Sport: Soccer Country: Germany Category: Scores & Results

Kimmich defends Sané amid criticism after Germany's win over Curaçao

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 16, 2026, 3:27 PM

Last updated Jun 16, 2026

Kimmich defends Sané amid criticism after Germany's win over Curaçao

Summary

Germany captain Joshua Kimmich expressed confusion over the criticism directed at teammate Leroy Sané following their 7-1 victory against Curaçao on June 12. Kimmich emphasized Sané's positive contributions despite not scoring, highlighting his defensive efforts and team support. The captain believes that judgments made after such a decisive win are unwarranted, especially given Sané's commitment during the match. Kimmich reiterated that internal assessments of players go beyond just goals and focus on overall performance.

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By the Numbers

•Germany won 7-1 against Curaçao on June 12.
•Kimmich criticized the backlash against Sané's performance.
•Kimmich praised Sané's contributions despite no goals scored.
•Sané's body language and team spirit were highlighted by Kimmich.
•Internal team evaluations prioritize overall contributions over just scoring.

Latest Updates

1:00 PMYahoo Sports — Joshua Kimmich defends Leroy Sané from heavy criticism over poor performance in World Cup opener vs. Curaçao
4:10 PMYahoo Sports — Joshua Kimmich defends Leroy Sané: ‘I don’t understand the criticism’
3:27 PMYahoo Sports — "I don't understand the criticism" – Kimmich confused by Sané naysayers

What they're saying

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Germany captain Joshua Kimmich can't comprehend why teammate Leroy Sané was criticized for his performance in their 7-1 win over Curaçao last Sunday.“I saw that, and to be honest, I don't think th...
— Yahoo Sports

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Germany captain Joshua Kimmich has defended Leroy Sané following criticism of his performance after their 7-1 victory over Curaçao on Sunday.“I saw that and to be honest, I don’t think the criti...
— Yahoo Sports