Joshua Kimmich admits Germany's recent World Cup disappointments have affected how they are viewed ahead of this year's tournament, but he says they must let go of the past if they are to have a positive campaign.

Julian Nagelsmann's side will take on Switzerland and Ghana in friendly matches this month, as they build towards this summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. 

Germany have been drawn alongside Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E, and they will open their campaign against the tournament debutants on June 14.

Since winning the competition for a fourth time in Brazil 12 years ago, though, Germany have fared miserably at the World Cup.

They finished bottom of a group containing Sweden, Mexico and South Korea in 2018, then suffered another humiliating exit after being grouped with Spain, Japan and Costa Rica in 2022.

Kimmich knows fans might dwell on those recent shortcomings, but he says Nagelsmann's side cannot afford to play with fear. 

"We are not among the top favourites because we have not delivered in recent tournaments," Kimmich told reporters on Tuesday. 

"But when it starts, no one will be interested in what happened four or eight years ago.

"We need everyone to be healthy and ready to get into good shape. The most important thing is that we have all men on board. We have the chance to grow even better together."

For now, though, Kimmich says Germany's players must concentrate on preparing for the competition, with two more pre-tournament friendlies to come at the end of the club season – versus Finland and the USA.

"We have to concentrate on what is imminent," Kimmich added. "We can't concentrate on the World Cup yet, and by then the squad will perhaps look a little different again. It is important to put in two positive games." 

Unser Kader für die anstehenden Länderspiele gegen die Schweiz und Ghana 

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 27. März - 20:45 Uhr - RTL
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Bayern Munich youngsters Jonas Urbig and Lennart Karl are the two uncapped players in Germany's most recent squad, and the latter is expected to make his debut against Switzerland on Friday.

Karl has 13 direct goal involvements in all competitions this season (eight goals, five assists). Across Europe's top five leagues, the only other player born in 2007 or later with more is Barcelona's Lamine Yamal (21 goals, 15 assists).

"He is someone who goes onto the pitch and is very, very brave," Kimmich said of Karl. "That is something I always love as a player or team-mate, when young players come in and when they are brave, when they back themselves.

"When Lenny comes on, he knows his strengths; he looks for actions where he can get a shot away. That is why I believe he can help us here and also at Bayern. He has already done that there, but he can also help us here."