AFTER AN eight-month injury lay-off Manuel Neuer will pull on the Germany No.1 shirt on Saturday when they take on Austria in a World Cup warm-up match.
The Bayern Munich stopper, a key man in Germany’s successful 2014 World Cup campaign, broke a foot and had been doubtful for the Russia 2018 finals.
Heavy rain in Klagenfurt meant kick-off was pushed back, however, and the teams are yet to kick a ball as of 18:15 Irish time.
Two weeks before Germany kick off their World Cup campaign in Russia, Germany head coach Joachim Loew has named the Bayern ‘keeper in the starting side — 259 days after his last match for Munich.
Advertisement
Loew has to cut his 27-man squad to 23 by Monday and the match against Austria is Neuer’s only chance to prove his fitness before the World Cup finals.
Neuer has not played since fracturing a metatarsal in his left foot last September — the second time he suffered the same injury in 2017.
He last played for the national team in October 2016.
If he is selected for the final World Cup squad, Neuer will have the opportunity to play a last friendly match on June 8 in Leverkusen against Saudi Arabia.
Germany kick off their title defence on June 17 in Moscow against Mexico. They also face Sweden and South Korea in Group F.
Meanwhile, Freiburg striker Nils Petersen, the surprise inclusion in Loew’s 27-man group, will make his international debut against Austria.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Major boost to Germany's World Cup bid as Neuer returns
AFTER AN eight-month injury lay-off Manuel Neuer will pull on the Germany No.1 shirt on Saturday when they take on Austria in a World Cup warm-up match.
The Bayern Munich stopper, a key man in Germany’s successful 2014 World Cup campaign, broke a foot and had been doubtful for the Russia 2018 finals.
Heavy rain in Klagenfurt meant kick-off was pushed back, however, and the teams are yet to kick a ball as of 18:15 Irish time.
Two weeks before Germany kick off their World Cup campaign in Russia, Germany head coach Joachim Loew has named the Bayern ‘keeper in the starting side — 259 days after his last match for Munich.
Loew has to cut his 27-man squad to 23 by Monday and the match against Austria is Neuer’s only chance to prove his fitness before the World Cup finals.
Neuer has not played since fracturing a metatarsal in his left foot last September — the second time he suffered the same injury in 2017.
He last played for the national team in October 2016.
If he is selected for the final World Cup squad, Neuer will have the opportunity to play a last friendly match on June 8 in Leverkusen against Saudi Arabia.
Germany kick off their title defence on June 17 in Moscow against Mexico. They also face Sweden and South Korea in Group F.
Meanwhile, Freiburg striker Nils Petersen, the surprise inclusion in Loew’s 27-man group, will make his international debut against Austria.
© – AFP 2018
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Napoli ‘refused’ €50 million Man City bid for star midfielder>
‘Doesn’t every successful coach dream of training a national team? For now, I want to stay where I am’>
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
World Cup Qualifiers Europe Manuel Neuer Recovery Bayern Munich Germany