Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann is keen to see improvements and developments in his side ahead of the 2026 World Cup as they travel to face Hungary in the Nations League on Tuesday.
With nothing to play for, after securing qualification to the quarter-finals of the Nations League, the Germans secured first place in Group A3 following Saturday’s 7-0 demolition of Bosnia & Herzegovina.
“There is no great motivation as far as the group is concerned. We won the group. We get the motivation from wanting to develop,” Nagelsmann said in a presser on Monday.
“We do not have many matches until the World Cup but just a few.
“Little time to develop until the World Cup qualification and little time, if hopefully qualified, until the World Cup.
“So there is limited time tolerance in terms of development.”
Germany, who lifted football’s biggest prize last in 2014, will start the qualification competition in March following December’s draw, but after more than a decade without any tournament triumph, there is a desire to recapture their international glory days.
The four-time world champions are eyeing the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with a good showing in the Nations League aiding a major boost.
They crashed out of the last two World Cups in the first round, while they were knocked out in the round of 16 at Euro 2020 and the last eight of Euro 2024 on home turf.
“We don’t have time to waste,” Nagelsmann added.
“That does not mean that everything has to work perfectly every time.
“Wins are always important for us. Nothing will collapse if we don’t win tomorrow. The result tomorrow is not as important as the way we will play.
“We don’t have the time we would like to develop so we have to use it wisely.”
