I was wrong, but have no regrets says Kuranyi
October 14, 2008
A revolutionary betting system! Find out how people win over 97% of their sports bets.
Football Tickets
Largest selection of European football tickets online. All tickets shipped via FedEx or DHL. 120% refund!
£25 Free Bet
FREE £25 bet when you sign up from SoccerNews.
Bet on the new football season at Betfair.
Football Jerseys & more
Largest selection of soccer gear on the Net! Get the latest club & national jerseys of your favorite teams.
Striker Kevin Kuranyi has explained why he walked out on Germany and admitted he was wrong to leave the team without permission during the 2-1 World Cup qualifier win over Russia.
The 26-year-old watched Saturday’s game from the stands as one of two squad players not involved, but having been granted permission to meet friends at half-time, he failed to meet the team bus after the game.
Friends went to the team’s hotel in Duesseldorf to collect his possessions early on Sunday morning and Germany coach Joachim Loew announced on Sunday he will not pick Kuranyi again for die Mannschaft.
“We could not tolerate Kevin’s actions,” said team manager Oliver Bierhoff on Tuesday.
Kuranyi now admits he was wrong and apologised to Loew on Sunday, but the coach insists there is no way back into the national fold for the player.
“I couldn’t stand it anymore,” Kuranyi told German tabloid Bild on Tuesday.
“I did not participate in the 2006 World Cup, then was hardly used during Euro 2008 although I was in good form.
“I travelled to the national team last weekend having scored two goals for Schalke - and I found myself in the stands in Dortmund.
“I just wanted to get away.
“It is a very, very difficult situation for me, I would not wish this on anyone.
“What I did affected the team and I was wrong.
“I also apologised to the coach in a telephone calls, there are no words of compensation.”
But Kuranyi, who has made 52 appearances for Germany, said he has no regrets.
The root of the extraordinary walk-out goes back to before the 2006 World Cup when Kuranyi was dumped by then-coach Jurgen Klinsmann on the eve of the tournament.
Having won his way back and helped Germany qualify for Euro 2008, Kuranyi was kept on the sidelines during the tournament while Mario Gomez struggled in his place.
“I stand behind what I did - I do not regret anything,” he added.
“The collapse came over what happened in the past three years. I could not bear that any longer - as a player and a person.”
Whether Kuranyi ever plays for Germany again remains to be seen.
“That is something for, I just need to concentrate on my performance,” he added.
Schalke fans displayed a banner saying: “Kevin, we still believe in you!” when the player returned for training on Monday, but there is little sympathy here for Kuranyi’s actions.
Despite the player’s apology Loew says his mind is made up.
“We spoke briefly on Sunday and he apologised in principle and explained that his decision to leave the team was an error,” said Loew.
“I accepted this apology, however it changes nothing over my decision.”
- Drogba wishes he had punched Vidic in CL final
- Germany striker Kuranyi goes AWOL
- Tiago regrets leaving Lyon
- Anderton regrets Man Utd snub
- German coach dumps AWOL striker Kuranyi
Comments
One Response to “I was wrong, but have no regrets says Kuranyi”
Got something to say?
Latest Headlines
- Villarreal reject Everton’s loan bid for Altidore
- UEFA reject Madrid´s Champions League bid
- Caribbean Crew defender retires after championship
- Boro’s Aliadiere out for six to eight weeks
- Stoke City sign Etherington
- Niko Kovac retires from Croatia national team
- Hull City to complete two new signings
- Atletico coach Aguirre has club president´s backing
- Match-fixer Moggi sentenced to jail term
- New probe over Tevez affair
Categories
English Premier League- English Championship
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
Scottish Premier League
MLS
UEFA Champions League- UEFA Cup
- European Championships
World Cup
Editorial- Transfer Rumours
- Transfers 2008/09
- Tables / Fixtures / Results
- Soccer Betting Odds
- Fantasy Football
- Soccer Videos
- Euro 2008 Soccer Babes
Most Popular Discussions
- » Ronaldo, Casillas and Torres top FIFA award nominees - 6
- » Time for Harry to stop moaning and get on with it at Tottenham - 5
- » Obafemi Martins to swap Newcastle United for Arsenal - 4
- » Walcott wants new Arsenal deal - 4
- » SoccerNews team of the year 2008 - 3
- » Is there a problem at Chelsea? - 3
- » Roma leading the race for Podolski - 3
- » Desailly fears Drogba and Anelka aren´t compatible - 3
- » Happy New Year to all - what do we want in 2009? - 2
- » Today's Manchester City rumour - 2
Anyone can understand Kuranyi’s position, you just have to put yourself in his boots. He is a solid striker playing well for one of the better teams in the Bundesliga, yet he was left out of the World Cup squad taking place in his own country. The WC probably won’t take place in Germany again while Kuranyi is playing. Then, he helped his country qualify for Euro2008 where they reached the final, yet the manager played Gomez who played terrible, why didn’t Kuranyi get his chance? If I were him I would have left the team as well. He is too good not to get any playing time.