Manuel Neuer has been named in Germany’s final 23-man squad for the FIFA 2018 World Cup.
The Bayern Munich goalkeeper and Germany captain makes the grade, despite only returning to first-team training at the start of May following a lengthy absence, but those in charge of the decision on his squad place are confident in Neuer’s health.
You couldn’t tell that he’d been out for so long, – said Germany head coach Joachim Löw after Neuer, whose performance in defeat to Austria belied a near nine-month absence through injury. It was a fantastic comeback. He played very well and made two or three brilliant saves. It was hugely satisfying.
In flying form since making his own comeback from an ankle ligament tear in February, Marco Reus is also included.
The Borussia Dortmund attacker, 28, missed Germany’s last two major tournaments through injury, but ended the 2017/18 Bundesliga campaign with seven goals in 11 appearances.
Dortmund’s Mario Götze, scorer of the winning goal against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final did not even make the initial 27-man selection while Manchester City’s Leroy Sane, Bernd Leno, Jonathan Tah and Nils Petersen were all cut from the preliminary squad.
Germany are hoping to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.
Final 23-Man Squad
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (PSG)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern), Matthias Ginter (Gladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha), Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea), Niklas Süle (Bayern)
Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (PSG), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Ilkay Gündogan (Man City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Özil (Arsenal), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern)
Forwards: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Thomas Müller (Bayern), Marco Reus (Dortmund), Timo Werner (Leipzig)
