Overview
- After Germany's elimination by Paraguay, Joshua Kimmich remained at the Graylyn Estate in Winston-Salem for about one and a half days as teammates departed.
- German outlets report that Kimmich repeatedly met with DFB staff, asked if tasks remained and apologized for the early exit.
- The captain's family had traveled with the team and arrived late from Boston, and the return flight reached Winston-Salem at about 1:10 a.m., which factored into his decision to delay departure.
- Kimmich said to have wanted to avoid putting his wife Lina and the couple's four young children back on another flight immediately and chose to stay until travel plans were settled.
- The episode follows a pattern of captains staying behind after tournament exits and leaves Kimmich with his fifth major international tournament without a title as he prepares to take a family vacation.