A right back or midfield debate has started again around Germany captain Joshua Kimmich who will finally play a World Cup knock-out match in his 114th cap on Monday.
Kimmich, 31, was part of the team that went out in the group stage in 2018 and 2022 but now Germany have advanced and will face Paraguay in the last 32.
The past disappointments may been a factor that Kimmich has not played and led the way at the tournament as he usually does.
Kimmich is the Germany right back because there is no adequate option. At Bayern Munich, he forms the defensive midfield together with Aleksandar Pavlovic.
But Pavlovic is far below his best in a partnership with Felix Nmecha at the World Cup. There have been calls for Kimmich to replace Pavlovic – even though it is unclear how he and Nmecha will perform together.
Kimmich has insisted that “it is only up to the coach” where he plays.
The coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has at least ended the debate for Monday’s match by insisting that “I don’t want to do without Felix and Pavlo” and saying that Kimmich had the best statistics of all right backs at Euro 2024.
Sporting director Rudi Völler said the issue has been going on forever, that Kimmich was “world class” in both positions and Nagelsmann the one to decide.
Kimmich has said that in order to survive in the knock-outs they must “minimise giving away the ball” and stop “conceding one or two goals each match.”
The debate could gain momentum if Germany beat Paraguay and then face top favourites France in the last 16.
Kimmich had trouble against speedy Yan Diomande in Germany’s 2-1 win against Ivory Coast, and France pose a much bigger threat with their formidable strike force of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Michael Olise.
Völler said that Kimmich has “lots of experience and can deal with these situations in a smart way” but Nagelsmann is apparently also mulling changing the defensive system and moving Kimmich into midfield.
““In football, you can never rule anything out, but a move is not currently being planned,” Nagelsmann has said – “currently” only referring to the Paraguay match.
