The Bayern Munich goalkeeper and Germany captain Manuel Neuer has been named in the squad, despite only returning to first-team training at the start of May following a lengthy absence, but those in charge of the decision on his squad place are confident in Neuer’s health.
In flying form since making his own comeback from an ankle ligament tear in February, Marco Reus is also included. The Borussia Dortmund attacker, 28, missed Germany’s last two major tournaments through injury, but ended the 2017/18 Bundesliga campaign with seven goals in 11 appearances.
Dortmund’s Mario Gotze, scorer of the winning goal against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final did not even make the initial 27-man selection while Manchester City’s Leroy Sane, Bernd Leno, Jonathan Tah and Nils Petersen were all cut from the preliminary squad.
Germany are hoping to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.