Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to miss Germany’s upcoming friendlies through injury

Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer has been ruled out of Germany’s upcoming friendlies against France and the Netherlands due to injury.

Neuer was absent from all of his country’s matches last year because of a broken leg but German media has reported the 37-year-old remains Julian Nagelsmann’s first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Euro 2024.

However, he has withdrawn from the final two tune-ups – against France in Lyon on Saturday and the visit of the Netherlands in Frankfurt next Tuesday – before Nagelsmann names his squad for the tournament.

ℹ Manuel Neuer ist wegen eines Muskelfaserrisses im linken Adduktor vorzeitig abgereist und fällt für die beiden anstehenden Länderspiele aus. Die Verletzung hatte er sich am Vormittag im Training zugezogen.

Gute Besserung, Manu! #dfbteam DFB/Philipp Reinhard pic.twitter.com/o5Whv1xufK

— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team) March 20, 2024

A brief statement on the German national team’s official website said: “Manuel Neuer has left the German national team early and will be out of the two upcoming international matches against France and the Netherlands.

“The FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper and 2014 world champion left the team’s headquarters in Gravenbruch near Frankfurt due to a torn muscle fibre in his left adductor. He sustained the injury in training on Wednesday morning.”

Neuer earned the last of his 117 national team caps in Germany’s final group stage match at the 2022 World Cup – a 4-2 win over Costa Rica.