Klinsmann has built an all-time great core line-up.
This summer’s transfer window in European football means a lot to Korean football. The national team has been transformed by a series of transfers. And not just any transfer. The so-called “big clubs” have brought in key resources for the national team.먹튀검증
First, Lee Kang-in left the Spanish Primera Liga (La Liga), where he was a regular. After two seasons at Valencia and then Real Mallorca, Lee opted for a move to France, joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
It was a surprise move. Lee had been expected to leave Mallorca this summer since last winter. English Premier League (EPL) and La Liga teams wanted him.
However, the news of his departure to PSG came out of nowhere, and the transfer was officially announced after the June A-match in South Korea. Fans were excited to see Lee play alongside superstars like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
Next up was Kim Min-jae. In his first season with Napoli, Kim became a regular defender. Thanks to his performance, Napoli lifted their first league title in 33 years. Naturally, interest in Kim grew, and Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, and PSG were among the clubs that tried to sign him.
The eventual winner of the Kim Min-jae saga was Bayern Munich. Kim’s move to Munich was also a big deal for football fans. He became the first Korean player to play for one of the world’s most powerful club teams, the so-called “Les Bleus” (Real, Barcelona, and Munich). Munich went so far as to send a medical team to South Korea for a medical test and officially announced the signing of Kim Min-jae on the 19th.
All eyes will naturally turn to the Asian Cup in Qatar next January.
Jürgen Klinsmann hasn’t had the best of starts in charge of the South Korean national team. In four A matches between March and June, the team drew two and lost two. This is the first time a foreign coach has failed to win in four games since taking over. Despite the talk of playing ‘attacking football’, the attack was frustrating and there was no tactical colour.
Klinsmann held an unusual press conference after the June A match. In response to questions about the style of football and identifying players, Klinsmann said he needed time and kept emphasising the Asian Cup. “We will build the best squad and achieve good results by the Asian Cup,” Klinsmann said.
“We have a great core line-up,” he said, “and the ingredients are top quality. Now it’s up to the chef – the head coach – to bring out the best.
For Klinsmann himself, winning the Asian Cup has become even more important: “As the main players have moved on to the big leagues, the bar has been raised. The Asian Cup is not an easy tournament, having not won it in 64 years, but if these players do not produce a satisfactory result, the doubts about Klinsmann could grow.”
[Jürgen Klinsmann – Kang-In – Kim Min-jae – Son Heung-min. Photo = My Daily DB – Paris Saint-Germain – Bayern Munich – Korea Football Association].