LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 274
[South Korea 1 : 2 Portugal.]
The match between South Korea and Portugal has ended.
In the early stages, South Korea pushed Portugal hard and took the lead, but in the second half, after Ronaldo’s awakening, they couldn’t hold off Portugal’s attacks and collapsed.
“What’s going on? Did he really get his act together after being criticized?”
I couldn’t hide my surprise at Ronaldo’s performance, scoring one goal and assisting another in the second half.
[Cristiano Ronaldo shows confidence in winning the World Cup. “I will show it and prove it in this World Cup.”]
It was just a sudden response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s message.
Still, I felt a bit uneasy, as it seemed I inadvertently contributed to South Korea’s exit.
[South Korea gave their all until the end, unfortunately losing 1:2….]
└ Lost, but fought well.
└ Totally agree!
└ They did well, considering.
└ The draw was good, but I never imagined we would make it to the quarter-finals.
└ Regardless of the draw, South Korea put up a good fight against Portugal.
└ I wonder if De Zerbi will go for extra time….
└ In the last interview, he mentioned wanting to coach a club team instead of the national team now.
Well, the South Korean netizens, unaware of the true situation, were satisfied with the first-ever quarter-final appearance, so I decided to move on with a positive mindset rather than berating myself.
‘…Come to think of it, isn’t South Korea reaching the quarter-finals thanks to me?’
From uncovering Kang Chan to preventing injuries for Seong-ryong, motivating Heung-min’s development… and even sacrificing myself to reform the Football Association.
Compared to the previous history of being eliminated in the group stage for two consecutive tournaments, it’s clear how much South Korean football has changed.
‘Who helped Gi-hyun Choi grow? It’s me.’
While I was busy patting myself on the back to alleviate my guilt.
[Cautions the world; Ki Sung-yueng tears up during the retirement announcement at the World Cup.]
The overseas players’ chat room became lively after the interviews and thank you messages.
– Seong-ryong: (Ki Sung-yueng crying during the interview .gif)
– Ho-woo: Hey, delete that!
– Seong-ryong: LOL!
– Ho-woo: Hahaha!
– Seong-ryong: Ugh… I suddenly thought of Ji-song’s retirement and got all choked up.
– Seong-ryong: Honestly, Ji-song’s retirement was tough on you, Seong-ryong.
– Seong-ryong: Well… I guess I can retire with peace of mind now. I feel like I’ve done everything I could.
– Ho-woo: Thank you for all your hard work.
– Ho-woo: (Clapping cat meme.)
– Seong-ryong: Yes, Jinho. You must win the World Cup.
Hmm.
Seeing my brothers’ messages makes my conscience prick a bit.
*
South Korea’s World Cup ended in the quarter-finals, but the World Cup continued.
The next day, Argentina faced Belgium in a match.
[Argentina defeats Belgium and advances to the semi-finals.]
The match between the two teams ended in a victory for Argentina.
[Dreams come true! The long-awaited clash between Messi and Ronaldo at the World Cup.]
Due to Argentina’s victory, the much-anticipated showdown between Messi and Ronaldo has been set up in the semi-finals.
[Cristiano Ronaldo expresses confidence in victory. “I will surely bring home my country’s first major tournament win.”]
[Lionel Messi, “If it means winning the World Cup, I could give up my entire career….”]
With football fans worldwide focused on the clash between Messi and Ronaldo, Croatia played against France, leading to a nail-biting match that ended in penalties, with France advancing to the semi-finals.
Although Croatia lost the match, football fans praised their fighting spirit, especially as they scored an equalizer when they were down 0-2.
In particular, Luka Modrić’s roar after scoring the equalizing goal right before the end of the match will go down as one of the highlights of this World Cup.
Anyway.
[England vs Russia, Son Jinho starts.]
With non-stop great matches following the South Korea and Portugal game, the last match of the quarter-finals between England and host country Russia was approaching.
*
The quarter-final match between Russia and England took place in St. Petersburg, the traditional capital of Russia.
Since it was a home World Cup, it was only natural that the stands were filled with Russian fans.
“Boooooooooooo─!”
“Kill those bastards!!”
“This is your grave, you bastards!”
As soon as the England players got the ball, the jeers from the packed Russian crowd rained down.
‘Marcus Rashford looks too stiff.’
Son Jinho noticed scared England players due to the aggressive Russian fans.
[Son Jinho with a surprise shot!!! But Igor Akinfeev the goalkeeper blocks it!!]
Son Jinho aimed for a quick shot from distance to shift the momentum as soon as he got the ball.
[That was a threatening shot. The visiting Russian football fans are exhaling sighs of relief.]
*
Meanwhile, at the same time, Cristiano Ronaldo, who led his team to the semi-finals, was watching the match between England and Russia, where Son Jinho was playing.
As a football player, analyzing the opponent was fundamental.
