NOVEL NEXT Chapter 282
[England!!! The world champions!!]
The moment the final whistle blew, players who were anxiously watching from the bench all jumped out.
[Finally!! England wins after 52 years since the World Cup!]
[Football, which left home, is coming back home after 52 years!]
The English crowd instantly turned into a festive atmosphere.
“En Argentina naci, tierra de Diego y Lionel!”
The Argentinian fans consoled their team players who had given their all until the end.
[As if to cover the sorrow of Lionel Messi and Argentina, the sky is pouring heavy rain.]
And the award ceremony began, with raindrops falling from the sky.
*
With raindrops pouring down, leaders and federation presidents from various countries took to the podium to congratulate the players.
As the rain started coming down more heavily, the attendants offered umbrellas, but the leaders from various countries declined their offer, deciding to brave the rain along with the players.
Of course, as the rain began to pour more than expected, they quietly put up umbrellas.
In any case…
Before lifting the main World Cup trophy, the individual awards were given out.
[His two feet were infinitely sharp, lethal, and made even the most solid walls of defense kneel. In the 2018 Russian World Cup, the top scorer is Jinho!]
Son Jinho received the golden boot symbolizing the World Cup top scorer.
“Jinho, congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
He exchanged greetings with those congratulating him, wearing a bright smile.
And next came the golden ball award.
The golden ball, awarded to the tournament MVP, went to Lionel Messi.
It seemed the hat-trick in the final had made a deep impression.
[Lionel Messi wins the golden ball for two consecutive tournaments, following the last World Cup.]
Lionel Messi, who won MVP for the second consecutive tournament after the 2014 Brazil World Cup, received the trophy with red eyes.
[Will Messi’s era come to an end without achieving his ultimate goal? Nothing is set in stone yet. Personally, I hope his story doesn’t end here.]
*
With Lionel Messi’s golden ball marking the end of the individual awards, the medal awarding ceremony, which can be considered the main event, began.
First, Argentina, who finished as runners-up, headed to the podium amid applause from the England players.
Among the Argentinian players with red eyes…
“Jinho.”
Lionel Messi approached.
“Leo.”
I looked at Messi with a slightly nervous expression.
He looked precarious enough that it wouldn’t be surprising if he announced his retirement from the national team at any moment.
“See you at the next tournament. I won’t lose then.”
“Sure.”
However, as Messi’s words continued, I smiled and replied.
– Your World Cup trophy looks awesome.
It seems I succeeded in provoking Lionel Messi and preventing his retirement from the national team.
By this point, I might be considered a saint of football.
I secretly planted the seeds of a romantic victory potential for Messi’s success.
Anyway…
While I was nodding in satisfaction alone…
“2018 Russian World Cup champions! England!”
The awarding for Argentina concluded, and it was now England’s turn.
Starting with the goalkeeper wearing jersey number 1, the medals were awarded.
As the captain of England, I was the last one to step up on the podium.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino approached me holding the trophy and placed the medal around my neck.
I moved to the center of the podium where my teammates stood, lightly kissed the World Cup trophy, and lifted it high over my head.
And at that moment…
“Ohhhhh~~ Yeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!”
A tremendous cheer erupted, shaking the stadium.
*
[England 4:3 Argentina.]
└ Whoa, 7 goals in the final? LOL
└ Defense is ridiculous, right? Are they automatic doors?
└ England couldn’t stop Lionel Messi, and Argentina couldn’t stop Son Jinho LOL
└ Haha, the match was incredibly fun.
└ For real.
└ We’ll have to wait another 4 years for the next World Cup, damn it.
[England, World Cup champions after 52 years….]
[Hat-trick Messi vs 2 goals 2 assists Son Jinho. Is it a victory for Son Jinho?]
└ Messi is a monster, but Son Jinho is also a monster, whoa;
└ The defenders from both teams looked so pitiful.
└ For real, they did their usual defense but it didn’t work against Messi and Son Jinho LOL
[Argentina, calls for Lionel Messi’s responsibility….]
└ ?
└ ?
└ What? Are they really idiots?
└ Wow LOL they’re blaming Messi for this.
└ Well, considering how we couldn’t grasp the truth and kicked Son Jinho out first, they seem pretty average human beings.
└ No, isn’t the average human too low?;;
└ For real LOL
[France’s ‘youngster’ Kylian Mbappé wins Young Player award.]
[Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois wins the Yashin Award.]
[Unlike the first half, Argentina completely changed in the second half. Is it due to Messi’s locker room talk?]
└ Argentina, damn LOL and they’re blaming Messi?
└ ???: Messi lacks qualities as a leader….
└ LMAO
└ Messi scored a hat-trick in the final, how much more does he have to do?
└ Hey, isn’t it time to bring Messi over?
└ Ah LOL what’s the Football Association doing? They should bring Messi over after sending Son Jinho to balance the team.
[Messi’s locker room talk that awakened Argentina, who was captured by defeat.]
[‘Golden Ball Winner’ Lionel Messi, the first player in World Cup history to score a hat-trick and finish as a runner-up.]
