Facing Team Z, Team W set up in a 4-4-2 diamond formation, with the Wanima brothers as the two strikers.
"Be careful. The 4 goals Team W scored in their first match were all scored by that pair of twins."
The members of Team Z reminded each other.
In front of them was a pair of twins who were about 80% identical in appearance. The younger brother, Wanima Keisuke, constantly wore a smile like his cunning plan had just succeeded, while the older brother, Wanima Junichi, was gloomy all day. One brother's mouth curved up, the other's curved down—it was quite an interesting sight.
"Just stick to the game plan. Be wary of their give-and-go and one-two combinations."
The give-and-go and the one-two pass. Both of these small combinations are fundamentals in football, but they are also the most practical techniques. Such combinations can make up for a lack of individual ability.
There's a saying in the world of football: If you don't know how to break through the opponent's goal, just use a one-two.
And then.
The match began.
The moment the whistle blew, Wanima Keisuke received the ball and immediately rushed past the halfway line.
"Let's go, big bro! When do you want the pass?"
His smile was like Koro-sensei's. He ran while talking to his brother, as if his brother was the only other person in his world.
"Just say what kind of pass you want."
On the other side, Wanima Junichi remained silent, charging straight into Team Z's territory. Then, he suddenly turned his head and shot his younger brother a look. In the next second, Wanima Keisuke understood his meaning.
"I see! Roger, roger, roger!"
"He wants the ball at his feet, now! That's what big bro is saying!"
They were like performers in a play. Wanima Junichi didn't say a word the entire time; it was all narrated by Keisuke.
And then.
Tap!
Just before the defender arrived, Wanima Keisuke passed the ball horizontally to Wanima Junichi. After making the pass, he even ran to the defender's side to block him. It was a combination similar to a pick-and-roll in basketball, and Junichi took the opportunity to get past the defender.
"What's the deal with these brothers?! Someone stop them, quick!"
The midfielder, Kira Ryosuke, was left in the dust in the blink of an eye. He hurriedly reminded his teammates to provide defensive cover. Of course, the others wouldn't let the twins pass so easily. The cover came immediately.
However.
Tap!
Tap, tap!
Tap, tap, tap!
The Wanima brothers' speed did not decrease, and their chemistry was perfect. The ball was constantly passed back and forth between their feet, tearing Team Z's defensive line to shreds one after another.
"Let's stop him together, Chigiri!"
Kunigami Rensuke called out to the "young lady" to go up and meet them together. Team Z's defensive line was pretty much set now. Kunigami and Raichi, who couldn't compete with Tendou, served as the central defenders. The two full-backs were Chigiri Hyoma, who had voluntarily stayed in defense, and the lowest-ranked monk, Igarashi Gurimu.
"Chigiri?"
"That glass genius?"
Wanima Keisuke acted as if he had just realized such a person was on Team Z.
"Hey, big bro, this guy's still playing football!"
"He probably can't forget the glory he achieved in the past!"
His tone was disgusting and very unpleasant to hear. This was especially true for Chigiri Hyoma, as if his most unwillingly known secret was being exposed in public.
In his moment of hesitation, the Wanima brothers, with a pass and a run, cleanly left him behind with a give-and-go.
"Your playing career is already over."
"That's what my big bro says."
It wasn't enough to just get past him; they had to provoke him with words.
The young lady, Chigiri Hyoma, gritted his teeth and was about to turn and give chase when he heard the other say, "Can you? Is that okay? Those glass legs of yours... they might break if you run!"
In an instant.
Chigiri froze, as if a petrification spell had been cast on him. The step he was about to take stopped on the spot.
"What are you doing, Chigiri!" Kunigami Rensuke cursed. He had every right to be angry. It should have been a 2-on-2 defense, but with Chigiri letting them go like that, he was left to defend against the Wanima brothers all by himself.
But it was useless. No matter how dissatisfied Kunigami was, it didn't change anything. A 2-on-1 numerical advantage. Wanima Junichi passed the ball diagonally to his younger brother and then made a crossover run towards Team Z's penalty area. After receiving the ball, Keisuke passed it back to Junichi just before Kunigami's slide tackle arrived.
After a simple one-two, the only thing standing in front of Wanima Junichi was the goalkeeper.
BAM!
Without a shred of hesitation, faced with a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper, Wanima Junichi decisively took the shot.
Seeing this, Gagamaru Gin quickly bent his knees, getting into a ready position to make a save.
...
He had no experience as a goalkeeper; this was his first time. But he knew that a goalkeeper's job was to block every ball that tried to enter the goal. His animal-like reflexes allowed him to react quickly.
Almost at the same time as Wanima Junichi shot, Gagamaru threw his body, fully extending his right arm in mid-air.
BAM!
The ball hit his arm and rebounded away from the goal.
"He even saved a one-on-one shot?"
In the control room, Anri Teieri was her usual surprised self. In the world of football, a one-on-one is the second-best way to score, only after a penalty kick. Unless you encounter a certain "King of Football" who likes to kick the ball straight at the goalkeeper in one-on-one situations, the success rate of a one-on-one in the football world is over 70%. One-on-ones and penalties are the ultimate tests for a goalkeeper.
...
"Gagamaru Gin..."
Ego Jinpachi quickly pulled up his file. The physical test results showed that Gagamaru's athletic nerves were excellent, and his body was extremely flexible. It seemed that because he grew up in the mountains, he had picked up some animal-like characteristics.
"I see. So he saw more possibilities in Gagamaru."
Ego usually had many players to pay attention to. But most of his attention was focused on Tendou. He was the player Ego believed had the most potential to succeed. Therefore, Ego was well aware that it was Tendou who had suggested Gagamaru as the goalkeeper.
"Nice one, Gagamaru!"
"I'll treat you to a steak after the match!"
Sometimes, more than a goal, a brilliant, world-class save can ignite a team's morale even more.
Scientific research shows that the fastest human reaction time is about 0.25 seconds. And for goalkeepers who have undergone special training, their reaction time is already at the limit of 0.1 seconds. The time it takes for a person to blink is 0.2 to 0.4 seconds. In such a short period of time, the members of Team Z didn't even have time to blink before Gagamaru had already stretched out his hand and pushed the ball away.
Of course, Gagamaru had never received special goalkeeper training, but his talent was just that good.
"Gagamaru!"
Tendou had already turned and started running. Instead of waiting for a teammate's pass near the penalty area, Tendou was more adept at scoring through long-distance runs.
Gagamaru heard Tendou's call, immediately secured the ball, then got up and kicked it out.
...
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