The national team players who will be named for the international tournaments in October and November can have high hopes for a place in the 2026 World Cup. A key part of the “master plan” for the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada, head coach Julian Nagelsmann said, is “to find an XI with five or six top substitutes who can now play in the World Cup as well”, speaking at the “Digital X” trade fair in Cologne.
The DFB selection will face the Netherlands in the Nations League in Bosnia-Herzegovina in October. “I’m not interested in having Team A win the Nations League and have Team A play where everyone is 35 or 36,” Nagelsmann said. “A completely different team goes to the World Cup and only has to prepare for four games.” It’s already about “getting a certain rhythm and self-understanding of what it means to win games.”
The national team coach announced that there would be no major changes to the team. Photo: Rolf Vennebernd/dpa
Used every minute until the World Cup
If Germany qualify for the final tournament of the Nations League next summer, there are only 20 games left before the World Cup, and the DFB selection must qualify. “It’s half a season,” Nagelsmann said. “We made that clear to the players. It’s a very important part of the master plan to use every moment.” Although it is “intensive” for players who have to play multiple games.
Germany had a successful start to their first games after the European Championships at home, beating Hungary (5:0) and the Netherlands (2:2). Nagelsmann, who had to rebuild after the European Championships after the resignations of goalkeepers Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and captain Ilkay Gundogan, said: “We won’t change that much anymore because the group is very consistent.”
In Cologne, the national team coach also reiterated his ambitious goal. “To all the experts: We want to be world champions. We will be world champions,” Nagelsmann said. “That is a big difference. We want to give everything to achieve this and I am sure we can do it.”