However, Ronaldo found it impossible to focus on the broadcast.
‘I have to prove myself in this tournament.’
Right now, he was plagued by pressure and feelings of inferiority.
Knowing that he couldn’t surpass Lionel Messi and Son Jinho without winning this World Cup, he put everything on the line for the tournament.
‘Chris, you are the world’s best football player.’
‘Chris, unlike Messi, you’re tall, handsome, and have charisma.’
In the moment Ronaldo was trying to self-hypnotize to calm himself down.
‘Son Jinho.’
His gaze caught sight of Son Jinho roaring after scoring the opening goal, and he unknowingly clenched his hands.
‘I must win this World Cup and stand at the pinnacle.’
*
[England crushes Russia 2-0….]
[England reaches the semi-finals for the first time in 28 years.]
└ Crazy, LOL. The last time England was in the semi-finals was the 1990 Italy World Cup.
└ ??? This is the so-called footballing nation…?
└ Honestly, I think the true home of football is South Korea, which produced Son Jinho….
└ British football was trash. Noted.
[An epic World Cup semi-final? England’s Son Jinho, Argentina’s Messi, and Portugal’s Ronaldo.]
└ Isn’t there anyone from France?
└ Griezmann…?
└ Isn’t Griezmann too weak?;;
└ What about Kylian Mbappé?
└ He’s still too young;; Honestly, Mbappé is great, but he hasn’t shown as much as those three.
└ Then, what about Giroud?
└ Agreed, LOL. Olivier Giroud is really a handsome guy.
└ Zero goals in the World Cup, LOL.
└ Wait, is this guy even a striker? LOL.
└ Oh, come on, he’s a “link-up” striker.
[M.O.M Son Jinho races toward the World Cup Golden Boot….]
└ Wow, he alone scored 9 goals.
└ Who’s in second place for scoring?
└ Messi. Messi has scored 5 goals so far.
└ Whoa, he’s 4 goals ahead of Messi, that’s insane;;
└ But honestly, my bro mostly faced weaker teams, right?
└ Stop whining about weak teams.
└ He met South Korea, Japan, and Germany, darn it!
└ ??? Look at how naturally Germany got included, LOL.
└ Seriously, it’s tough to call Germany a weak team….
└ They lost to South Korea and got eliminated from the World Cup, right? See? That’s a weak team!
[When asked which team he’d prefer to win in the Argentina vs Portugal match, Son Jinho pointed to Portugal. “It would be easier to face Ronaldo than Messi.”]
[Angry Cristiano Ronaldo warns Son Jinho, “You will regret that statement.”]
*
After the match between England and Russia ended, time flew.
Round 1 of the semi-finals.
Argentina vs Portugal.
The showdown between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo unfolded at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
As two of the world’s best football players faced off, Luzhniki Stadium, which can host 81,000 people, was filled with a splendid array of different ethnicities.
“Gino, who do you think will win?”
“I can’t even imagine Ronaldo losing.”
“So, are you betting money on Portugal winning then?”
“No, Argentina.”
“You just said you can’t imagine Chris losing.”
“That was lip service. Honestly, I can’t just throw money into the air.”
Given how hyped-up the match was, even the England national team gathered in one spot to watch the game between Portugal and Argentina after completing their training.
[Wow, I see quite a few familiar faces.]
There were many celebrities in the stadium, including Argentina’s legendary Diego Maradona and Portugal’s legend Luís Figo, who were caught on the broadcast.
– Gyeouri: Aaaah! I just got on screen!
– Gyeouri: Son Jinho, did I look pretty?
– Ho-woo: To me, Gyeouri is always pretty, hehe.
– Gyeouri: (Shy teddy bear meme.)
– Princess Ha-eun: (Vomiting frog meme.)
And let’s not forget the families who couldn’t miss this big match.
[This match is expected to be the most intense in World Cup history and is now starting.]
With everyone’s anticipation, the match between Portugal and Argentina kicked off.
Thanks to the successful motivation from interviews, Portugal took the lead with an early goal, and the momentum shifted to them.
Just as everyone expected a follow-up goal from Portugal.
[Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi, encore Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi, gooooooal! goooooooal! gooooooal! goooooooal!]
Lionel Messi exhibited a one-man carry.
Messi dribbled past the Portuguese defense, and his shot found the corner of the net.
Just before the first half ended, Lionel Messi scored the equalizer and brought the match back to level terms.
And then came the second half.
[Lionel Messi adds another goal and Argentina takes the lead!]
[Bernardo Silva’s cross! Rojo clears it, but it goes to Ronaldo! Goooooal─! Cristiano Ronaldo scores the equalizer! The game is still on!!]
The two teams fought fiercely, leading to extra time….
“Chris’s presence… has vanished?”
In the end, Messi’s Argentina overcame Portugal and advanced to the finals.
*
[Cristiano Ronaldo on the loss to Argentina… “Team differences.”]