Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich has expressed his disappointment at Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, a sentiment that underscores the respect between two of international football's historic giants.

Speaking ahead of Bayern's crucial Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid, Kimmich was asked about the state of Italian football following their play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. His response blended sympathy with perspective.

"Italy have missed out on three World Cups, but in between, you won a European Championship," Kimmich noted, referencing Italy's triumphant Euro 2020 campaign. "You can’t forget it, we haven’t won it."

He drew a direct comparison to his own national team's recent struggles, adding, "In the last decade, we [Germany] have only won one Confederations Cup."

Despite this, Kimmich's admiration for the Azzurri was clear. "Italy is a great country, with excellent players who I’d love to see at a World Cup, so I’m not happy with how it went," he stated, highlighting the void left by a four-time champion's absence on the world's biggest stage.

The statistics frame a stark contrast for Italy. While they last contested a World Cup knockout match in 2006—the same year they lifted their fourth title—their recent European success proves the talent and pedigree within the squad remain world-class. Alongside Germany, Italy's four World Cup wins are second only to Brazil's five, a legacy that makes their current qualifying woes all the more surprising for the global football community.