Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff said England's progress and success at youth level has the world champions worried.
England have not won the World Cup since 1966 but the future of English football seems bright after victories at the Under-17 and U-20 world championships this year.
The growth in England is a concern for Germany according to former international Bierhoff, who sees similarities in the way the English are developing talent now and the surge made by his home nation after a disastrous showing at Euro 2000.
"Thinking about the England [senior] team from the outside, you are starting to create an air of 'this is a new team' with young players and a lot of characters and by retiring older players who did a lot," Bierhoff said.