Germany open against Curaçao as Neuer debate rages

Opening match set: Germany vs Curaçao

Germany kick off their home World Cup against tournament debutants Curaçao (1). The fixture opens Group H, and with the host nation expectations sky-high, it's a game you simply cannot afford to drop points in. Curaçao are unknown at this level – dangerous precisely because there's no book on them.

Kimmich leads player-funded shuttle for 4,000 fans

Joshua Kimmich and the squad are stepping up off the pitch: Germany's players will fund shuttle buses for roughly 4,000 supporters to the Ecuador group game on June 25 in New Jersey (2) (6). BBC reports the number at 600 fans getting bus travel, while RMC Sport cites 4,000 – either way, the gesture comes amid steep travel costs for fans making the trip (2) (6). A class move from your captain and the dressing room.

Neuer recall splits opinion

Manuel Neuer is back in the Germany squad for the World Cup, and the debate is already raging over whether he should start (3) (5). Marca quotes a German source saying: 'I never understood why Germany stopped counting on him' (5). Bavarian Football Works ran a straight question to fans: where do you fall on Neuer's return? (3) It's the biggest call Nagelsmann faces before the curtain raises.

Set pieces: Nagelsmann's secret weapon

Julian Nagelsmann is betting big on set pieces at this tournament. 'We expect,' Nagelsmann says, 'that set pieces will take on even greater importance at this World Cup' (7). Germany were once mocked as a laughing stock over their set-piece execution; now Nagelsmann, with assistant Mads Buttgereit drilling the routines, sees dead balls as a trump card. Florian Wirtz, Joshua Kimmich, and Jamal Musiala will all be involved in the delivery and movement (7).

Bayern trio could head for the exit

Three Bayern Munich youngsters are in play: Maurice Krattenmacher is linked with SV Elversberg, Jonathan Asp Jensen with Lazio, and Fulham are pushing for a lower fee on Jonah Kusi-Asare (4). Squad depth at Bayern may thin just as the World Cup spotlight intensifies – these are names that shaped your domestic season, and their moves could matter for future national team pathways.