WE all enjoyed a bit of schadenfreude when reigning champions Germany were sent packing at the group stage in Russia four years ago.After all, they have won the World Cup FOUR times already and always seem to get to the latter stages of major tournaments, usually knocking out England along the way.
Joshua Kimmich played at right-back in Russia but is now a holding midfielderCredit: Getty
But for Die Mannschaft, it was an embarrassing and humbling experience that they have no wish to repeat.
Jogi Low’s side were heavy favourites in 2018 having triumphed in Brazil four years prior.
Yet an opening game defeat to Mexico at Moscow’s grand Luzhniki Stadium proved to be a setback from which they could not recover.
They did manage to beat Sweden in their second game – thanks to a 95th-minute winner from Toni Kroos.
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But two goals conceded in injury-time against South Korea saw them finish humiliatingly bottom of the group.
Joshua Kimmich started all three of those fixtures at right-back.
Bayern Munich’s Mr Versatile now plays as a holding midfielder for Team DFB and is desperate to exorcise those demons in Qatar.
On Wednesday Germany, now bossed by Low’s former assistant Hansi Flick, can make their first step to putting it right when they face Japan at Doha’s Khalifa Stadium, where England battered Iran on Monday.
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Kimmich, 27, said: “The motivation is huge after four and half years.
“We know that was terrible what happened. We’ve had quite the wait.
“It will be very important to start with a good game. The first game is very important, we’ve seen that in previous tournaments. I hope that against Japan we will be winning.”
Kimmich has won seven Bundesliga titles and the Champions League in 2020 with Bayern.
Prem in sight for YoshidaMAYA YOSHIDA hopes a strong World Cup for Japan could result in more of Far East nation’s players heading to the Premier League.
Currently there are only two Japanese plying their trade in England’s top flight.
Takumi Tomiyasu, 24, is with table-toppers Arsenal, though he has lost his place to Ben White at right-back.
While midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, 25, has impressed in his first few appearances for Brighton.
Japan captain Yoshida, who spent eight years at Southampton, said: “We are improving a lot. We are still on the way to catch up on the bigger countries.
“Recently many players started playing European countries and leagues, including the Premier League.
“I’m very glad to see another generation playing in the Premier League.
“I’m sure this kind of experience individually will help the team and squad and the future of Japanese football.
“Hopefully we can do well in this tournament and more players can come to England. It’s going to be tough but everything is possible.”
Japan kick off their World Cup on Wednesday against Germany, where seven of the Samuari Blue squad are currently playing domestically.
Yoshida, 34, is one of those, lining up for Schalke, who lost 2-0 at home to Bayern Munich just ten days ago.
That meant he got to come up against the likes of DFB stars Jamal Musiala, who set up both goals, and Serge Gnabry, who netted the opener.
Yoshida added: “Since we knew that we would play against Germany, I started to analyse the strikers a lot.
“But of course actually playing against them is better analysis than watching the video. It was a great experience.
“The first match is a challenging one. The group is not easy.
“We are aiming high to catch up with their level. Germany won the World Cup many times so we are excited.
“Many Japanese players are now playing in the Bundesliga.
“We have speed, pace and physical ability as well. The key is we have to defend well.
“Probably we will have fewer opportunities attacking but we have to do good counter-attacks, of course. We already understand how much quality we have.
“In football there is the game we should win, but it never exists a game where we should lose. So we still believe we have a chance.”
Yet despite racking up 71 caps for Germany, his only trophy for his country is the 2017 Confederations Cup.
Flick coached Kimmich to that historic treble with Bayern two years ago and was with the national team when they were crowned world champions in Rio as Low’s assistant.
And while he is loath to compare generations, he pointed out to any doubters of Kimmich’s crop that the likes of Lukas Podolski, Mats Hummels and Philipp Lahm had won no major tournaments either – until the day they did.
Flick added: “I was part of the team in 2014, with Podolski, Hummels and Lahm back then.
“It was the same back then. Before the tournament people were saying they haven’t won big titles yet.
“This generation is characterised by the fact they are very focused on the game and always push their limits.
“They are players who always try to get better every time they step on the pitch. It’s wonderful to see as a coach.
“Of course we know the competition is strong. Watching Argentina and Saudi Arabia, we can see everything is possible.
“But that’s what makes football beautiful. Never underestimate your opponent.”
Germany have been handed a tricky group though, drawn with the ever-improving Japan, unpredictable Costa Rica and Spain.
Wednesday’s opponents should be well known to Flick’s side, with SEVEN Japan players currently plying their trade in the Bundesliga.
Just 11 days ago, Kimmich’s Bayern won 2-0 at Schalke, who had former Southampton centre-back and Samurai Blue captain Maya Yoshida at centre-back.
Flick said: “I have to admit I’m a big fan of Japanese football.
“It is a team with players who are trained very well in terms of technical skills.”
Kimmich highlighted the skills of one particular Japan player, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Daichi Kamada, who certainly has the capacity to bite the German hand that feeds him.
Former RB Leipzig ace Kimmich said: “He is a player who is very smart.
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“In the Bundesliga he scored quite a few goals, even two in one game I think.
“Generally speaking, we have to say many players from Japan play in the Bundesliga.All of them are very fast and have great technique. We have to watch ourselves.” More
