The 'monster' remains strong despite the controversy. Kim Min-jae (27, Munich) is going to China after a long time.
The national football team led by Jürgen Klinsmann will face the Chinese national team in the second round of the 2026 North American Football Confederations Cup Asia Zone Second Qualifying Round at the Universiade Sports Center in Shenzhen, China, on May 21.
South Korea defeated Singapore 5-0 in Seoul on Sept. 16. Cho Kyu-sung, Hwang Hee-chan, Son Heung-min, Hwang Eui-jo, and Lee Kang-in all found the back of the net. South Korea will look to make it five straight wins against China in A matches.
The team convened at a hotel in Seoul and practiced at Mokdong Stadium. The open training session on the 18th drew a large number of fans who braved the chilly weather to watch the players in action. The players also responded with enthusiastic fan service. It was like an idol concert.
Kim Min-jae, in particular, showed off his vigorous physical strength by training in shorts despite the cold winds. This was in contrast to the other players, who were bundled up in cold weather gear. Kim played the full game against Singapore and contributed to a clean sheet. He didn't seem to show any signs of fatigue.
European players returning from their clubs are playing for the national team with tired bodies after traveling long distances. It's not easy to train away from the familiar surroundings of Paju NFC, staying in hotels and dealing with cold weather. However, the players are determined to qualify for their 11th consecutive World Cup.
Among the national team players, Kim Min-jae has been the center of controversy. He has been playing full-time for Munich for 14 consecutive games. After traveling all the way to South Korea, he'll be back in full-time action as the core of the national team's defense.
"He has played more than 90 minutes in every game in the last few months," said Munich head coach Christoph Freund. He was so tired and pushed to the limit, he lost focus because he's human," he said, acknowledging the strain.
The long-distance call-up to the Korean national team is also a burden for Kim. Germany's Sport1 reported, "Kim Min-jae will play against Singapore in Seoul and then travel to China, 2,000 kilometers away. A few hours later, he has to return to Cologne, Germany, for a match. If you add up all the traveling distances, it's more than 20,000 kilometers." 카지노사이트가이드
European players don't have to travel far for their national teams. But South Korea has to fly 2,000 kilometers to get to neighboring China. Kim Min-jae, who played for Beijing Guoan from 2019 to 2021, is going to China for the first time in a long time.
In fact, Klinsmann isn't worried about the Kim Min-jae controversy at all. "I don't think he's tired or wants to rest, he wants to play. Even in Germany, they had to write about it, so I think that's why they wrote it. (Kim) is ready to play." He dismissed it.
Indeed, with South Korea up 3-0 in the second half in Singapore, Klinsmann made five early substitutions in the attack and midfield. Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae were automatically given full-time starts. Then, Son Heung-min was tackled in the knee and fell to the ground. Klinsmann, who had used up all five of his substitutes, remained silent as Son Heung-min suffered.
"It's better to play than not to play, and I'm working hard on how to improve my concentration or not to break it. If I manage it well, there is no big problem."
Injuries are also a concern for the Chinese. China has a history of injuring Korean players with dangerous plays, from Hwang Sun-hong in the past to Uhm Won-sang recently. They know they can't do it, but they have the dignity to play rough in front of their home fans.
Already, soccer fans are worried that Klinsmann won't spare any of his players against China. Kim Min-jae is a lock to play full-time again. Fans are hoping that he can make it through the game injury-free.
