“How many more chances does he want to have?” – Hamann’s announcement to Kimmich

Dietmar Hamann no longer believes in a key role for Joshua Kimmich in the national team. “I think that Kimmich will come under a lot of pressure and that the captaincy question will sort itself out at some point because others are playing,” said the ex-national player and TV expert on “Sky 90”.

Since the first international matches under the new national coach Jürgen Klopp, a debate has been sparked about the position and status of the FC Bayern Munich professional in the DFB team. For Hamann it is clear that Kimmich is better off as a right-back than in defensive midfield.

Kimmich was previously lined up at the back right by Hansi Flick, Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann, Hamann argued, “three coaches with outstanding abilities”. The 53-year-old added: “And now someone wants to tell me that he is world class in the middle?”

Hamann would let Pavlovic and Nmecha start

When “Sky 90” presenter Patrick Wasserziehr pointed out that the current Bayern coach Vincent Kompany was putting Kimmich on the six, Hamann replied: “Because he has no others.” Kimmich was therefore placed next to Aleksandar Pavlović.

But the competition is greater in the national team, also because of Dortmund's Felix Nmecha. “For me there is no question that if we play the World Cup final tomorrow that Pavlović and Nmecha will start in the middle,” said Hamann. He even expected Kimmich's resignation in the summer after the early World Cup exit: "We've been eliminated early four times now, how many chances does he still want to have?" said Hamann, with a view to the 2018, 2022, 2026 and European Championships in 2024.