The Unfiltered Truth: Joshua Kimmich on Germany's Defeat and lessons for the Future
Kimmich's honest statements following the powerful hit incident - Kimmich's Reflections Following the Impact Incident
A cloudy day in Herzogenaurach, reflecting the gloomy spirits of Julian Nagelsmann and the German National Team players, notably Captain Joshua Kimmich. After their disheartening 1:2 loss against Portugal in the Nations League semi-finals, "There's no excitement after learning we will play for third place," a dismayed Nagelsmann commented.
Instead of weeks of buzz around the Big Final night between European champions Spain and France, the team is required to process their unexpected defeat and the loss of the tiny Nations League title. What could have been a morale booster for the upcoming World Cup season is now a source of doubt and discussion.
The Passionate Critic
After the first goal by Florian Wirtz for Germany in DFB jersey, it was Kimmich, the Chief Critic, who offered a brutally honest assessment of the team's performance. "We were nowhere close to what we're capable of," Kimmich stated following his frustrating 100th international match. He pointed out that the team failed to bring their energy onto the pitch, and their winner's mentality and desire were not evident.
The captain warned, "We must understand that if we're not fully engaged, we can't stand up to top teams. Every player must give their all." This observation echoed Nagelsmann's findings as well.
Engaging in Introspection
Nagelsmann, in a "good learning" moment, noted positive signs of the team's introspection. The disappointment was widespread due to the poor performance, and Kimmich addressed some hard truths to his teammates in the locker room following the match. Nagelsmann praised Kimmich's words, appreciating their honesty, recognizing them as a sign of the team taking ownership of their mistakes.
Quality Deficit through Absences
The team, despite being awakened by Nagelsmann, struggled to absorb the loss of quality resulting from key absences (Musiala, Rüdiger, Havertz, Kleindienst, Schlotterbeck, Stiller). Nagelsmann felt let down by a few players who stepped up in the breach, denying any criticism targeted towards newcomer Nick Woltemade.
Facing Top Opponents
The DFB team may need to face a top opponent like Argentina, Spain, or France in the preliminary round for the 2026 World Cup group draw. Nagelsmann acknowledged the importance of maintaining peak fitness and having a solid starting lineup, emphasizing that "We need everyone at their best. Both on the pitch and on the bench."
Phantom of the Past Triple Change
With these words, Nagelsmann touched upon a recurring theme - the controversial triple substitution. In the past, such moves have had devastating consequences, as in the 3:3 thriller against Italy in the quarter-final replay, when a 3:1 lead led to a German team collapse. "Retrospect brings 20/20 vision," Nagelsmann stated regretfully. He admitted the role of these changes in upsetting the game's momentum but defended his decisions, claiming it was part of his responsibilities as a coach to evaluate the team's performance and make strategic adjustments.
Portugal's Late-Game Heroes
Nagelsmann argued that Portugal's substitutions sparked a turnaround in the game. Vitinha, Conceição, and even Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored the equalizing goal, proved instrumental in the Portuguese comeback. Meanwhile, their opponents, such as Gosens, were overwhelmed.
The Fight for Third Place
Despite the disappointment, the team aims to end the season and Nations League final tournament on a high note in Stuttgart (3:00 PM, RTL and DAZN). Nagelsmann is less concerned about the third-place finish, stating, "I’d rather see a top game and finish fourth - than a poor game and finish third." This approach emphasizes the need for improvement while seeking to maintain competitive matchups.
Kimmich, meanwhile, expressed a desire to "get that good feeling back and defeat a top European team again after an embarrassing display."
- Joshua Kimmich
- Julian Nagelsmann
- Portugal
- Football National Team
- Herzogenaurach
- Wellness Oasis
- Boss
- Sunday
- France
- Ronaldo
- Munich
- Nations League
- Florian Wirtz
- DFB Jersey
- International Match
- The Captain, Joshua Kimmich, critiqued Germany's football performance against Portugal, stating, "We were nowhere close to what we're capable of."
- In the DFB jersey, Florian Wirtz scored the first goal for Germany, but the team failed to maintain their energy and winning mentality, as pointed out by both Kimmich and Julian Nagelsmann.
