Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is facing a setback in his hopes of proving his fitness for the World Cup, Bild newspaper reported on Monday, while midfielder Mesut Ozil played down speculation about his back injury.
Bayern Munich stopper Neuer, out since September, had wanted to make his comeback from a broken foot in Saturday’s final Bundesliga game of the season at home to VfB Stuttgart.
However, Bild reported club sources as saying his return against Stuttgart is “more than questionable.”
Germany coach Joachim Loew will announce his preliminary World Cup squad on May 15.
Even if Neuer does not face Stuttgart, the World Cup winner is still expected to be included.
“There is no deadline when he has to play by,” Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said recently. “The true deadline is June 4 when the final 23-man squad must be named.”
Bayern face Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Cup final on May 19 while Neuer may also have chance to play in two Germany World Cup warm-ups against Austria on June 2 and Saudi Arabia on June 8.
The World Cup in Russia begins on June 14 with Germany’s first group game against Mexico on June 17.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will replace Neuer if he is not deemed fit. Bayer Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno will also be in the squad but the name of a potential third keeper is not certain given Kevin Trapp has not played regularly for Paris St-Germain.
Sven Ulreich, who has deputized for Neuer at Bayern, has also been mentioned as a candidate by Loew but he made a huge error in last week’s Champions League semi-final defeat by Real Madrid.
Midfielder Ozil missed Arsenal’s 5-0 Premier League win over Burnley on Sunday.
“It is a recurrence of his back problem,” outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters. “How long is he out? I don’t know. I don’t think he’ll be available for the rest of the season.”
But Ozil posted on Instagram to say the issue was not a big worry.
“It is a pity I missed yesterday’s match with my back injury. It’ll need some time but I’m sure I’ll fully recover in time for the World Cup,” he said.
Germany have already lost Borussia Moenchengladbach forward Lars Stindl for the World Cup through injury and Hoffenheim duo Serge Gnabry and Kerem Demirbay look set to miss out with fitness problems.
dpa