Manuel Neuer Returns Into Germany Team For World Cup At Age 40

BERLIN, May 21 (Bernama-dpa) -- Veteran Manuel Neuer has been named into Germany's World Cup squad as first choice goalkeeper in a return from international retirement, reported German news agency (dpa).

Bayern Munich's Neuer, 40, originally retired from the national team in 2024 after 15 years and 124 caps highlighted by the 2014 World Cup title.

He was now recalled by coach Julian Nagelsmann because his first choice successor Marc-André ter Stegen is injured and the former long-time team captain has much more experience at big events than Oliver Baumann, who played in all qualifiers.

The June 11-July 19 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada will be the fifth World Cup for the veteran Neuer. Germany are four-time World Cup winners but went out in the group stage at the last two editions in 2018 and 2022.

The German 26-player squad for the June 11-July 19 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada:

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart)

Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United)

Midfielders: Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Jamie Leweling (VfB Stuttgart), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Angelo Stiller (VfB Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)

Forwards: Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Leroy Sané (Galatasaray), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United)

--BERNAMA-dpa