FIFA World Cup: Germany’s football team has got a big relief before the start of FIFA World Cup 2026. The team’s experienced goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has recovered from injury and returned to full training. Germany will play its first match against Curacao in Houston on June 14 and Neuer can take the field in this match.
About 3,000 fans gave Neuer a standing ovation during a public training session at Germany’s base camp in North Carolina. Fans were very excited to see him doing complete training after a long time.
Nuer is ready to play in the first match
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has also indicated that Neuer is ready to play in the first group match. He said that an experienced player like Nuer is used to handling the pressure of big matches and he does not need much time to prepare.
Questions were being raised due to injury
Neuer was unable to practice regularly due to a recent calf injury. For this reason, many kinds of speculations were being made regarding his return. However, now his fitness has improved and he is doing normal training with the team.
Oliver Bauman again became the second option
Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann was named Germany’s first goalkeeper since Neuer announced his retirement from the national team two years earlier. However, after Neuer’s return, Baumann was forced to relegate to the second-choice role. Baumann admitted that the decision was not easy to accept initially, but said that he would fully support the team.
Coach Negelsmann has confidence in Nuer’s fitness
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann believes that a week of regular training will be enough for Manuel Neuer to play the match. At the same time, both Neuer and Oliver Baumann said that their entire focus is on the team’s performance and achieving good results in the World Cup.
According to Nagelsmann, Neuer is set to play in his 125th international match even without any additional match practice. On the other hand, Oliver Baumann kept goalkeeping in Germany’s last practice match, in which the team defeated the United States 2-1 a few days ago.
Eyes set on the match against Curacao
The coach also praised Baumann’s professionalism. He said that every player of the team is important and everyone’s aim is to bring success to Germany. Meanwhile, Nagelsmann looks to return to competitive level, and all eyes will be on him against group underdogs Curacao next Sunday.
