Kimmich also be missed in Germany team for final games of the year

Joshua Kimmich’s injury shows Germany coach Joachim Loew he has to remain flexible as their last three games of the year loom, with qualifying for the Nations League finals still possible.

Leipzig (dpa) – Joshua Kimmich’s knee injury was not only bad news for his club Bayern Munich, but also for Germany coach Joachim Loew in his bid to have a strong squad for next year’s European championships.

Kimmich is among the most important national team players, but will now miss the final Nations League games against Ukraine on Saturday and at group leaders Spain three days later.

The last international break starts with a friendly against the Czech Republic in Leipzig on Wednesday, a game which gives Loew the chance to experiment a little because Bayern Munich players and others including Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos and Chelsea’s Timo Werner will be rested.

With Marcel Halstenberg and Thilo Kehrer late withdrawals for injury reasons, Kai Havertz and Niklas Suele absent after positive tests for the coronavirus, and Lukas Klostermann, Julian Draxler, Emre Can and Suat Serdar also absent, Loew’s task of finding his ideal team for the Euro tournament isn’t made any easier.

“A team needs consistency, rhythm, assuredness and a blind understanding with one another,” Loew said in an interview on the German Football Federation (DFB) website on Friday.

“A team has to grow, that flow needs to develop. That’s hardly there yet, but we can still lay the foundations, build trust in our philosophy and share our ideas.”

Loew has insisted “we are playing to win” as, trailing leaders Spain by one point in their group, first place and with it a berth at next year’s finals is still possible.

“I am really looking forward to these games because we still have the chance to end this difficult year on a high with some good, successful matches. We can also gain experience, which is so important for the development of a team,” Loew said.

But Germany have had trouble winning games lately, with a 2-1 in Ukraine their only success this year as the both Nations League games against Switzerland, the first date with Spain, and a Turkey friendly ended in draws.

That has led to some criticism on Loew, but he has insisted that he is the man who has to make the decisions and has also cited the unique circumstances amid the coronavirus pandemic which has led to a very condensed fixtures list which includes national team triple headers.

Loew on Sunday called up Wolfsburg full back Ridle Baku for the first time, the third newcomer in the squad along with Augsburg centre back Felix Uduokhai and full back Philipp Max from PSV Eindhoven.

The coach meanwhile has winger Leroy Sane and midfielder Ilkay Guendogan back after they missed the October games, and will also know that he should have Kimmich returning for the first 2021 games in March.

And Loew remains upbeat overall ahead of the upcoming tasks and 2021.

“I’m really looking forward to these games and I hope that the fun and the joy within this team finally shines through out on the pitch,” he said.

“The development of the team is definitely going well and we are really excited looking ahead to next year.”