Kimmich Celebrates 100 Caps as Germany Prepares for Portugal Clash

München, Germany — Joshua Kimmich, the Bayern Munich midfielder, gears up for a significant match as Germany faces Portugal in the UEFA Nations League semifinals. Set to earn his 100th cap on Wednesday, Kimmich emphasizes the importance of the game despite Germany’s historical advantage over Portugal.

“That’s not a topic for us in the team. It’s a new team compared to the one from 2021. Both teams have changed. It’ll be a completely different game,” Kimmich stated. This shows his focus on the future rather than past encounters, where Germany has won 11 out of the last 19 clashes.

With a roster reshaped by injuries, Kimmich acknowledges the challenges. “Of course it’s bitter and annoying that there are so many injuries, but there’s no point in talking about that because the players who are at home won’t help us. We still have a lot of quality and enough good players to win both games,” he said.

The midfielder views reaching 100 caps as a personal milestone. “It’s a big honor to have played this many games for Germany. It shows that I’ve been showing a very good level over the past 9-10 years,” he remarked.

Joking about being the 14th player with over 100 caps without a World Cup title, Kimmich said, “There are still a few chances. We have to do better. We felt at the EUROs that there was a connection between the team and the country, even though we didn’t win the title.” He plans to prepare the squad for future tournaments.

Germany’s head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, appreciates the rivalry. “As a national team coach, I haven’t beaten Portugal yet. Ultimately, we have to score more goals tomorrow,” he stated. As for lineup preparations, he mentioned, “I have 9 out of 11 positions in mind. The players have yet to be informed.”

Back from an impressive season at Stuttgart, 23-year-old Nick Woltemade is also scheduled to start, highlighting the fresh talent stepping up in the German squad.

Kimmich’s leadership and experience will be crucial as Germany seeks a victory against Portugal in a high-stakes encounter.