Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 200

< 1 vs ALL >

Among all the countries in the world, is there any nation with a talent pool as wide and deep as Brazil?

Today, Brazil’s starting lineup was the epitome of extravagance.

Eduardo, the goalkeeper from Manchester City; Matias Gustavo, the captain from Chelsea; Yohan’s former teammate Dani Guimarães; Kleberson, Paris’s ace; Fabricio, Real Madrid’s rising star; and so on.

In addition, every position was filled with world-class players, all of whom were starters at major clubs.

Even the players on the bench were the same caliber.

It’s almost a waste to have such talent sitting on the bench.

Of course, in football history, a star-studded team hasn’t always guaranteed success.

In fact, teams full of superstars often revealed one critical problem:

Teamwork.

When everyone is a star, and everyone is trying to shine the brightest, they often fail to harmonize, leading to discord.

But Brazil is different.

Their strength lies in the chemistry between teammates.

Also, they have players who embrace the ‘dirty work’.

Defensive midfielder Renato Econa and central striker Andre Lima exemplify this. Renato Econa’s presence allows attacking midfielders Alfredo Domingo and Diego Casas to roam freely, while Andre Lima, a textbook example of a false 9 [a striker who drops deep to create space for wingers], enables the left and right wingers to score frequently.

Because they have players who act as lubricants, keeping the team running smoothly, Brazil avoids the typical disadvantages of a star-studded team.

That’s what makes them so formidable.

In the early stages of the game, Brazil was in control.

Even under pressure from the England players, the Brazilian players didn’t lose possession easily, leisurely passing the ball around with their signature rhythm, increasing their possession rate.

Then, moments of brilliance began to emerge.

In the 7th minute of the first half, Fabricio’s shot came after breaking through the right flank with individual skill.

Fortunately, the keeper made a save, but it was a shot that immediately energized the Brazilian supporters in the stadium.

Clearly, this Santiago Bernabeu is a neutral venue, but somehow it feels like Brazil’s home stadium.

Is it because Brazil has two players who play for Real Madrid?

In particular, Fabricio, one of them, seems to be in excellent form today.

‘I haven’t forgotten.’

Fabricio stares at the goal as he prepares for the corner kick.

Fabricio had not forgotten the memory of losing the Champions League trophy to West Ham last season.

The opponent today is not West Ham, but England has Yohan.

After all, West Ham was synonymous with Yohan, and Yohan was West Ham.

So, it’s perfectly reasonable to think of today’s game as a revenge match.

‘What could be a more splendid revenge than this?’

Fabricio thinks as he runs towards the ball.

He gave up the Champions League, but if he lifts the World Cup, what could be a more wonderful revenge than that?

BBAAAAAAAAAANG-!

SWOOOOOOOOOSH-

PAAAANG-!

Fabricio’s corner kick went low and fast towards the near post, and Kleberson rushed in and cleverly redirected it with a subtle back heel.

It rippled the net instantly.

Brazil was definitely showing the form of a team destined for the final.

*

“Too early…”

“They should have held out for at least 10 minutes.”

“I know. The momentum will definitely shift.”

“That’s what’s scary.”

Lohan and Ban Seok-ho sighed, their faces etched with worry.

They conceded the first goal in just 8 minutes of the first half.

In fact, if the opponent wasn’t Brazil, they wouldn’t have been so concerned.

Conceding a goal early could even be seen as a positive, as it leaves plenty of time to equalize.

But as mentioned, the problem is that the opponent is Brazil.

Brazil is like a spark that can ignite a wildfire.

Once they gain momentum, they become an unstoppable force.

Brazil, having scored the first goal early, will naturally gain confidence and won’t be satisfied with a single goal.

If England doesn’t pull themselves together, it could quickly become 2-0, 3-0.

Because the Brazilian players seem to be in peak condition today.

“Yohan has to stop them.”

“Please do it… !”

In the end, they have no choice but to trust Yohan.

Yohan is the only one who can extinguish the flames that are starting to burn.

*

The England players were visibly shaken.

The England players are also top European players, and they have faced Brazilian players in the league or in European competitions.

But today’s feeling is different.

They felt much more intimidated by the Brazilians in those yellow jerseys than when they were wearing their club uniforms.

It’s Brazil in the World Cup.

A traditional powerhouse and perennial favorite to win.

Brazil, the country with the most World Cup titles.

There must be something special about that yellow uniform with five stars on it.

Otherwise, this can’t be happening.

The England players also know this.

Ultimately, Yohan is the only one they can truly rely on.

The Brazilian players are all world class.

