The German national team kicks off its World Cup campaign today with a match against Curacao. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. in Houston, and Bayern fans were eagerly awaiting to see how national team coach Julian Nagelsmann would line up his squad.
Now the picture is clear. And as expected, the coach is relying on a core group of Bayern players. This had already been hinted at in the run-up to the match, especially after it became clear that Manuel Neuer had also recovered in time.
The goalkeeper, who had been struggling with calf issues since the last matchday of the Bundesliga, was able to train with the team in recent days and was therefore guaranteed a spot in the starting lineup by the national team coach.
Many Bayern stars in the DFB starting lineup
Even though Serge Gnabry had to withdraw due to injury long before the tournament and Lennart Karl is also missing the tournament with a muscle injury, FC Bayern still has several players in the mix for the DFB squad.
Not only is Neuer starting for the German national team, but captain Joshua Kimmich is also in the starting lineup. As expected, he plays right back in the back four. Alongside him, Jonathan Tah has been selected as a center back.
In central midfield, the national team coach is relying on Aleksandar Pavlovic. Playing alongside him is not Leon Goretzka, but Felix Nmecha. Since Jamal Musiala is also starting, Goretzka is the only Bayern pro sitting on the bench today.
Nathaniel Brown, who could be joining FC Bayern in the coming days, is starting on the left side of the defense ahead of David Raum. National team coach Nagelsmann has already deployed the lineup exactly this way in both of the team’s preseason matches.
The DFB squad at a glance: Neuer – Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown – Pavlovic, Nmecha, Sané, Musiala, Wirtz – Havertz