Premier League
Kimmich calls 1-2 loss to Ecuador a deserved defeat
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said the 1-2 defeat to Ecuador was a deserved loss after the second half, admitting in an ARD interview that the side must cut turnovers to avoid conceding goals and improve overall performance in the upcoming round of 32.
Before the match, the DFB side had already secured top spot in the group. Their status as group winners was confirmed despite the upcoming fixture.
The encounter ended in a 1-2 loss for Germany, a result that highlighted a largely poor performance. Ecuador's victory overturned Germany's expectations for a smooth group finish.
"After the second half, you have to say it was a deserved defeat," captain Joshua Kimmich told ARD after the match. The statement reflected his assessment of the team's overall display.
"We actually started the game well. But then we gave the ball away too often and invited the opponent onto us," Kimmich explained. He pinpointed ball possession errors as a key factor in the loss.
"We can't concede one or two goals every game. We have to minimize our number of turnovers, and then we can beat anyone," Kimmich added. The captain stressed the need for tighter control to compete at the highest level.
It remains unclear which opponent Germany will meet in the round of 32. The uncertainty leaves the team without a concrete target for the next match.
A clear improvement in performance is essential,