Joshua Kimmich, captain of the German national football team, has expressed his belief that Germany is not among the leading contenders to win this summer’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This candid assessment comes after the team’s disappointing performance in the last two consecutive World Cups (2018 and 2022), where they exited at the group stage.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Kimmich elaborated on his stance: “We are not among the top favourites because we have not delivered in recent tournaments.”
Despite this realistic outlook on their current standing, Kimmich was quick to emphasize that the team should not be discouraged by past results. He urged his teammates to put previous failures behind them, asserting, “When it starts, nobody cares anymore what happened four or eight years ago.” He further stressed the importance of unwavering dedication, stating, “I expect everyone to fully commit to the bigger picture and give 100 percent.”
Kimmich also highlighted the critical role of player fitness and collective spirit. “We depend on everyone being healthy, ready and getting into good form. The most important thing is that we have all players on board. We have the chance to grow even closer together,” he remarked, pointing towards the potential for the team to strengthen its cohesion.
In the group stage of the forthcoming tournament, Germany is slated to compete against Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ecuador. For the immediate future, however, the team’s focus remains on their preparatory friendly matches against Switzerland and Ghana.
