Football team managed by Nagelsmann confirms Kimmich's return to the midfield position.
Germany's Tactical Shift for the 2026 World Cup
As the countdown to the 2026 World Cup begins, Julian Nagelsmann, the German national team's coach, has announced a strategic change in the team's formation. Joshua Kimmich, a versatile player who has often played as a right-back, will return to his primary position as a defensive midfielder (number 6 role) for the upcoming tournament.
Nagelsmann's decision to deploy Kimmich in midfield is part of a broader approach to settle on a clear formation and deploy players in their best-suited positions. This move is aimed at optimizing team performance and minimizing experimentation, given the limited time before the World Cup.
Kimmich's role as a defensive midfielder will involve shielding the defense, controlling the tempo, and linking play from deep. His experience and consistency in this position at the club level make him an ideal candidate for this role.
While Nagelsmann's overall tactical system for Germany has not been explicitly detailed, it is clear that his preparations focus on leveraging players’ natural roles to build a coherent and balanced lineup leading into the World Cup. The emphasis on Kimmich's midfield role aligns with the German team's strategy of solidifying defensive midfield and maintaining structure as they prepare for the tournament.
Nagelsmann took over the national team in late 2023, following some underwhelming performances under the previous coach. His tenure has seen Germany stabilizing and building around young talents while attempting to return to competitive form for upcoming major tournaments like Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup.
The German national team's next international matches are in September. On September 4, they will face Slovakia in Bratislava in a World Cup qualifier. Three days later, they will play against Northern Ireland in Cologne in another qualifier. Nagelsmann is taking precautions due to the short time until the World Cup, seeking to find the central duo on the six position early for the German national team and making tactical adjustments to strengthen the defense.
It's not set in stone that Kimmich will play on the right side, and if the current right-back candidates fail, the position could change for the German national team. Nagelsmann has already imagined how the central duo will work for the German national team and advocates for a bit of "old-fashioned thinking," focusing on defensive stability and a well-crafted ball.
Nagelsmann stated that there's no better right-back than Joshua Kimmich in Germany. Kimmich is one of two or three players who will always play in the defensive midfield position at his club. Despite his reliance on Kimmich in defense on the right side due to a lack of alternatives, Nagelsmann announced that Kimmich will return to the defensive midfield position for the German national team during the 2026 World Cup.
Football is a key part of Germany's strategy for the 2026 World Cup, as coach Julian Nagelsmann plans to deploy Joshua Kimmich, a versatile player, in his primary position as a defensive midfielder. This decision is aimed at optimizing team performance, with Kimmich's role involving shielding the defense, controlling the tempo, and linking play from deep.
