Chapter 79 - 77 - Finding the Timing

Chapter 79: Chapter 77 - Finding the Timing

Rafael leaned forward on the bench as In-woo Lee received the ball outside England’s penalty area.

The Korean midfielder moved it onto his right foot and curled a shot toward goal, forcing Roman Dowell to shuffle across and gather it against his chest.

England had barely settled into Wednesday’s match at the Centre Sportif de Colovray. Their defenders were struggling to play through Korea’s pressure, and the visitors were quick to attack whenever they intercepted a pass.

Another mistake came minutes later when an England midfielder tried to play through the centre despite having two opponents closing him down.

Ji-woo Kim collected the loose ball near the edge of the box and struck before the nearest defender could recover, but Dowell got behind the effort and held it.

"Just get it away from there," Alker muttered beside Rafael.

Rafael watched England’s centre-backs spread out as Dowell prepared to restart.

Greenwood was leading the attack after Rafael’s start against Egypt, although he had received little service so far. Whenever England attempted to find him from deep, one of Korea’s centre-backs followed him closely enough to prevent an easy turn.

The next attempt worked better.

Greenwood came toward a pass near halfway and used his body to hold off the defender before returning it to a midfielder moving underneath him. England switched possession toward Kyran Thompson on the right, where the winger attacked his full-back and curled an effort over the crossbar.

Alker sat back as Korea prepared the goal kick.

Rafael followed Greenwood’s movement toward the centre circle. The striker had been getting through plenty of work without seeing much of the ball in dangerous areas, but he’d managed to help England keep possession on several occasions.

England began creating more opportunities down the wings as the half progressed. Michael Mills struck wide from a narrow angle, while another attack ended with Thompson’s cross being blocked before Greenwood could reach it.

Korea were still dangerous whenever England lost the ball.

Around the half-hour mark, Lee intercepted a pass near midfield and immediately released Ji-woo Kim into the space behind England’s defence.

Kim had started his run between the centre-backs, who were caught moving forward as possession changed hands. He reached the pass in stride and raced toward goal with the nearest defender several steps behind him.

Rafael straightened as the Korean forward entered the penalty area.

Dowell came off his line, forcing Kim to take another touch before attempting to finish. The goalkeeper threw himself across and blocked the shot, allowing an England defender to clear the rebound before another attacker could arrive.

"Bloody hell," Alker breathed.

Several substitutes applauded Dowell as Korea recovered possession outside the area.

Kim threatened again minutes later, but Max Little tracked back and got enough of a touch on the shot to take away its power, leaving Dowell with a comfortable save.

England eventually began keeping the ball for longer periods, with Greenwood continuing to offer himself through the middle while the midfielders worked possession into wider areas.

Neither side found a breakthrough before halftime.

KOREA REPUBLIC 0–0 ENGLAND

Rafael followed the other substitutes into the changing room, where Dowell was speaking with one of his defenders while Greenwood sat down to loosen his boots.

Antwi waited until the players had collected drinks before addressing the turnovers that had given Korea their best opportunities.

"If the pass through the middle isn’t there, don’t force it. Keep the ball, move them around and wait for the opening."

He continued through the remaining instructions while an assistant began organising the substitutes.

Rafael finished his drink and joined Alker outside for a short warm-up.

England returned with more urgency.

Oscar Sandiford drove a low cross through Korea’s penalty area shortly after the restart, but nobody could reach it before a defender cleared. England collected the loose ball and continued attacking, forcing Korea to defend another delivery moments later.

The pressure gave Sam Alabi room to receive outside the penalty area.

The midfielder turned away from an approaching opponent and carried forward, with Korea’s nearest defender hesitating between closing him down and protecting the passing lane to his right.

Alabi pushed the ball ahead and struck from distance.

Rafael rose from the bench as the shot travelled toward goal.

The goalkeeper moved across and stretched an arm toward the ball, but it flew beyond his reach and crashed into the net.

England’s substitutes jumped to their feet, applauding as Alabi sprinted toward the corner with his teammates chasing after him.

KOREA REPUBLIC 0–1 ENGLAND

Rafael was still watching the celebrations when an assistant approached the bench.

"Rafa, Sam, Ryan. Get yourselves ready."

He removed his substitute layer and joined Alker and Kavuma-McQueen near the touchline, where they completed their final accelerations while England continued playing.

A few minutes later, Antwi called them over.

Rafael listened to his instructions before moving toward the fourth official. Greenwood was already jogging across from the centre of the pitch, breathing heavily after an hour of work.

They slapped hands as they passed, and Greenwood gave him a quick pat on the arm.

Rafael crossed onto the grass with Alker and Kavuma-McQueen.

Alker moved into midfield, Kavuma-McQueen headed toward the left, and Rafael settled between Korea’s centre-backs as England prepared to restart.

England recovered possession near halfway within the first few minutes of Rafael’s appearance. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Alker received with room to turn, and Rafael checked away from the nearest centre-back to offer himself for a short pass. He had already taken several steps toward midfield when Alker released the ball into the space behind Korea’s defensive line.

Rafael turned to chase it, but the defender reached the pass first and returned possession toward his goalkeeper.

Alker raised an arm, pointing toward the space behind the centre-back.

Rafael glanced over his shoulder before turning to press the goalkeeper, who had already moved the ball toward the opposite side.

Korea carried possession into England’s half, forcing Rafael to retreat as their midfielders pushed forward.

For several minutes, England struggled to get out.

Korea were committing more players to their attacks, with the full-backs moving higher and their midfielders receiving closer to England’s penalty area.

One move developed down the right, where the Korean winger carried possession inside and slipped a pass toward a teammate between England’s midfield and defence.

The receiving player turned before the nearest midfielder could recover and released Ji-seong Lim into the penalty area.

The Korean substitute brought the ball under control and shot across Dowell before the covering centre-back could reach him.

Dowell pushed himself toward the far corner, but the effort travelled beyond his outstretched hand and entered the net.

Korea’s players rushed toward Lim as he ran to the corner, while England’s defenders made their way back toward halfway.

KOREA REPUBLIC 1–1 ENGLAND

Rafael watched the celebrations briefly before returning to the centre circle.

Alker passed him with his hands resting on his hips, then moved into position as the Korean players returned to their half.

There were around twenty minutes remaining.

England’s next opportunity came through Kavuma-McQueen, who received down the left and attacked his full-back.

Rafael moved between the centre-backs as the winger approached the area, but Kavuma-McQueen shifted the ball onto his right foot and attempted to lift it over the goalkeeper.

The effort cleared the crossbar, and the winger turned back with a shake of his head.

Rafael jogged toward halfway while Korea prepared the goal kick.

Several minutes later, Alker collected possession in midfield.

Rafael started toward him, drawing the nearest centre-back a couple of steps out of the defensive line before checking his run. The defender continued forward, expecting to stay tight if the ball came into Rafael’s feet.

Rafael turned and accelerated into the space behind him.

Alker released the pass before the Korean could recover, sending it through the channel between centre-back and full-back.

Rafael reached it in stride and carried toward the penalty area.

The centre-back recovered quickly, closing from Rafael’s left and gradually forcing him toward the side of the box.

Rafael kept possession close as the defender moved alongside him, then slowed slightly and shifted the ball across his body.

The Korean planted his foot to challenge, allowing Rafael to cut inside and bring the ball onto his right foot.

He struck before the defender could turn, but another Korean player had already moved across from the centre and threw himself into the shooting lane.

The ball hit his leg and deflected behind for a corner.

Rafael looked toward the goal, then turned as Alker approached from midfield.

Their eyes met, and Rafael raised a hand toward him before moving into the penalty area.