KAZAN, Russia -- South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong's future is still under a cloud of uncertainty even after the national football team's historic win over Germany at the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday.
South Korea beat Germany 2-0 in their final Group F match at Kazan Arena. Even so, South Korea failed to advance to the round of 16 in their 10th World Cup. The Taeguk Warriors earlier lost 1-0 to Sweden and fell 2-1 to Mexico.
Both Sweden and Mexico finished Group F with two wins and one loss, but the former won the group on a goal difference.
Shin is contracted through the 2018 World Cup, and despite the surprising win over the defending champions, it is expected that the Korea Football Association will not sign a new contract with the 47-year-old.
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South Korea`s football coach Shin Tae-yong (left) and Son Heung-min (Yonhap) |
South Korea have no history of renewing a contract with a coach who failed to reach the round of 16 at the World Cup. Shin has yet to unveil what he's going to do next after the World Cup.
Shin will be evaluated by Kim Pan-gon, who is leading the KFA's national team coach appointment committee, once his team returns home on Friday. Kim has been following Shin's team since South Korea's pre-World Cup training camp last month.
Under Shin's guidance, South Korea collected seven wins, six draws and eight losses.
Shin became the national team skipper in July 2017 after his predecessor Uli Stielike was fired due to poor results in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup.
Formerly Stielike's assistant, Shin managed to send South Korea to Russia after collecting two draws in their last two qualifying matches against Iran and Uzbekistan.
Shin, who had also guided South Korea's under-23 and under-20 sides, however, wasn't never a fan's favorite as his team showed inconsistent performances on their way to Russia. During the 2018 World Cup, he was also criticized by for his tactical decisions and player selections.
Shin was particularly mocked by haters with his "trick" remarks ahead of South Korea's Group F opener against Sweden. In a World Cup tune-up match against Bolivia, Shin started towering striker Kim Shin-wook ahead of South Korea's attacking ace Son Heung-min and later told reporters that such move was a "trick" to make Sweden wonder about their starting 11 in Group F opener.
It later turned out Kim was Shin's first choice striker against Sweden, but his "trick" was nothing special as South Korea lost the match without posting a single shot on target. Shin was also criticized for his tactical choice and selection against Mexico.
Shin, however, made up all of his previous losses with an unexpected win in Kazan as his counter attacks finally worked against sloppy Germans.
Before coaching the senior national team, Shin guided South Korea at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics and led the U-23 side to the quarterfinals. With the U-20 team, he reached the round of 16 at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup at home.
Before he started coaching national teams, Shin led Seongnam Ilwha Chunma (now Seongnam FC) and the South Korean pro football club to the Asian Football Confederation Champions League title in 2010.
For Shin, Russia 2018 was his first World Cup in his football career. Considered one of the finest attacking midfielders in the K League history, Shin had represented South Korea in 23 matches, but had never competed at the World Cup. (Yonhap)
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