Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 201

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There’s a common saying among parents whose children have slightly lower grades:

“My child could do well if they put their mind to it, but they just don’t.”

This statement is highly likely to be false and is merely the parents’ wishful thinking.

However,

There are exactly two people who can confidently say this:

Ban Seok-ho and Kim Ra-hee.

Johan is starting to run!

Tat-tat-tat-!

Johan dribbles the ball from the halfway line.

Usually, when advancing from this position, players don’t sprint at full speed unless there’s a clear open space ahead.

But Johan had already made up his mind from the start, so he accelerated to the max from the starting line.

Therefore,

It was instantaneous.

One! Two! Three, and Four!

He just seemed to be running.

It was as if he couldn’t see anything in front of him.

Like a wild horse running across a green field without any purpose.

As if he was born to run from the start.

It seemed he was running simply because he was born that way.

But Johan had the ball glued to his feet, and none of the Brazilian players could take it away.

No,

They couldn’t even stop Johan from running.

It was a rare sight.

He wasn’t using flashy techniques or unbelievable skills.

But that’s what made it even more surprising.

Johan simply ran past the Brazilian players with ease.

“Go… Go!”

Ban Seok-ho couldn’t contain himself, feeling a jolt throughout his body, and jumped up from his seat.

Johan is proving it.

What he used to say like a habit when Johan was young.

If our kid puts his mind to it!

He can become the best player of all time if he puts his mind to it!

See!

No one can match him if he puts his mind to it!

Seven!

As Johan bypassed his seventh player ‘head-on’, the goalkeeper and the goalposts appeared in his sight.

A brief moment of contemplation.

Should I take one more, or not.

Eh.

Too much trouble.

I won’t.

Ppeoooong-!

Johan shot the ball as it was, and

Thud-!

The shot accurately pierced the corner, leaving the keeper with no chance to even attempt a dive.

The beautiful goal by Brazil’s attacking trio.

Johan’s solo goal in response.

The score was back to square one, and this time, the Brazilian fans were speechless.

No, but this time it’s a bit different.

When Johan’s second goal went in, it wasn’t just the Brazilian fans who were speechless.

“…”

“…”

Everyone in the Bernabéu [Real Madrid’s home stadium in Spain] quietly stared at one man.

Their gazes were like holy eyes, as if they were greeting a god.

*

It’s a final that doesn’t feel like a final. But, it’s the most final-like final in history.

A caster, who is supposed to only deliver accurate facts, was spouting nonsensical gibberish, but no one could point it out.

Because it was true.

It doesn’t feel like a final, but the game’s content is final-like.

Usually, finals are so cautious and careful that the game isn’t as thrilling and fun as expected.

But today’s game was the most thrilling and captivating game of the entire tournament.

So, it’s also final-like.

Although the first half wasn’t even over yet, this game was already making people’s hearts race.

Lima passes back with a backheel, Fabricio! Ah, it goes in! Fabricio Junior scores. Brazil’s third goal.

An important free kick. Please, let this opportunity… Johan, goes! Shooooot! Gooooooooal! A fantastic free kick! The game is back to square one! Johan Ban, already his third goal!

Before the end of the first half, both teams exchanged one more goal each.

In the 36th minute of the first half, Brazil once again broke through the defense with the teamwork of Andre Lima and Fabricio and succeeded in scoring.

In the 41st minute of the first half, England succeeded in scoring with a free kick earned near the left corner of the box, which Johan directly took and scored.

It was a pattern where Brazil would strike first, and Johan would respond.

A seesaw game that didn’t seem to widen or be overturned.

The players are coming out for the second half. Neither team has made any substitutions.

Neither side had any regrets, but it was a satisfying first half. Brazil confirmed that their unique attack was effectively working, and England showed that Johan alone could take on all of Brazil.

As you mentioned, Brazil’s Cleberson, Lima, and Fabricio all recorded one goal and one assist each. On the other hand, England’s three goals were created solely by Johan’s power.

