“We can’t always play with the same couples,” Nagelsmann continued, referring to the EURO (June 14th to July 14th) and emphasized: “A tournament is played with 14 or 15 players. Not with ten, not with 18. That’s where we’re moving at the moment.”
The decision against Kimmich is a novelty in the relationship between Nagelsmann and the 28-year-old. When the national coach was still coaching FC Bayern, he never once let his star pupil languish on the bench.
In the 73 competitive games in which he was available, Kimmich always started and was substituted nine times – like on Saturday in Berlin against Turkey (2:3).
Matthäus: Kimmich and Gündogan don’t fit together
In his 81st international match, the first under Nagelsmann, he was replaced by Goretzka in the 71st minute – like now in Vienna. Gündogan and Kimmich, Lothar Matthäus expressed the general expert opinion on “RTL”, “simply don’t fit together”.
Kimmich was absent due to illness during Nagelsmann’s debut as national coach on the trip to the USA with the international matches against the hosts (3:1) and Mexico (2:2). Gündogan largely harmonized well with Pascal Groß, with whom he started both times.
Spalletti relieved: “Now the real work begins”