Korean national team held to draw by Malaysia. Photo: Reuters
AL-WAKRAH – South Korean National Team Coach, Jurgen Klinsmann admitted that he was disappointed after his team was held back by Malaysia (3-3) in the final match of the 2023 Asian Cup group stage. Klinsmann emphasized that the draw was not an intention to avoid Japan in the last 16.
South Korea was surprisingly held to a 3-3 draw by Malaysia at Al-Janoub Stadium Park, Al-Wakrah, Qatar on Thursday (25/1/2024). This draw meant that the Taegeuk Warriors – the nickname of the South Korean national team – ended the group phase in second place in Group E with five points.
In this way, they avoided the Japanese national team, which is the runner up in Group D of the 2023 Asian Cup. In the round of 16, South Korea will face Saudi Arabia, while Japan will meet Bahrain, which is the winner of Group E.
Klinsmann admitted that he was very disappointed with the draw against Malaysia. The German coach dismissed the notion that South Korea deliberately gave in to avoid the Blue Samurai – the nickname of the Japanese national team.
“It was not our plan to concede three goals today just to avoid Japan,” said Klinsmann, quoted from the official website of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Friday (26/1/2024).
“We want to qualify as group winners and the team is trying. Malaysia played with all their heart but we should have won this match,” he continued.
Apart from that, Klinsmann emphasized that his team is ready to face the last 16 of the 2024 Asian Cup. The Taegeuk Warriors will meet Saudi Arabia at the Education City Stadium, Al-Rayyan, Qatar on Tuesday (30/1/2024).
“The knockout stage is different to the group stage but it is difficult for every team to play like we did. “No matter who we meet in the Round of 16, if we want to win the tournament, we have to beat all the teams,” he said.
(sto)
2024-01-27 15:02:00
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