The players head to the field for the final second half of this World Cup.

The broadcast camera captured Brazil’s attacking trio in turn, then focused on Johan’s face in a long close-up.

Three world-class players and one god.

Now it’s a battle of stamina. It’s a battle of physical strength, and also a battle of mental strength.

I’m a bit worried. Can one person really handle three? It’s bound to be overwhelming, especially as the second half progresses and the physical burden increases.

Well, that’s usually the case for ‘humans’.

As there were no changes in the lineup, the pattern of the second half didn’t change much either.

Brazil attacks relentlessly.

England sets up a defensive formation with 10 players, ready for Johan to attack at any time.

Alfredo Domingo, to Cleberson. Cleberson, passes it back again.

It would be good for England if they could defend well, and possess the ball a bit.

In any case, Brazil inevitably has the first move.

As all three of Johan’s goals were equalizers, Brazil always attempted to attack first, threatening England’s goal with a destructive presence in every attack.

“Just one goal. Let’s just block one goal. Just one goal that should have gone in, let’s block just one. Then we win. We become world champions, and we can take the trophy home. Does everyone understand what I’m saying?”

During halftime, Coach Ranister told the players that.

Just block one goal.

It wasn’t about blocking every goal.

Just as the opponent can’t stop Johan, it’s hard to block all of Brazil’s attacks.

So, just one.

Just one goal that wouldn’t be surprising to concede, let’s block it with all our might.

‘Whether it’s with our strength, or God helps us…’

Whether we block it with our own strength, or God helps us.

It doesn’t matter.

What matters in the final is the result.

Anyway, he was saying that we could win if we blocked just one.

Even if Brazil’s attacks can somehow be blocked, the opponent won’t be able to stop Johan.

It was a very simple calculation.

That’s why they could endure it.

Even when they conceded their fourth goal to Brazil in the 11th minute of the second half.

Fabricio scores another goal. This time, the assist is Andre Lima. Wow, this is something. It’s been a long time since England conceded four goals.

It’s really amazing. Maybe it’s because it’s his home stadium, but Fabricio is on fire.

Perhaps if they hadn’t had that calculation, England might have collapsed with this goal.

No, they would have already collapsed when the third goal went in.

But even after conceding four goals, the England players didn’t lose their focus.

Johan showed them why.

14 minutes into the second half.

Just three minutes after Brazil’s fourth goal.

That’s it! Johan! An incredible aerial strike! He slams Price’s corner kick straight in! A four-goal game, surpassing a hat trick!

This is really…!

The fourth equalizer of the game.

Brazil must be sick of it.

Their attack has scored four goals, but the score difference just won’t widen.

No, it’s not widening, it’s tied. Tied.

It’s really annoyingly following them.

Moreover, the fact that it’s solely due to one person’s power is frightening for Brazil.

England makes the first substitution. Steve Duncan comes in.

A defensive substitution. They’re going to continue to rely on Johan for the attack.

Both teams have scored a total of eight goals, but somehow this game feels like it will be decided by one goal.

20 minutes into the second half.

Coach Ranister took out left winger Mikel Myers and brought in defender Steve Duncan.

A substitution to strengthen the defense.

Please, just one.

Let’s just block one.

Even though they’ve already scored four goals, Brazil can’t stop attacking.

As England strengthened their defense, Brazil began to attack even more aggressively.

Frankly speaking, Brazil is also getting tired of attacking.

Brazil’s attacking trio is the type that creates goals through organic movements and teamwork, so naturally, their power is reduced when their mobility decreases.

The fact that they’ve already scored four goals means that they’ve also done their best to fully demonstrate their power.

Therefore, it was natural that they were physically exhausted.

The Brazilian players certainly have overflowing talent and innate sense, but they are relatively lacking in terms of physical strength.

The England players were the first to feel that.

Bellamy clears the ball out of the touchline first. He followed well just now.

