GOAT: All Football Talents Are Mine

A total of five teams participate in the German Four Continents Youth Championship held every other year.

The participating teams are the defending champion Borussia Dortmund and four clubs challenging it.

FC Bayern Munich U13 in Europe.

Orlando City SC U13 of America.

Sydney United U13 in Oceania.

And the Asian Dream Tree Expedition was scheduled to participate.

The main purpose of the competition is the development of German youth.

Therefore, the participating teams are determined purely by the decision of the German Association.

This was the reason why the Dream Tree Expedition was able to participate in Asia this year.

Because I was invited by Beckenbauer, vice president of the German Football Association and honorary president of FC Bayern Munich.

However, as a result of the draw, the opponent of the Dream Tree Expedition was decided to be FC Bayern Munich.

Hoyoung gritted his teeth when he heard the news.

'It's your last chance.'

If he scored four goals in the next game, he could show off Ballack's talent.

The next morning at 6:30.

The expedition team began special training in the morning.

The purpose was to raise the biological rhythm to its peak in preparation for the game.

1 Set is basic training.

Set 2 was a training focused on set pieces, such as free kicks, corner kicks, and penalty shootouts.

"It stands out. "The basics are clearly well-established."

This was the coach's evaluation of Hoyoung, who stands out on the training field.

Moreover, it is admirable that he is more enthusiastic than others.

Cha Beom-gon also agreed.

but.

"You're very depressed."

Hoyoung is angry at himself for his poor performance.

That image was reflected in Cha Beom-gon's eyes.

"Hoyoung."

"Yes, director!"

When Hoyoung came running in a huff, Cha Beom-gon smiled generously and asked.

"why. "Are you not good at soccer?"

"Um… yes. Should I say my head is full…"

To kick the ball, the body has to react first, but it turned out to be the opposite.

Like a broken machine creaking.

Then Cha Beom-gon laughed.

"Your feet are just twisted, aren't they? "I can't do what I want?"

"yes. "That's it!"

"Do you know why?"

"I'm so frustrated because I don't know that, it's driving me crazy."

"her. child. "Hoyoung, you are too mature to be ridiculed."

"yes?"

An unexpected answer.

It was the day after the match between FC Bayern Munich and Hamburg SV that I understood what it meant.

The Dream Tree Expedition watched FC Bayern Munich's home game as scheduled.

Beep Iik –

When the first half ended with Munich winning 2-0, Cha Bum-gon asked Ho-young.

"How did you see it?"

"Munich is definitely doing well."

Needless to say, it was a game in which FC Bayern Munich dominated.

Munich, comprised of superstars such as Ballack, Oliver Kahn, Santa Cruz, Schweinsteiger, Hargreaves and Roberto Sagnol, twisted Hamburg SV like a rag.

Plus the passionate cheers of the Munich home fans.

It was even more strange that Hamburg won the game.

"Then what about Hamburg?"

"Um… I felt like I was being dragged around. "Do I have to say that I can't play at all the way I've prepared?"

"That's what I do when I see you."

"… ah."

"Now do you understand what I mean? When playing soccer, you have to keep your mind light and empty. "Impatiently hardens the body."

It is said that it is too mature to be rid of it.

Hoyoung could understand what that meant.

Cha Beom-gon continued.

"You have to play soccer, not just compete."

"…!"

It touched my heart.

A minimum of competition is necessary, but competition should not be the main factor. And soccer players must play soccer.

It was something I could empathize with even more.

'okay. I was too conscious of Müller. Because I have to score more goals than that guy.'

In addition, the pressure of having to score five goals seemed to have made the game even more difficult.

Burden and impatience.

They were tying themselves up.

"Then what should I do?"

"What should I do? "When I feel anxious, I should play soccer."

"You're saying that the only thing that can help you get rid of your anxiety is soccer."

"Soccer is a fight against anxiety. So, the only thing that can overcome anxiety is soccer."

Practice and work hard.

The answer was there.

Cha Beom-gon added one last word.

"But you shouldn't become complacent just because you're being told to empty your mind. The mind is pure, but the head is mature and the body is fierce. And…"

"My heart is hot. Yes?"

"haha."

Instant death in life!

Soccer means war.

When playing soccer, you have to focus only on soccer.

All success depended on it.

"thank you. "Director."

It was a very meaningful time for Hoyoung.

As the week passed and snow began to fall, the new year dawned.

A week after that.

Tuesday, January 9, 2004.

Hoyoung, now 12 years old, ate German brunch instead of rice cake soup and then went to the Grunwalder Stadium soccer stadium.

With a total of 32,000 seats, it is quite large for youth games.

This was Munich's stadium where the opening and final match would be held.

The opponent is FC Bayern Munich's U13.

"Whoa."

Before the game started, Hoyoung closed his eyes and collected his mind.

"Hoowoo-."

Meditation in simple words.

The technical term is Winning Mentality Control.

A stable winning mentality is a great help in performing at your best.

In other words, Sports Confidence.

Hoyoung learned it from Cha Beom-gon.

Of course, it didn't happen overnight, but it was effective to some extent.

Where I had shaken off my obsessive-compulsive disorder, I was filled with sorrow.

"Cheer up!"

"Surprise…."

Thomas Müller was standing next to him.

"haha. "Look at him."

"You're the kid who scored one goal last time, right? Oh, I guess I made up my mind."

