Manuel Neuer has dispelled any remaining doubts ahead of the World Cup opener. The captain of the German national team is expected to be in goal against Curaçao.
The debate over Manuel Neuer’s fitness appears to be over. After the goalkeeper struggled with calf issues repeatedly in recent weeks, he has now been given the green light to play in the World Cup opener against Curaçao.
As reported by BILD, Neuer completed the German national team’s final training session on Friday without any restrictions. The 40-year-old got through the entire session without any issues, thereby dispelling the last remaining doubts ahead of the first group stage match.
This is important news for national team coach Julian Nagelsmann. Despite Oliver Baumann’s strong performances, the 2014 World Cup champion remains the clear number one in the German goal. Given the latest developments, everything now points to Neuer starting on the field on Sunday.
Signs of the Bayern captain’s return had already emerged in recent days. After initially training individually, Neuer completed the full goalkeeper program again at the start of the week. This was followed by his return to team training, where he also regularly stood between the posts during practice matches.
Neuer set for first international match since 2024
This positive development comes as no surprise. Already after the friendly win against the U.S., Julian Nagelsmann had stated that Neuer was on the right track. “He’s doing well; he’s on his way to peak fitness. At his age, he doesn’t need to adjust. He can handle pressure,” the national team coach said at the time.
Now the veteran seems finally ready for his comeback. If Neuer starts against Curaçao as expected, it would be his first international match since the Euro quarterfinal against Spain in July 2024.
The news is also likely to be met with relief at FC Bayern. The goalkeeper has had recurring minor physical issues in recent months, which is why the club’s management is closely monitoring his progress during the World Cup.
For the German national team, the captain’s return means added stability and experience. With 124 international appearances, Neuer is one of the most experienced players on the squad and is set to lead the team once again at the World Cup.
In any case, following the successful final training session, everything now points to Neuer being exactly where Nagelsmann and the DFB squad want him at the start of the tournament: between the posts.