By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Nagelsmann reveals World Cup "master plan"

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has revealed his "master plan" for the 2026 World Cup.

 

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.”

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