“I would have them on the list”
Joshua Kimmich is surprised by Flick’s DFB squad
03/21/2023, 06:30 am
Hansi Flick will use the first international matches after Qatar’s World Cup debacle to test new staff. DFB captain Joshua Kimmich is not surprised. But the Bayern professional is surprised at who isn’t there.
National football coach Hansi Flick invited to the first international matches after the World Cup debacle in Qatar – and numerous players traveled to the DFB quarters in Frankfurt, which probably only a few have on the list: Mergim Berisha, Marius Wolf, Kevin Schade, Felix Nmecha, Malick Thiaw and Josha Vagnoman are there for the first time ever. Numerous regulars from past tournaments are missing, although they are fit and would have been interested in a nomination.
For Joshua Kimmich, who will lead the DFB team as captain in the international matches against Belgium (Saturday, 8.45 p.m. / ZDF) and Peru (Tuesday, 8.45 p.m. / RTL) in the absence of the injured Manuel Neuer, this came as a surprise. “I wasn’t surprised that one or the other was new,” said the Bayern professional of “tz”. Rather, he was surprised “that one or the other is not there”. The 74-time national player listed Marco Reus, İlkay Gündoğan, Thomas Müller, Niklas Süle, Leroy Sané and Antonio Rüdiger. “I would have expected the last three to be on the list,” said the 28-year-old.
“Have to win every single game”
While Flick would like to use the two international matches for testing and also promises all newcomers their debut, Kimmich also has clear earnings targets for the first appearances since the World Cup preliminary round last December. “For me it’s about finding the rhythm. That we gain self-confidence in every game – also build up a certain continuity. For me these are not classic test or friendly games. For me each one is a preparatory game – and we have to win every single game,” demanded the midfielder.
When he was nominated, Flick deliberately did without eleven players who were still part of the German World Cup squad in Qatar. “You could have taken all the players with you, they would have liked to have been there too,” explained the national coach, who is under a lot of pressure himself after the bitter World Cup experience. But: “They would not have been given the opportunity to play.” Another well-established player, Bayern professional Jamal Musiala, left before the first training session because of an injury.
With 74 international matches, Kimmich is the player with the most appearances in the current Flick squad. “The phase will now be very important in order to work through certain things again. But then also to set certain goals for the coming months,” he said. As the host, Germany has already qualified for the 2024 European Championship.