Neuer clears next hurdle

On Wednesday Manuel Neuer cleared the next hurdle on his journey to full fitness at Germany's South Tyrol training base. The 32-year-old featured in goal for the Germany U-20s in the second internal friendly against the senior squad. The senior side won 2-0, Thomas Müller and Julian Draxler finding the net. The U-20s had lost the first encounter 7-1 without Neuer.

"We saw in the first match we created many chances, and we wanted Manuel to go through a longer pressure situation and concentration phase," Germany assistant coach Thomas Schneider commented at the press conference in the afternoon following the unusual training measure. Neuer is set to make his comeback for Germany against Austria in Klagenfurt on Saturday.

The dress rehearsal came too early for Neuer's FCB team-mate Jérôme Boateng. The 29-year-old is continuing his individual programme after sustaining a thigh injury but is making progress, according to Schneider: "We're very, very confident for the tournament."