With the exception of Neuer, Germany’s squad is looking for its first major title and Joshua Kimmich reveals the motivation By Thiago Lemos
2 min read
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After two consecutive frustrating campaigns in World Cups, the German team, four-times world champion, finds in the current competition a source of great motivation for its athletes. At a press conference, midfielder Joshua Kimmich highlighted the group’s firm determination to pursue a trophy unprecedented in the history of most of its members.
The player highlighted that, apart from goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, none of the other athletes in the current squad have won a significant title for the main team. According to Kimmich, this gap generates a particular yearning for a big win, with the younger members of the team recognizing the importance of being part of this team.
In the 2018 and 2022 editions of the World Cup, the German team failed to advance beyond the group stage. In 2018, in Russia, the team was the defending champion and faced a historically negative performance, finishing in last place in a group that included Sweden, Mexico and South Korea. Such an early elimination had not occurred since the 1938 tournament.
The performance in Qatar, in 2022, was also below expectations. Once again, the team was eliminated in the group stage, sharing the same fate as Costa Rica. Japan and Spain were the teams that secured their places in the next stage of the competition.
For the current edition, Germany aims for a more successful trajectory and dreams of winning an unprecedented fifth championship. The squad under the command of coach Julian Nagelsmann got off to a promising start, beating Curaçao 7-1. The team’s next challenge will be against Ivory Coast.
Kimmich assessed that, although a victory generally boosts the team’s morale, the excitement already existed in the group previously. He added that, despite the natural challenges, coexistence is positive and the focus on the collective objective generates favorable energy. At the moment, the results are good, with a series of ten consecutive victories, indicating that the team is on the right path.
The clash between Germany and Ivory Coast, valid for the second round of group E, is scheduled for next Saturday. The match will take place at 5pm, Brasília time, at the Toronto stadium, located in Canada.
