Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 85

< 084 – I Need You >

England came out with a 4-5-1 formation, while Italy used a 3-5-2.

On paper, both teams have the same number of midfielders.

However, the reality is completely different.

England has three midfielders forming the center, with the other two playing on the left and right wings.

Full-backs support those wings, so they can be seen as wingers who take on more offensive movements.

On the other hand, Italy’s wings are wing-backs.

Wing-backs who play the role of full-backs when defending.

In other words, they are players with a stronger defensive role compared to England’s wings.

Therefore, Italy’s formation can effectively be seen as a five-back.

This is originally Italy’s style.

However, today they have no choice but to focus more on defense.

First of all, they absolutely must not lose this game.

They need at least a draw to keep their hopes of winning the group alive.

And, above all.

They can’t help but be worried that Johan is starting.

They’ve already been severely burned once.

And that was by Johan, who came on as a substitute, not a starter.

At that time, Johan was subbed into the game around the 15th minute of the second half, replacing Mason Maguire.

So, he actually played for about 30 minutes.

However, in those 30 minutes, Johan shattered Italy’s iron defense.

So, the fact that Italy is locking down their defense from the start, knowing they might have to face Johan for 90 minutes today, was to be expected.

England is quite relaxed.

They don’t seem rushed even though Italy is locking down their defense.

It’s probably because winning is good, but it’s not a must-win situation.

However, this is also largely due to Johan being there.

The England players currently on the field have all experienced playing against Johan.

So, everyone knew.

Johan doesn’t need much time.

When facing West Ham with Johan, the most stressful thing was having to maintain concentration until the very last minute of the game.

That’s because Johan is the type of player who can be invisible for 89 minutes and then suddenly appear in that 1 minute and score a goal.

No, not even 1 minute.

Just a few seconds.

Even that short amount of time is enough for Johan to score a goal.

So, there’s no reason to rush.

Of course, there’s also some consideration for Johan, who is playing in a stadium he’s never been to overseas.

Consideration for him to adapt to the atmosphere of this exotic stadium.

“cadere! ragazzi stupidi!”

“morire! morire!”

“Bastardi dell’isola puzzolente!”

Home fans are shouting from all directions.

Even if you can’t understand Italian, you can tell what they’re saying.

Probably low-class words like fall, stupid guys, die, smelly island bastards, which aren’t even worth translating.

It’s probably a good thing I don’t understand Italian.

But, it’s like this now, if I make even one mistake, their jeers and taunts will become even fiercer.

If I receive those jeers, I might become psychologically萎缩 [shrink].

Of course, the teammates also knew what kind of guy Johan was.

He wasn’t scared even at Anfield.

But anyway, there’s no need to suffer something you don’t have to.

However, the older players didn’t know.

That such consideration was 오히려 [on the contrary] frustrating for Johan.

“···!”

Liverpool midfielder Shane Murray, who had the ball in midfield, made eye contact with Johan.

Johan’s eyes seemed to be telling him to pass the ball quickly.

If Johan, wearing a West Ham uniform, had sent that kind of look, it would have probably sent shivers down his spine.

But, right now, he couldn’t be more trustworthy.

So, even though he heard calls for the ball from the left and right, Shane Murray ignored them all and passed the ball straight to Johan as if he were possessed.

Paah-!

Near the penalty box.

Johan receives the pass with his back to the goal.

Immediately, a defender sticks to his back.

Today, Italy’s three-back consists of Barcelli and Marcio, the Juventus duo he faced last time, plus one more.

Alessandro Lanzoni, a central defender playing for Lazio.

Lanzoni was a huge, fighter-type defender with a height of 190 centimeters and a weight approaching 90 kilograms.

In fact, Lanzoni has been called up to the national team several times, but he wasn’t a regular starter.

There were many ambiguous aspects in terms of skill to be used as a starter.

However, the reason Lanzoni started today was because he had a clear role to play.

That role was to pick a fight with Johan.

Today, Lanzoni was in the game solely to annoy Johan.

Of course, they don’t mean to have a real fight like a fistfight.

It means to use his huge physique to stick to him and harass him with relentless marking, regardless of position.

Like a leech, until he gets sick of it.

‘You said you hate being annoyed the most, right? Then, I’ll annoy you throughout the game.’

Lanzoni, who was given a special order to stop Johan, had personally looked into Johan.

He was a unique character.

A lazy genius who hated being annoyed the most.

The first principle on the field is to do what the opponent hates the most.

He was going to annoy him as much as possible.

That was what he was best at.

Lanzoni rushed towards Johan, who was holding the ball with his back to him.

But.

Kuoong-!

“···Huh!?”

Lanzoni’s forehead, who had rushed in roughly, was frowned.

At the same time, he feels breathless.

It was the first time Lanzoni felt such a hard back, like a rock.

Lanzoni was trying to push him away without even caring about fouls.

However, Johan didn’t budge.

Not only that,

‘This, this bastard?’

He’s 오히려 [on the contrary] pushing in.

Johan starts pushing Lanzoni back with his back.

Of course, Lanzoni was also gritting his teeth and pushing back.

However, it is Lanzoni who keeps getting pushed back.

There was no such striker in Serie A [Italian Football League].

A striker who tries to confront Lanzoni head-on with strength.

So, Lanzoni was embarrassed.

Like a lion facing a rhinoceros that attacks him instead of running away.

“Push! Push him away!”

“It’s okay to foul, Lanzoni!”

Lanzoni bites his teeth at the shouts of his teammates telling him not to be afraid of fouls and push him away.

Damn it! I’m already pushing with all my might!

Puh-uh-uh-uh-!

Johan, who was slowly pushing Lanzoni away, suddenly concentrated his strength and pushed Lanzoni away greatly.

Then Lanzoni steps back about two steps.

In that gap,

Tatat-

Johan, who turned quickly, immediately aimed for the goal.

Puh-uh-uh-uh-!

Lanzoni didn’t even have time to recover.

A shot taken without even stepping in place.

It was a shot taken from the box line.

So, it’s not a very close distance to the goal. But, even so, Johan didn’t need a lot of preparation to take the shot.

Shuuuuuuuuung-

Kaaaaaang-!