An exciting battle for playing time is brewing in the German national team’s midfield. Joshua Kimmich is returning to the DFB squad after his break and is expected to immediately assume a central role under national team coach Jürgen Klopp. For Bayern youngster Tom Bischof, however, this could have unpleasant consequences.
FC Bayern is represented by three midfielders in the current DFB squad. In addition to captain Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Tom Bischof have also been named to the roster for the upcoming Nations League matches against Serbia and the Netherlands. All three have recently drawn attention with strong performances.
Bischof, in particular, has made the most of his opportunities under Klopp so far. The 21-year-old impressed in October alongside Pavlovic and even scored his first goal for the senior national team in the 2-0 victory over Serbia. Nevertheless, the youngster could now find himself demoted to a supporting role again.
Hau expects Kimmich and Pavlovic in the center
On the Sky podcast “Mia san vier,” Kerry Hau commented on the possible lineup for the German midfield. The Bayern insider expects Klopp to rely once again on the proven duo of Kimmich and Pavlovic going forward. “Joshua Kimmich will logically be back in midfield now, so Tom Bischof will probably have to take a back seat—at least for now—because Alex Pavlovic will be playing alongside him,” Hau explained.
That would certainly be a bitter pill for Bischof to swallow. The 21-year-old had taken advantage of Kimmich’s absence to prove himself in the DFB jersey. Together with Pavlovic, he formed a dynamic midfield duo that impressed above all with their enthusiasm and technical skill.
However, the competition is fierce. In addition to the three Bayern pros, Felix Nmecha of Borussia Dortmund is another top-tier candidate for the central midfield.
Klopp is counting on a solid core in the DFB team
Torben Hoffmann also emphasized in the podcast how important a clear hierarchy is for the national team’s development. After the numerous lineup experiments of recent months, Klopp must now find a stable framework. “But I also think it’s important and crucial now. It’s about reliability,” explained the former Bundesliga pro.
Hoffmann believes experienced leaders like Kimmich bear the primary responsibility here. The Bayern star, along with other key players, is expected to form the foundation for the challenges ahead.
Klopp himself had recently made it clear just how important Kimmich is to his plans. “Jo Kimmich is an outstanding midfielder who will always have a place on our team,” the national team coach emphasized in October on DAZN.
For Bischof, however, this doesn’t necessarily mean a permanent spot on the bench. The youngster has proven with his performances so far that he’s a serious alternative.
For now, though, the Bayern player will likely need to be patient. While Kimmich and Pavlovic currently have the best chance of making the starting lineup, Bischof will have to keep waiting for his opportunity.