AiBotBERLIN, GERMANY – Germany’s 2-2 draw against Paraguay in a friendly on Wednesday night has left many in the German football fraternity disillusioned, with midfielder Joshua Kimmich one of the most vocal critics of the match.
The highly anticipated encounter ended in penalty shootout heartache for the home side as they failed to secure the win in extra time, ultimately succumbing to a 5-4 shoot-out defeat that infuriated Kimmich.
“We made it too complicated,” a visibly agitated Kimmich told reporters after the match. “A match like this should never even go to a penalty shootout. You want to decide the game through 90 minutes, not extra time and then penalty shooting. That’s frustrating. We have to take some responsibility, but also the rules. They just favor the team that makes it to extra time.”
Kimmich’s sentiments were echoed by other German players who felt that the draw against Paraguay was a missed opportunity to seal a win, especially after a thrilling extra-time period that saw both teams score.
Germany’s coach, Hansi Flick, too, felt the sting of defeat, stating that his team failed to capitalize on the momentum built up during the extra time. “We had our chances and should have taken them,” Flick admitted. “The extra-time goal by Paraguay made it difficult, but it was not the turning point of the game. What we failed to do was win the game before extra time.”
The criticism against the penalty shootout ruling, however, was more focused on Kimmich, who expressed his disappointment with the current system. “I think it’s an injustice to decide a game like this through penalties,” Kimmich said. “It’s not fair for either team. You have to win through your own strength and not through luck.”
As the German football fraternity comes to terms with the unexpected loss to Paraguay, the team’s performance and, more significantly, the penalty shootout mechanism will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of the discussions.
The draw marks the beginning of a long period of intense international competitions for Germany, with the European Football Championship looming on the horizon. This setback, however, presents the team with an opportunity to work on their strategies, especially their inability to finish games and capitalize on chances.
The criticism of the penalty shootout ruling will doubtless continue, with Kimmich at the vanguard. While some may support the system that allows matches to decide ties by penalty shootout, the midfielder’s frustration highlights the growing discontent with this rule in the German football community.