dFormer national coach Jürgen Klinsmann caused irritation after South Korean footballers lost the semi-finals of the Asian Cup. The 59-year-old man had on Tuesday after the 2-0 loss to Jordan in Al-Rayyan, Qatar he congratulated his colleague Hussein Ammouta with a smile. This smile is difficult to understand, Ilgan Sports newspaper wrote on Wednesday.
“As the players showed their disappointment, Klinsmann's face filled with laughter,” Sports Hankook wrote: “It was an extremely confusing scene, considering he is the coach of the Korean national team.”
Immediately after the game Klinsmann was asked: It was normal for him to congratulate the other coach. Klinsmann has a fleeting smile, but with it he “sometimes offends people,” wrote the national Yonhap news agency.
The elimination in the semifinals in South Korea also caused great disappointment in the sporting arena. The tenor of the criticism was: The bankruptcy was just the latest example of questionable tactics and team building. The next day, local commentators asked what was next for the team. “Korea, and especially coach Jürgen Klinsmann, have to answer an important question: What just happened?” wrote the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper.
Klinsmann wanted to win the tournament with the two-time Asian champions for the first time since 1960, but against the Jordanians, who were 64 places lower in the world rankings, they failed to manage a single shot on goal. “Ilgan Sports” spoke of a devastating defeat. From the former Bundesliga star Heung Min Son However, Klinsmann received support and the former national coach would become “even stronger” after the bankruptcy.
“I don't have anything planned.”
In South Korea it is assumed that the pressure on the country's former national coach will continue to grow. Doubts loomed over the future of the national team, according to The Korea Herald newspaper. Some fans have already called for the coach's resignation due to changes in performance in group stage matches. South Korea only won one of five games in regulation time. Late goals, in particular, saved the team from early elimination.
Klinsmann, who took over as coach last year, did not immediately comment on his future. When asked after the match about a possible retirement, he said: “I have nothing planned.” He was “disappointed” and “angry,” Klinsmann explained: “We had the big goal of reaching the final.” So I spoke to the National Football Association about his performance upon his return.