Nagelsmann: 'To have a great World Cup, we need a Manuel Neuer at his best'

Julian Nagelsmann, the head coach of the German national team, emphasized the critical role of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for their World Cup campaign. "To have a good World Cup, we need a Manuel at his best, and I think he can give us that," Nagelsmann stated during a press conference.

Nagelsmann expressed confidence in Neuer's current condition, noting his significant improvement and increased match rhythm after dealing with calf problems. "Without a doubt, he is sufficiently prepared to start and has improved a lot, more and more. He didn't have much rhythm before, but now he has it. We trust him, he is prepared," the coach added.

Neuer, 40, a veteran of the 2014 World Cup victory, is poised to start in Germany's opening match against debutants Curaçao. This will mark his fifth World Cup appearance. After announcing his potential retirement from international football last year, Neuer reversed his decision and has shown strong form for Bayern Munich throughout the season.

Nagelsmann also commented on the team's preparation and the match conditions, expressing satisfaction with playing at 12:00 local time in the air-conditioned NRG Stadium. He highlighted that the team has analyzed numerous matches and has good feelings about their readiness. He acknowledged Curaçao as a potentially tricky opponent, noting that 90% of their players compete in the Netherlands, indicating a good level of technical and physical ability.

Midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic, who will also be making his World Cup debut, spoke highly of Neuer. "Manuel is a world-class goalkeeper, he always gives me advice, he helps me on the field and that is very important. It is also important to play with him at Bayern, because then I can be closer to him more often," Pavlovic said.