Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich has voiced his disappointment regarding Italy’s absence from the upcoming FIFA World Cup. However, he also took the opportunity to remind the Italian national team of their recent triumph at the UEFA European Championship, emphasizing that this significant achievement should not be overlooked.
Responding to inquiries about the state of Italian football, Kimmich stated: “Italy has missed three World Cups, but in between, you won a European Championship. You can’t forget it; we [Germany] haven’t won it.”
The German international continued his thoughts on Italy’s footballing standing: “In the last decade, we [Germany] have only won one Confederations Cup. Perhaps I’m not the right person to answer this, but obviously, I always hope you play in the World Cup and the Euros. Italy is a great country, with excellent players whom I’d love to see at a World Cup, so I’m not happy with how it went.”
Historically, Italy last participated in the World Cup in 2014. They haven’t played a knockout match in the competition since 2006, the year they famously lifted the trophy after defeating France in the final via penalties.
Brazil holds the record with five World Cup titles. Italy and Germany each boast four titles, making them two of the most successful nations in the tournament’s storied history.