"Hehe. "He's a cute guy."

Whether the Munich players looked at Hoyoung as if he was cute or not, Hoyoung just walked onto the field looking straight ahead.

And after some time.

Beep!

fault.

As soon as the game started, the Dream Tree Expedition, who took the lead, rolled the ball back.

It was right then.

Cough!

The defender floated the ball deep in front.

At the same time, Hoyoung, who was appointed as a front-line striker, sprinted forward.

"what. "Bully soccer?"

"Daniel! stick! "Don't let your guard down!"

"okay!"

Daniel, the defender in charge of Hoyoung, stuck there.

The physical fight soon turned into an aerial contest.

But Hoyoung was confident.

'I'm a little shorter, but I can't hit the header.'

Now I have a talent for heading as well.

Concentrate again and again.

I didn't lose focus until the moment the ball dropped.

I shook off all thoughts.

'Heading is half the timing and half the direction. All you have to do is secure a good spot here.'

Fully imported strong body (B+).

That boosted Hoyoung's confidence.

and.

"Tsk…!"

It helped us win the battle for position.

Daniel stumbled and was pushed slightly.

Meanwhile, Hoyoung jumped high at the timing of the ball's descent.

I straightened my upper body and bent my neck at an angle.

Tuk!

The ball passed with a header landed exactly at Seok Hyeong-jun's feet.

Immediately afterwards, Seok Hyeong-Jun thrust a deep lobing through pass forward.

Build up as promised in advance.

It was a surprise attack.

and.

"go!!"

Hoyoung ran towards that place at full speed.

"Uh oh oh!"

"…!!"

Munich's defenders, who seemed to have missed it for a moment, followed in a panic, but could not keep up with Hoyoung's speed.

The goalkeeper came out late, but the ball was already at Hoyoung's feet.

Tuk.

The net shook slightly with a short sound.

It was the first goal scored 24 seconds into the game.

"OMG!"

A roar that shakes off what has been trapped inside.

I felt like I was finally finding my football.

"Nice pass!"

Instead of celebrating, Hoyoung gave Seok Hyung-jun a thumbs up.

And then straight away.

"Go back!"

He picked up the ball and returned to the halfway line.

Because it's still too early to be happy.

Beep –

30 minutes in the first half.

One goal was allowed to Müller, but no additional goals were conceded.

The first half ended 1-1, and the second half was a back-and-forth match.

melee.

It was a fierce battle of speed.

Especially Woo Ho-young.

He didn't just increase his confidence.

For example, based on his strong body, his 'hitting and running' speed was further improved.

It was enough to turn Munich's defenders, who were physically superior, into scarecrows.

'Why is it so hard?'

A physical fight that cannot be outdone even by a small body.

Hoyoung's body was like a tree rooted deep in the ground.

However, when I pushed hard, my strength was good.

Daniel, who was responsible for Munich's defense, was dumbfounded.

'It wasn't like this last week…?'

It was natural.

At that time, Cha Doo-rim's talent had not been fully absorbed.

'A goal getter and a playmaker at the same time? Nonsense. How do Asians do it? It's like watching a monster…'

I couldn't believe it even though we were running together.

Like a bomb.

Whenever Woo Ho-young caught the ball, it seemed like something would happen.

'You have to put as much pressure on them as possible to prevent them from playing the way they want to play.'

I had to stop it even if it was unreasonable.

Because I thought stopping him was the shortcut to victory.

But it was too much to do alone.

FC Bayern Munich changed from a zone defense to a cooperative defense and applied double and triple pressure.

"Stick a little closer!"

"The other guy will cover from behind! Absolutely block it from the front!"

It was standard for Hoyoung to have two or three people.

However, severe pressure has side effects.

Beep!

The sound of the referee's whistle fills the field.

It was a foul declared 24 meters away from the goal.

Hoyoung got caught in an excessive standing tackle and fell.

Also known as legging.

"Tsk."

It was quite a dangerous situation, but there were no injuries.

My left thigh felt slightly numb, but it cleared up after a while.

Moreover, he even got a free kick opportunity.

The distance is 24 meters.

As Hoyoung stood in front of him, a midfielder from the same team ran towards him.

"Woo Ho-young. "Aren't you going in?"

"I'll kick it myself."

"Do this yourself?"

At this distance, it is common to use set plays.

For youth, 24 meters is a long distance to shoot.

But Hoyoung thought differently.

"In dense areas, we are significantly out of air superiority. It's better to do this yourself. "Just put in a fake while clapping from the side."

Hoyoung looked at the shooting angle.

'The keeper will look at the other side of the goal post. 'It was like that even when I got caught last time.'

The day we lost 5 to 1.

Hoyoung felt it.

The fact that the opposing goalkeeper is strong at mid-range shots.

'It's rather good. 'You just have to aim for that in reverse.'

One step.

Two steps.

Just three steps.

He deliberately narrowed the closing distance and played a psychological game on the opposing goalkeeper.

It was an act of gently throwing bait by saying that he would kick a cross or an in-front kick.

However, the shooting point that Hoyoung is actually aiming for is right below the center of the ball.

The plan was to show a free kick using a toe kick.

The toe kick was a useful technique that could catch the opponent off guard with a quick shot.

and.

'I'm confident.'

Because that angle was Hoyoung's zone.