Joshua Kimmich Hopes to Add Silverware to Germany’s Trophy Cabinet
As Germany prepares to face Portugal in the Nations League semi-final, midfielder Joshua Kimmich is optimistic about his team’s chances of competing for major honours. With his country set to face a stern test against the Portuguese, Kimmich, who is on the verge of earning his 100th cap for Germany, believes that there are still opportunities for him to contribute to the team’s illustrious record.
According to a report by Vavel.com, Kimmich expressed his pride in having played for Germany, stating, "It means a lot to me. It’s a great honour to have played for Germany like this. Luckily, I wasn’t injured that often. I’ve experienced many highs and lows in the DFB team, but it’s a great honour."
Kimmich, who will become the 14th player to reach the milestone of 100 appearances for Germany, is uniquely the only member of this exclusive group without a major international trophy. His debut came two years after Germany’s 2014 World Cup victory, and since then, the team has experienced two group stage exits in the tournament.
The midfielder acknowledged the pain of those experiences but remains hopeful about Germany’s prospects, saying, "There are still a few chances. We had World Cup tournaments where we were not successful. It wasn’t that we always failed by a narrow margin, but the World Cups weren’t really successful."
Kimmich has been in a more positive mood since last summer, particularly after Germany’s performance in the European Championship, where they reached the quarter-final, only to be edged out by Spain. He noted, "We want to go and do much better. We also felt it at the European Championship, that despite not winning the title, we still managed to create a connection between the team and the country."
The 30-year-old midfielder emphasized the importance of small details in determining the outcome of matches, citing Germany’s quarter-final loss to Spain as an example. "It depends on many factors, including small details. We noticed that against Spain. I don’t think anyone felt we were the worse team. Nevertheless, you are eliminated because little things matter."
Kimmich also commented on the physical and mental demands of the current football schedule, particularly with the revised Champions League format. While he noted that the German domestic schedule is still relatively favourable, he acknowledged that the mental fatigue is taking its toll on players at the elite level.
The German camp will be missing several key players due to injuries, including Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rudiger, and Nico Schlotterbeck. However, Kimmich remains confident in his team’s quality, stating, "I think we still have a lot of quality here and enough to win both games."
As the captain of the team, Kimmich tries to empower his teammates and maintain a positive atmosphere in the locker room. He noted, "I think that I am now very communicative in the locker room next to the pitch. I try to have a good relationship with everyone and talk about things other than just football."
Kimmich also expressed his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to perform at an elite level at the age of 40. "I think I read somewhere that Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 130 goals or 132 for the national team. These are pretty crazy numbers, especially when you look at the consistency. He has performed for his country at a consistently high level for over 20 years. And that is something extraordinary."
The midfielder mentioned that Ronaldo has been a role model for his development as a professional, along with Lionel Messi. However, he is aware that Ronaldo’s record against Germany is not impressive, and he is treating this clash as a distinct encounter.
In conclusion, Joshua Kimmich is optimistic about Germany’s chances of competing for major honours, and he hopes to add silverware to the team’s trophy cabinet. With his team set to face a tough test against Portugal, Kimmich is focused on making a positive impact and creating a connection between the team and the country.
Source: Vavel.com
