MUNICH — Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is to miss the German Cup final with a calf injury, but sporting director Max Eberl said his place at the World Cup with Germany was not at risk.
Bayern said Friday that the 40-year-old Neuer is out of the squad for Saturday’s cup final against defending champion Stuttgart with “muscle problems in the left calf.”
Neuer’s return for Germany’s World Cup campaign after two years of international retirement was the biggest talking point from the squad announcement on Thursday. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said the Bayern captain was returning to be the No. 1 goalkeeper at the tournament.
Eberl said Neuer will return in time to take part in a fifth World Cup.
“The World Cup is not in danger, but he cannot play tomorrow,” Eberl said at an event in Berlin on Friday, AFP reported. “It is simply too soon after the injury.”
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“We made this decision together, however difficult it is for Manu to agree to sit out the final.”
Neuer, who has been injury prone this season, suffered the latest setback during Bayern’s last Bundesliga game against Cologne last weekend. Bayern said the following day he “must take a break for the time being” without elaborating.
Germany’s first game is against newcomer Curacao in Houston on June 14. The four-time champion also faces Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E. Preparations are due to start in the Bavarian resort of Herzogenaurach on May 27, with warmups against Finland in Mainz on May 31, then the United States in Chicago on June 6.
With Neuer out, backup Jonas Urbig will be start in goal against Stuttgart.
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“We’ve said many times before that we’ve got a great set-up in the goalkeeping position,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said at a news conference.
“They all enjoy working together. It’s a coincidence, but Jonas has already played against Stuttgart twice.
“We had no doubts when Jonas played against Leverkusen in the Champions League for the first time. Nor did we have any against Stuttgart. Hopefully he’ll play well.”
The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.
