Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 8y

Germany hope to take experimental squad to Confederations Cup

Germany plan to use next summer's Confederations Cup to give their younger players experience of an international tournament, head coach Joachim Low has told a news conference on Monday.

Germany will take part in the eight-nation competition in Russia alongside the hosts, and the continental champions Australia, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal and the winners of the upcoming Africa Nations Cup.

"We won't have all players at this tournament," Low explained ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Finland. "Three tournaments in three years would not be ideal.

"I want to use the Confed Cup to field a team with prospects."

After Germany went out of Euro 2016 to France at the semifinal stage, Low does not want his squad to suffer from burnout by sending his senior players to Russia in consecutive summers as they look to defend the World Cup crown in 2018.

However, it will not be easy for Low to select a young team should Germany's under-21s qualify for the European Championship, which takes place in Poland at exactly the same time. Germany's U20 team has also qualified for the 2017 World Cup in South Korea, with the final a week before the Confederations Cup gets underway.

Low has already called up three 20-year-old players to face Finland. Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule, Schalke midfielder Max Meyer and Leverkusen winger Julian Brandt are set to feature in what will be former captain Bastian Schweinsteiger's final appearance for the national team.

The trio featured for Germany at the Olympic Games, winning the silver medal after losing out to hosts Brazil on penalties, and all could return to their respective clubs following the Finland match rather than travelling to Norway for the opening World Cup qualifier.

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