Second Chances: Indonesian Football Player
Chapter 65's
“JFC Riga managed to hold off the AC Milan Academy team draw with a score of 1:1,”, said Stefan excitedly.
‘Series result against AC Milan! How the Riga team set it’ thought Nero, surprised. He had watched the match between Lechia Gedanks Junior and AC Milan Academy and concluded that the Italian team was by far the most powerful enemy in their group. He wondered how the JFC Riga team that lost to RSCA Youth Academy with a score of 4 - 2 managed to get a draw. ‘Isn't that mean ..’
"Do you know what this means?" Stefan continued, interrupting Nero's path of thought. "We've reached the quarter-finals." He kicked the table vigorously, attracting some scowls from other restaurant visitors.
A chatter sounded around the table. Nero and his teammates sat around a long dining table at the Monika Centrum Hotel restaurant, waiting as uniformed waiters continued to carry trays containing dinner from the kitchen.
Words can be difficult to pronounce in the middle of the diner. However, Nero could hear his teammates chatting about which team they would face in the quarter-finals.
They are still in a cheerful mood as they won the match against Lechia Gedanks Junior by a six-goal margin on the day. News of AC Milan Academy's draw with JFC Riga was like icing on the cake, fanning their euphoria even further. So, they clashed together, hugged like little girls, celebrated the outcome of the AC Milan Academy match.
Nero smiled gently, his mood lifted. He was worried about the next game. He is already preparing to play his best against AC Milan Academy to guarantee the RSCA Youth Academy's qualification to the quarter-finals. However, AC Milan Academy has come forward and helped him. He felt a wave of excitement emanating from his soul, like a new spring bud growing into a naturally vibrant flower, one by one. He's in a happy state.
"What about the results of Group B?" Nero asked, looking at his flatmate. He took a nap after lunch and then trained at the Virtual Training Dungeon until dinner time. He didn't get a chance to hear any news about the other group games in the Riga tournament.
Nero's desk once again became silent as Stefan cleared his throat for a moment. "Group B results are more surprising" Stefan said with a mysterious smile. "Zenit leads the group after a 3-3 draw against Atletico Madrid on Monday, then beats AIK Stockholm, 2:1 this afternoon."
Stefan stopped as a waitress walked over, putting a tray of food in front of him: delicious smoked fish with rye bread, crescent-shaped Latvian pastries, and vegetables. The sight and aroma of the dish was enough to make Zachary hungrier than ever. He hoped the servants would hurry up and bring the food as well.
"Atletico Madrid also managed to win the game against Bayern Leverkusen today with a score of 1-0" continued Stefan while taking a knife and fork. "Zenit lead their group by four points ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid by four points. Bayern Leverkusen are third with 3 points and AIK is trailing by one point. Their group seems very difficult." He said, cut off a piece of his fish and put it in his mouth. The other tablemates gulped because their food had not yet come.
"We have to face one of the two teams that are out of that group" Ryandi said. "I want to know who will be first. Atletico or Zenit?"
"I think they're both equally strong, but I'd rather face an Atletico Madrid team than against Zenit Youth Academy" Damon said after sipping his juice. “My friends, who play for AIK, have told me that the squads of both teams are evenly matched, Atletico are famous for their solid defense, but their attack is rather weak. On the other hand, it would be better if we all avoided facing a Zenit Youth team in the quarter-finals. They have a very tight defence and are very good at scoring goals from corners."
"That's right," cut Stefan off after swallowing a mouthful of food. "We have to try our best to be first in our group. We will only have a much easier time if we play against other teams from that group. Zenit have managed to hold off a draw at Atletico Madrid Academy and beat AIK Stockholm so far."
The conversation slowed down as the waiter continued to bring food. Most players turn their attention to dinner on their plate. Eating is their favorite time because they get a chance to replenish the calories burned after using their muscles.
"A draw against AC Milan Academy tomorrow night will keep us top of our group" Nero said with a gentle smile. One of the waiters finally brought her dinner. It was different from Stefan. On the tray is a local Latvian Rasol dish made from potato salad, with several layers of meat, boiled eggs, and vegetables, all put together with mayonnaise. He also ordered smoked fish and rye bread. He ate and continued to listen to the conversation.
He is happy with the organizers of the Riga Tournament, especially in the feeding section. Players have the option to order up to four dishes, recommended by their coach, from their hotel restaurant. Nero and his teammates always eat like new rich tourists.
