Saturday 28 June 2014 13:13, UK
Manuel Neuer says Germany need to learn from the past and acknowledge that Thomas Muller is key to their World Cup bid.
Joachim Low’s side are moving smoothly through the gears as they chase down global glory in Brazil.
Qualification for the last-16 was secured with the minimum of fuss, with seven points collected as they topped Group G.
A meeting with Algeria in the second round awaits, with Germany determined to better their semi-final appearances at the last two major international tournaments.
The common denominator in exits at the hands of Spain and Italy at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 is Muller’s lack of involvement in both games – having been banned for the first and benched for the second.
Neuer has called on Low to ensure that his Bayern Munich team-mate remains central to Germany’s plans this time around – with the talented forward having already netted four times.
He said: “He (Muller) is at the top level.
“He comes alive in a World Cup. But in the last two major tournaments he did not start the semi-finals and on both occasions we lost the game.
“So we hope he will be okay and ready for the next games.”
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