Germany\u2019s 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)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
BERLIN\u2014 The memories of two successive World Cup group-stage exits weigh heavily on the Germany team before one other attempt at restoring lost pride.<\/p>\n
Surely it couldn\u2019t occur again?<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
READ: World Cup 2026: How are the favorites shaping up?<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019d previously indicated could be the No. 1 in goal after solid performances in qualifying.<\/p>\n Neuer is the one remaining member of the World Cup-winning team from 2014 within the Germany squad.<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s 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)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Nagelsmann acknowledged that Neuer\u2019s return is \u201ca blow\u201d for Baumann, a team player who’s unlikely to grumble in public in regards to the decision. However the 40-year-old Neuer\u2019s experience over 124 games for Germany might be a boon for the squad in what will likely be the goalkeeper\u2019s fifth World Cup tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone knows what form of aura he possesses and the standard he brings to a team,\u201d Nagelsmann said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have a goalkeeper problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Neuer is just over two years older than the 38-year-old Nagelsmann \u2013 who will likely be at his first World Cup.<\/p>\n His inclusion lifts the typical age of the squad to 27.98 years, the oldest for the reason that 2002 World Cup under Rudi V\u00f6ller, Kicker magazine reported.<\/p>\n Neuer\u2019s teammate at Bayern Munich, Joshua Kimmich, will captain the side.<\/p>\n The one concerns are Neuer\u2019s recurring injuries. Neuer was to miss Bayern Munich\u2019s German Cup final against Stuttgart due to a calf injury.<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s problems on the last two World Cups began with opening defeats to Mexico and Japan in Russia and Qatar, respectively.<\/p>\n Tournament newcomer Cura\u00e7ao is unlikely to spring a surprise after they meet for his or her Group E opener in Houston on June 14.<\/p>\n Germany next faces Ivory Coast and Ecuador, potentially harder rivals, but Germany should still have enough firepower to advance from the group \u2013 particularly because FIFA\u2019s expanded version of the tournament means 32 of the 48 participating teams will reach the knockout stage.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Defensive stability is Nagelsmann\u2019s biggest worry as Germany conceded 4 goals in two friendly wins over Switzerland (4-3) and Ghana (2-1) in March.<\/p>\n Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck formed the central defensive partnerships for each games, with Kimmich \u2013 who plays in midfield for Bayern \u2013 at right back with David Raum or Nathaniel Brown on the left. Brown got the nod at left back for Germany\u2019s 4-0 warmup win over Finland on Sunday, when Tah and Schlotterbeck again formed the central defense.<\/p>\n Serge Gnabry\u2019s absence through injury is a blow, but Germany has enough attacking talent in Bayern\u2019s Jamal Musiala and Liverpool\u2019s Florian Wirtz for Nagelsmann to withstand calls to bring Cologne teenager Said El Mala.<\/p>\nCalculated risk<\/h2>\n
![\"Fifa](\"https:\/\/sports.inquirer.net\/files\/2026\/06\/AP26141416943273-2-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOne other group-stage flop unthinkable<\/h2>\n
Youngs attackers to beat defensive concerns<\/h2>\n