Kimmich reveals: That's why he fell into a hole after the 2018 World Cup - and not after the Qatar World Cup

Created: 01/11/2023 16:44

By: Antonio Jose Riether

Shortly after leaving, Joshua Kimmich was afraid of "falling into a hole".

Now the FC Bayern star gave the all-clear and explained why it didn't come to that.

Doha – At the FC Bayern training camp in Qatar, most professionals return to the place where World Cup dreams were shattered just a few weeks ago.

Joshua Kimmich spoke at the press conference on Wednesday about dealing with the early elimination from the World Cup and indicated why he wasn't quite as frustrated as after the weak 2018 World Cup tournament.

After an early World Cup exit, Joshua Kimmich was “afraid of falling into a hole” – but things turned out differently

With a view to returning to the World Cup host country, Kimmich remembered his emotional words immediately after the preliminary round.

"We're going back home.

So I'm a bit scared of really falling into a hole," he said in the mixed zone after the last group game against Costa Rica.

When asked about the statement, the midfielder reacted surprisingly calmly.

"We had big goals, we had a lot planned and were eliminated early again," said the Swabian, who also stated: "To be honest, I didn't really fall into a hole, I think that's also due to my three children .

It was difficult to fall into any hole, you have other tasks there".

Joshua Kimmich also commented on the past World Cup at the press conference in Qatar.

© Peter Kneffel/dpa

Joshua Kimmich compares the last World Cup tournaments: "2018 a lot of time to think"

At this point, Kimmich drew a comparison with his first World Cup, where the German team finished last in the group after defeats against Mexico and South Korea.

“It was almost a bit more difficult in 2018 because you didn’t have that much distraction then.

When you're on vacation there, you have a lot of time to think," says Kimmich.

In fact, a lot has changed at Kimmich since the summer of 2018.

Together with his partner Lina Mayer, whom he married in June 2022, he became the father of three children between 2019 and 2022 and since then has been fully challenged off the pitch at the latest.

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Joshua Kimmich jokes after reporter's question: "Must play until I'm 45"

But not only his family situation and the associated obligations were to blame for the deep frustration after the 2018 World Cup. “I felt that 2018 felt very, very little right.

Also internally with us as a team,” said the 74-time national player regarding the Russia tournament.

"I don't want to say that everything was great last year, but in the end thirty minutes against Japan cost us the tournament," summarizes the 27-year-old.

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When asked how great his hopes were of having more successful times with the national team, Kimmich replied with a grin: "I just have to play until I'm 45".

The Bayern clearer can laugh again nine days before the start of the Bundesliga against his former club RB Leipzig, which should please everyone who is with Bayern.