'Pull together and become a unit': Germany to starts final WC preps
· Yahoo Sports
The World Cup starts in earnest for Germany when coach Julian Nagelsmann gathers his squad on Wednesday for final preparations in the run-up to tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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In the best scenario the team is to stay together until lifting the trophy after the July 19 final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
"Everyone is fired up that the preparations are starting. We have a strong squad of which I nam absolutely convinced," Nagelsmann has said.
After a qualifying campaign with ups and downs, a debate on the players chosen and on whether Germany are good enough for the title experienced midfielder Leon Goretzka outlined what will happen now before the team's first World Cup match on June 14 against debutants Curaçao.
“I think it’s really important that we in the team understand that we need to find common ground on how we want to approach the whole thing,” he said.
Goretzka said the players need to “pull together and become a unit” because nothing works without a strong team spirit.
What happens in Herzogenaurach
Nagelsmann and sporting director Rudi Völler will give an update at the training centre where Nagelsmann said after a narrow Euro 2024 quarter-final exit two years ago that the title was ultimate World Cup aim.
This goal hasn't changed, and tactical and physical groundwork is scheduled for Thursday to Saturday lay the foundation for the 48-team tournament. Players must arrive by mid-day Wednesday, with a first team meeting scheduled for later in the day.
Manuel Neuer
The return of Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from two years of international retirement as first choice instead of Oliver Baumann was the biggest news when Nagelsmann announced the squad last week.
Neuer is however nursing a calf injury that kept him out of last weekend's German Cup final. It remains to be seen whether he will join team training immediately or earn his 125th cap in Sunday's tune-up against Finland.
The 40-year-old is also to give the squad stability with his vast experience and success and at the same time intimidate the opposition.
Are there other injury concerns?
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha and Bayern teenager Lennart Karl recovered in time from injuries to make the squad while others like forward Tim Kleindienst did not make it.
It will also be important for Nagelsmann that Bayern's Jamal Musiala reaches 100% again after a long absence over a severe leg injury. Musiala is yet to reach his form of the past and Nagelsmann said that his "importance for this group is huge. You can help decide matches and tournaments with very few moments."
Who is missing?
For Nagelsmann, it was good news in a way that Bayern failed to reach the Champions League final in a narrow semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain and that their seven nominees are available from the outset.
But Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is missing because his English champions are PSG's opponents on Saturday in Budapest. Havertz is set to join the German squad on Tuesday in Chicago.
Why are there still 26 players?
Nagelsmann has 26 players in Herzogenaurach despite Havertz' absence because Bayern back-up Jonas Urbig is present as a training goalkeeper. He will also make the trip to the US and according to FIFA rules could join the squad immediately if one of the keepers gets injured at the World Cup.
What comes after Herzogenaurach?
The three days of training are followed by Sunday's tune-up against Finland. The venue of Mainz could be a good omen because Germany beat Armenia 6-1 in their last game at home ahead of the 2014 tournament in Brazil where they won the title.
The team leaves on June 2 and first stays in Chicago where they play a final tune-up on June 6 against the US team. The move into the base camp in Winston-Salem is set for June 8.
The World Cup programme
Germany's first task is getting out of the group which they failed to achieve in 2018 and 2022. They are big favourites against Curaçao in their June 14 opener in Houston. Ivory Coast are the opponents on June 20 in Toronto and Ecuador the final ones on June 25 in East Rutherford.
If Germany win the group they would continue in Boston, Philadelphia, Boston and Dallas on the way to the final. The runner-up path would be via Dallas, East Rutherford, Miami and Atlanta. If Germany come third there would be various knock-out round scenarios.