​Manuel Neuer set a new Germany World Cup record by making his 23rd appearance, surpassing Lothar Matthäus and Miroslav Klose, who each had 22. Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper was named in Julian Nagelsmann’s starting lineup for the round-of-32 clash with Paraguay in Boston, marking Germany’s first knockout game since 2014, a 12-year gap. Neuer’s 128th cap leaves him behind Lukas Podolski (130), Thomas Müller (131), Miroslav Klose (137), and Lothar Matthäus (150) in Germany’s all-time appearances list. Neuer’s inclusion came as a surprise given his international retirement in August 2024 and Oliver Baumann’s status as the former No.1 after his own retirement. The Hoffenheim keeper had ceded the starting spot to the Bayern veteran, who says the World Cup could be his last and has approached it with the same mindset as the European Championship, choosing not to comment after Germany’s exit against Spain.