By Kang Dong-hoon Reporter = It was a cold, icy reception for Germany national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann. When his name was called before kickoff at Sangambeul, where a cloud of fans had gathered to watch the match against Tunisia, there were loud boos and jeers.
In addition to a multi-goal performance from Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), who put on a “one-man show” against Tunisia in the October A match at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the afternoon of the 13th, Klinsmann scored an own goal and a brace from Hwang Eui-jo (Norwich City) in a 4-0 victory.
With the victory, Klinsmann’s side secured their first back-to-back wins since a victory over Saudi Arabia in an A-match trial in September. It was also the first time they smiled in front of their own fans. The all-time record against Tunisia is now even at three wins, one loss and one draw.
Klinsmann’s men will have a day off to recharge their batteries. On October 17, the team will play Vietnam at Suwon World Cup Stadium in the second of their October A-match trials. After that, the squad will be recalled and will begin Asia’s second round of qualifying for the 2026 North and Central American World Cup next month.
The highlight of the day for Sangambeul was Lee Kang-in’s (Paris Saint-Germain) ’10 out of 10′ performance, which included a multi-goal performance and a dribble reminiscent of Lionel Messi (Inter Miami). But before that, the players and managers were introduced before kickoff.
The roar of the fans filled Sangambeol as the key players were introduced, including Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers). Other Taegeuk Warriors’ names were also called, and they were met with generous applause and cheers.
However, when the last coach, Klinsmann, was introduced, the mood took a “180-degree” turn. Instead of cheers, there were boos. The Seoul World Cup Stadium was filled with loud boos and accusations from the 59,000 fans who came to cheer on the Taegeuk Warriors. It was a moment that epitomized the bitterness of the fans.
Klinsmann, who took over in March, is currently facing criticism and a plummeting approval rating. Since his appointment, public confidence in Klinsmann has plummeted amid allegations of “frequent traveling” and “dereliction of duty”.
Klinsmann promised to “live in Korea, of course,” especially during his inaugural press conference, but since taking the helm, he has spent most of his time between his home in the United States and Europe. So far, he has spent less than 80 days in Korea, and even that is less than a month if you exclude the A-match trials.
Klinsmann, who has been discredited amid controversies over his “frequent travels” and “lack of work,” has been criticized for his lack of results, let alone his frustration with the process. Before the match against Tunisia, the team had won just one point (3 draws and 2 losses) in six A-match trials.
Recently, he said, “As a national team manager, you have to expand your international horizons and work abroad. I personally think it would be an idea to open an office in London,” he said in response to critics who accused him of belittling the K League in the process.메이저놀이터
In the end, Klinsmann, who was already in bad publicity from the beginning of his appointment, continued to create controversy and turned fans away. On this day, he was really pushed to the brink, as it was once again confirmed that there were no fans supporting him.