Kimmich described Ivory Coast’s attacking players as “spectacular”, with their pace particularly dangerous when possession changes hands. Germany may control long spells of the match, but their rest defence will be tested whenever Ivory Coast break forward.
The message from Kimmich is clear: dominance cannot be measured only by possession or the size of a winning margin. “One thing we've seen over the first few games of the tournament is that, even against weaker opposition, winning that comfortably and by that big a margin is no easy task,” he said.
That perspective should shape Germany’s approach. They will need patience in possession, but also sharper protection behind the ball when attacks break down.
Kimmich singled out Diomande’s unusual dribbling rhythm, built around sudden changes of pace and direction. The youngster’s ability to slow down, freeze a defender and then accelerate again could create problems for Germany’s full-backs.
“The way he dribbles is particularly unusual, with his start-stop style,” Kimmich explained. He compared the winger’s movement to Kingsley Coman, a player familiar to him from their Bayern Munich years.
“He can accelerate really quickly, stop dead to take the defender out of the game, and then accelerate again,” Kimmich added.
That comparison underlines the specific challenge facing Germany: not simply stopping a fast runner, but resisting the hesitation that Diomande’s changes of tempo can provoke.
The Ivory Coast meeting will therefore offer a sharper examination of Germany’s defensive discipline. How they handle Diomande and the wider threat on the counter could become the defining storyline of their next World Cup test.