Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 194

< Episode 194 >

“It’s chaos.”

“What is?”

“The Korean sites. They’re in a festive mood because Johan is playing against Japan.”

“Well, they would be.”

Lohan and Ban Seok-ho, sitting in the stands of Valencia’s home stadium, Estadio de Mestalla, waiting for the round of 32 match to begin, chuckled.

The news that Japan would face England had sparked a celebratory atmosphere in Korea.

“Korea is up against Uruguay, right?”

“Yes. Well, it’s better than facing England with Johan. It’s still difficult, though.”

“Even if they lose in the round of 32, Korean fans would be satisfied as long as they lose by a smaller margin than Japan.”

“They say they’ll forgive you for choosing the England national team if you beat Japan.”

“Hahaha.”

Ban Seok-ho, who had played for the Korean national team for a long time, naturally knew about the rivalry between Korea and Japan, and Lohan, who had come to England as a child, was also well aware of it.

Even though he had spent more time in England than in Korea, roots are roots.

Lohan was always aware of that, and that’s why he hoped Johan would fulfill the wishes of the Korean fans.

Well, even if it wasn’t just for that reason.

He had to crush Japan to advance to the round of 16 anyway.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Let’s go! The Three Lions!” [Nickname for the English national football team]

*

The second match of the round of 32! It begins with the whistle. England in white uniforms will start the game from the left, and Japan in blue uniforms from the right.>

Ahead of this World Cup, Japan, under the leadership of coach Suzuki Itpei for the past two years, was a team with quite a few changes from the Japan of the past.

Unlike the past, which was represented by intricate passes and teamwork, the current Japan has evolved into a rather tough team that is not afraid of strong pressure and rough play on top of that basic foundation.

Thanks to this, the Japan of the past often struggled in the Asian regional qualifiers.

However, in this World Cup qualifier, Japan secured a spot in the finals quite smoothly with a rather overwhelming record.

The passing play and teamwork they possessed were top-level in Asia, and their physical play was also at a level that was effective enough within Asia.

“I am confident that the talk of only being effective at the Asian level will not come up after this tournament. We pride ourselves on being close to the world level.”

Perhaps that’s why Japan’s confidence in this World Cup was so great.

After winning 2-1 against Chile in their final evaluation match and send-off ceremony, coach Suzuki Itpei expressed his confident aspirations.

He said that he would prove that Japan is not just a top class at the Asian level, but also competitive enough at the world level and return.

That determination was felt in the Japanese national team in today’s game as well.

Early in the game.

Contrary to many people’s expectations, Japan began to show a willingness to confront England head-on, rather than focusing on defense.

Issei, to the left. Japan continues to exchange passes and use the field widely.>

Japan is surprisingly raising their lines. It seems they think they can handle a head-on confrontation.>

Certainly, it seemed that it was not just words to show off their spirit.

Coach Itpei and Japan seemed to sincerely believe that their soccer could be played at the world level, and they seemed to want to show that.

That confidence was certainly worth admiring.

The problem was,

The difference between ideal and reality was too great.

Bellamy cuts it off with a clean tackle. To Jack Price. Price, immediately forward! He saw Johan!>

In the 11th minute of the first half, England, after cutting off Japan’s attack, immediately launched a counterattack.

England’s counterattack route is simple.

Since all the midfielders are capable of forward passes, once everyone gets the ball, they find Johan’s position, find a way to pass the ball, and then pass it.

Then, Johan takes the pass and finishes it off.

That pattern that allowed West Ham to conquer Europe a year ago.

Coach Ranieri has transplanted that pattern directly into the national team.

Thwack-!

“Ugh!”

A Japanese defender who had rushed at Johan, who was in position, was thrown off.

Is it a unique Japanese tactic to crash into someone and then fall down themselves?

As mentioned earlier, Japan is now a team that enjoys rough physical play.

However, the players who collided with Johan realized.

That the gap was too big to fight at the world level with this.

‘No, but aren’t we the same Asians!’

I couldn’t understand it, but I shouldn’t try to understand it in the first place.

Johan turns lightly! As is, a right-footed shoooooot-!>

Wow, it went in!>

It goes in! Johan’s wonderful long-range shot is sucked straight into the goal net! England’s first goal in the 11th minute of the first half!>

Johan began lecturing Japan on what the real world level is with a single long-range shot.

*

Everyone has a plausible plan, they say.

Until they get hit.

