Experienced goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has come out of retirement to join the World Cup squad, following a call from Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The 40-year-old Neuer had initially retired after the 2024 European Championship, but he was recently added to Nagelsmann’s 26-player roster for the upcoming tournament set to take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
This decision is disappointing for TSG Hoffenheim‘s goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who had been confident in his position as the starting goalkeeper, at least until recently when speculation arose about Neuer’s potential return. Baumann had been assured by Nagelsmann that he’d be the No. 1 at the World Cup.
At 35, Baumann has demonstrated his dedication and team spirit through over 500 appearances in the Bundesliga.
Barcelona‘s goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen was considered the natural successor to Neuer but has struggled with injuries, having only made two appearances for Girona since joining on loan in January.
While Baumann has 11 caps for Germany, Neuer has an impressive tally of 124, with his last match occurring during the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, where Germany lost to eventual champions Spain in a 2-1 extra time defeat.
Calls for Neuer’s inclusion escalated following his excellent performances for Bayern Munich, particularly notable in their Champions League quarterfinal showdown against Real Madrid.
Concerns remain regarding Neuer’s recurring injuries. He had to exit early during Bayern’s last Bundesliga match of the season, with the club announcing that he “needs to take a break due to muscular issues in his left calf.”
His participation in the upcoming German Cup final against Stuttgart this Saturday remains uncertain.
The German Football Association (DFB) has initiated a thrilling build-up to the World Cup by revealing the squad members gradually on Thursday morning, ahead of Nagelsmann’s official announcement that afternoon.
The first confirmed player was midfielder Joshua Kimmich, followed by Deniz Undav, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz, and Bayern star Jamal Musiala.
Musiala has also made the squad after impressing with Bayern and proving his fitness after recovering from a leg injury sustained at the Club World Cup in July.
Left-back Nathaniel Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt will look to increase his caps from three.
However, Bayern forward Serge Gnabry has been ruled out due to injury, while younger teammate Lennart Karl has successfully recovered in time.
The four-time champions Germany will compete against Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and debutants Curacao in Group E of the World Cup.
The team’s preparations will begin in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, on May 27, slightly delayed from the original schedule.
They are set to have warm-up matches against Finland in Mainz on May 31, followed by a game against the United States in Chicago on June 6.
——
Germany:
**Goalkeepers:** Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nübel (Stuttgart)
**Defenders:** Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), David Raum (Leipzig), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Pascal Groß (Brighton), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich)
**Midfielders:** Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich)
**Forwards:** Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sané (Galatasaray)