Results weren’t enough to win back the fans. Jürgen Klinsmann, the head coach of the Germany national soccer team, is still receiving some cold shoulders from fans.
Klinsmann’s men have won their last four A matches. They’ve won four in a row after their worst-ever start, with three draws and two losses in their first five games. On the other hand, fan sentiment towards Klinsmann remains cold. Fans don’t look kindly on his frequent traveling and working-from-home controversies since his arrival.
The first time the fans booed him was during an exhibition match against Tunisia at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on March 13. Thirty minutes before kickoff, when the starting lineup and manager were revealed, the fans had a mixed reaction: cheers for the players and boos for Klinsmann. South Korea’s 4-0 win over Tunisia was met with applause, and Klinsmann was the only one booed.
Four days later, it was a different story at an exhibition match against Vietnam at Suwon World Cup Stadium. When Klinsmann’s name was called, there was a small round of applause instead of boos. The team went on to win the match 6-0, with a goal storm.
Exactly one month later, on June 16, at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Klinsmann was playing his final A match of the year in South Korea. The opponent was Singapore, ranked 155th by FIFA, but it was a crucial test as it was the first match of Group C of the 2026 FIFA North and Central American World Cup Asia Second Qualifying Round.
Klinsmann, who emphasized “continuity,” put out his best team. However, there were some fans who said, “Should we field the entire European squad even for the second qualifier? Since the main players had been on a strong run in Europe, it was thought that a rotation would be necessary against Singapore.
The fans disagreed, and boos rang out again for Klinsmann. The contrast with Son Heung-min, who had been called up just moments earlier, was striking.
On the day, South Korea defeated Singapore 5-0. However, there was a lot of disappointment among the fans after the game. First, some fans were disappointed that the team did not replace Son Heung-min, who went down in a big collision during the game.
Secondly, some fans felt that Klinsmann relied too much on Lee Kang-in. Klinsmann has been vocal about Lee Kang-in, saying, “He’s being treated like a celebrity, not a soccer player, and we need to create an environment for him to be humble and grow.” However, in every public appearance, he has praised Lee’s performance and growth. 토토사이트
Klinsmann’s recent results are impressive, with four wins, one draw, and 16 points in his last five games. More importantly, however, is the process of building the team for the World Cup and Asian Cup. Former Germany coach Uli Stielike, arguably the worst coach in South Korea’s history, kept eight consecutive clean sheets in A matches while in charge of the national team. Fans are still questioning Klinsmann’s process.
0 Comments