Captain Neuer’s time over?
Fearless Kimmich waves DFB promotion
03/27/2023, 12:09 p.m
Will the German national football team permanently have a new captain? In the absence of the injured goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, national coach Hansi Flick relies on the services of Joshua Kimmich. And hints quietly that this plan could last longer.
Joshua Kimmich has had turbulent days. His honest comments about the expulsion of coach Julian Nagelsmann at FC Bayern made waves, he had previously voiced mild criticism of national coach Hansi Flick’s selection of personnel. The captain’s debate in the German national team was elegantly circumvented by the record champion’s leading player, who had such strong opinions.
The office makes him “proud,” the 28-year-old said – but he didn’t hear any calls for the bandage to be permanent. In the absence of the injured captain Manuel Neuer, Kimmich does not have to push forward as loudly as Philipp Lahm once did. In any case, there are increasing signs that he will wear the bandage at the home European Championship in 2024, as he did in his 75th international match last Saturday against Peru (2-0).
Basically, “a field player has direct contact with what’s happening, while a goalkeeper is far away,” said Flick of ARD. But you feel “no pressure” in the question. But there are other indications that the DFB captain Neuer could be a thing of the past. When national team director Rudi Völler, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, Flick and Kimmich recently decided that the captain would wear a armband in the national colors until the European Championships, Neuer was not involved. “Manuel is not there and Jo is wearing the bandage. We made a conscious decision to do so. And everyone is happy with that,” said Flick, explaining the process.
“The captain’s question is a matter for the public”
Neuer has held the post since September 2016. Whether and when the goalkeeper, who has been 37 since Monday, will return after breaking his leg in a skiing accident is completely open. For the time being, Flick has appointed Marc-Andre ter Stegen as number one in the German goal and Kimmich as captain. Kimmich is calm about the new responsibility. “The captain’s question,” emphasized the midfield boss, “is a matter for the public.” His game and his role will not affect that much. His claim, even without a bandage, is to “go ahead and take responsibility”.
He did the same after the Peru game. “Little love, little heart,” was his verdict on the separation of his club from Nagelsmann on ZDF. In Munich, Kimmich was considered the coach’s closest confidant within the team and made it clear in this role: “I can say that the coach has not lost the dressing room.” He positions himself, he is not afraid. Not everyone likes that, but it is a prerequisite for the captaincy in the DFB selection. After Michael Ballack’s injury before the 2010 World Cup, Lahm asked the question, which was seen as a provocation: “Why should I then voluntarily give up the position? I enjoy it.”
Kimmich is also happy. But he is diplomatic. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a goalkeeper or a player on the field, anyone can be a good captain,” he said ahead of Tuesday’s endurance test against Belgium (8.45 p.m. / RTL and in the live ticker on ntv.de) in Cologne. And he has already got to know a “dark side” of the new role: “I notice that you have one or the other appointment more.”