Neuer's 125th cap, Germany vs Curaçao on Sunday

It starts Sunday, Neuer's 125th cap

Germany open their World Cup campaign Sunday at 19:00 against Curaçao, and Manuel Neuer will earn his 125th cap in goal. It's his first competitive appearance since the Euro 2024 quarterfinal, a return that carries no small weight after a long injury layoff (5) (6). Julian Nagelsmann has named his squad, and with home turf behind them, the expectation is nothing short of a statement performance. The lineup remains unconfirmed, but Joshua Kimmich, Assan Ouedraogo, and Leroy Sané are all in the frame (1) (2). Lennart Karl misses the tournament through injury, a torn muscle fiber cutting short his World Cup dream before it began.

Goretzka heading to MLS?

Leon Goretzka is in talks with Chicago Fire over a summer move. The Bayern Munich midfielder is set to leave the club after this season, and an MLS switch is now a real possibility (3). No deal is done, but the Fire are pushing, and Goretzka appears open to the project.

Bayern talent forced to retire at 22

Moritz Mosandl, a Bayern Munich academy player, has been forced to retire after suffering three ACL tears. He'll stay at the club as a scouting trainee. "I tried everything, and therefore I can't blame myself," Mosandl said. "I've made peace with it. I'm now looking forward to what lies ahead" (4). A brutal outcome for a young player, but Bayern are keeping him in the fold.

Fernández staying at Nürnberg

Bayern star talent Javier Fernández will spend another season on loan at 1. FC Nürnberg in the 2. Bundesliga. The young Spaniard is being given time to build fitness and find consistent form under Miroslav Klose's guidance (7).

Davies could go if Brown arrives

Bayern Munich won't actively push Alphonso Davies out, but if they land Eintracht Frankfurt's Nathaniel Brown this summer, Davies becomes a sellable asset rather than an untouchable one (8). Keep an eye on how that domino falls.

Madrid still circling Schlotterbeck

Real Madrid continue to monitor Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, whose contract includes a €50m release clause for foreign clubs. Schlotterbeck addressed the noise himself: "Yes, of course you find out about these things through the media, but now all the attention is focused on the World Cup, on the first match" (9).