Jürgen Klinsmann, the coach of the Korean national soccer team, drew the ire of soccer fans by showing a bright smile even after being completely defeated by the Jordan national soccer team, which was objectively evaluated as underpowered.
Klinsmann lost 0-2 in the semifinals of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup against Jordan held at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar on the 7th (Korean time). As a result, Korea failed to advance to the finals, and its attempt to win the Asian Cup for the first time in 64 years was in vain.
Korea was one-sidedly defeated by not being able to record a single effective shot against Jordan, which was considered one level below the other. This is the first time in 7 games (3 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss) that Korea has lost to Jordan.
All players who played, including Son Heung-min, could not raise their heads after the game. However, Coach Klinsmann, the head of the Korean national team, is being criticized by soccer fans and netizens as he greets his opponent with a bright smile.
After the game, Coach Klinsmann said, “It is natural to celebrate when the opponent wins with a good performance. When the other person does well, you must accept it, congratulate it, and respect it. “What prevents this from happening is just a different perspective,” he said, adding, “Congratulations are also something we have to do as leaders and losers,” and expressed his position that there was no problem.
However, Director Klinsmann became angry with his face turning red when questions about this were repeatedly asked by foreign reporters. He protested, saying, “Greetings to the opposing coach after the game is respect,” and “I was angry (about the loss), but a good attitude is necessary when respecting the opponent.”
This is not the first time Director Klinsmann has faced controversy over his smile. He sparked controversy by smiling even after a poor performance, such as a 3-3 draw against Malaysia in the Asian Cup group stage.
Some responded that it was incomprehensible that team members and the fans supporting them would put respect for the opposing team first even while they were depressed over the loss.
Choi Jae-ho,
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.