United News of Bangladesh

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will miss Saturday’s German Cup final against defending champion VfB Stuttgart because of a calf injury, raising concerns over his fitness ahead of Germany’s World Cup campaign. Bayern said Friday that the 40-year-old goalkeeper has “muscle problems in the left calf” and will not be included in the squad for the final. However, the club did not say how long he could remain sidelined. Neuer, who has struggled with injuries this season, picked up the latest problem during Bayern’s final Bundesliga match against Cologne last weekend. The club later said he would need to take a break for the time being. His return to the Germany national team after two years of international retirement was one of the biggest talking points when coach Julian Nagelsmann announced the World Cup squad on Thursday. Nagelsmann confirmed that Neuer would return as Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper for the tournament. Germany will open their World Cup campaign against Curacao in Houston on June 14. The four-time world champion will also play Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E. The team is scheduled to begin preparations in Herzogenaurach on May 27 before playing warm-up matches against Finland in Mainz on May 31 and the United States in Chicago on June 6.