Coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Saturday that Manuel Neuer will start as goalkeeper in Germany’s 2026 World Cup opener against Curacao on Sunday.
“All the players are fit and Manu will start,” Nagelsmann said in his pre-match press conference.
Neuer brought out of national retirement
The match in Houston, in the US state of Texas, will be the 40-year-old goalkeeper’s first appearance for Germany in almost two years.
He has been brought out of international retirement after helping Bayern win the Bundesliga title and reach the Champions League semi-finals this season.
A calf injury kept Neuer out of recent friendlies against Finland and the United States, both of which Germany won.
Germany wants ‘perfect performance’ against Curacao
Nagelsmann said Germany would strive to excel in the match against Curacao, which is playing its first World Cup.
Nagelsmann said, “Curaçao’s players are well trained and can go into the tournament without pressure. That always makes an opponent dangerous.”
“You never win matches just because you are favourites. We will win matches only if we perform well,” he said.
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Edited by: Roshni Majumdar