Jurgen Klinsmann Backtracks Return Trip Statements, As USA Takes On Ghana In World Cup
US coach Jurgen Klinsmann appears to be backtracking earlier statements regarding his return trip home. He now says that he will come back after the World Cup final on July 13.
The German-born skipper raised some eyebrows when he seemed to suggest that his USA squad doesn’t really have much of a chance in the 2014 World Cup. On the eve of his team’s debut in Brazil, Klinsmann is singing a different tune, saying he has booked a ticket for a return flight after the final is played.
It is true that not many think the US team can move on to the next round as they had the unfortunate luck to be in the so-called “Group of Death,” which also includes Germany, Portugal, and Ghana. Needless to say, people didn’t welcome Klinsmann’s comments that his team will not qualify for the round of 16 and beyond.
Last week, Jurgen Klinsmann said that the US winning the 2014 World Cup was “just not realistic.” The comment created controversy as he has raised the hopes of the American soccer team performing well on this year’s tournament, considering the experience brings with him.
“I booked my flight after the final,” Klinsmann said Sunday at the US pre-match press conference at Arena das Dunas.
This was much different than his previous statement saying that it was impossible, at this stage, for the US to win it all. The US makes its debut on Monday against Ghana and all eyes will be on what Klinsman — a World Cup champion — is able to do with his men.
Jurgen Klinsmann was a star West Germany striker in the 1990 World Cup and took the title for his country in spectacular fashion. In that regard, he knows what it takes to compete at that level, against the best of the best:
“We come in with the same effort, the same drive, the same energy and ambition to do well. And we want to do really well.”
“That’s why we worked more than four weeks on our preparation, we timed it the right way to give the players the confidence they need to beat Ghana tomorrow. This is step one, then comes Portugal and then comes Germany. And then we’ll see…expectations in the United States are very high.”
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 18, 2014
Jurgen Klinsmann said he was inspired by the performance of teams from the CONCACAF at the World Cup, so far, and hopes to continue in that path with Team USA. Mexico and Costa Rica won their debut matches, with the latter currently leading a very difficult group, which includes three former champions; Italy, England, and Uruguay.
[Image via Bing]
