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Joachim Low: Keep open mind on international break change plan

Germany boss Joachim Low has urged "an open mind" on Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's idea of cutting the international breaks in a domestic season to two and making them longer.

Earlier this month, Bayern Munich CEO Rummenigge, also the chairman of the European Club Association, told Sport Bild the move would enable national team coaches to spend more concentrated periods with their players.

His proposal would not affect the number of domestic fixtures played, and he said: "There should only be two international breaks, which can be longer, in October and March.

"We could play four instead of two games during those international breaks. This would also have the advantage for the national team coaches that the teams could be together for a longer spell."

In an interview with kicker, Low said: "You should have an open mind on such ideas.

"I've talked to him about it and take pleasure in that thought. As a national team coach you are delighted when you have your squad together for four weeks at a time.

"You'd like to have the group together more often. But the status quo is OK for me. There won't be more international games, that's OK."

However, he again hit out at plans to change the format of the World Cup, adding more teams from 2026, citing the example of the 24-team European Championship last year.

"Portugal reached the knockout stages with three draws," he said. "Because two, three draws can be enough to reach the last 16, smaller nations park the bus against Italy, Spain, Germany.

"Previously, you needed to win. Now, you must not lose. That changes the mentality.

"To expand the tournaments and the Club World Cup makes little sense. The line has been reached."