Houston, June 15 (IANS) Germany began their FIFA World Cup campaign in devastating fashion with a 7-1 demolition of Curacao on Sunday, as Felix Nmecha scored the fastest goal of the tournament so far and helped Julian Nagelsmann’s side ease to victory in their Group E opener.The four-time world champions took control from the start and got an early reward. Inside six minutes, Nmecha worked well with Florian Wirtz and curled a powerful shot into the corner. This marked the earliest goal of the to…
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Berlin, June 14 (IANS) Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will return to Germany’s starting line-up for their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Curacao on Sunday after recovering from a calf injury, head coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed. The 40-year-old had been out of action since suffering a left calf injury during Bayern Munich’s final Bundesliga match of the season in late May. The setback forced him to miss Germany’s recent friendly wins over Finland and the United States…
Berlin, June 9 (IANS) A public training session appeared to provide the ideal setting for Manuel Neuer’s return to the German national team. Around 3,000 fans cheered for the Bayern Munich goalkeeper at the team’s base camp in North Carolina as the 40-year-old made his first full training appearance ahead of Germany’s World Cup opener against Curacao on June 14 in Houston.Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed the return of the 2014 FIFA World Cup winner for the opening group match, with Neue…
New Delhi, June 9 (IANS) The wait is finally over, and the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be the biggest edition in the tournament’s history, will begin on June 12 (IST) and conclude with the final on July 20 (IST), featuring a record 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The expanded format introduces 12 groups of four teams each, replacing the previous structure of eight groups. The top two teams from every group, along with the eight best third-placed sides, w…
New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) Germany have suffered a major blow ahead of the FIFA World Cup after teenage attacking midfielder Lennart Karl was ruled out of the tournament with a thigh injury sustained during training in the United States, coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed on Saturday.The 18-year-old suffered a muscle tear in his left thigh during a training session in Chicago on Friday. He was taken to the hospital afterward. Karl will be replaced on Germany’s World Cup squad by Assan Ouedraogo.Nag…
Berlin, June 5 (IANS) Four-time champions Germany heads to the FIFA World Cup looking to move beyond the disappointments of 2018 and 2022, while a resilient Ecuador side that proved throughout qualifying it gives nothing away will provide a stern test to its Group E rivals. Cote d’Ivoire also possesses enough quality to trouble any opponent, while Curacao is shaping up as one of the tournament’s potential Cinderella stories.Germany:Germany enters the World Cup looking to restore its reputation a…
New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran has urged India to transform its periodic FIFA World Cup enthusiasm into a sustained movement for football development, saying the country must celebrate the sport throughout the year rather than only during the multinational event every four years. In a column ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Prabhakaran said football becomes hugely popular in India every four years, but much of that intere…
Edinburgh, June 2 (IANS) Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour has expressed his heartbreak after being ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a knee injury, describing the setback as having a “childhood dream” taken away from him just days before the tournament.The 24-year-old sustained the injury during Scotland’s 4-1 friendly victory over Curaçao at Hampden Park on Saturday and was subsequently withdrawn from head coach Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad.In an emotional message posted on …
Edinburgh, May 31 (IANS) Scotland have drafted Manchester United teenager Tyler Fletcher into their FIFA World Cup 2026 squad after midfielder Billy Gilmour was ruled out with a knee injury sustained during Saturday’s 4-1 friendly victory over Curacao at Hampden Park.Fletcher, 19, made his senior international debut in the same match, coming on as a half-time substitute. The midfielder was initially part of Scotland’s training group and has now earned a place in the final squad following Gilmour…
Berlin, May 21 (IANS) Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has come out of his international football retirement as Germany announced their provisional 26-member squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 to be played in Mexico, America, and Canada from June 11.The 40-year-old Bayern Munich goalkeeper, who had stepped away from international football following UEFA Euro 2024, is set to lead Germany’s challenge as the country’s first-choice goalkeeper. The tournament will mark Neuer’s fifth FIFA…