Klinsmann “We didn’t achieve our goal of winning, but there are positive aspects…
We prepared well for the World Cup qualifiers.”
The national soccer team, which attempted to win the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup for the first time in 64 years but was eliminated in the semifinals by Jordan, returned home.
The national soccer team led by coach Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany)
returned through Incheon International Airport on the 8th after finishing the 2023 Asian Cup held in Qatar.
European league players, including captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham),
Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton),
returned directly to their respective teams from Qatar, and on this day,
13 players and Klinsmann arrived at Incheon Airport. 실시간 바카라사이트
Coaches, including the manager, came in.
The national team lost 0-2 in the semifinals of the Asian Cup against Jordan held at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar on the morning of the 7th, Korean time, and ended the tournament without advancing to the finals.
Ahead of this tournament, Korea had many players playing in the European big leagues,
led by Son Heung-min, and was evaluated as having the best power of all time, and was expected to win the Asian Cup.
However, after losing twice in a row in 1956 and 1960, they were unable to achieve their dream of regaining the top spot again.
Coach Klinsmann, who has been criticized for approaching the tournament without any special measures or preparations other than relying on the skills of ‘world-class’ players,
has received more criticism after the semi-final defeat against Jordan, and there are even calls for his resignation.
On this evening, during the Lunar New Year holiday, many travelers came in and out of the airport,
and about 300 people crowded into the arrival hall where the national team entered.
Some shouted at Coach Klinsmann, “This is soccer!” or “Go home.”
Although it was not as bad as during the past World Cup slumps, there were a few small taffy that flew in.
Coach Klinsmann said, “I wanted to win the Asian Cup as much as you all,
but I was unable to achieve my goal,” but added, “There were positive aspects,
so it is important to think about those things and prepare for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup qualifiers.”
He expressed his intention to continue leading the national team. revealed.
The national team is now preparing for the international match period in March.
During the March international match period, two 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia Second Qualifying Matches will be held.
Korea, which took the lead in Group C (6 points) after winning two consecutive games against Singapore (5-0) and China (3-0) last November,
played a home game against Thailand on March 21 and then traveled to Thailand on the 26th. I’m planning on going to the game.
The national team is expected to be called up on March 18th.
Prior to that, the Korea Football Association plans to hold a power strengthening committee after the Lunar New Year holiday to look back on the Asian Cup and discuss the overall management of the national team.
The specific timing, method, and whether Director Klinsmann will attend will be decided later.
Coach Klinsmann said in an interview with reporters that day that he plans to leave for the United States,
his residence, next week, and then move to Europe to check on overseas players.