FRANKFURT (Kashmir English): Germany has recalled its veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer as he was named in the Germany’s 26-man World Cup squad on Thursday to aid the side World Cup bid.
The 40-year-old would be coming out of international retirement to play in the global tournament for a fifth time.
Neuer retired from international duty in 2024 but coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed the World Cup winner will be the number one option ahead of Oliver Baumann at the this summer’s event in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“Everyone knows the aura and quality Manu has, what he brings to a team,” Nagelsmann said at a squad announcement in Frankfurt. “We’re planning with him as our number one.”
Joshua Kimmich will retain the captaincy despite the long-time skipper’s return.
Former Manchester City and Bayern winger Leroy Sane, now at Galatasaray, has retained his spot.
Bayern Munich’s Neuer is the only remaining member of the squad that won the global event in 2014.
Munich’s Jamal Musiala also returns to the squad after missing Germany’s March friendlies as he recovered from a broken ankle.
Neuer was the standout player in 2014 as Germany won their fourth World Cup that year, but since then the team’s form has declined.
The nation crashed out at the World Cup group stage in 2018 for the first time since 1938 and repeated the feat in 2022 in Qatar.
Germany will be based in North Carolina during the event.
They are in Group C alongside debutants Curacao, the Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
Germany World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nuebel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle/ENG)
Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Gross (Brighton and Hove Albion/ENG), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool/ENG)
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal/ENG), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray/TUR), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade
