Disputed real

FIFA World Cup: When Joshua Kimmich took a seat in the German team's basecamp in Herzogenaurach, the captain had already internalised the new guideline spread by Julian Nagelsmann. "It's about having the best team spirit, not the assumedly best players in your squad," the 31-year-old midfielder said ahead of the friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana.

About three months before the 2026 World Cup, the German coach cautiously announced a shift in approach over the past few weeks, saying his focus is on building a strong team spirit.

Kimmich spread his coach's message after Nagelsmann had drawn attention by selecting a squad that addressed his demands for well-oiled team hygiene. The German coach's actions are fuelled by bad memories of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, reports Xinhua. "We all know where a presumptively world-class squad took us in 2018," the Bayern leader said. Germany experienced early exits in both tournaments, and internal disagreements within the team became apparent.