Japan has switched to a very defensive posture.>

After conceding a blow to Johan, Japan became humble.

They lowered the lines they had raised deeply, set up a solid guard, and took an attitude that they would not concede any additional goals.

The confidence and spirit they had shown in the early part of the first half were nowhere to be seen.

England leisurely passes the ball around. There’s no need to rush.>

In response to Japan’s attitude, England responded by leisurely passing the ball around.

There’s no need to rush since they already have the lead.

But, more than that.

England’s composure seemed to come from the confidence that they could score additional goals whenever they wanted, rather than from a one-point lead.

And that was actually the case.

Jack Price’s corner kick. It heads sharply towards the goal!>

Johan-!>

It went in! A powerful header! Johan Van crushes it with his head, adding another point!>

Johan’s second goal came in the 29th minute of the first half.

He crushed the corner kick that Jack Price had put up from high in the air.

The height difference between him and the Japanese defenders who jumped up with him was almost a hand’s breadth.

“How is that kind of jump possible?”

“I know, right? With that body.”

The fact that Johan has an incredible jumping ability is something that every soccer fan knows.

However, since Johan was quite heavy now, the fans who were watching couldn’t help but stick out their tongues in amazement.

It was like a bug in the physics engine.

Isn’t it against the laws of physics that such a heavy body can fly so lightly?

“···”

“What is that…”

The most dumbfounded would have been the Japanese players who jumped up with Johan.

His body is as big and heavy as a rock, but his jump is one head above them.

It was enough to feel ‘the wall’.

At this point, I can’t help but recall the determination that coach Suzuki Itpei had revealed before the game.

“There is no opponent that we cannot win with mental strength.”

Well… I don’t know.

It seems that there is a difference that cannot be overcome even with mental strength.

In fact, the moment Johan’s second goal went in.

It seemed that even that mental strength of Japan was broken.

The Japanese players who felt the wall hung their heads, and it seemed that their fighting spirit had disappeared from their eyes.

*

Jack Price’s powerful long-range shot! Makes it 3-0!>

Before the end of the first half, England made the score 3-0.

And Korea, which was watching this in real time, was in an uproar.

“Ah, this is so funny.”

“Why?”

“As expected, the empire is the British Empire.”

“Haha…”

Lohan, who had been looking at his phone from time to time, burst out laughing.

He was so excited that all sorts of 드립 [Korean slang for ad-libs or witty remarks] were rampant.

└??? : We will show the power of Ultra Nippon (actually said)

└??? : We are confident even at the world level (actually said)

└반돈신’s Gaksital [Reference to a Korean drama character] was legendary lol

└Wiping them out lol

└I didn’t even eat, but I’m full

└Burp

└I was going to show you Sushi-Taka, but why did it become a ten-back [Soccer term referring to a very defensive formation] ㅜㅜㅜ

└Originally, if you touch something you shouldn’t touch, you get hit hard and become docile, that’s your specialty

└The Great Johan

Lohan, who was smiling and looking at the reactions, put his phone in his pocket as the second half was about to begin.

Then, he scratched his head.

“But, can Korea beat Uruguay…?”

“I don’t know.”

ㆍㆍㆍ

-[Round of 32] Spain 3 : 2 Switzerland

-[Round of 32] Brazil 3 : 1 Senegal

-[Round of 32] France 2 : 0 Iran

-[Round of 32] Uruguay 2 : 1 South Korea

-[Round of 32] Netherlands 5 : 1 Saudi Arabia

-[Round of 32] Argentina 3 : 1 Nigeria

-[Round of 32] England 5 : 0 Japan

-Johan Van, scores his first hat trick in this World Cup! Already 7 goals, leading the scoring charts alone

-What is the current scoring ranking? 1st place Johan Van (7 goals), 2nd place Kylian Mbappe (4 goals), 3rd place Pablo Enrique (3 goals)

-All 32nd round matches have ended, the round of 16 bracket is complete

-England vs Mexico

ㆍㆍㆍ

After the round of 32, 16 teams survived.

Looking at the names, it was as follows.

Round of 16 Bracket>

◆England vs Mexico

◆Netherlands vs Uruguay

◆Argentina vs Portugal

◆Spain vs Serbia

◆Brazil vs Denmark

◆Germany vs Sweden

◆France vs Colombia

◆Italy vs Croatia

If I were to pick the characteristics of this round of 32, it would be that there were no upsets.

Most of the teams that were considered top dogs, or rather, almost all of them, won, and thanks to that, the round of 16 bracket was so well-organized that none of them could be left out.

