A Heartbreaking Defeat: Joshua Kimmich On Post-Match Reflections
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Kimmich speaks out candidly following a significant impact - Kimmich's Revealed Remarks Following the Impact Incident
The atmosphere around the scenic town of Herzogenaurach in the aftermath of the Germany vs Portugal UEFA Nations League semifinal match was a shadow of its former self. The gray skies above mirrored the collective disappointment amongst coach Julian Nagelsmann and the national players, particularly captain Joshua Kimmich. In an emotional interview, Josh voiced his sentiments following the team's devastating loss.
Taking third place is not the fireworks we were expecting
In what was supposed to be a night of excitement and anticipation for the second big semi-final clash between Spain and France, it became a night of introspection as Germany's hard-fought match against Portugal ended in disbelief. For the 1:2 (0:0) defeat marked the end of the team's aspirations for the Nations League title, leaving them to compete for third place instead.
"Mentally, it's a tough pill to swallow," Nagelsmann admitted, speaking of the consolation match scheduled for Sunday.
Kimmich's 100th international match fails to deliver
The stirring defeat was particularly disheartening for the team's leader, as he had hoped for a better performance in his milestone match. "We were far from our capabilities. We couldn't get our energy onto the field. It was hard to see our winning mentality, our determination, and our hunger," Josh lamented, tapping into his emotions.
To compete with the top teams, Kimmich believes, "We have to be on 100%. We can't give anything less." This sentiment echoed Nagelsmann's sentiments about the need for each member of the team to be at their limit.
Nagelsmann recognizes a valuable learning experience
Following the loss, the German coach gathered his coaching staff on the pitch to discuss what could have gone wrong during the game. A key insight from the clash against Portugal, the seventh-ranked team in the world, was that Nagelsmann's new and improved team lacked the depth to make up for major absences (Musiala, Rüdiger, Havertz, Kleindienst, Schlotterbeck, Stiller).
Joshua Kimmich also acknowledged the importance of keeping as many players healthy as possible to form a solid core, or starting eleven, for the team. Nagelsmann himself was disappointed by several players who stepped in to fill the void. Nevertheless, Josh's critical evaluation of the performance and his dedication to improvement struck a chord with Nagelsmann.
Speaking of Josh's address to the team, Nagelsmann stated, "It was good that it came from within the team. I don't like dwelling on criticism too much, but I understand the need to maintain high standards and hold ourselves accountable."
- Joshua Kimmich
- Julian Nagelsmann
- Germany
- Portugal
- Football national team
- Herzogenaurach
- Wellbeing oasis
- Coach
- Sunday
- World ranking
- International match
- Munich
- UEFA Nations League
- Ronaldo
- Stuttgart
- Triple substitution
[1] Germany vs Portugal UEFA Nations League semi-finals match report[2] Joshua Kimmich's post-match interview
- Joshua Kimmich, reflecting on the heartbreaking semifinal defeat, expressed his disappointment, stating, "Taking third place is not the fireworks we were expecting."
- In his post-match analysis, Kimmich also emphasized the importance of his team's performance in future games, saying, "To compete with the top teams, we have to be on 100%."
