Kimmich warns Germany's World Cup group is no cakewalk

Kimmich: This group is not easy

Germany captain Joshua Kimmich has warned fans and teammates against underestimating the World Cup group. Drawn alongside Curacao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador, Kimmich made it clear: "We're not so much focused on the tournament now, we're focused on every game. I hope we'll have a very good start" (5). The message from your captain is simple – no one is looking past the opening match on June 14.

Müller says luck will play its part

Thomas Müller added his own dose of realism. The Bayern veteran admitted Germany will need some fortune to go deep: "I'd say all these peripheral issues, like team accommodations, are 'nice to have,' and we try to create the conditions so that everything just falls into place" (2). Two World Cup winners, one honest take – talent alone won't be enough.

Bayern closing in on Nathaniel Brown

Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown is on the verge of joining Bayern Munich. The fee? Just under €65 million including bonuses, according to Christian Falk (3). Brown, 22, has also been gaining Julian Nagelsmann's trust as a genuine option for Germany at left-back heading into the World Cup (8).

Leverkusen land teenage talent Eichhorn

Bayer Leverkusen confirmed the signing of 16-year-old defensive midfielder Kennet Eichhorn from Hertha Berlin on Wednesday. Sporting director Simon Rolfes said the club had been tracking him for over a year: "We were already in close contact with Kennet and his family a year ago, and even back then we formed a good bond" (4).

Why Füllkrug missed the cut

Niclas Füllkrug's absence from the World Cup squad raised eyebrows. The West Ham striker has a strong international record, but Nagelsmann opted for other profiles up front – Kai Havertz, Deniz Undav, and Nick Woltemade all got the nod instead (7).

Training camp underway in Winston-Salem

Germany held their first training session at the team's base camp in Winston-Salem, complete with the official team photo. Kimmich and goalkeeper Jonas Urbig were among those pictured as preparations intensify ahead of the June 14 opener against Curacao (10).

Power rankings: Germany among the contenders

A pre-tournament power ranking compiled from multiple outlets places Germany firmly in the top tier – though Spain sits as the consensus favorite (9).

Fan reactions

Germany fans on Reddit are buzzing about the team offering to cover travel costs for supporters heading to the New York/New Jersey World Cup match. Meanwhile, a comprehensive average of 14 media power rankings puts Spain (1.43), France (1.93), and Argentina (3.0-ish) as the top three – with Germany not far behind. One thread also sparked debate: which countries could actually host a solo 48-team World Cup? Read more