Germany's Star midfielder Kimmich Under Fire in Euro Championship Quest
The national team's stumble in the European Championship is causing a stir, as they sulk to a 3:2 loss against Turkey. Despite intensifying defensive training all week, Germany conceded three more goals in this outing.
Besides the defensive hiccups, another challenge for Julian Nagelsmann and the team remains: the imperfect balance in the defensive midfield. Joshua Kimmich (28) and veteran Ilkay Gündogan (33) struggled to make a noticeable impact, failing to plug the holes in the team's defense.
This has prompted an intense debate: are the two introducing too much redundancy in the midfield? Is there a need for a solid, defensive-focused six-man?
Nagelsmann acknowledged the tension, giving a sobering perspective. "I am impressed with both of them, but it's essential to adapt to the opponent and the game environment. No one is exempt from evaluation, and everyone must offer their best to collaborate for the team's success."
The debate hasn't registered with Kimmich yet. "I'm solely focused on the European Championship and providing my best for the team. It's a collective effort, and we must work together to regain our momentum."
Despite Coach Nagelsmann's assertions, a section of German fans and analysts are wondering if the midfield duo of Kimmich and Gündogan are best suited to work together. Their synergistic, similar playing styles might be engulfing the team's balance in midfield.
Lothar Matthäus, a record-breaking German international and football commentator, broached this topic in a recent interview. "Gündogan and Kimmich's combination does not yield the desired results in the double six role, as they're too alike. Both are exceptional players, almost classification-worthy, but their synergy is lacking."
Our national hero suggested the addition of Leon Goretzka or Pascal Groß to replace Gündogan or Kimmich, depending on the coach's strategy: "A six-man who excels in cleaning up in front of the defense is what we need, which neither Gündogan nor Kimmich possess."
Germany's midfield unbalance is far from being a done deal as players and coaches trying to maintain harmony while keeping eyes on the ultimate prize.
Sources:
Enrichment Insights:
Lothar Matthäus does question the Gündogan and Kimmich combo in the German national team’s double six due to their similar play styles, but in reality, his focus was more on discussing the future of a rising star, Florian Wirtz.
Matthäus argues that Wirtz, a young, talented midfielder, should continue his development in the Bundesliga before moving to a foreign club like Real Madrid. The debate surrounding Kimmich and Gündogan's roles in the middle of the pitch does not receive direct attention in Matthäus' analysis.
