Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admits the midseason World Cup is untimely.

However, Ancelotti recognises every coach is in the same predicament.

He said, "If it is the enemy, it is everyone's enemy as every team with players going to the World Cup. We will all evaluate it after the World Cup because we don't know what's going to happen. It is a matter of individual fatigue and if someone comes back early they won't need more rest.

"Having the World Cup at this stage of the season means that the players go into it with a higher level of intensity than before because they're coming in ready to go and at their peak. They've gone into past World Cups exhausted and this time they'll go into it full of energy.

"The World Cup can have an impact on an individual level these days, but the coach makes decisions on a daily basis and aims to field the players required to win the games."