└ LMAO scoring a hat-trick and finishing as a runner-up LOL
└ Honestly, Messi can slap the Argentinian guys and still be innocent.
└ For real, Messi messed up winning like this.
[First Asian Golden Boot winner, Son Jinho says, “Lionel Messi is the best player; I hope to face him again in the next tournament.”]
[‘Royal Loader’ Son Jinho, lifting the trophy for the first time in a tournament following the Euro and World Cup participation.]
*
The England National Team confirmed their victory and held a simple celebration party in Moscow, Russia.
The team spent the day eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves, and so did I.
There were tons of pending matters related to the club piled up like a mountain, but I considered that a problem for my future self.
In any case, throughout the party, I spent time with my family.
“Dad Haeun, you have a phone call?”
My smartphone constantly received congratulatory messages.
– Seong-ryong: Jinho, congratulations on winning the World Cup.
– Hong-min: Ah, Son Jinho will brag about the trophy again.
I replied to acquaintances with a grateful heart.
– Ho-woo: (Picture of lifting the World Cup trophy. jpg)
– Ho-woo: Hyung doesn’t have this, right? LOL
As I was teasing, I suddenly paused at the following reply.
– Seong-ryong: ?
Ah.
I mistakenly sent that to Seong-ryong.
*
– Seong-ryong: Jinho.
– Seong-ryong: (Image of the problematic private chat. jpg)
– Seong-ryong: What is this, Jinho?
– Seong-ryong: Did I do something wrong to you? Jinho.
– Hong-min: LMAO
– Hong-min: Son Jinho is crazy LOL now he’s teasing Seong-ryong.
– Ho-woo: That’s something I meant to send to hyung by mistake!
– Cheong-ryong: Wow, the two youngest were having fun behind our backs, huh.
– Ho-woo: Should we send it to hyung too?
– Cheong-ryong: No, it’s okay hehe.
*
The day after the 2018 Russian World Cup final ended.
The England National Team players boarded the flight back to London late in the afternoon.
The exhaustion built up from the demanding schedule of having matches every three days exploded due to yesterday’s celebration party.
Anyway, as we arrived at the airport, the fans filled the area.
I wanted to go near the fans to thank them, but I couldn’t afford to act in a way that could provoke them due to safety concerns.
Even with heavy police presence, it was still dangerous with that many people gathered.
Since there were reporters, the England National Team, with Southgate and me as representatives, decided to conduct a simple interview.
Usually, British reporters pounce on even the slightest flaws, but perhaps thanks to the World Cup victory, they were very generous today.
– Jinho! Can you give a shout-out for Liverpool just once!
They even made ridiculous jokes.
“There’s an assassin here, right? Can you let that guy go?”
My words caused laughter to erupt from the press area, and we finished the interview in a good atmosphere.
The England National Team boarded a bus prepared by the government and left the airport.
Starting from London, the official victory parade began.
“Gino, the great captain of the Three Lions!!”
England football fans flooded the streets, calling my name.
“Jinho! You’re the best! Even considering you’re playing for that crappy Manchester United!”
I burst into laughter at the voice of a fan wearing a Liverpool jersey.
For that day, the fierce rivalry between clubs was forgotten, as England united as one.
*
Time flew quickly after winning the World Cup.
Even after lifting the World Cup trophy, life didn’t change much.
Just that the discussion about awarding a title was underway?
Anyway, even though our wedding anniversary was approaching, a celebration was still ongoing in England.
My father-in-law and mother-in-law, who came from London to Manchester, urged us to go on a date alone, saying they’d take the kids to play since it was our anniversary.
“….”
An awkwardness lingered as it was just the two of us left in the spacious house. Our kids always accompanied us.
“How about a walk?”
“Sure.”
Unable to bear the awkwardness, we decided to take a light walk around the neighborhood.
“Hey. Son Jinho.”
“Yeah?”
Han Gyeouri, who had been quietly walking through the neighborhood, suddenly called me with a serious expression using an old nickname.
“… Manchester United, really no signings this season?”
A smile escaped me at her worried expression.
“No, they signed Zlatan before the season started.”
“How is that the same thing!”
“Hmmm. Do you want additional signings?”
“Desperately.”
“I don’t. ”
“No, seriously listen. You pass to Mbappé, and Ronaldo or Zlatan finishes the play. Isn’t your heart swelling already?”
“Mbappé is too expensive.”
“Hey, Son Jinho! I didn’t raise you to be a miser who puts a price on romance.”
That day, we talked and laughed all day long about the sport of football.
So much has changed from the past, but at this moment, it reminded me of those nights spent watching Premier League matches together as kids.
As we chatted, our hands naturally clasped together, and we walked for a while.
“The sun is already setting.”
“Indeed.”
Looking up at the sky, the sun was already setting.
“Hmmm. Does groom Son Jinho still love bride Han Gyeouri!?”
Gyeouri, gazing absentmindedly at the sunset, cleared her throat a few times and playfully asked.
I answered by planting a kiss on her.