Joshua Kimmich has observed that the competitive gap between established and developing national football teams is diminishing, leading to increased difficulty in international fixtures. Speaking following Spain’s goalless draw against Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup, the veteran player from Bayern Munich highlighted the significant advancements made by emerging footballing nations in both technical skill and tactical understanding. “Overall, it is becoming harder to win matches.
The so-called smaller nations are improving, both in terms of footballing and tactical aspects,” Kimmich stated. He further pointed to Bayern Munich’s recent World Cup encounters against Curaçao and other less-heralded opponents, noting a marked increase in the standard of play. Kimmich suggested that the improvements across various nations are raising the overall bar for international competition.
The increasing quality demonstrated by these smaller teams presents a substantial challenge to traditionally dominant footballing powers. His comments underscore a broader trend in global football, suggesting that preparation and development programs are successfully elevating the performance metrics of many nations on the world stage. This growing parity means that any international matches now require a higher level of tactical preparation and execution from all participating nations.
Topics: #nations #smaller #matches
It’s interesting to hear that the global competitive level in football is rising so much.