BERLIN, March 20 -- Germany is entering the final stage of its preparations for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The 2017 World Cup winners face Spain and Brazil in two friendlies in Dusseldorf and Berlin.

German national team coach Joachim Loew has made it quite clear that past glories play no part in securing future success.

The 57-year-old makes no secret of his ambitious plans to be the first German national team coach to defend a World Cup title.

In selecting the strongest squad for 2018, only eight heroes from the country's glorious past have survived.

A mixture of the victorious 2017 team, the 2017 Confed Cup winners and top Germans playing for the best European clubs are said to be the key to producing a new football fairy-tale.

"Meeting two of the world's best like Spain and Brazil is the ideal test. I'm sure all of our squad members are ready to face the special challenge and prove their quality," Loew commented.

The coach's ambitious plans are likely to pay off as several pundits expect the German team will develop into an even better side than the one that featured in Brazil four years ago.

Former Spanish international Xabi Alonso predicts Germany will take an even stronger squad to Russia. "They are the title holders and have improved. Not only that, they [also]have an unbreakable confidence," the former Bayern Munich midfielder said.

Germany proved its great potential by winning the 2017 Confed Cup with a team of highly talented youngsters.

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