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Germany get their 2026 FIFA World Cup under way against debutants Curaçao at Houston Stadium, USA, on Sunday evening. Julian Naglesmann has already confirmed that Manuel Neuer will start in goal ahead of Oliver Baumann, but there’s still plenty to be decided in the outfield positions.
Against the USA in Germany’s final warm-up fixture, Nathaniel Brown started at left-back and the Eintracht Frankfurt man appears to be Nagelsmann’s preferred option ahead of David Raum. Alongside the youngster, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah and Joshua Kimmich will make up Germany’s back four.
In the double pivot, Aleksandar Pavlović and Felix Nmecha started both warm-up games and it’s likely that they will start against Curaçao in Houston, with Nadiem Amiri, Leon Goretzka and Angelo Stiller offering competition.
Lennar Karl was ruled out of the World Cup after suffering an injury, which means they’ll likely be a starting berth for Leroy Sané, alongside Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, with Arsenal’s Kai Havertz leading the attack, and Deniz Undav and Nick Woltemade providing options from the bench.
Predicted Germany XI vs Curaçao
Neuer – Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown – Nmecha, Pavlović – Sané, Musiala, Wirtz – Havertz.
