Capping Off a Glorious Career: Joshua Kimmich's 100th International Match
Kimmich's Ascension to Leadership within Bayern Munich's Victory Squad
In a moment of pure pride and accomplishment, Joshua Kimmich, the talented footballer, gears up for his 100th international match, marking a significant milestone in his career. Speaking candidly, he acknowledged that this milestone underscores his consistent performance at a high level over the past nine years.
However, Kimmich's dreams as an international player have yet to be fully realized. He yearns for something extraordinary: the ultimate title with the German national team. This week, the Nations League final tournament presents a promising opportunity, especially with a potential jubilee match against Portugal in his home stadium, the Allianz Arena.
As the captain who led the German national team for nearly a decade, Kimmich could hold the winner's trophy in his hands after his 101st international match, should Germany win against Spain or France in the final. With the 2026 World Cup in sight, Kimmich has already set his sights on a successful international run. "We're already preparing, aiming for two strong performances to keep us on the right track," he said.
From Confirmations to Setbacks
Kimmich's path with the German national team has been a mix of triumphs and disappointments. It was a succession of struggles at the European Championship in France, the unfortunate semi-final exit, followed by the winning of the Confederations Cup in Russia. But the subsequent tournaments from the 2018 World Cup to the 2021 European Championship and the 2022 World Cup offered little reward, with group stage exits and the stigma of becoming the face of a losing generation.
"Especially the World Cups were not successful," Kimmich reflected, expressing maturity and a lack of bitterness over his time with the German national team.
A Leader's Burden
Being a leader means being under the magnifying glass, and Kimmich is no exception. When things go awry, his ambition is often seen as tenacity. In success, he becomes a role model. The debate over his best position, be it as a defensive midfielder or right-back, has been ongoing for years.
Now, as the captain, Kimmich is universally recognized as the spearhead of the German national team's transformation. Striving to create a new winning team that fans can cheer for once again, he proudly declared, "We felt at the European Championship that we were able to reestablish the connection between the team and the country, even without winning a title."
Fellow Players Admiration
Kimmich's teammates, including the respected striker Niclas Füllkrug and goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, hold him in the highest regard. Füssenkrug said, "I respect Kimmich's consistency over the years," while ter Stegen described his long-time teammate as "phenomenal." The appointment of Kimmich as captain was a logical move for the goalkeeper, who believes Kimmich has given "so much to football Germany."
Nagelsmann's Appreciation
National coach Julian Nagelsmann also acknowledges Kimmich's exceptional performance as captain. "As captain, Jo is exceptionally good, not just because he performs well on the pitch and displays the right attitude, but because he's an incentive for other players to give their all during every training session." Nagelsmann also highlights Kimmich's interaction with the support staff behind the scenes, describing him as "exceptionally good with an extremely human side."
Nagelsmann's Optimism
Despite not winning a World Cup title as yet, sports director Rudi Voeller assures Kimmich that time is still on his side. "Joshua is still young enough to win big titles," Voeller said, drawing a comparison with Lothar Matthäus and himself, who only won their big title at 30 during the 1990 World Cup. Kimmich, with a smile, joked, "There are still a few chances."
On the other hand, Portugal continues to be led by the now 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who is about to play his 220th international match in Munich. "That's still quite a way off, a crazy number," Kimmich noted, and added, "By the way, Ronaldo is also not a World Cup winner yet."
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In light of his pursuit of the ultimate title with the German national team, Joshua Kimmich might hold the winner's trophy in his hands after his 101st international match, should Germany win against Spain or France in the final. As a devoted footballer, Kimmich's enthusiasm for sports extends to his participation in various football matches.
