Germany’s players celebrates after winning the friendly match between Germany and Finland ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup football tournament, in Mainz, western Germany on May 31, 2026. Germany won the match 4-0. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP)
BERLIN— The memories of two successive World Cup group-stage exits weigh heavily on the Germany team before one other attempt at restoring lost pride.
Surely it couldn’t occur again?
Germany, the four-time world champion, has been on a quest for redemption since its ignoble exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar marked a brand new low for the national team. Hansi Flick, the Germany coach on the time, held on for six more games before making way after three straight defeats.
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Julian Nagelsmann took over in time for the 2024 European Championship and marked a brand new starting with young, exciting players. Germany, the host, lost to eventual champion Spain within the quarterfinals, when Nagelsmann said there had been little between the teams and bullishly lamented having to attend two years before becoming world champion.
Nagelsmann has maintained that stance and repeated it again Thursday, even when his late decision to recall veteran goalkeeper Manual Neuer from two years of international retirement indicates a scarcity of conviction in Oliver Baumann, whom he’d previously indicated could be the No. 1 in goal after solid performances in qualifying.
Neuer is the one remaining member of the World Cup-winning team from 2014 within the Germany squad.
Calculated risk
Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann, pronounces the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup during a news conference on the German Football Association, DFB, headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Nagelsmann acknowledged that Neuer’s return is “a blow” for Baumann, a team player who’s unlikely to grumble in public in regards to the decision. However the 40-year-old Neuer’s experience over 124 games for Germany might be a boon for the squad in what will likely be the goalkeeper’s fifth World Cup tournament.
“Everyone knows what form of aura he possesses and the standard he brings to a team,” Nagelsmann said. “We don’t have a goalkeeper problem.”
Neuer is just over two years older than the 38-year-old Nagelsmann – who will likely be at his first World Cup.
His inclusion lifts the typical age of the squad to 27.98 years, the oldest for the reason that 2002 World Cup under Rudi Völler, Kicker magazine reported.
Neuer’s teammate at Bayern Munich, Joshua Kimmich, will captain the side.
The one concerns are Neuer’s recurring injuries. Neuer was to miss Bayern Munich’s German Cup final against Stuttgart due to a calf injury.
One other group-stage flop unthinkable
Germany’s problems on the last two World Cups began with opening defeats to Mexico and Japan in Russia and Qatar, respectively.
Tournament newcomer Curaçao is unlikely to spring a surprise after they meet for his or her Group E opener in Houston on June 14.
Germany next faces Ivory Coast and Ecuador, potentially harder rivals, but Germany should still have enough firepower to advance from the group – particularly because FIFA’s expanded version of the tournament means 32 of the 48 participating teams will reach the knockout stage.
Youngs attackers to beat defensive concerns
Germany had few problems in World Cup qualifying but has struggled against other European heavyweights like France, Portugal and Spain, suggesting it still has some solution to go before it could actually compete against its principal rivals.
Defensive stability is Nagelsmann’s biggest worry as Germany conceded 4 goals in two friendly wins over Switzerland (4-3) and Ghana (2-1) in March.
Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck formed the central defensive partnerships for each games, with Kimmich – who plays in midfield for Bayern – at right back with David Raum or Nathaniel Brown on the left. Brown got the nod at left back for Germany’s 4-0 warmup win over Finland on Sunday, when Tah and Schlotterbeck again formed the central defense.
Serge Gnabry’s absence through injury is a blow, but Germany has enough attacking talent in Bayern’s Jamal Musiala and Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz for Nagelsmann to withstand calls to bring Cologne teenager Said El Mala.
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Bayern’s Lennart Karl, the youngest member of the squad at 18, is Nagelsmann’s wild card after recovering from a hamstring injury in time to feature.