Völler: We're burning for the opener as Neuer chases history

Völler: We're burning for the first game

Germany sporting director Rudi Völler says the team is desperate to get started ahead of Sunday's World Cup opener against Curaçao in Houston. "Wir brennen auf das erste Spiel. Am liebsten würden wir jetzt schon beginnen," Völler said, warning against a repeat of past group-stage exits (6). The mood in camp is serious – no one wants another early tournament stumble.

Neuer poised for historic start

Manuel Neuer could become the oldest German player ever to feature at a World Cup when Germany face Curaçao on Sunday (5) (7). The legendary keeper is back in contention after injury concerns, and Julian Nagelsmann appears ready to hand him the gloves. Jonas Urbig provides cover, while young talent Lennart Karl misses the tournament with a torn muscle fiber – a blow Lothar Matthäus called heartbreaking but one he believes will ultimately strengthen Karl's character.

Can Germany go all the way?

An analysis of Germany's World Cup prospects points to a new creative core of Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala as the team's biggest weapon, alongside Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry (8). But unresolved striker issues linger. The talent is there – the question is whether Nagelsmann can find the right balance in time. A prediction piece backs Germany to win big against Curaçao in the Group B opener (10).

Bayern face €65m battle for Nathaniel Brown

Bayern Munich's interest in Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown is complicated by Arsenal joining the race and Frankfurt slapping a €65 million price tag on the 23-year-old (2). Negotiations are expected to drag – one source calls it a potential transfer saga.

Gvardiol weighs City extension amid Bayern links

Joško Gvardiol is considering a contract extension at Manchester City, but Bayern Munich are monitoring the situation closely (3). With Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Kim Min-jae, Hiroki Itō, and Josip Stanišić already on the books, Bayern's centre-back depth would make this a luxury move – but one the club appears tempted by.

Women's team complete perfect qualifying run

Germany women beat Slovenia 2–0 on Tuesday to finish their World Cup 2027 qualifying campaign with a perfect record (1) (4) (5). Sarai Linder and Shekiera Martinez got the goals, and head coach Christian Wück said his match plan was fully vindicated: "Genau das ist eingetreten" (9). Clean sweep, zero dropped points, serious momentum heading toward Brazil.

Fan reactions

Confidence is building ahead of Sunday but the scars of 2022 haven't fully healed – one Reddit thread resurfacing Japan's 2–1 comeback win over Germany from Qatar shows how fresh that group-stage exit still feels for many fans. Watch the moment again here.