'First team captain' Kim Min-jae leads Klinsmann to second straight clean sheet

Son Heung-min wins first captaincy after missing out due to illness Solid defensive and passing ability, but also involved in goals

South Korea international defender Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) made his first appearance with the captain's armband and showed off his solid defense and reliable passing in Tunisia.

The South Korean national soccer team, led by Jürgen Klinsmann, cruised to a 4-0 victory over Tunisia in their October A Match friendly at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.

The victory was South Korea's second straight and fourth in four matches, following a 1-1 draw against El Salvador in the second round of the tournament in June and wins over Wales (0-0) and Saudi Arabia (1-0) in September.

Kim Min-jae started the game and formed a back four with Lee Ki-je (Suwon Samsung), Jung Seung-hyun, and Seol Young-woo (Ulsan Hyundai). Not only did he start, but he also wore the captain's armband.

'Captain' Son Heung-min (Tottenham) started the game on the bench due to physical problems. The armband went to Kim Min-jae. According to the Korea Football Association, this is the first time Kim has started as captain.

Being the first captain of the national team could have put pressure on him, but he made light work of it. In the first 12 minutes of the game, he showed his usual toughness by sprinting towards his opponent and intercepting the ball.

On a counterattack in the 40th minute, Hannibal, a promising midfielder who plays for Manchester United in the English Premier League (EPL), came forward and made a good interception. Kim Min-jae brought the same high level of defense that he has shown in the German Bundesliga to the national team.

In the first half alone, Kim recorded two interceptions, four blocked shots, and three recoveries. He also showed great range in his defense, from his left center back position to downfield.

Kim's other strengths were his passing and ability to get forward. In the first minute of the second half, he came to the front of the opponent's penalty box and connected with Hwang Hee-chan.

This led to an own goal. In the 22nd minute, Kim Min-jae took a corner kick from Lee Kang-in and attempted a header that only changed direction. The ball hit Yassine Meria's body and rattled the Tunisian goal.

In the 42nd minute, left back Lee Ki-jae was brought down in a contest with a player inside the Korean penalty box, and the Tunisian players gestured to the referee for a penalty kick.

Kim Min-jae approached and shouted at the opposing player as if to make a strong appeal. As the captain, he protected his teammates, and after the referee summarized the situation, there was no further incident.

Thanks to Kim Min-jae, the Klinsmanns have won two straight games. If we extend the record to three consecutive games, it is the first time since the first A match against Wales in September. Kim Min-jae was at the center of it all. 토토사이트