Joshua Kimmich criticized his team's mentality following Germany's surprising 0:2 defeat to Slovakia in a World Cup 2026 qualification match. The midfielder didn't hold back in his assessment of the poor performance that has complicated Germany's qualifying campaign.
"We didn't show any courage or proper attitude during any part of the match. From the opening minutes, they had a corner and a chance," – Kimmich explained after the game.
The experienced midfielder emphasized that tactical formations weren't to blame for the disappointing result. Instead, he pointed directly to the team's approach and commitment level as the main issues behind their struggles.
"It's not about the system, tactics, three or four defenders. It's about attitude. We must be better in our next match. We need to support each other and make the game easier for one another," – he stressed.
Kimmich acknowledged the collective underperformance but called for unity rather than finger-pointing as Germany looks to bounce back. He admitted that the squad failed to give their maximum effort – a concerning sign for a team with ambitions of returning to the elite of world football.
Interestingly, the midfielder also highlighted a disconnect between the team's lofty goals and their current reality. "We were talking about winning the World Cup before the match, but first we need to qualify. If we play like we did today, that won't be easy," Kimmich remarked.
The defeat leaves "Germany" in a precarious position in their qualifying group. Can they turn things around in their next fixture? The answer might depend on whether they can address the attitude problems that Kimmich so candidly identified.
