also wanted the tournament to end quickly.

He was hungry.

No, to be precise, he was just feeling a bit peckish.

He had just finished eating, but it wasn’t to his liking.

Mostly lean meat, fish, and vegetables.

He was stuck on that diet he had vowed never to look at again.

While regretting his return, Johann had stuffed himself with it because he was hungry.

“But the effect…”

Johann took off his shirt and headed to the bathroom.

Standing in front of the mirror, he struck various poses and checked his body.

It had been about three weeks since he decided to return.

He had lost quite a bit of weight in that time.

Actually, he hadn’t done anything special.

He just walked around here and there, ran a bit, and cut down on snacks.

But that alone had made him lose more than 5 kilograms [approximately 11 pounds].

Grumble-

Well.

His body was already digesting the food he had just eaten, so he would lose weight on its own just by cutting down on snacks.

“It feels a bit lighter.”

He didn’t like this feeling of being peckish, but he didn’t mind the feeling of his body being lighter.

“Oof.”

Johann flopped back onto the bed.

“Hmm…”

The World Cup.

The biggest soccer tournament in the world.

Johann recalled scenes he had seen in videos of an old player named Maradona [Argentine professional footballer and manager].

The heat that could be felt even through the screen.

Those scenes that looked like war rather than soccer.

Johann had reached the pinnacle of soccer in every way, so he had no regrets.

But would the World Cup be different?

He felt a strange sense of anticipation.

Johann was surprised that he was feeling this way.

ㆍㆍㆍ

The 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Spain and Portugal, is also known as the Iberian World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup has been changed to include 48 countries starting with the 2026 North American World Cup.

Therefore, the existing group arrangement from Group A to Group H has been greatly expanded to Group A to Group P.

Each group consists of three teams.

The top two teams from these three teams advance to the round of 32 knockout stage, and the third-place team is eliminated.

England was in Group C with Senegal and Uzbekistan.

There was no problem with advancing to the round of 32 from this group anyway, and the goal was to advance as the top team and meet the second-place team from Group D in the round of 32.

Group D includes Brazil, Japan, and South Africa.

Assuming that Brazil would take first place without any upsets, the difference in atmosphere between advancing as the first-place team and advancing as the second-place team was quite significant.

Because it meant either meeting Brazil or meeting Japan or South Africa.

Anyway, England had no worries about not being able to finish first in their group.

They just regarded the group stage as an extension of the evaluation matches.

The goal was only to get Johann’s condition to its best.

It was true that Johann had shown class in the game against Everton and the friendly against Denmark, but it couldn’t be said that his physical condition had fully recovered.

His already limited activity had become even more limited, and it seemed difficult for him to play a full game.

In the end, it was a matter of stamina, but it seemed like it would be resolved by playing games.

And so, the World Cup began.

ㆍㆍㆍ

The first match of the group stage, against Senegal, was held at Estadio Balaídos, the home stadium of RCD Espanyol [Spanish professional football club].

“It’s coming home!” [popular chant in support of the England national football team]

“Let’s go! The Three Lions!”

The Balaídos stadium was filled with spectators.

Fans cheering for England, Senegal fans, and fans who came just to see Johann in person.

“Johann!”

“Wow, he’s even bigger in person.”

From the warm-up before the game, the eyes of the countless spectators were focused solely on Johann.

Even the Senegal fans couldn’t take their eyes off Johann.

It was inevitable.

Johann was the world’s biggest star, and even a star who had returned from retirement.