JOshua Kimmich finds it difficult to imagine that he will be leaving with the national soccer team for the World Cup in Qatar in less than two weeks – right after the last Bundesliga appearance for FC Bayern. Before the final Champions League group game on Tuesday evening (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on Prime Video) against Inter Milan, the 27-year-old called it “really difficult”, in the current stress of the game time and leisure for thoughts about that to have a world championship tournament.
“You already have it somewhere in the back of your mind, but it’s not really present that we’re going to start the World Cup in two weeks,” said Kimmich in the press conference before the Inter game. For the midfielder it will be the second World Cup after the disappointing preliminary round four years ago in Russia.
National coach Hansi Flick leaves for Oman on November 14th with the DFB squad, which consists of a maximum of 26 players around the seeded Kimmich. After a friendly against the national team of Oman on November 16, they continue to Qatar. On November 23, the DFB team will start the tournament against Japan.
The first Winter World Cup in the middle of the season presents the players with a whole new challenge. The schedule was extremely tight. “There have been a lot of games at FC Bayern, it went in quick succession. So far, the rhythm hasn’t been much different than in previous years,” said Kimmich, a frequent player. “But a lot will change now because the tournament is coming,” added the midfielder about the burden.
Ryan Gravenberch? “Play!”
Mentally, it’s a completely different situation. “It’s kind of strange because you don’t have the tournament in your head as you would if you had it in the summer and are preparing,” explained Kimmich: “The focus is then only on the tournament. Now you also have a few other games in mind.”
One person who has the next game on his mind is Ryan Gravenberch. He can once again present himself more intensively at FC Bayern against Inter Milan. “Plays,” answered coach Julian Nagelsmann in one word when asked whether the 20-year-old Dutchman would play at the end of the Champions League group stage.
Nagelsmann had previously announced that he would rotate in the game that was no longer decisive for the Munich team, who were first in the group. Some of the regulars of the German record champions should play a little less against the second in the table or even take a breather.
Gravenberch, who signed for almost 20 million euros from Ajax Amsterdam in the summer and has a five-year contract, has so far only been able to show his talent in a dosed manner in the Bayern jersey. Despite this, he is very well respected among his colleagues. “Ryan has already shown a lot and will show us a lot more,” said Kimmich in the press conference for the Inter game on Monday.
Gravenberch’s problem has prominent names. In midfield he has experienced top players like Kimmich (27), Leon Goretzka (27) and Marcel Sabitzer (28) in front of him. “Ryan played an outstanding preparation,” Kimmich recalled. But also Sabitzer, who was allowed to play next to Kimmich on the double six at the beginning of the season. Goretzka is now back there again. The national player was out at the beginning of the season due to a knee injury.
“We simply have a very good squad,” said Kimmich. Gravenberch can usually only prove himself as a substitute. Kimmich was impressed by his performance a week ago in the 3-0 win over FC Barcelona. “I thought Ryan’s come-in was outstanding against Barça. He stole a lot of balls from us there.”
Gravenberch’s offensive qualities have been known for a long time, but he is also improving defensively. “He shows in training and in the game that he is very good with the ball, has a good speed dribbling and can really make meters there. But in Barcelona he also showed us that he can give us something defensively,” praised Kimmich. As a young professional, he too had to wait for opportunities in his early days at Bayern Munich. That’s why his advice to Gravenberch is: “He just has to be patient and keep working hard.”
A good example is the only 19-year-old Jamal Musiala. “In the end, it’s all about quality. And it doesn’t matter if you’re 19 or 32. We also see that with Jamal, who brings his quality to the pitch every three days,” said Kimmich.
