Jurgen Klinsmann admits “dying” in scorching USA heat – but tells players to stop moaning

Elite players have been struggling to cope with the conditions at the Club World Cup in the United States with fears it could cause problems at next year’s World Cup

Jurgen Klinsmann insists players must stop moaning about heat ahead of next year’s World Cup – even after admitting he was left “dying” in scorching temperatures as a player.

Former World Cup star Klinsmann, now on FIFA’s technical study group, recalled 120 degree heat in Dallas in USA 94 but says players must expect to “suffer.” Klinsmann was full of praise for the Club World Cup and the quality of games but does admit that it has been difficult – and yet says teams have adapted this summer.

Ex-Germany star Klinsmann said: “The heat is difficult. If you play in 90 degree heat then you are going to suffer. If you get two goals in the first ten minutes then it will be a hard day at the office for the players.

“This has been something completely new and you have to deal with the circumstances. If a World Cup is in Qatar then you have to adapt. Football is about being able to adapt.

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“I played in Dallas at 120 degrees and I was dying! We were leading 3-0 at half-time, then South Korea came back and made it 3-2 and if we had been on the pitch for another five minutes it would have been 3-3.

“But do I go to Qatar like Germany and complain, complain and bring karma – and then go home early? The teams here now and the teams here next summer who get the draw here in July and July next summer will have to adapt.

“But there will be two teams in the game. It’s not always nice, especially for European teams but they will have to adapt. But you have seen an extremely high quality of games here and it has been an outstanding tournament. You have seen brilliant, high level performances, including from the European teams.”

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