Goretzka Rules Neuer Out of the World Cup; Germany Faces a Tougher Path

Germany’s Goretzka on Neuer and the World Cup Path

Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka acknowledged that Die Mannschaft have underperformed in major tournaments recently and that a comeback by Manuel Neuer for the World Cup is unlikely. He noted that Neuer has effectively ended his national-team career as a goalkeeper, making a return seem improbable.

Goretzka explained his on-field responsibilities: he carries the classic duties of the holding midfielder, bringing a certain level of physical power and resilience. That approach proved important against Northern Ireland, and when the team reaches the final third, he pushes a bit higher to fill the number 10 role.

As one of the elder statesmen, he added that he is now the second oldest player in the squad, a realization that came with some shock. He has been through a lot in his career and wants to help blend in a younger group and pass on experience.

He stressed that Bayern Munich’s presence in the national team remains crucial. He said that having a large Bayern contingent in the national team has always been important and traditional; they know each other well, which aids team cohesion. They arrived with confidence and want to translate momentum from the club into the national team.

On Germany’s recent failures, he admitted that they were not as successful as the 2014 generation, which often reached the semi-finals and won the title. He commented that Joshua Kimmich’s suggestion that the current generation bears some responsibility is understandable, and that the hunger to change this is immense.

Lennart Carl

In his turn, Lennart Carl, Bayern Munich’s rising talent, spoke to the German federation’s official site about his first call-up to the Under-21s. He said the coach informed him that he had been selected for the upcoming Under-21 internationals based on his Bayern performances. Wearing the eagle on his chest means a lot; he represents the country and will give his best, just as he does at the club. It’s great to play alongside teammates who also come from big clubs in Germany and beyond.

He added that he feels very welcome and already knows some players well—Tom Bischov, Noel Acico, and Arijon Ibrahimović, for example. The situation mirrors his Bayern days: he moved to the first team a little early, so everything is going smoothly. He wants to integrate well, showcase his strengths, and address weaknesses, with the goal of earning plenty of playing time even as the youngest member.

Commenting on his attributes, he noted that he has pace and explosive acceleration, and that many opponents know he likes to cut inside. He can still beat them sometimes, and he does not fear older or younger opponents, though he respects everyone. The best way to display his potential is to play his own football, though he still needs to improve his first touch with his right foot.

Speaking of his childhood idol, he revealed that Lionel Messi was indeed his hero; he has not played against him yet, which he finds disappointing but funny.

On his Bayern moment, he recalled that starting regularly for Bayern Munich was special. The goals in the Champions League and the Bundesliga were fantastic, but his decisive assist against Hoffenheim is also a memorable memory that he cannot forget.

He discussed handling high expectations: his agent and parents provide significant support, and he tries to ignore much of what is written about him on social media. He is happy with positive coverage but recognizes that every career has rough patches, and he tries not to let news affect his performance too much.

Punchline: In football, the drama often comes from the press room, but the real action is on the pitch—so let’s hope the ball finds the net as well as the punchlines land.

Punchline 2: If Neuer truly sits out, Germany may discover that the best weapon is a well-timed meme—gatekeeping the nerves while the ball does the talking.