Germany win without Kimmich in midfield as Klopp 'gives up' on debate

📰 After Bayern's midfielders shone in Germany's win over Serbia, the debate over captain Joshua Kimmich's role grew so loud that Jürgen Klopp said he "officially" gave up. 📌 Key points 🇩🇪 Germany beat Serbia 2-0 on 1 October. 🧩 Pavlović, Bischof and Wirtz formed the midfield; Kimmich did not play. 🙌 Klopp said he "officially" gave up on questions about Kimmich. 👑 He added he was happy Kimmich is a leading player for Germany. 🏠 Kimmich returned to Bayern after the Serbia game. 📝 What happened 🧩 Against Serbia in the Nations League on 1 October, Germany used Bayern pair Aleksandar Pavlović and Tom Bischof alongside Florian Wirtz in midfield. Bischof and Wirtz scored in a 2-0 win. Captain Kimmich was not in the squad for the game. 🎤 The German media quickly began questioning Kimmich's place. In a pre-match interview, Klopp said: "The midfield played a very good game against Serbia. But why should one player always play in the future? You also have to be in good form to play," stressing the need for different types of player. 🙌 When the questions kept coming at his press conference on 3 October, the eve of the Greece match, Klopp replied: "I give up. Seriously. Officially. With respect to that topic, I give up. Do what you want with it." He added: "I'm happy with the last game, and I'm happy that Joshua Kimmich is a leading player for Germany." 🏠 Klopp split a 44-man pool into two groups for the four Nations League games, with Germany players featuring in two each. Kimmich went back to Bayern after the Serbia match. 📊 By the numbers • Germany 2-0 Serbia (1 October) • Kimmich: 116 caps, seventh in Germany's history • Kimmich: 31, national team captain 🔭 Why it matters It is a welcome picture for Bayern: Pavlović and Bischof proved they can compete in Germany's midfield, while Kimmich got some rest during the break. All three are back together for Bayern at Augsburg on 10 October and away to Viking in the Champions League on 13 October.