by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Germany's unusual goal in the 36th minute of their UEFA Nations League second-leg match against Italy (3-3) may symbolize a generation's desperate pursuit of a major title.

For players like Joshua Kimmich, time is running out. The team captain has long pushed for greater efforts to secure silverware, warning against becoming what he calls "a trophy-less generation."

The clock is also ticking for his longtime teammates, Leon Goretzka (30) and Antonio Rudiger (32). The 2017 UEFA Confederations Cup title is a distant memory, overshadowed by missed opportunities at the European Championships and World Cups.

With the 2025 Nations League "final four" tournament set for June 4-8, Germany will face Portugal in Munich while France and Spain meet in Stuttgart. The trio is once again leading the national team's charge. The 2026 FIFA World Cup looms as another, perhaps final, opportunity.

Rudiger has taken on the role of the team's relentless warrior, Goretzka has re-emerged after 16 months in relative obscurity, and Kimmich has solidified himself as a true leader. Now playing as a right fullback for Germany, the Bayern Munich midfielder was involved in all five goals across both legs of the 5-4 aggregate win over Italy.

One moment in Dortmund stood out - a goal some are calling the "goal of the year." As Italy's players, including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, huddled in the box, unaware, Kimmich urged a ballboy to quickly return the ball for a surprise corner kick. Jamal Musiala, left unmarked in front of an open net, seized the moment.

The ballboy, 15-year-old Noel, was rewarded with a signed game ball, a photo with Kimmich, and a ticket to Germany's next match. Italian media called the incident "the grand sleeping."

After years of frustration that saw two coaches - Joachim Low and Hansi Flick - come and go, the trio's determination aligns with Germany's resurgence under Julian Nagelsmann.

In just a few months, Kimmich, Goretzka, and Rudiger have become the backbone of a rejuvenated squad, bringing passion and purpose to a team eager to shed its underachiever label. Nagelsmann has fueled this revival with a performance-driven philosophy, demanding consistency and resilience.

The German coach pointed to Spain's recent success - winning the 2023 Nations League and following it up with the 2024 European Championship - as a blueprint.

"It's not just about a single tournament like the 2026 World Cup," Nagelsmann said. "It's about the journey leading up to it - that's what makes champions."

The final outcome remains uncertain, but if Kimmich and his teammates have their way, their generation won't be defined by missed opportunities. Enditem.

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)