First criticism, then the hero?
Klinsmann’s “zombies” are far from fed up
February 5, 2024, 7:21 p.m
After a difficult start, Klinsmann from South Korea has formed a successful team. In Qatar, only two wins are missing from the Asian Cup title. In the semi-final against Jordan, however, he will have to do without a star from the Bundesliga.
Jürgen Klinsmann laughed, exuded confidence in his typical manner and left no doubt about his belief in the great triumph. “We’ve come so far now. We want to keep going. We’re hungry, we’re fit,” said the South Korean national coach in sunny Qatar. He has already been responsible for a summer fairy tale as a coach. With South Korea he now wants to write a very special history in the emirate. Almost unobserved by the German public, the 59-year-old reached the semi-finals of the Asian Cup with the team led by Bayern star Minjae Kim.
For more than half a century, since 1960, South Korea has been waiting for a triumph at the continental championship. It could happen on Saturday. It seemed as if Klinsmann’s third stint as national coach could result in a major misunderstanding.
The former German national striker and national coach didn’t win a single one of his first five games as coach of the Taegeuk Warriors, as the team is called at home. When he asked Wales captain Aaron Ramsey for his shirt after a 0-0 draw in Wales last September, some fans took offense at him.
Klinsmann with an old DFB problem
South Korean media also criticized the fact that Klinsmann spends more time abroad than in South Korea – a problem that the Swabian is already familiar with from his time as national coach. Even back then, his life in the USA was met with incomprehension by some observers. With the success of the German team, which won the hearts of the fans and came third, the criticism fell silent in 2006. Almost 18 years later, Klinsmann could also secure a place in the South Korean history books as a football hero.
“We still have two games left in which we can hopefully make our country proud. You can see it in the players’ eyes, they want to make their country and their friends proud. They want to bring this trophy home,” said Klinsmann with a view to the semi-final against Jordan tomorrow, Tuesday (4 p.m./CET)in which he has to do without his suspended defense chief Minjae Kim.
“A fantastic experience”
Klinsmann is aware of the great opportunity to satisfy the fans’ longing for a title. The motivational artist has lost none of his energy. During the dramatic 2-1 win in the quarter-finals against Australia after extra time, he cheered on his team almost continuously from the sidelines. When the semi-finals were confirmed, he cheerfully rushed to his players around the winning goalscorer Heung-Min Son and hugged them like good friends, while the fans who had come with their own lead singer celebrated exuberantly in the stands at the Al-Janoub Stadium. “I’m enjoying every moment of this tournament,” said Klinsmann and you can see that he means it. “It’s a fantastic experience.”
Klinsmann’s credo of never giving up and striving for the biggest goals has been passed on to his team. In four of five games in Qatar, South Korea scored in stoppage time – once benefiting from an own goal. In the two knockout games, only goals after the 90th minute saved the team into extra time. The team has earned a reputation among its fans for being unbeatable. “Zombie team” – that’s what the supporters now call their national selection. “Any name is okay for me,” commented Klinsmann with a smile.
Superstar and captain Son brush aside doubts that his team might be tired after playing 120 minutes twice in a row. “Fatigue, exhaustion, there can be no excuse,” said the Tottenham Hotspur attacker. “We will continue to win the trophy and bring it home.” If that were successful, the fans would probably forgive their coach any jersey request.