Good. Bellamy. He has to stick with them like that until the end.

Bellamy, who cut off the opponent’s ball with a persistent sliding tackle, nodded.

Until just now, it was really chaotic.

In the blink of an eye, the guy in front of me would disappear, and when I turned around, the guy who was over there would suddenly be here.

It was impossible to keep up with their speed.

But now, it’s different.

I can see them.

Their movements, that is.

Of course, even so, it’s still hard to keep up.

But one thing was certain.

The opponent’s feet are noticeably slowing down.

“We can do it!”

Bellamy shouts encouragement to his teammates.

If we hold on, God will surely help us.

In fact, Bellamy was an atheist.

Until two years ago.

But now he believes in God.

That God is on this field right now.

He will help us.

Brazil passes it back long. They’re preparing to attack again, catching their breath. Already 30 minutes have passed.

It’s been the longest time without a goal in today’s game. Now it really feels like it will be decided by one goal.

Now Brazil can’t easily finish their attacks.

The fact that there’s less time left means there are fewer chances to make up for mistakes.

Even Brazil has no choice but to be careful.

Are they considering extra time? Brazil is slowly passing the time. They’re not attacking aggressively.

If they’re going to do it, they have to do it perfectly.

If they fail to finish properly and allow a counterattack.

That one mistake could ruin everything.

Brazil carefully waited for an opportunity, looking for any opening.

Echo, to Cleberson. Cleberson, increases his speed in an instant! Cleberson breaking through on the left!

When they felt the time had come, Brazil launched an attack with the thought that it was their last attack.

The vanguard is Cleberson.

Cleberson, who broke through on the left flank, didn’t get greedy and passed it to the center,

Paah-!

Andre Lima caught it with his back to the defense and passed it back to Cleberson.

Cleberson snatched the ball, passing by Lima.

Cleberson, who was cutting towards the center of the box,

We have to stop him!

folded his right foot as if he was going to shoot.

However,

Cleberson’s choice was not a shot.

It was a pass towards Fabricio, who was hiding his presence and going around behind the defense.

Chwaaaaa-

A perfect through pass.

It was such a decisive pass that it seemed like it would be a goal if it just touched Fabricio’s foot, and Fabricio was rushing towards it.

However,

There was Bellamy, who hadn’t missed Fabricio.

Paah-!

Bellamyyyy-!

As you can tell from the commentator’s voice, which was close to a scream, Bellamy’s cut was dramatic.

Really just the tip of his foot, if Bellamy had worn shoes that were just 5mm smaller, it wouldn’t have reached.

Bellamy’s foot touched Cleberson’s pass, and the trajectory of the ball changed, preventing Fabricio from touching the ball.

Tat-tat-tat-!

After that, just before the ball went out of the goal line.

This time, left-back Danny White threw his body and barely stopped the ball.

And immediately connected the ball to Jack Price.

Jack Price, who received the ball, connected it forward without even looking.

No, actually, it’s hard to say he connected it.

It might be more appropriate to say he cleared it as if telling them to catch it themselves.

But, since the person waiting for the ball there is that guy anyway.

It’s okay to say it’s a connection.

“Ah…”

“…”

Brazil’s attacking trio, whose attack was blocked by a hair’s breadth, turned around and looked at their own camp.

Soon, one by one, the Brazilian players turned their bodies towards their own camp.

Everyone’s gaze is on one place.

It’s Johan’s back.

Among the Brazilian players looking at Johan’s back, there were players who shouldn’t be looking at his back.

The number of them continued to increase one by one, and eventually, at the end.

Everyone except the goalkeeper could see Johan’s back.

And,

Everyone knelt down with a desperate expression or collapsed on the spot.

Goooooooooooooooal-!

11 world-class players.

They were just the strongest in the human realm.

Helpless in front of God.

Johaaaaaaan-!

As everyone, including Coach Ranister, wished, God helped England.

By scoring the fifth goal himself, the first come-from-behind goal of the game.