'Mixed-race Taeguk Warrior' Jens voices criticism of national team environment: "Family took a month off, but visit was limited to just two days"... World Cup also "dissatisfied with both process and outcome"

*This content was translated by AI.

After the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup concluded, Jens Castroff (22), who returned to his club Borussia Mönchengladbach, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the base camp environment in Mexico alongside regret over the early exit.

Germany's 'Bild' reported on the 24th (local time) that Castroff shared his World Cup experience and upcoming season goals during a press conference immediately after team training.

According to reports, Castroff, who had been resting since then, joined Mönchengladbach earlier this week. He is currently adjusting his training load due to a minor knee injury sustained last Wednesday. As a result, he is expected to sit out the friendly match against RW Essen in the third division scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m.

Castroff was born in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 2003 to a German father and a Korean mother, making him a 'mixed-race Taeguk Warrior.' He is the first mixed-race player born abroad to represent the South Korean men's national team at the World Cup.

Castroff expressed deep regret over Korea's early elimination in the group stage. He stated, "The World Cup will remain a lifelong memory, but I am dissatisfied with both the results and the process." Korea finished third in its group with one win and two losses, failing to advance to the round of 32 and ending its tournament campaign prematurely.

The first reason for his dissatisfaction was insufficient playing time. Castroff's only appearance came in the Group A match against South Africa (0-1 loss), where he was substituted in at the start of the second half.

He strongly criticized the accommodation conditions for the Ma Ryeon-haet-deon (CEO) team in Guadalajara, Mexico. Castroff revealed, "Due to security concerns, we were unable to leave the hotel. Moreover, family visits were permitted for only two days after matches." He added, "My family took a month off and traveled a long distance, yet I couldn't even play a game or see them. It was bitter. Other teams must have enjoyed much better environments," he pointed out.

After spending four seasons in Germany's 2. Bundesliga with Nuremberg starting from January 2022, Castroff transferred to Mönchengladbach in February last year. He made his debut in the 2025–2026 Bundesliga season, recording three goals and one assist in 26 matches.

His goal for the new season is "consistent playing time." He vowed, "While unavoidable injuries are beyond control, I will ensure I do not miss games due to minor issues." He further added, "I would prefer a fixed position, but I am also open to playing as a multi-position player and participating in many matches, as I did last season."

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*This content was translated by AI.