Bologna (AP) – Joshua Kimmich was immediately the boss again. After eight months away from the national team, the 27-year-old from Munich was one of the more effective players in Hansi Flick’s DFB squad in the sobering 1-1 draw against Italy in Bologna.
Resisted, tried to organize the midfield and, above all, scored the important equalizing goal: Kimmich showed at least the beginnings of what national coach Flick can expect from him in the World Cup year. “It doesn’t matter if it was fair or not – we wanted to win,” said Kimmich on RTL, adding critically: “We didn’t manage to get our game on the pitch.” His goal in the 73rd minute, his first since October 2017, ensured that the DFB selection did not have to accept their first defeat under Flick.
“We have planned more,” said Kimmich. He had missed the two previous international stages in November 2021 and most recently in March. The Bayern professional said self-critically about his missed chance to make it 2-1 a good ten minutes before the end: “You can do that too. It’s a bit of a shame.”
Kimmich left no doubts about the goal of the next endurance test against England this Tuesday (8.45 p.m. / ZDF) in Bologna. “I hope that we win, that we get more intensity on the pitch, that we calm down a bit with the ball, don’t make so many simple mistakes and thus control the game a little more,” said the midfield boss.