South Korea coach criticizes Bayern for Kim's injury

South Korea's national football coach, Hong Myung-bo, has criticized Bayern Munich for their handling of player Kim Min-jae's injury. Kim, a central defender, had to step back from the squad for two World Cup qualifiers due to Achilles tendonitis. He was initially included in the 28-man squad for matches against Oman and Jordan but was withdrawn for treatment. During a news conference in Goyang, Hong explained that the coaching staff had noticed "warning signs" of Kim's injury for a long time. He said, "Unfortunately, Bayern Munich did not properly protect the player to prevent injury." Hong stressed that it would be wrong to risk Kim's health in these crucial matches. Kim missed Bayern's recent match against Union Berlin but had played in 13 out of 16 games since the German league's winter break. FC Seoul's Kim Ju-sung will take over Kim Min-jae’s position in South Korea’s defense. Hong noted that Ju-sung has experience with the team and has performed well in the K League. South Korea has a chance to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup by winning their upcoming qualifiers against Oman and Jordan. If they succeed, they could secure one of the two automatic places from Group B with two matches to spare.