South Korea have reached the Asian Cup knockout rounds, but coach Jurgen Klinsmann has been criticized for everything from his tactics to his smile and captain Son Heung-min said the players have faced abuse.
The South Koreans take on Saudi Arabia in the last 16 tomorrow with a toxic atmosphere threatening to envelop the team after a shaky start to their bid for a first Asian title in 64 years.
An opening 3-1 win over Bahrain in Qatar was followed by a 2-2 draw with Jordan that saw Klinsmann’s side need an injury-time own goal to salvage a point.
Photo: AFP
Worse was to come when they conceded a last-gasp equalizer in a 3-3 draw with Malaysia — ranked 130th in the world — to finish as runners-up in Group E behind Bahrain.
Tottenham Hotspur star Son said after the game that “comments that cross the line” had been aimed at his teammates.
“It really hurts as a teammate to see the boys in pain,” Son said.
Striker Cho Gue-sung in particular has faced criticism after missing a string of chances in three goalless appearances.
The 26-year-old gained huge popularity among South Korean female fans following the 2022 World Cup and the Denmark-based attacker has appeared in celebrity television shows.
Now he is accused of not concentrating on soccer and his Instagram account has been flooded with hundreds of critical comments.
However, fans and media have reserved their strongest ire for the German legend Klinsmann, who could be seen grinning on the bench after Malaysia scored their 105th-minute equalizer.
“It was a day of shame for Korean football,” the JoongAng newspaper said on Friday of the draw with a team that was already eliminated.
A World Cup winner as a player, Klinsmann has faced heavy criticism ever since taking charge a year ago.
His refusal to live in South Korea has been a major bone of contention, as have his tactics, team selections and previous managerial record.
Freelance soccer writer Hong Jae-min, who is covering the team in Qatar, said some South Korean fans view Klinsmann with “hatred.”
“Korean football fans don’t like him and don’t support him,” he said. “Klinsmann is always smiling. Even after he lost, or he drew against Malaysia — they conceded three goals and he still smiled.”
“He sat on the bench throughout the game and just smiled,” the JoongAng said.
Klinsmann admitted to being “a little bit angry” after the Malaysia game, but he has remained relentlessly upbeat throughout the tournament.
His sunny demeanor stands out even more when he is in the presence of stern-faced assistant Cha Du-ri, who often stalks the touchline barking instructions to the players.
Klinsmann told reporters after the Malaysia game that he saw “a lot of positives.”
“It was actually really OK apart from those two goals,” the 59-year-old said. “It is what it is.”
Tallon Griekspoor on Friday stunned top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4) in the second round at Indian Wells, avenging a devastating loss to the German at Roland Garros last year. Zverev, the world No. 2 who is heading the field of the prestigious ATP Masters event with No. 1 Jannik Sinner serving a three-month drugs ban, is the first Indian Wells men’s top seed to lose his opening match since Andy Murray in 2017. It was a cherished win for Griekspoor, who had lost five straight matches — including four last year — to the German. That included a five-setter
Donovan Mitchell on Wednesday scored 26 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers punched their ticket to the NBA playoffs with a hard-fought 112-107 victory over the Miami Heat. A seesaw battle in Cleveland saw the Heat threaten to end the Cavs’ 11-game unbeaten streak after opening up a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter, but the Cavs clawed back the deficit in the closing minutes to seal their 12th straight victory and a place in the post-season. The Cavaliers improved to 52-10, maintaining their stranglehold on the Eastern Conference with 20 games of the regular season remaining. Mitchell was one of six Cleveland
Five-time champion Novak Djokovic on Saturday tumbled out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters, falling in his first match to lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp as two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz advanced. “No excuses for a poor performance,” 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic said after 37 unforced errors in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat. “It doesn’t feel great when you play this way on the court,” he said. “But congratulations to my opponent — just a bad day in the office, I guess, for me.” Djokovic is just the latest in Van de Zandschulp’s string of superstar victims. He
Steve Smith yesterday announced his retirement from one-day international (ODI) cricket after captaining Australia to a semi-final exit at the ICC Champions Trophy, bringing down the curtain on a career in the format that included two ICC World Cup wins. The 35-year-old batsman, who was his team’s top scorer with 73 as Australia lost to India by four wickets in Dubai on Tuesday, said he would still be available for selection for T20 internationals and Test matches. “It has been a great ride and I have loved every minute of it,” Smith said in a Cricket Australia statement. “There have been so
RSS