Asian Cup 'Draw with Malay' Coach Klinsmann "I'm Disappointed with the Opponent's PK Decision"
“We tried to take first place in the group without a plan to avoid Japan.
We will improve our defense and go for a decisive victory.”
Jürgen Klinsmann, coach of the Korean national soccer team, who drew against Malaysia, the weakest team, in the final group stage match of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, expressed dissatisfaction with the referee's decision.
He said that there was no 'strategy' to avoid 'difficult enemy' Japan in the round of 16, and pledged to do better in the single match. 카지노사이트
Coach Klinsmann said at a press conference after the third match of Group E of the Asian Cup group stage held at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar on the 25th, "It was a very exciting game with both teams scoring a combined 6 goals."
On this day, Klinsmann drew 3-3 with Malaysia and finished the group stage in second place in Group E (1 win, 2 draws, 5 points).
Advancement to the round of 16 had already been confirmed, so it was a game to decide the ranking, but after leading 1-0 in the first half against Malaysia, ranked 130th in the FIFA rankings, the match did not go well, as they gave up two goals in a row in the second half and suffered a comeback, resulting in a one-game match that was to continue.
In the 38th minute of the second half, Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain)'s free kick resulted in an own goal by the opposing goalkeeper, and in extra time in the second half, captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham) scored a comeback goal with a penalty kick, but in the 15th minute of added time, it was a 'theatrical equalizer'. ', resulting in a draw that felt like defeat.
Coach Klinsmann expressed his regret over the decision to concede a goal, saying, “I am angry and dissatisfied.”
He explained, "I believe that when the opponent scores a penalty kick, the situation is not a penalty kick, and it is also unfortunate that the goal was recognized in the process of the opponent committing a foul."
In this group stage, Japan was pushed to second place in Group D, and if Korea finished first in Group E on this day, they could meet in the round of 16. However, Korea drew and took second place in the group, so the 'Korea-Japan round of 16 match' did not happen.
When asked, “Was (today's result) a strategy to avoid Japan?” Coach Klinsmann simply said, “There was no such plan at all.”
He said, “Before we came out, I said let's take first place in the group, win, and go to the next round.
“Our players played well today and created a lot of opportunities,” he said.
“The goal was to win, and we wanted to take first place in the group.
“I had no intention of avoiding (Japan),” he said.
Even if avoiding Japan was a good thing in the end, it is important to point out that they conceded goals in every game in the group stage and continued to show performance that was not worthy of a championship candidate.
When asked, "Do you believe that a team that conceded six goals in the group stage can win the championship?"
Coach Klinsmann emphasized, "I absolutely believe," and said, "I think a lot of us need to improve our defense.
We will seriously analyze and discuss it."
He said, "There is no easy team in this tournament.
There was no easy team in the group stage, and I feel that we have to respect them.
To win, we have to beat any opponent.
We will prepare well for the single match and play a good game." Chopped.
Coach Klinsmann commented on the positive aspects of the day, saying, "The injured Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) and Kim Jin-soo (Jeonbuk) returned, and there were concerns that there might be difficulties in the round of 16 due to the warning, but the fact that there was no accumulation was also encouraging."
