A Century of German Football: Why Kimmich Falls Short Among the Elite
- Written by Eugen Epp
- 🇩🇪 🏰
Football Collective of Hundreds Members - Reason Behind Joshua Kimmich's Incomplete Fit - Gathering of One Hundred: The Odd Man Out - examining Joshua Kimmich's lack of alignment with the group.
In the realm of international football, a milestone is reached by only a select few - those who've worn their national jersey 100 times. As of now, the formidable Joshua Kimmich, star defender of Bayern Munich, is on the cusp of achieving this prestigious distinction, slated to make his 100th international appearance in the Nations League semi-final against Portugal on Wednesday (21:00 CET).
To join this coveted club, Kimmich must first pass through the gate that's been graced by only 13 other players, with the venerable Lothar Matthäus holding the record with an astonishing 150 appearances. Herein lies a list of the esteemed Century Club members.
A quick clarification: The DFB, Germany's governing football body, only recognizes international appearances for the Federal Republic of Germany or the unified German national team, disregarding those for the German Democratic Republic.
The Missing Crown: Major Titles Evade Kimmich
At the press conference before the Portugal game, Kimmich expressed pride at his impending accomplishment, acknowledging yet a notable difference between himself and the other members of this elite club: each of them have garnered significant international titles.
Awaiting his breakthrough moment, Kimmich has only taken home the Confederations Cup in 2017. Understanding his predicament, he shared, "Of course, you always yearn for a title. You enter every competition with the intention to claim victory." A potential Nations League win beckons this week, but it's unlikely the accolade Kimmich covets the most.
It's anyone's guess as to when the next DFB player will climb the ranks to join Kimmich at 100 appearances. Two notable contenders close behind are Antonio Rüdiger, currently at 79 appearances, followed by Leroy Sane with 69.
Sources: DFB Datacenter, DPA news agency
More Imagery from this Gallery
- Joshua Kimmich
- DFB
- International Match
Fun Fact:
- Did you know? The highest-appearing German player of all time is Lothar Matthäus, who donned the German jersey a staggering 150 times! 🔥🇩🇪💪🏆
- Although Joshua Kimmich is on the brink of joining the Century Club, his lack of significant international titles, such as those in sports like football's European-leagues or the Premier League, sets him apart from other members of this exclusive group.
- Regardless of his 100th appearance approaching, Kimmich, being behind players like Antonio Rüdiger (79 appearances) and Leroy Sane (69 appearances) in the race to reach 100 appearances for Germany, still awaits his chance to emulate the illustrious titles won by the other members of the Century Club.
