Germany forward Thomas Muller says there is a special motivation to the defend the World Cup title.
The World champions get their title defence underway against Mexico in Moscow on Sunday afternoon.
Joachim Low’s men will be looking to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to defend their World Cup crown.
“Of course it’s a new situation for us as defending champion, but it’s a special motivation to defend the title,” he told the Daily Mirror.
“No German team did that before. It is very special to defend the World Cup. We’re looking forward to it, he added.”
Muller will also be looking to add his World Cup tally of 10 goals, although he is six goals behind former German striker Miroslav Klose, who is the tournament’s all-time top scorer