South Korea football coach calls Vietnam weak

Klinsmann made the comment in an online press conference with South Korean media on Monday. The new South Korea head coach said he would like to play Brazil, Argentina, or England, but in October, there are the 2024 Euro qualifiers in Europe and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America.

South Korea are currently 28th on world rankings, 67 places higher than Vietnam. A friendly match between the two teams will take place in South Korea on Oct. 17 during FIFA days.

"I have never wanted to play against a much weaker opponent, but that is the most suitable solution right now. I want to prepare for the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, so I was looking for an Asian team and chose Vietnam," Klinsmann said.

South Korean national soccer team's new head coach Juergen Klinsmann speaks upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, March 8, 2023. Photo by Reuters

Playing Vietnam is seen as an opportunity for South Korea to face a defensive team and find a way to break through. South Korea will have the strongest players for this match including football stars like Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) or Lee Jae-sung (1. FSV Mainz 05).

The last time the two teams met was in the second qualifying round of the 2006 World Cup with a 2-1 victory for South Korea in September 2004. In six encounters with Vietnam, South Korea has won five, and their only defeat against Vietnam was in the 2004 Asian Cup qualifiers, losing 0-1.

South Korea superstar Son Heung-min (number 7) tries to get past two Vietnam defenders in the semifinals of Asian Games men's football in 2018. Photo by VnExpress/Hieu Luong

Coach Klinsmann became South Korea head coach in February 2023, replacing his predecessor Paulo Bento after the team were eliminated at the 2022 World Cup.

After four friendly matches under Klinsmann, South Korea drew Colombia 2-2, El Salvador 1-1, lost 1-2 to Uruguay and 0-1 to Peru.

In September, South Korea will train in Europe, where they will play friendlies with Wales and Saudi Arabia. In October, the team will face Tunisia before meeting Vietnam.

Klinsmann is a legendary German striker who won the 1990 World Cup and 1996 Euro. As a coach, he led Germany to third place in the 2006 World Cup and then led the U.S. to the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup.