“And now someone wants to tell me he’s world-class in the middle?” Dietmar Hamann sees two players in the Germany team as stronger than Joshua Kimmich

Former international Dietmar Hamann does not expect captain Joshua Kimmich to have a long future with the Germany national team.

Kimmich's role came under scrutiny during the recent extended international break. The Bayern Munich star played in the first Nations League matches under new Germany coach Jürgen Klopp, but left the DFB's 44-man squad as agreed, despite wanting to stay. Other players then shone in his central midfield position, and Klopp tried to shut down the debate.

Hamann was not convinced. He does not believe Kimmich is good enough to play in central midfield for the national team in the long term.

Speaking on Sky 90, he pointed out: "Nevertheless, the current Barcelona coach (Hansi Flick, ed.), the current England coach (Thomas Tuchel, ed.) and the previous Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann all put him at right-back." Hamann questioned whether Kimmich was truly "world-class", saying: "The most important position in football is central midfield. It's the engine room; that's where games are won and lost. Three coaches with outstanding abilities all put him at right-back. And now someone wants to tell me he's world-class in the middle?"

Despite that criticism, Hamann does not believe Bayern team-mate Tom Bischof will soon overtake Kimmich in the pecking order. He rates two other players more highly than Kimmich: "Bischof is a terrific footballer, no question. But I'd be cautious about whether he's a player who can play in the middle. For me, though, there's no question that if we were playing a European Championship final tomorrow, Pavlovic and Nmecha would start in the middle."

Lothar Matthäus, Hamann's former Bayern team-mate, sees it differently. Germany's record appearance holder used the post-match coverage of Bayern Munich's 6-1 thrashing of RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday on Sky to praise Kimmich. He called Kimmich an "absolute leader. Not just today, but for years. Anyone who is a leader at Bayern can be one for the national team too. And he is so important."

Matthäus hopes the Kimmich debate "gradually comes to an end"

Matthäus also said Nagelsmann had made a major mistake by not playing his "leader" in the right position at the World Cup. He made clear: "He does decisive things. With his energy, his personality, his presence. His sporting and footballing quality make him indispensable to any team."

Now he hopes "that this debate gradually comes to an end. He has everything it takes to play this role not only at Bayern, but also for the national team."