Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 197

< Episode 197 – Skill Pouch >

From the moment Johan started to drift downfield, the Dutch defense was collectively bewildered.

It was something he rarely did anymore.

Actually, it felt a bit strange from the start.

I knew Johan was the type to conserve his energy as much as possible, but it felt like he was conserving it a bit too much.

Of course, they realized it was probably due to his physical condition.

There’s no way he’d be in the same shape as when he was active.

You could tell just by looking at him.

Besides, they were probably accumulating fatigue around the quarter-finals.

Considering these factors, the Dutch players had come to a conclusion.

Johan’s condition wasn’t great today.

It seemed like they had a chance.

But, they shouldn’t have come to that conclusion.

The conclusion the Dutch players should have drawn wasn’t that Johan’s condition didn’t seem great, so they had a chance.

It was that they should be even more careful since Johan seemed to be conserving his energy.

Just because Johan was running around in a tight uniform, didn’t mean they could think of him as just some neighborhood *ajeossi* [middle-aged man, often used informally].

He was the player who had won the Ballon d’Or [prestigious annual football award] consecutively in the past two years.

In any case, the Dutch players knew that Johan was dangerous wherever he caught the ball.

Therefore, even though it was near the halfway line, two midfielders strongly stuck to him.

However,

Johan easily shook off their pressure.

Like a former pro showing up at a Sunday league game, the audience marveled at how easily he controlled the ball.

But,

An even bigger exclamation erupted a moment later.

Thwack-!

The long pass Johan unleashed shot out like it was measured with a ruler.

The speed and accuracy of that ball were comparable to those of other midfielders famous for their passing.

No, it even felt more elegant and precise.

Even Van der Velden and Kramer, who had been sticking to Johan, were distracted by watching the flying ball.

‘Ah.’

Van der Velden and Kramer, realizing their mistake, turned around.

But, there was no one there.

They hurriedly turned their heads to find Johan,

‘Crazy?’

How could this be?

Johan was already running near the penalty box.

Was he using some kind of teleportation?

“I’m going!”

England’s left winger, Mikel Myers, who received the ball on the left, assessed his teammates’ positions and prepared to cross, tapping the ball.

Because Johan’s switch pass was so fast and accurate, he could prepare for the kick leisurely, like a corner kick.

Thwack-!

So, naturally, Myers’ cross accurately pierced into the box.

And,

What flew towards that cross was the massive Johan.

Wham-!

The impact sound of a header that didn’t sound like a header echoed.

A heavy impact sound, like a water balloon rather than a ball.

Since Johan’s heavy mass and bullet-like speed were combined, it was a very simple scientific principle that the power in the header was enormous.

Thud-!

Cheering England players and fans.

And, dumbfounded Dutch players.

They conceded a goal in an instant without being able to do anything.

That’s because it was a goal created with just two passes.

Johan opening the pass to the left once.

And Reynolds passing it back to Johan once.

A goal reminiscent of the days when they were called ‘Boring England’ (a play on words, suggesting predictable long-ball tactics).

Of course, that was a derogatory term, but now it was a good example of effective, direct soccer.

Direct soccer isn’t necessarily bad.

If you use it well like this, it’s the best in terms of efficiency.

<31 minutes into the first half, England takes the lead 1-0!>

Hauer realized his mistake.

It’s Johan.

Not anyone else, Johan.

He shouldn’t have let his guard down just because he had been quieter than he thought for the first 30 minutes.

But, there was also a part of him that was relieved because it was Johan.

He hadn’t conceded a goal for 30 minutes against Johan, no less.

So he also gained confidence.

That he could win today’s game.

‘As expected…’

Hauer smiled as he watched Johan, who had scored a goal and was returning to his position.

Even if he retired and came back, Johan is Johan.

The situation of conceding the first goal was very painful, but Hauer, a well-known Johan *deokhu* [Korean slang for enthusiast or fanboy], could feel his fanboy heart for Johan growing even bigger.

In any case, Hauer’s Netherlands was not easy to deal with.

10 minutes after the first goal.

The Netherlands’ equalizer came in the 40th minute of the first half.

In a corner kick situation, center back Pierre Hezemann’s header exploded, tying the game.

After that, the game flowed fiercely until the final whistle blew.

“I’m going crazy. The game is really fun, but it’s nerve-wracking.”

“But Johan will be more active in the second half. You could see him pacing himself.”

“Right? It definitely felt like he was focusing on the second half.”

“He’ll show you. Is Johan the type to end it like this?”

Johan nodded at Ban Seok-ho’s words.

Of course, he believes in Johan.

He knows better than anyone that there’s nothing to fear as long as Johan is on the ground.

He’s felt that a lot over the past year.

However, what he thought while watching the first half was that the World Cup stage is definitely not an easy stage.

The players’ eyes were different from the start.

Eyes burning so hot that they were heating up just by looking at them.

It’s no wonder that the fans sitting in the stands are cheering much more passionately than usual.

It happens naturally.

Because the players’ determination not to lose is conveyed.

Anyway, the World Cup is not an easy stage even for Johan.

This was the same for all the players who were called *yeokdaegeup* [all-time great].

I don’t know about Pele or Maradona… Look at Lionel Messi or Ronaldo.

Even players who have written legendary histories in Europe have suffered setbacks in the World Cup.

Of course, I believe.

That Johan will overcome all adversities and stand tall at the top.

