Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff feels the country’s Confederations Cup success has shown there are very few ‘untouchable’ players in Joachim Low’s squad.

The 2014 World Cup winners were able to rest a number of their key players for the Confederations Cup tournament in Russia, but they still won, defeating Chile 1-0 in the final.

Low handed star players including Mesut Ozil, Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller a rest this summer, opting instead for an inexperienced line-up.

Up-and-coming players like Timo Werner, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Julian Draxler and Lars Stindl were able to make their case for inclusion in the 2018 World Cup squad.

According to Bierhoff the competition for places is a good thing and he says the established players have been served a warning.

“Those established players see what’s happening, and that’s reviving,” Bierhoff told reporters.

“They now know they have to get involved during the year leading up to World Cup. They better not wane.”

The like Real Madrid’s Kroos and Bayern Munich’s Muller are not likely to miss out on the squad for next summer’s World Cup in Russia but the Confederations Cup win, along with European U-21 Championship success, ensures that there is pressure on everyone to perform in the next 12 months.

“It’s important that the players usually part of the team feel there is some pressure,” Bierhoff.

“Someone like Toni Kroos need not worry but there are only a very few untouchables.”