Joshua Kimmich speaks at the German national soccer team’s training camp about disappointments at past World Cups, the USA, politics and the “best of all time”, who at the same time diligently writes autographs and thereby costs the captain listeners.
It’s about 400 meters along the street from the “Halftime” complex to the DFB equipment store in Herzogenaurach, where Manuel Neuer gave an autograph session. Just before the marathon began with signatures and selfies, the sidewalk for those 400 meters was filled. The first fans were said to have set up the folding chairs around 7:30 a.m., others waited standing and without umbrellas, which could be a problem in the midday heat.
In the early afternoon, Joshua Kimmich sat down in the air-conditioned and darkened press conference room, which had significant gaps in the rows of seats because the autograph session also attracted a lot of media. He is the captain of the national team and therefore also of Manuel Neuer, who in turn is the captain of FC Bayern and therefore of Joshua Kimmich.
“Manu is the best goalkeeper of all time”
The question to Kimmich about what he thought of Neuer’s return was as certain as the sunrise. However, the answer was different to many previous answers, as the long-time colleague in two teams said: “Manu is the best goalkeeper of all time and still one of the best in the world.” Therefore it was almost logical to force the resignation of the resignation.
Since Manuel Neuer is already 40 years old and has 124 international matches, Kimmich, who is nine years his junior, has a better chance of breaking Lothar Matthäus’ record. “I’m not chasing 150 games, but that’s a mark that you have in your head.”
If Kimmich plays in the test against Finland on Sunday, it would be his 109th appearance.
Unlike Neuer, Kimmich has not yet won a major title with the national team. As ambitious as Kimmich is, he won’t have the 2017 Confed Cup tattooed on his thigh.
Devastated after the 2022 World Cup: “We shouldn’t be included in the tournament”
After he failed with Germany in the preliminary round of a World Cup in 2022 for the second time in a row, he was devastated and consumed by self-doubt. “I’m afraid of falling into a hole,” he said after the win against Costa Rica, which was his bitterest defeat in a DFB jersey.
Kimmich at the 2022 World Cup: “Fear of falling into a hole”
The captain was asked on Friday whether he felt he had to eradicate something. “That’s not the point,” said Kimmich, “we shouldn’t take bad thoughts into the tournament.”
Kimmich assesses the German team’s situation as being behind compared to “France, Spain and Portugal”, but he is also convinced that he can win against any team on a good day
Captain sees the association as responsible
Joshua Kimmich will spend a few weeks of the summer in the USA for the second time in a row. Last year he was at the Club World Cup with FC Bayern. It was “super organized,” but there was little going on, the Munich resident recalled.
Above all, the fans from Europe were missing. This is likely to be different at the World Cup, even if there are reports of hoteliers complaining about significantly less interest than suggested by the world association FIFA.
The political situation, especially in the USA, with President Donald Trump, who changes his opinion more often than a football changes direction, is seen as a possible cause.
It’s right to expect the players to have an opinion on relevant political issues and people, but the experts should express themselves publicly, and that’s where he sees the DFB’s leadership in the association being called upon.
