dpa
Herzogenaurach, Germany
New Germany captain Joshua Kimmich wants to lead the team to major titles again after some barren years, starting with the upcoming Nations League.
Kimmich told reporters on Tuesday that “we have no one left in the squad who has become world champion” after the international or overall retirement of 2014 World Cup winners Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller over the past weeks.
“We still have a few Confed Cup winners [from 2017] with us. But nobody can say they’ve ever won a title for Germany,” he said.
“Everyone in the squad should have this goal in mind.” Time to win trophies again Kimmich, 29, was part of the Confederations Cup team seven years ago but since then Germany has gone out in the group stage of the last two World Cup, and at the Euros in the last 16 in 2021 and the quarter-finals this year.
“My generation in particular has nothing to give away. We want to seize every title, every opportunity. And so we want to start with the Nations League,” he said.
Germany start the Nations League campaign on Saturday against Hungary and with a visit to the Netherlands three days later. The other opponents are Bosnia-Herzegovina. The group winner advances to next year’s four-team finals.
Kimmich proud to be captain Bayern Munich defender and midfielder Kimmich said being named captain by coach Julian Nagelsmann in succession of internationally retired Ilkay Gündogan was a dream come true.
“Of course I am proud,” he said. “As a small child you always dream of becoming an international. You write that down somewhere in your friendship book. But it’s still very far away and very unrealistic.
Nobody dreams of becoming captain.”
Kimmich is the most experienced player in the squad with 91 caps and ready to lead by example as Germany want to continue the positive trend this year which saw them reach the quarters at the home Euros where they lost late in extra time against eventual champions Spain.