However, Yohan is the only player with the ability to overwhelm them all.

The strongest card, the joker.

SWOOOOOOOOOSH-

Bellamy’s long pass soars forward.

Yohan anticipates the landing point and positions himself, while Gustavo and Guimarães surround Yohan from both sides.

Both Gustavo and Guimarães are among the defenders who know Yohan best.

Gustavo, who plays for Chelsea, has constantly studied how to stop Yohan, and Guimarães was his teammate.

But,

Just because they know him well doesn’t mean they can negate Yohan’s physical strength and aerial ability.

PAAAANG-!

Yohan wins the aerial duel against the two and heads the ball.

Then, Yohan quickly turns around and faces the two.

“···”

“···”

Gustavo and Guimarães are visibly nervous and lower their stance.

They both know that they should never rush in when facing Yohan.

So the two are waiting.

In front of them, Yohan stops the ball and starts moving his right foot back and forth.

Flick, flick-!

Yohan twists his waist and feet to gauge the angles, trying to disrupt the balance of the two defenders who remain steadfast.

Coincidentally, his movements seem to resemble the rhythm of a Brazilian samba.

Anyway, Gustavo and Guimarães waited patiently.

Hmm.

So you’re not going to move first.

Then, I have no choice.

I have no choice but to shoot.

BBAAAAAAAAAANG-!

<······Shoot!>

The commentator’s reaction was noticeably delayed in shouting the single word ‘shoot’.

A shot taken with unpredictable timing.

Of course, Yohan took the shot while standing without any run-up.

With the front of his foot.

Due to the limitations of the human body, it is generally impossible to generate a powerful shot without a run-up.

Let alone a powerful shot, it would be difficult to even get the ball from the edge of the penalty arc to the goal.

However, it is possible if you utilize the toe of the soccer shoe.

Yohan’s shot was executed using the front of his shoe, and Gustavo and Guimarães couldn’t react to the shot at all.

SWOOOOOOOOOSH-

In fact, shooting with the toe is a technique that attackers generally avoid.

Primarily because the accuracy is significantly lower.

The area of the foot that makes contact with the ball is minimal, offering very little control.

However, Yohan’s exceptional skill makes it possible.

Even with the toe of his shoe, he accurately places the ball into the corner of the goal.

THUD-!

The Brazilian fans, who were enthusiastically singing samba songs, suddenly fell silent at the sight of the astonishing goal.

*

Yohan’s goal was undeniably shocking.

Enough to make the Brazilian players revert to their earlier strategy of slowly passing the ball around, just like at the beginning of the game.

Isn’t it a goal that blatantly reminds everyone of a certain player?

That alien [a term used to describe exceptionally talented players, often with otherworldly skill] who is considered the best ever in Brazil, a country overflowing with geniuses.

Brazilians believe that only Brazilian players can play Brazilian soccer.

But Yohan did it, so the shock must have been amplified.

But anyway, Brazil did not relinquish the initiative.

They continued to maintain possession and search for openings, and the lull did not last long.

Brazil knew that the best way to deal with Yohan is to maintain constant pressure and attack.

In the 21st minute of the first half, Brazil’s signature style was on full display.

It started with Kleberson on the left.

Kleberson, evading the defense with his unique rhythmic dribbling, cut into the center, and here, the chemistry of the Brazilian attacking trio meshed perfectly.

“Mark him!”

“Behind!”

The England defense screamed and tried to maintain their marking assignments, but the Brazilian attackers moved with a leisurely grace, as if taunting them.

As Kleberson advanced towards the center with the ball, Andre Lima in the center feigned a movement to the left.

Then Fabricio on the right broke into the box,

PAAAANG-

Kleberson didn’t miss this and delivered a pinpoint through pass.

WHOOOOSH-

The pass that sliced through the defense connected accurately with Fabricio, and Fabricio selflessly passed it across the face of the goal again.

A low and fast cross towards Andre Lima, who was positioned on the left.

PAAAANG-!

It was a cross that Lima simply had to tap in.

THUD-!

Brazil started to take the lead again.

*

Everyone felt it, and Yohan felt it too.

That he shouldn’t expect much support from the defense today.

Brazil’s attack was even stronger than anticipated.

Therefore, he concluded that the only way to win this game was to score more goals than the opponent.

Yohan has to match the firepower of Brazil’s three-pronged attack single-handedly.

A 3-on-1 situation.

However, Yohan wasn’t thinking that way.

It’s not 1 vs 3.

It’s 1 vs All.

Because he didn’t believe he could rely on his teammates today anyway.

Just get out of the way.

I’ll do it alone.