To Rohan, who is confident that he won’t be *millida* [pushed back/dominated] to anyone in terms of his heart and knowledge of soccer, Johan is the *yeokdae* [all-time] number one in his heart.

This is not a thought because he is Johan’s brother.

It was a story from a soccer fan who has seen Johan’s prime with his own eyes.

“Okay… Let’s go!”

The game continued into the second half.

First half ended in a 1-1 draw.

Johan, who was going out in the second half, felt a little impatient.

The opponent was a tougher team than he thought.

In particular, the attack was quite threatening.

There were several scenes where they would have conceded without the goalkeeper’s super save or the opponent’s mistake.

He had to prevent going to extra time as much as possible.

To do that, he had to score quickly first.

That’s all.

As soon as the second half started, Johan came down near the halfway line again.

Then, all the Dutch players began to retreat to the rear.

The Dutch players also have the ability to learn, so they have no choice but to recall the memory of the first goal they conceded.

Thanks to that, Johan was able to catch the ball and turn around with ease without pressure.

All the players except Johan are marked, so there is no corner to pass to.

Hmm.

But is this right?

Blocking the rest of the players except Johan?

Tatatat-!

If there’s no place to pass, he can just dribble out alone.

Johan starts to pick up speed.

Then, as if realizing their mistake, the Dutch defense began to narrow the gap in the center.

Who is Johan?

He is a striker with the breakthrough ability to tear apart Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid alone.

No matter how many there are, Johan is a player with the boldness not to stop his rush, so the Dutch players had to focus on Johan.

But,

If they do this, the left and right sides are empty.

Thwack-!

It’s a hell of a dilemma.

A dilemma more painful than whether you like your mom or dad more.

Johan has the boldness to dribble with the ball if he wants to, but he also has the intelligence to actively use the easy way if there is one.

Of course, that intelligence comes from his personality that hates troublesome things.

Lazy people are usually good at *janmeori* [using clever tricks or shortcuts].

This time, a leisurely cross angle opened.

Johan running towards the box, and the defenders are very nervous.

Everyone has a fearful expression.

Still,

“Mike!”

It was De Klerk who took courage.

‘I’ll block it this time.’

The reason he conceded the first goal was because he wasn’t prepared.

But it’s different now.

De Klerk was in position on the road, and he was confident that he would never give up the aerial ball.

There’s no way he can’t jump higher than that heavy body.

Even now, it’s time for his stamina to really drop.

It means that his already heavy body will feel even heavier.

Thwack-!

Reynolds’ cross heads towards the goal.

A cross that comes up high rather than low and fast.

De Klerk’s pride was hurt when he saw the cross.

Because the dropping point of the cross was the position where he was standing.

He’s clearly standing there, but the cross is going there?

‘Don’t be ridiculous…’

Whoosh-

‘Wh…!’

A black shadow cast over De Klerk’s face.

What De Klerk witnessed was a huge eagle.

An eagle snatching prey from right in front of its eyes.

Wham-!

Thud-!

De Klerk was dumbfounded.

Because Johan cut off the ball before he even reached his highest point.

What the hell is this crazy guy…!

“…?”

De Klerk, who was *gyeongak* [astonished] in vain, was even more *gyeongak* [astonished] the next moment.

Tatatat-!

Because Johan was holding the ball that was stuck in the goal and going back to the halfway line.

“…”

Was it a *chakgak* [misunderstanding] that he thought it was *halmanhada* [manageable]?

Was he just saving his strength for the second half?

Can’t he overcome his wall?

At that moment, De Klerk felt *muryeokgam* [powerlessness], and now all he could hope for was that the attackers would score a lot of goals.

There were about 40 minutes left, but coach Hauer looked very *geupada* [impatient].

Standing in the technical area, he gestured to the players to go up and ordered them to be aggressive.

That’s because he finally realized that time was not on their side.

Johan will continue to aim for goals, and he has enough power left to do so.

So, he shouldn’t think that he only needs to make up one goal in the remaining 40 minutes.

He’ll need at least three goals.

Not to win, but to at least go to extra time.

However, now that it’s like this.

Now England has another weapon.

A counterattack using Johan.

England is able to cope in all situations because of Johan.

England defenders throwing their bodies with the thought of just blocking unconditionally.

The Netherlands also tries to attack with simple patterns, but England’s concentration is alive.

And,

The opportunity to use the newly acquired weapon has come.

Thwack-!

The ball that was cleared went over the halfway line, and Johan ran towards the ball.

The Netherlands was attacking with the defense line raised.

All the defenses are trying to backcourt with a frantic full sprint,

Wham-!

It’s Johan who catches the ball first.

Johan deliberately kicks the first touch long and continues to run, picking up speed.

That speed is scary.

But De Klerk also ran with his teeth clenched.

Even if tall players have a little less agility, their running power in a wide space has advantages over small players.

De Klerk’s running power was at the level of competing for first place in his team, Liverpool, and just following Johan without a big difference surprised the audience.

If Johan was in his active body, he would never have been able to catch up.

But it was possible now.

However,

That wasn’t important.

Tatatat-!

When De Klerk caught up, Johan slowed down slightly.

Then De Klerk also frantically slows down.

Very naturally, if you brake suddenly while running at full speed, it is difficult to even control your body.

It means that the center of the body can be easily *heuteureojida* [disrupted/unbalanced].

Therefore, Johan’s step over that went in there was so effective.

Perhaps, he let De Klerk catch up on purpose to give him this humiliation.

Johan completely shook off De Klerk.