Kimmich leads the way as Germany starts to unveil World Cup squad
Captain Joshua Kimmich and Bayern Munich team-mate Jamal Musiala were among the first players confirmed to be part of Germany's World Cup squad, ahead of the formal announcement later on Thursday which is expected to see the return of Manuel Neuer. Kimmich was the first man to be named on the German Football Federation (DFB) website, and was followed by the likes of Musiala, Bayern's Aleksandar Pavlovic, VfB Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav, Borussia Dortmund centre back Nico Schlotterbeck and Kai Havertz from Premier League champions Arsenal. Stuttgart midfielder Jamie Leweling and Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nathaniel Brown were unveiled in the videos as well, released in 30-minute intervals in which friends, family members and team coach Julian Nagelsmann featured.
Kimmich's wife Lina said that "everyone knows that you are a superb footballer but for us you are much more than that. You are my best friend, a fantastic husband and an even better father. " Nagelsmann named Kimmich "a role model for many boys and girls who play football and want to turn professional, because you always lead the way with positive ambition.
" In all, around a dozen players are to be revealed in this way before Nagelsmann announces his full 26-player squad for the June 11-July 19 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada at 1pm (1100 GMT). The biggest name could be Bayern keeper Neuer who retired from the national team in 2024 after 124 caps highlighted by the 2014 World Cup title. Now 40, Neuer is set to return because his first choice successor marc-André ter Stegen is injured and he is considered more experienced than Oliver Baumann who played in all qualifiers.
Also expected to be part of the squad are teenagers Lennart Karl of Munich and Said El Mala of Cologne. There is speculation that Neuer's Munich deputy Jonas Urbig could be included as well. Germany have won the World Cup four times but went out in the group stage at the last two editions in 2018 and 2022.