No agreement yet with German players over potential WC bonuses

The German Football Federation (DFB) hasn't yet reached an agreement with the Germany national team players regarding potential World Cup bonuses, reported dpa.

"We're having constructive discussions with the team council. But we're not conduction the negotiations in public," DFB president Bernd Neuendorf told dpa on the sidelines of the Bavarian Football Association's annual meeting on Friday.

"We're having a good dialogue. At the end of the day, we will reach an agreement. The talks are ongoing and we'll work it out," Neuendorf added.

The highest bonus to date was awarded to the last German World Cup champions in 2014 - €300,000 per player.

Most recently, the DFB paid €100,000 per player after the team reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. The European title would have earned the players €400,000.

The tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico starts on June 11 and Neuendorf expressed high ambitions.

"Of course, you go to a tournament like this with the ultimate goal of going far. There are top teams, the usual suspects. You have England, France, and also Brazil and Argentina as the defending champions. But we have a great team. I believe we definitely belong among the top contenders," he said.

In the last two World Cup editions, Germany were eliminated in the group stage, but Neuendorf doesn't think that will be the case this time.

"Our preparations are proceeding very professionally on the athletic side. We're really looking forward to the tournament and the games. And of course, we hope to improve from our performances in the last two World Cups and go much further," he said.

Germany will face Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in the group stage.