Germany captain Joshua Kimmich vouches for Antonio Rudiger and Bayern rising stars

"This is a question for the coach. But generally speaking, Toni is an important player," Kimmich said on X. "I feel that we, in Germany, sometimes forget what Toni has delivered in the past 3-4 years. He's a starter at Real Madrid and plays the latter stages of the Champions League every year.

"He's a player you can always rely on. He's proven that he can perform at the highest level. It's important to have players like him."

The 33-year-old defender may no longer be a guaranteed starter for Germany, but Kimmich highlighted the value of his experience for the squad.

Kimmich also spoke about two Bayern Munich players set to make their Germany debuts: Lennart Karl and Jonas Urbig.

"Of course we'll try to support the new players, but it's also important for them to know that they're here for a reason, and that's because they performed and have a certain quality," Kimmich said. "They should just have confidence and show themselves. That's what I expect from the boys. They have to give everything and take their chance."

He singled out Karl for praise: "Lenny is doing very well. He has a great mindset. He has a healthy mix between self-confidence and nonchalance – you need that when you play for Bayern and Germany at his age.

"He's very brave, knows his strengths, tries to make things happen on the pitch and has very good finishing. He's already done his thing at Bayern and will help us here, too."

Germany will face Switzerland in Basel on 27 March, followed by a friendly against Ghana in Stuttgart on 30 March, as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.