U.S. National Team
Jurgen Klinsmann Expects Stern Challenge Saturday
South Korea likes to take the game to its opponents, but will it have enough left in the tank to provide a real challenge to the United States national team? Jon Arnold reports from Southern California.
BY
Jon Arnold
Posted
January 31, 2014
11:18 PM
CARSON, Calif.—Jurgen Klinsmann is excited to see his team line up
against Korea on Friday at the StubHub Center.
"The reason why we asked South Korea to play this game, and we are
extremely happy that they accepted that invitation, is it's a team
that will high pressure you, that will interrupt your rhythm, a team
that has tremendous amount of energy and individual talent," Klinsmann
said at his news conference.
The high pressure would provide a test for his young back line and
simulate the style they'll face from some teams at this summer's World
Cup.
But after limping through a 4-0 defeat against Mexico in San Antonio
and closing a tour of three games in seven days with this weekend's
match, the Reds might not have the legs necessary to keep up a
high-pressure attack.
Korean coach Hong Myung-Bo spoke about tempering his expectations for
his domestic-based team after a tough week of travel and coming off a
disheartening result.
"I think players are physically and mentally very tired, but I'm
not anticipating perfect conditions," Hong said through a translator
at a news conference Friday. "It's an ongoing process. It is a good
opportunity for us to test our mentality as well as (physically)."
Hong also expects a difficult game from the American side and coach
Jurgen Klinsmann, who scored against Korea while a young Hong was
helping steer the Reds' back line.
"From my perspective, the American team is very good at physicality,"
Hong said through a translator at a news conference Friday. "They have
coach Klinsmann, he's developed the team very well, so I believe that
tomorrow is going to be a very tough match. However, like I expect
from our players, they're going to do their best.
"I keep continually saying this, but how they overcome and how they
adapt to this environment is going to be very important from my
perspective."
Though the Koreans may be weary, U.S. defender Matt Besler still
expects a test since it's an international match.
"Everything happens faster, you have to think quicker, you have to
react quicker, move quicker," the Sporting
Kansas City man said. "I would assume that the World Cup is going to
be even a higher level than that, so that's what I'm expecting."
Klinsmann will hope the Korea team in Southern California provides a
decent simulation of the level the U.S. will face at the World Cup. If
not, the team still has several weeks of preparation in Brazil to
count as progress with additional matches to come, though the manager
bemoaned the fact that the matches left won't provide enough
opportunities to see which players are worthy or roster slots. If so,
it will be another in a long line of savvy matches scheduled by
Klinsmann to make sure his team isn't taken by surprise in Brazil.
January 31, 2014
11:18 PM