We Germans are so good at penalties because we have had to rebuild our country twice.

We coaches have to learn how to deal with that: How do I get to each one best - with a talk, with video analysis? And what sort of tone? We need our own coaches for that. The sports psychologist coaches me too.

If the national coach lets decisions be made from outside, he's lost the team.

We cannot win this World Cup, because we are not at that level yet. For us, we have to play the game of our lives seven times to win the tournament.

I had to delegate authority to the people on my staff. That means you shave away the hierarchy.

If there's a national-team player, he has to do extra work. He has to do extra weeks, and he can't go on vacation even if he says: 'Well, but I'm supposed now to have six weeks off.' If he comes and says that, then I give him a hug and say: 'Have fun the six weeks, but don't come back here.'

I think when there's enough will and aggression, there's no shortage of talent either.