Nagelsmann reveals World Cup "master plan"

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann outlined his plan for the coming period, culminating with the 2026 World Cup, in an interview at the Digital X conference in Köln.

The main part of the "master plan" is to "find a starting eleven with five or six top substitutes who can also play in the World Cup," he said, as quoted by DPA.

"I'm not interested in having an A team that wins the Nations League, but then everyone is 35 or 36 and a completely different squad plays in the World Cup, which then only has four games to prepare," Nagelsmann continued.

For the German team, it's now about “getting into a certain rhythm and developing a certain self-image of what it means to win games.”

Nagelsmann is generally very happy with the squad that thrashed Hungary 5-0 and drew 2-2 with the Netherlands earlier this month.

"We won't change much because the group is simply very, very cohesive," he said, reiterating his main goal for the World Cup:

"For all the experts: We want to be world champions. I'm saying ‘want to be’, and not ‘will be’.

“That's a big difference. We want to give it our all, and I'm confident we can do it.”