"Group C is the strangest group" Damon comments, on the sidelines of a meal feed. "VfB Stuttgart beat Skonto Academy 8:1 on Monday. Today they beat Crystal Palace, a team from England, by a margin of nine two."
"I heard one of their players was also like Nero and managed to score seven goals in two games" Ryandi said. He took small meals carefully.
"Someone named Timo Werner," Stefan interrupted, sighing. "He's a very skilled natural number 9 striker backed by some good midfielders from the VfB Stuttgart academy."
"I heard they have another star player Joshua Kimmich. He gets the most assists in their team" Damon said, leaning forward, cutting his fried salmon. "They're probably the strongest team in the tournament."
Ryandi smiled gently. "It's great that they just might meet us in the semi-finals or the final" he said before drinking into his juice.
"Have any of you heard about the results of Group D?" Nero asked. He almost ate half of it.
"It was supposed to be the easiest group." Stefan sighed, shaking his head. "The last time I checked, Jong Ajax Academy led with three points. I don't know how they performed in today's game."
"We should be worried about tomorrow's game" Damon said as he rolled his eyes. "I don't want to lose against AC Milan Academy."
"Good coin, Damon." Nero said as he nodded, giving a thumbs up to his flatmate. "I wonder why Coach Johansen didn't have a pre-match tactical meeting. It usually happens the day before the game."
"I think we'll have a meeting tomorrow morning" Stefan replied "The match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m."
**** ****
After dinner, Nero and Ryandi return to their room. They talk a little about the game for a few minutes until Ryandi is tired and enters his bed for the night.
Nero glanced at his watch, realizing that it was still 8:00 p.m. He slept for a few hours after the match against Lechia Gedanks Junior and had not felt sleepy yet.
He decided to practice in the system simulator for a few hours before going to bed. So, he opened the Mastery Skills tab to choose the skills he would practice in the Virtual Training Dungeon.
****
(i) VISION Andres Iniesta
(Level 1: Progress: 72.021%)
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(ii) Deadly Shoot/Long Shoot
(2nd level: Progress: 1%)
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(iii) The Miracle Shoot of Lionel Messi
(Level 1: Progress: 72.43%)
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(iv) Cruyff Turn
(Progress: 100%, Powered.)
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(v) Elastico Dribble
(First rate progress: 32%)
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-> Dungeon Virtual Training Mastery Skill
Enable Disable
(Activation charges 2 exp points per hour)
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****
Nero has noticed that Cruyff turn and Elastico dribble have been added to his Mastery skills after the match against JFC Riga. It seemed like every skill he managed to perform in the field would be put into his Mastery skill tab. Most likely, he would have to make moves on the field first, before the system could add it to his repertoire.
The system will then develop a specific training program for those skills in the Virtual Training Dungeon.
He was in a good mood as he could train new skills in the Virtual Dungeon System. For the past two nights, he had trained a Cruyff round with 100% full mastery%. That was why he could use it efficiently in the match against Lechia Gedanks Junior earlier that day.
Dungeon Virtual Training System is the perfect virtual reality training program. The 3D model of the soccer star in the simulator can easily embed the body movements, postures, and reflexes that the player needs to perform the moves. That's how Nero managed to improve his death ball technique in a short time.
However, he understood that fitness was the foundation of his skill development. With the help of the elixir of the system, he can improve his fitness quickly, allowing him to learn skills without much effort.
He was confident that he would not be able to master Cruyff's round, for example, if he did not have A-level body control. He would fall to the ground on every attempt if his balance and coordination did not meet the skill requirements. That would be analogous to fitting a Bugatti engine into a Toyota Corona. It would not be able to drive a car to speeds above 300km/h without all the special systems and aerodynamic shape of the original vehicle. The vehicle will 'just' fall apart if you push it too far without special stabilizers, braking systems, tires, shock absorbers, and other spare parts.
So, Nero has decided to intensify his fitness training when he returns to Brussels after the tournament. He had to train his body first before he received any more skills from the system. It was the best way to prepare for the final stages of his career.
Nero sighed and forcefully broke away from his contemplation. Physical fitness training can wait. He should focus on the match against AC Milan Academy the next day at 19:00.
He activated Dungeon Virtual Training, spent two Exp points, and began practicing The Miracle Shoot of Lionel Messi for the next hour. He felt the free kick technique would be useful soon.
