readytorunbook #241 - Three teams!
#241 - Three teams!
“I'm too lazy to explain, Kurobe, you tell them.”
As he spoke, Mifune Nyudo looked at Kurobe Yukio.
“Yes.”
Hearing this, Kurobe Yukio nodded.
“This year's World Cup will have a round-robin group stage until the final sixteen are decided.”
“In other words, the remaining sixteen teams will be eliminated, and only the top sixteen teams will continue to compete for the top eight, then the top four, and finally the grand final.”
The middle school students' faces showed excitement, even though there were only six matches.
But!
The significance is definitely completely different!
Kurobe Yukio continued:
“The rule of the competition is a best-of-three format. The team that wins two games will be awarded one point for the team, and the final winner is the team with the most points.”
“However, in the round-robin, this rule will only be used in the top sixteen.”
Hearing this.
Everyone nodded.
Although the competition system has been changed, the organizers have taken into account the presence of middle school students this time, so they used two sets of rules.
Only after the middle school students adapt will the top sixteen matches truly begin.
At this moment.
A little nervousness appeared on the faces of all the middle school students.
This is a world-class cup.
Best-of-three, can they really persevere through such a long match process?!
Even Genichiro Sanada, Kunimitsu Tezuka, Ryoma Echizen, and Kuranosuke Shiraishi showed a hint of hesitation.
“Best-of-three? I like this kind of competition.”
Only Keigo Atobe had a smile on his face.
After Kurobe Yukio finished speaking, he looked at Mifune Nyudo.
“The draw results are out! Three days from now.”
Mifune Nyudo said indifferently.
“Draw results?”
Everyone looked at Mifune Nyudo at this moment.
“Coach, who are our opponents in the round-robin?”
Jujiro Oni asked in a deep voice.
A trace of nervousness appeared on the faces of the middle school students. They didn't expect the round-robin results to be out already.
“Our opponents are Greece, Australia, and the world's second-ranked Switzerland.”
Mifune Nyudo said in a deep voice.
Switzerland, ranked second in the world!
After hearing this result, the middle school students' pupils shrank to pinpoints.
What kind of encounter is this.
They just finished playing against the champion German team, and now they're facing the Swiss team, second only to the champion German team!?
“I didn't expect to meet them so soon.”
Kazuya Irie's face showed a hint of a smile.
Everyone in the first string looked indifferent. They weren't actually worried about the Swiss team.
“Are you scared already?!”
Mifune Nyudo snorted as he looked at the middle school students' expressions at this moment.
Instantly.
Some of the middle school students trembled subconsciously.
That's right.
They were the ones who received training at the Cliff of the Heart before. Since then, they've had a bit of a psychological shadow regarding Mifune Nyudo.
“It's too late to be scared now!”
Seeing this, Mifune Nyudo snorted.
Jin Akutsu immediately said dissatisfied, “This level is far from being scary!”
“Coach, you're underestimating us too much.”
Keigo Atobe laughed: “I have completed a gorgeous growth.”
“Coach, we never thought about retreating!”
Genichiro Sanada's eyes showed determination.
“That's right! Coach! I'll win and show you!”
Kintaro Toyama showed a happy smile on his face at this moment.
The other middle school students nodded one after another.
“What impressive spirit.”
At this time, a voice with an abrupt smile sounded.
A dark-skinned man with grayish-black hair stood in front of everyone, with a hint of a smile on his face.
It was Shuji Tanegashima, who was previously afraid of flying!
At this moment.
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone else's eyes fell on Shuji Tanegashima.
“Hi, everyone, I'm here!”
Seeing this, Shuji Tanegashima shrugged.
“Shuji, you're finally here.”
The moment he saw Shuji Tanegashima, Kazuya Irie's face showed a trace of a smile.
“Senior Tanegashima, you're finally here!”
Kintaro Toyama smiled: “But you're still one step late. The World Cup warm-up match is over!”
“I heard.”
Shuji Tanegashima scratched his head and smiled: “It's a pity though.”
After that.
Everyone talked to Shuji Tanegashima about the situation during the match.
“You all know the competition rules, right?”
Hogyo Byodoin looked at Shuji Tanegashima and said.
“Yes.”
Shuji Tanegashima nodded and looked at Mifune Nyudo and asked: “Coach, which team is our first match against?”
“The Greek team.”
After Mifune Nyudo finished speaking, he said to everyone: “Be prepared!”
“In addition, because it is a round-robin group match, according to the rules, each person can only play once, so the arrangement of the team is very important.”
“As for the rules for middle school students, it's still the same as before. Three middle school students must play in each match.”
Mifune Nyudo's words fell.
This time, even the first string showed a bit of change on their faces.
This rule can be said to be very tricky!
If the arrangement is not proper, it is possible that even teams that can win easily might lose.
Because there are still many uncertainties among the middle school students.
Not all middle school students are as strong as Yukimura,
So the requirement of having three middle school students play each time has become the biggest problem now.
“Now, because there are three matches, we will divide into three teams in advance.”
“Byodoin, Oni, Yukimura, the three of you will each serve as the captain of a team.”
Hearing this, everyone nodded.
No one objected.
Hogyo Byodoin, Jujiro Oni, and Seiichi Yukimura are the three strongest players in the Japanese team right now, so it's a very reasonable way to let them be the captains.
“Pine Team! Captain Jujiro Oni, members Kuranosuke Shiraishi, Akaya Kirihara, Shuji Tanegashima, Shuichiro Oishi, Tsukimitsu Ochi, Atsukyo Tono.”
“Bamboo Team! Captain Seiichi Yukimura, members Genichiro Sanada, Kintaro Toyama, Yuji Niou, Shusuke Fuji, Keigo Atobe, Duke Watanabe.”
“Plum Team! Captain Hogyo Byodoin, members Ryoga Echizen, Ryoma Echizen, Yojiro Kite, Kazuya Irie, Ryuji Omagari, Jin Akutsu.”
Mifune Nyudo read out the list of players for this round-robin.
At this moment, everyone's hearts were filled with anticipation.
“Little one, we're on the same team.”
After learning the list of team members, Ryoga Echizen laughed at Ryoma Echizen.
“What's so happy about that.”
Ryoma Echizen said, then lowered the brim of his hat.
“Seiichi!”
Genichiro Sanada looked at Yukimura.
Yukimura smiled slightly.
“Senior Kimijima, this is different from what was said during the negotiation.”
Akaya Kirihara asked Ikuto Kimijima after hearing the news.
Ikuto Kimijima showed a bit of a wry smile: “Don't worry, there's still a chance. Do your best in this match.”
“I understand, Senior Kimijima.”
Akaya Kirihara was immediately diverted and said,
“Well then, that's the decision! Dismissed!”
After assigning the teams, Mifune Nyudo's voice sounded.