Germany named a 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The main headline is the shock return of veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who retired after Euro 2024 and has had a strong season at Bayern Munich, especially in the Champions League, while also dealing with injuries. Neuer signed a new one-year contract despite retirement rumors. The coach stated Neuer will be the starting number one and emphasized evaluating the best three goalkeepers. Lennart Karl, an 18-year-old, earned a place after impressing for Bayern and performing well on his Germany debut. Felix Nmecha returned from injury in time for selection.
"Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann announced his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada on Thursday. With most of the surprises reported by local news in the days before the official announcement, the edge was taken off the squad reveal. Nevertheless, the headline news is the shock return of veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who retired from international football after Euro 2024."
"The 40-year-old has enjoyed a strong season at Bayern Munich, particularly in the Champions League, but has also battled injuries. He recently signed a new one year contract despite rumors of impending retirement. Nagelsmann made it clear that Neuer will be the number one. "We told Oli [Baumann] back in March that we'd had a meeting with Manu," Nagelsmann said of the decision, admitting that it had been a blow for the Hoffenheim keeper but that he was still ready to help the team."
""My focus is on nominating the best three goalkeepers in the country and they are the best three," Nagelsmann said. "We called him and asked him if he wanted to play for Germany again, and he wanted to play at the tournament. His sporting ability was considered above all, but we also wanted to know whether he was going to keep playing or retiring," Nagelsmann said. "Everyone knows what kind of aura Manu has because of the experience he has and the titles he has won.""
"The other big news was the selection of teenager Lennart Karl (18). Karl has impressed for Bayern this season and also looked comfortable when making his Germany debut earlier this year. Felix Nmecha recovered from injury in time to make the squad, with Nagelsmann saying the midfielder had all the tools to become one of the best in his position in the world."
Read at www.dw.com
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