It's a hot summer.
The fiery passion of the football feast is gradually waning.
As Brazil defeated Germany 2-0, lifting the World Cup trophy and adding another golden star to their jersey, Brazil officially cemented their title as the "Five-Star Brazil."
Throughout the tournament, there were thrilling matches and astonishing, sometimes incomprehensible, stories of biased refereeing.
These memories together form the summer of 2002, as the Korea-Japan World Cup came to a successful conclusion.
In this World Cup, Brazil became the ultimate winner, the king of the world.
It was also disappointing that teams like France, Argentina, and Portugal were eliminated in the group stage.
The Chinese team completed their first-ever World Cup appearance.
Spain is gathering strength, Germany has started a nine-year youth development plan to nurture young players, and whispers of change are rising on the Apennine Peninsula. This first World Cup after 2000 has now come to an end.
Although the World Cup is over, discussions about it and news about the players continue nonstop.
Television channels keep replaying various exciting matches from the tournament.
Dragging the tail of the World Cup, football remains at the center of attention.
At the same time, the new season is fast approaching.
Major leagues are preparing for the new campaign, the summer transfer window is booming, and the entire European continent is in a state of readiness.
This excitement has also spread to the Balkan Peninsula, with Bosnia and Herzegovina's leagues undergoing some changes.
First, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Premier League will expand to 12 teams, and the schedule will change to 22 rounds.
Starting in August, after a two-month winter break, the season will conclude in mid-March.
Due to the promotion of two teams to the Premier League (excluding the usual promotion and relegation), the First League will bring in teams from the Second League to fill the gaps.
Mostar Wanderers, ranked third in the Second League, are in the right place at the right time.
This season, Mostar Wanderers were passively promoted to the Bosnia and Herzegovina First League.
---
Inside Mlinar's carpentry shop:
"Great!"
Suk sat in a chair, reading the newspaper, and shouted excitedly.
This season, they would be playing in the First League, and the rewards for each match would surely be much richer.
Mlinar shook his head and said, "The gap between us and the First League teams is huge. Staying up will be difficult."
"Then let's just make sure we're not the worst. As long as we're not last, we're fine," Suk replied nonchalantly.
Mlinar smiled. "Orić has registered us for the Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup. It starts next week."
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup is a national cup competition, where teams from all levels can participate. Like the German Cup, even Premier League teams must start from the first round.
"Wow!"
Suk's eyes lit up — more matches meant more card-drawing opportunities for him.
Winning or losing didn't matter; standing on the field or being on the roster meant he could draw cards.
"It's so hot! So hot!"
Orić entered, slamming an official document onto the table and shouting, "Get me a glass of cold water!"
Suk quickly fetched a glass, adding ice cubes before handing it over.
Orić took a big gulp, refreshed by the icy water.
He fanned himself and said, "One piece of good news, one piece of bad news."
"The good news: we don't have to travel far for our Cup match. We can afford the expenses for this game."
Both Suk and Mlinar sighed in relief.
For Mostar Wanderers, travel costs were a serious issue. If fan donations were insufficient, they sometimes had to forfeit away games.
"That's great," Mlinar said, putting down his tools. "What's the bad news?"
Orić sighed. "Our opponent is Zrinjski Mostar."
Suk and Mlinar were stunned.
Zrinjski Mostar is also a club from the town of Mostar — but unlike the third-rate Wanderers, Zrinjski plays in the Premier League.
Founded in 1905, Zrinjski has a proud history of nearly a century.
Although they have yet to break Sarajevo's dominance, they are considered one of the top teams in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In short, Mostar Wanderers had run into a brick wall for their very first Cup match.
"Wow!" Suk exclaimed, realizing how tough their opponent would be.
Mlinar sighed slightly too.
"It is what it is," Orić said. "We might not go far in the Cup, but we still have to prepare."
"There will be training over the next two days. Tactical arrangements must be made. Everyone must attend — no absences allowed."
Orić paused. "Though I doubt anyone would skip."
---
Training camp started immediately, with full attendance.
The players were eager and motivated.
For players in the First and Second Leagues, ambition was everything. The dream was to get into the Premier League, where football could support their livelihoods without needing a second job.
Mostar Wanderers' young players clung to this dream — waiting for an opportunity to shine on the big stage and attract the attention of bigger clubs.
Of course, players could also climb the ranks by performing exceptionally across leagues — but the Premier League route was much easier.
Suk was no exception. When he heard they would be facing Zrinjski Mostar, instead of fear, he was filled with energy and excitement.
When weak teams face strong teams, teamwork becomes critical.
Given the gap in individual ability, Mostar Wanderers needed to rely heavily on defensive organization.
Orić pulled out the classic defensive counterattack strategy, focusing heavily on defense.
"We must survive the first half," Orić shouted from the sidelines. "Zrinjski will surely attack. They are a Premier League team. They have pride and may underestimate us — we must take advantage of that!"
"A fist delivers the hardest blow after enough buildup! Before that, we must defend like mules — run, run, run!"
Orić's voice inspired the players.
On the field, Suk ran tirelessly, harder than anyone.
"Suk! You're running too much! Save your energy! You're key to our counterattack!" Mlinar yelled.
As the main striker, Suk's endless running could exhaust him before crucial moments.
"I can handle it! Don't worry!" Suk panted, waving.
Suk knew that facing strong teams required hard work — and this was his chance to break into the Premier League.
He deliberately ran harder to pressure the opponents, disrupt their rhythm, and consume their energy.
Moreover, Suk wasn't foolish. He knew how to manage his stamina.
In this game, he planned to use a secret weapon: the "State Recovery Card."
By running hard in the first half, he could tire the opponents out. Then, at a critical moment, he would instantly recover to peak form — while the opponents remained exhausted.
That would be when he would strike.
To maximize his impact, Suk adjusted his card lineup:
Diamond Card (Special Type) – Inzaghi's Awareness
Red Card (Skill Type) – Torricelli's Short Pass
White Card (Skill Type) – Fatialak's Prediction
White Card (Skill Type) – Toni's Interception
White Card (Skill Type) – Leisten's Shooting
Red Card (Skill Type) – State Recovery Card
This setup maximized his ability to disrupt the opponent's build-up play.
Suk removed "Andre's Swift Feet" — since the first half wasn't about dribbling but about pressing and teamwork.
Even during counterattacks, he preferred passing combinations to wear out the opponent's defense — and if lucky, to score.
In the second half, with the "State Recovery Card" and cards like "Roberts' Dribbling" and "Andre's Swift Feet," he would unleash his real power.
Suk was ready to make his mark