As captain of the national soccer team, Joshua Kimmich will wear a black, red and gold armband for the first international match of the year against Peru on Saturday.
Until the European Championship at home next summer, the captain of the DFB selection should wear a captain’s armband in the national colors, the German Football Association confirmed on Wednesday at the sidelines of the national team’s training in Frankfurt.
The association thus ends the discussion about the captain’s armband, which had escalated due to the dispute with FIFA at the World Cup in Qatar before the first group game against Japan (1-2). First, the “image” reported on the decision.
At that time, the DFB, like some other teams, wanted to set an example for diversity with the so-called “One Love” armband. This had been temporarily prohibited by the World Football Association. In the summer of 2021, captain Manuel Neuer, who missed the start of the year with an injury, wore a rainbow armband.
Conversations between Flick, Völler and Kimmich
The decision for the black, red and gold bandage was made in discussions between sports director Rudi Völler, national coach Hansi Flick and Kimmich. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf was also involved, the DFB confirmed. Flick had previously said that the topic was over for him.
“I said everything about it. It shouldn’t be the case that these things are the focus again, the team should just play football. They should play football well, that’s their job. We agree on that,” said the national coach when nominating his squad last week. At the European Championships in the summer of next year, the continental association UEFA will provide the captain’s armbands. Logo or colors are not yet known.
