Joshua Kimmich is heading into his first World Cup as captain of the German national team. Ahead of the opening match against Curaçao, the Bayern pro spoke about his special responsibility, the current mood in the country, and his hope that the national team will spark a similar wave of enthusiasm as during the “Summer Fairy Tale” of 2006.
When Germany kicks off the World Cup against Curaçao on Sunday evening, Joshua Kimmich will lead the team onto the field as captain for the first time at a major tournament. For the 31-year-old, it is a special moment—and at the same time a great responsibility.
In an interview with BILD, the midfielder made it clear that the German national team is pursuing far more than just sporting goals. “Yes, we want to make Germany proud! That is the ultimate goal,” Kimmich explained. “We know that we are representing our entire country here.”
After the disappointing World Cups in 2018 and 2022, as well as the quarterfinal exit at the 2024 home European Championship, the DFB team is set to generate excitement once again this time around.
Kimmich is hoping for a World Cup effect like in 2006
Particularly noteworthy are the Bayern star’s comments on the current social mood in Germany.
Kimmich made no secret of the fact that he senses a certain dissatisfaction and uncertainty in the country. “Of course I feel the current dissatisfaction in Germany and also that things are quite turbulent politically and socially,” said the DFB captain.
That is precisely why he sees sports as having a special role to play. “In the summer of 2006, the World Cup helped and changed Germany tremendously. We showed the whole world an openness that continues to shape the image of us to this day.”
Even though Germany isn’t hosting this time, Kimmich hopes the national team can have a similar impact—though this time, primarily within the country.
The Bayern Munich pro also addressed a topic that is particularly important to him: social cohesion. “I would like to see positive patriotism and social cohesion become possible again in Germany—without excluding others,” Kimmich explained.
He pointed to the diversity within the national team. “If you look at our team, we already have a lot of players from different backgrounds, different religions, and different social classes. Together, we want to be successful.”
For Kimmich, the national team can thus also serve as a model for social harmony.
Confidence in one’s own strength
From a sporting perspective, the Bayern star believes the German team is well-positioned despite strong competition. “We’re not among the top favorites right now, but we don’t need to be,” Kimmich emphasized.
What matters most, he said, is that the team believes in its own qualities and brings its potential to the field. “The only thing that matters is that we know how good we can be when we bring certain things to the field.”
For Kimmich personally, the role of captain is another crowning achievement in his career. He has played for FC Bayern for eleven years and for the German national team for ten. The fact that he is now wearing the captain’s armband at a World Cup fills him with pride.
He is particularly impressed by the tradition of German World Cup-winning captains. “Fritz Walter, Franz Beckenbauer, Lothar Matthäus, Philipp Lahm—those are big names,” said Kimmich.
At the same time, he sees this as an added incentive. “It’s all the more motivation to change that,” explained the 31-year-old, referring to his desire to join that list as a World Cup-winning captain himself.
The first step on this path is now set to be taken against Curaçao. For Kimmich, it’s not just the result that matters, but also the way Germany presents itself.