Ego:
"For the First Selection, all of you in Wing #5, will have a round robin tournament for all five teams."

"After the final match, the top two teams will clear the selection."

...

Chigiri:
"So, all eleven of us in Team Z count as one team? Even though we're all forwards?"

Nishioka:
"That's simply means most of us have to play other positions, Iemon looks perfect for a goalie."

Iemon:
"I'd do it if I had to.."

Raichi:
"Then I'll be the CF*."

*CF/Center Forward= Players who covers the front line and central area of the field.

Kunigami:
"Huh? No, me."

Gagamaru:
"Me."

Naruhaya:
"You're on defense, Igaguri."

Igaguri:
"Huh?!"

Ego interrupted our conversation and said that soccer is initially a game about scoring points. So, having all the forwards in the same team makes perfect sense.

He also said that the positions and tactics were just roles that were created as part of soccer's evolution. He told us to rebuild soccer from zero in our brain.

***

[Press Conference]

Anri speaks about Japanese soccer's history, where they've made several crazy progress by making it to the World Cups twice, and almost beat Belgium in 2018.

But, in order to take one more step, Japanese soccer in its current state must die.

The predecessor dream to enter the World Cup, as well as to prove Japanese could compete with the world, had served its purpose. Which means, it's time to find a new dream.

Right now, Japanese soccer is on the cusp of a new stage, not with the jaded adults, but with the 300 high schoolers who will play the leading parts.

Lastly, she asked.

"Do you have the courage.. to dream of winning the World Cup?"

"All of it.. is in Blue Lock."

...

"That concludes this conference."

Complaints once again were heard from the reporters.

Itoshi Sae's manager began to spoke as they were watching from a far.

"Itoshi-chan, we have to catch our flight to Spain."

Sae:
"Cancel it."

"I'll see for myself.. what kind of forward this country can produce."

***

"Rock, paper, scissor. Shoot!"

Isagi:

After winning the roshambo*, Isagi was first to choose what position he wanted.

*rock paper scissor

He chooses forward.

...

Ego once again explaining the system of the First Selection, where the three from bottom teams will be eliminated.

However, the top scorer of each losing teams will have a chance for comeback. If there's a tie between members of the same team, 'fair play point' system will be used.

[FAIR PLAY SYSTEM]

YELLOW CARD
-1P

TWO YELLOW CARD IN THE SAME MATCH
-3P

RED CARD
-4P

RED CARD AFTER GETTING YELLOW CARD
-5P

The first match is in two hours, Team X versus Team Z.

In the locker room, since they don't have enough time, Kuon suggested that they should focus their strategy around Isagi.

...

[Wing 5's Central Field]

Kunigami:
"Oh, Team X is here."

The aura.

The guy in the middle, must be Barou.

We get into our position.

Kick-off. Game start.

Bachira passed to Isagi who immediately got faced three opponents at the same time.

He can't get passed through them, so he stopped the ball.

He must've thought to pass it back to Bachira.

Bachira:
"Ah! behind you, Isagi!"

!

Raichi ran out of position and steals the ball from Isagi.

Isagi:
"What're you doing?! we're on the same team!"

Raichi:
"Whoever scores the most points, wins right? I don't care about teams, I'll do this my own way."

Kunigami quickly ran passed me and steals the ball from Raichi.

Kunigami:
"Fair enough, Raichi. Then I'll fight solo too.. fair and square."

Both Igaguri and Naruhaya went out from their position leaving the defence empty while Kuon trying to stop them.

While most of them went to get the ball, I moved from upper right to the left further back, covering space Igaguri had left.

Not just Team Z went out from their position to steal the ball, the entirety of Team X did the same, circling in the middle. Except for one person, Barou Shoei.

...

Soon after, Barou broke through the chaos with the ball.

Barou:

He's now in a 1v1 situation with Isagi.

He then flicked the ball over him with his heel.

Before the ball even touched the ground, I cleared the ball far away.

Barou:
"You brat..!"

I sprinted across the chaos and trapped the ball with my foot perfectly.

Team X's goalie dive in front to stop the ball, but.. I chipped the ball and it goes over him.

Team X  Team Z
0 - 1

That goal perfectly boosted Team Z's morale.

Naruhaya:
"That was amazing!"

Iemon:
"As expected from Aomori's Messi."

...

Barou:
"Aomori's Messi.. I'll crush you."

***

We get back into our positions.

Isagi passed the ball to Bachira.. nevermind.

Just when I thought that goal was enough to fix their mind.. huff..

Not long after Igaguri got the ball, Team X's player successfully stole the ball from him.

But, they once again circling in the middle, trying to steal the ball from their teammates.

Ah.

In the original story they should've been more structured by now, but they didn't. Barou should be the one who scored the first goal, through the goal Barou scored, they center the attack on Barou by supplying him the ball.

Once again, Barou break through the chaos with ball in his possession.

He dribbled pass Team Z's defense.

I tried catching up to him but failed.

He scored the goal in the top right corner.

Team X Team Z
1 - 1

Barou:
"Listen here, you shitty losers. To me, the ball isn't my friend or anything, it's just a round servant that makes me look good. On the field, I'm the king."

Just by that, Barou has succeeded to convince Team X to trust the attack to him.

He said that right in front of my face too..

Igaguri:
"Hey Iemon, you're the goalkeeper, so do your job properly!"

Iemon:
"I've never done it before, what do you expect?!"

The morale I've built goes to the pits of hell.

***

We gone back to our position.

This time, Isagi passed to me instead.

I passed it back to Isagi, l then ran slowly and scanned the field.

I've grasped the rough map of the field.

Just as expected, they played more structured now after Barou scored the equalizer.

Isagi passed the ball to Bachira who lobs the ball across a player with his heel to me.

I remain still, waiting for Team X's midfielder to dive in.

When the range is close enough, I dropped my body to right.

With my left foot, I tapped the ball diagonally to left. Leaving the player in the dust.

I dribbled past four players.

Until Barou emerges behind me from the frontline.

Barou:
"You think you'll win just by dribbling past them?"

Nishioka:
"We'll see."

I slowed down my pace and when Barou was right beside me, I tapped the ball with my right foot and it goes between his feets.

With really tight spaces for me to shoot, I took my chance and it went past Team X's defenders and goalkeeper's reach.

Team X Team Z
1 - 2