Nine months before Euro-2024 at home, Ilkay Gündogan has been named captain of Germany, coach Hansi Flick announced on Friday, according to whom he will form a duo with Joshua Kimmich, wearer of the German armband since March. Captain of Manchester City during the 2022/23 season, midfielder Ilkay Gündogan will wear the armband of the German selection against Japan on Friday (8:45 p.m. in Wolfsburg).
In the absence of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who suffered a fracture of the lower part of his right leg during a skiing accident in early December 2022, Hansi Flick had chosen Joshua Kimmich as captain for the friendly matches in March and June .
“It gives new energy, which we can use,” explained Flick, who speaks of a “leadership duo” between Gündogan and Kimmich. Absent for the last friendly match in June against Colombia, the Bayern midfielder had given up the armband to Gündogan. “I welcome the confidence. It is a great honor for me to guide this still young team,” said Gündogan, aware of the “responsibility” of the task.