It was also noticeable that quite a few West Ham players advanced to the round of 16.

Bellamy, Johan’s England.

Martin Petrovic’s Serbia.

Mikael Jenkinson’s Denmark.

Dani Guimarães’ Brazil.

And, Daniele Capello’s Italy.

The only one who was eliminated in the round of 32 was Scotland’s Jacob Buckley, so in the group chat room where the West Ham players were, there was comfort for Buckley… no way.

Only emoticons laughing and teasing were filled, and Buckley gritted his teeth, saying he would see them after the tournament.

Anyway.

Johan’s England was to face Mexico in the round of 16.

Mexico, a powerhouse in North and Central America.

Mexico is a team with many unique characteristics in many ways.

First of all, when talking about Mexico, you can’t leave out the round of 16 jinx.

There is a saying that Mexico is at least in the round of 16, and at best in the round of 16.

This is because they have always advanced to the round of 16 but have not been able to advance to the quarterfinals.

It’s not just a feeling.

Looking at the records, it’s to the point where you might think this is not a jinx but a law.

From the 1994 US World Cup to the 2026 North American World Cup.

They have finished the tournament in the round of 16 for 9 consecutive tournaments.

It’s truly an amazing record.

And, the 10th tournament in a row where the jinx continued.

Many people were predicting that Mexico would continue their round of 16 jinx in this World Cup as well.

Because they were going to meet Johan’s England.

Advancing to the World Cup for 10 consecutive tournaments is also an amazing record, but advancing to the round of 16 for 10 consecutive tournaments is a crazy record.

In the meantime, failing to advance to the quarterfinals for 10 consecutive tournaments is also an unbelievable record.

Whether Mexico will be able to establish that great record.

“Let’s set a great record!”

“Oh!”

It was England who was shouting fighting for that record, but anyway.

The round of 32 is over, and now it’s a real full-fledged tournament.

The World Cup round of 16 was waiting.

ㆍㆍㆍ

This is Wanda Metropolitano. In the first match of the round of 16, England, who defeated Japan 5-0, and Mexico, who defeated Wales 3-2, will fight for a ticket to the quarterfinals.>

The stadium assigned to the round of 16 match between England and Mexico is Wanda Metropolitano.

A familiar stadium to Johan.

It’s a stadium with good memories.

Last year in the Champions League semi-final, he secured a spot in the final here.

Will he be able to leave good memories here today as well?

Today, England has the same starting eleven that played in the round of 32. On the other hand, Mexico has changes in their roster. As expected, defensive changes are noticeable, right?>

Mexico had a fierce slugfest with Wales, but they probably don’t have the confidence to do that with England. They would have seen how Japan collapsed.>

Mexico doesn’t have any particularly outstanding strengths, which is why they are a unique team.

South America has technique, Europe has power, and Asia has teamwork, etc. Each continent and country has its own characteristics, but Mexico feels like it has a little bit of everything mixed in.

All the players have techniques comparable to South American players, they enjoy rough play, and most of the starters play in the Mexican league, so they also have strong teamwork.

Overall, it feels like a hexagon.

It’s no wonder Mexico is a regular in the round of 16.

However,

The reason why Mexico can’t go up to the quarterfinals may also be here.

Not having a clear style and being not bad in all aspects means that it is a bit ambiguous in all aspects.

The hexagon is a hexagon, but compared to the strong teams of each continent, that hexagon is a bit small.

In fact, when facing a strong team, a team with clear strengths and weaknesses that are so unbalanced is more likely to create an upset than this type.

For example, a team that only focuses on counterattacks because other positions are below average but has one world-class winger.

Or, a team that plays swamp soccer and tenaciously clings to the ball because their defensive organization is top-notch.

Mexico was not that kind of team, and in the end, it was a team that had to compete purely on physique [physical strength and build].

That might have been the cause.

The reason why they always go to the round of 16 but never go to the quarterfinals.

Most of the teams they meet in the round of 16 are likely to be strong teams with a higher physique than Mexico.

The fight can’t be won in a physique vs physique match.

In that sense, today’s game didn’t seem easy for Mexico either.

Because England boasted the biggest physique in this tournament.

We can see Johan Van, who is challenging for his 8th goal and more today. Still, as the game goes on, he seems to be getting more agile, right?>

Still, his uniform is tight.>

Well, that’s not to say that Johan’s physique is different from other heavyweights.