European Football Championship - No "sweat of fear": Kimmich wants his own Spain chapter
The large opponent Spain looked at Joshua Kimmich with his new EM teammate David Raum in the so-called "Orga-Office" of the German football national team. The two outside defenders could not find a better place in the team quarters for their first preparation for the most challenging quarterfinal test against Spain. On Friday (18.00 Uhr/ARD/MagentaTV), Kimmich and Raum must stop the Spanish young star wingers Lamine Yamal (16) and Nico Williams (21) in Stuttgart if the German EM journey is to continue towards Berlin.
Maximum organization, or Orga, is a prerequisite. "We have to find solutions as a team," demanded Kimmich. The goal is clear. And it is a huge challenge, the biggest one so far in the tournament. Spain is not only at the EM with a record of four wins that no one has been able to beat yet. The DFB team is facing a task of historic proportions that goes beyond the generation of Kimmich.
"Of course we want to beat Spain in a tournament one day. It's absolutely our goal. Sure, everyone wants to write their own chapter, their own history," said the 29-year-old Kimmich about the special Spain history with the last mandatory game win before 36 years at the last home EM in 1988 and Rudi Voeller as the double scorer.
History with Voeller
"Perhaps we can bring Rudi in," Kimmich joked at the expense of today's DFB sports director. But the solutions must be found on the field itself. Kimmich and Raum expressed their new self-confidence after eight games without defeat in the EM year and the positive vibrations in the whole country after the 2:0 against Denmark in a playful press conference in the team quarters. There is a lot of laughter in Herzogenaurach these days.
Kimmich and Raum had interrupted their free day granted by national trainer Julian Nagelsmann for the media appointment. But the professional performance did not come across. Tactics and trivialities were still in the balance. The hobby gardeners also talked about their two trees they had planted and now wished for some sun after a lot of Franconian rain.
But how is it going against the football powerhouse Spain? "Do you want the sweat of fear?", Raum reacted to a suggestively phrased reporter question. Okay! "I don't have any fear sweat yet, and nobody will come with it", parried the 26-year-old. And he showed his arms and shoulders. "We're trying it the other way around, making the Spaniards sweat", Raum added then.
A hard nut for both
Kimmich spoke of a "hard nut" that is waiting as the next challenge before the semifinal. But: "For both." Speaking of a premature final, it is already an honor to speak of it, a compliment for the tournament so far. However, it is clear for Kimmich: "If you want to win the tournament, there is no way past Spain."
Spain, for years it was the mantra of German football. Technically unique, tactically ahead. But even as an unbeatable rival, a myth of Joachim Löw's era as Bundestrainer. The tournament defeats in 2008 in the EURO final and 2010 in the WM semifinal are far in the past. Neither Kimmich, who was injured at the time, nor Room were present for the demoralizing 0:6 in November 2020. Present is still the 1:1 in the WM group game in Qatar, the Sand-WM 2022 ends disappointingly for the Spaniards as well.
Lamine Yamal is no football prodigy
Kimmich and Raum's job description is Williams and Yamal, the latter being almost still a child at 16 years old. But football-wise? "One doesn't have to speak of a child in that context", said Raum. The young star of FC Barcelona brings "brutal quality", said the Leipzig left-back. But "in the end, he's also breakable."
Similarly, Raum spoke about Yamal, Kimmich characterized the opponent Spain as a whole. Brutal quality, but breakable, that's it. What matters? Munich's certainty before his 91st international game is clear. A "mix of everything". And "it's all in the head". In the team quarters in Herzogenaurach, Bundestrainer Nagelsmann will certainly withdraw into the "orga office" several times in the coming days.
- In the "Orga-Office" of the German football national team in Herzogenaurach, Joshua Kimmich and his new EM teammate David Raum discussed their strategies for the upcoming quarterfinal match against Spain.
- The two outside defenders, Kimmich and Raum, need to stop Spain's young star wingers, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, to continue their EM journey towards Berlin.
- Maximum organization, or Orga, is crucial for the German team as they face a significant challenge against the record-breaking Spanish team.
- Kimmich, 29, expressed his desire to one day beat Spain in a tournament, with Rudi Voeller's historic double score in 1988 serving as inspiration.
- The two defenders, Kimmich and Raum, exuded confidence during a playful press conference, sharing laughter and tales of their hobby garden in Herzogenaurach.
- Raum, 26, dismissed the suggestion of fear towards Spain, joking that he would rather make the Spaniards sweat instead.
- Kimmich spoke of Spain as a "hard nut" to crack, emphasizing that both teams have a challenging task ahead of them.
- The German national team has already made history, achieving eight games without defeat, and Kimmich acknowledged that if they want to win the tournament, they have to overcome Spain.
- Spain, once a football powerhouse, has faced setbacks in major tournaments in the past, with the 2008 EURO final and 2010 WM semifinal defeats now distant memories.
- Although they did not take part in the 2020 0:6 defeat, Kimmich and Raum acknowledge the strength and brutality of Spain's football quality.
- Nico Williams, as the young star of FC Barcelona, and Lamine Yamal, almost still a child at 16, are the main focus for Kimmich and Raum as they prepare for the EM quarterfinal match in Stuttgart.
