National soccer team - Kimmich's new tournament feeling: FCB jump after a header?
Joshua Kimmich enjoyed himself at a major tournament once again. The ambitious Bayern professional, who was the face of German failure as the leader of a new player generation during the Murks Tournaments from 2018 to 2022, is with the German National Team in the EURO 2024 round of 16 against Denmark.
Even though his role on the field has changed, Kimmich's longing for a tournament that meets his expectations could be fulfilled in his 30th year.
Kimmich's good mood is also felt by his teammates at the EURO 2024 quarters. A video on Instagram shows him in the darkness at the swimming pool. "Just like you, jump in now, chief," Robert Andrich, in the style of an animator on an all-inclusive vacation, calls out. The person addressed by Andrich hands over his phone, walks a few steps to the pool edge, and actually jumps into the water in his training kit with his head first.
"Hey kid, you're not quite there"
Accompanied by the laughter of some teammates and Andrich's comments, Kimmich swims a few meters to the other side of the pool in the breaststroke. "Hey, that's crazy, kid. You're not quite there," comments Andrich, the instigator, about the scene.
Similarly spectacular actions have not yet succeeded for Kimmich in the EURO 2024 stadiums, even though he came close against Switzerland. "I had the best chance in the second half with a left shot," Kimmich himself said. Almost, his seventh goal in his 89th national team game would have been a reality. But his shot was blocked. Kimmich had to wait until the added time for the jubilation, as Niclas Füllkrug scored.
"It was a bit heavier, we weren't that dangerous," analyzed Kimmich after the final whistle. "We weren't that dominant for 90 minutes." He also attributed this to the dry pitch at the Frankfurt Stadium, which slowed down the football game. "But we really wanted to score one more goal. We managed that." And that's why Kimmich goes into the knockout game against Denmark with a good feeling.
Another position, unchanged role
The man who sees himself as a leader must live with the fact that he has become more of a supporting character at home EURO 2024 due to his position. In the limelight are Toni Kroos and Pool Animateur Andrich. It doesn't matter. Kimmich's main goal at his fourth major tournament since EURO 2016 is to finally achieve success with the German team. "My role doesn't change much. Of course, the position has shifted a bit." Nevertheless, it remains his declared goal to "advance with good performances."
Speculation about Bayern future
Julian Nagelsmann moved him to the right during the EURO 2024 year. Thomas Tuchel did the same at FC Bayern. "As a right-back, the requirements profile is different than in the six. I've played that position before. And I found myself there quickly," he said during the EURO 2024 days.
The situation is complicated in the club. Full-back? Six? Before the new Bayern coach Vincent Kompany can answer the Kimmich question, it must first be clarified whether Kimmich's future even lies in Munich. Much is being speculated about a Kimmich departure from Bayern this summer or freely after the contract expires in a year. "Everything speaks for a Kimmich departure from Bayern," titled the "Bild" newspaper.
The ZDF doc "Leaders and Drivers" about Kimmich deepened the impression that the former model relationship with the club after nine years is no longer heartfelt. The mutual respect has suffered. Even if Kimmich made less critical remarks about the club's handling of him during the vaccination debate during the Corona pandemic.
Changed Boss Circle
"In general, it's been about two, three years since other people have taken responsibility," said Kimmich in Frankfurt, making an indirect reference to Oliver Kahn or Hasan Salihamidzic, who no longer belong to the Munich Boss Circle.
The topic of the club's future was postponed by Kimmich before the EM start until later. "And the FC Bayern is certainly my first point of contact," he said. A professional cliché? For him, it's also important to know the opinion of the new coach Kompany. But what interests him even more are the answers to other questions: "What does the club think? What does the club want?" There are some options: selling? extending? Or postponing the future to 2025?
- Joshua Kimmich, while with the German National Team, expressed his anticipation for the EURO 2024 tournament, hoping it would meet his expectations in his 30th year.
- Kimmich's teammates at the EURO 2024 quarters, including Robert Andrich, have felt his good mood, as evidenced in a playful Instagram video.
- Kimmich came close to scoring against Switzerland during the EURO 2024 tournament but his shot was blocked.
- After the match against Switzerland, Kimmich highlighted the difficulty of dominating the game due to the dry pitch at the Frankfurt Stadium.
- In the EURO 2024 tournament, Toni Kroos and Robert Andrich have taken more of the limelight, with Kimmich playing a more supporting role.
- Despite the shift in his position, Kimmich's goal remains to advance with good performances and achieve success with the German team.
- There is speculation about Joshua Kimmich's future at FC Bayern Munich, with some suggesting a possible departure this summer or when his contract expires next year.
- The Bavarian newspaper, Bild, titled an article "Everything speaks for a Kimmich departure from Bayern."
- In a documentary, "Leaders and Drivers" about Kimmich, the impression was deepened that the former model relationship with the club after nine years is no longer heartfelt.
- Kimmich has not made any definitive statements about his future with FC Bayern Munich, stating that he wants to know the club's opinion and plans before making a decision.
