The forthcoming World Cup is even making its presence felt at Bayern training: on Tuesday, 30 days prior to the opening match in Brazil, the FCB stars worked out with the official tournament match ball. And many of the players also listened out for a call from their home countries, as the deadline for preliminary squad nominations is midnight Tuesday, when national head coaches must supply FIFA with provisional squad lists of up to 30 men. fcbayern.denames the Munich stars likely to be in the World Cup frame.
Javi Martínez, Thiago:
The FCB pair are in Spain’s 30-strong preliminary squad. Barcelona provide the largest single contingent to La Roja with seven players, followed by Champions League finalists Real and Atletico Madrid with four apiece. National coach Vicente del Bosque has named three uncapped players: David de Gea (Manchester United), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) and Ander Iturraspe (Bilbao).
Xherdan Shaqiri:
As expected the 22-year-old will feature for the Swiss. At the squad announcement on Tuesday in Zurich, ex-Bayern boss Ottmar Hitzfeld named nine Bundesliga players in his final 23-strong party.
Daniel van Buyten:
The Bayern centre-back is one of three Bundesliga stars on Marc Wilmots’ 24-man list. The English Premier League provides the largest group with 11 players. The number one keeper is Thibaut Courtois from Atletico Madrid.
Arjen Robben:
Bondscoach Louis van Gaal is set to make his announcement on Tuesday evening, but the former FCB supremo had already made clear the position regarding FCB’s speedy winger: “As of now only Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie know they’re definitely going to Brazil.“
Franck Ribéry:
The French list will also be released on Tuesday evening, but Ribéry is in any case one of the first names on boss Didier Deschamps’ team-sheets.
Mario Mandzukic:
Mandzu is as good as certain of a trip to South America, although he is suspended for the Croats’ opening match against the hosts following a red card in the final qualifying fixture.
Julian Green:
At just 18, the FC Bayern II striker has an outside chance of making it to the World Cup. US and former Munich coach Jürgen Klinsmann has named Green, who took the decision in March to represent the USA rather than Germany, in his 30-man preliminary squad.
Already nominated:
Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, Mario Götze, Jérôme Boateng and Toni Kroosare in Germany’s 30-strong preliminary squad.
Dante has been named in the final 23-man Brazil party.
Coaches must submit their final 23-man World Cup squads by midnight on 2 June. In the event of injury players may be replaced by standby candidates up to 24 hours prior to their team’s first group match.