With the World Cup on the horizon, European football is throwing up storylines that range from the extraordinary to the downright improbable. From Manuel Neuer pulling on the Germany shirt one more time to a tiny Saarland club preparing to grace the Bundesliga for the first time in their history, there is plenty to digest before the tournament kicks off.

Neuer's Germany Return: Shock or Shrewd?

Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising development of the week is Manuel Neuer's inclusion in Julian Nagelsmann's Germany squad for the World Cup. Both the veteran goalkeeper and the Germany head coach had, at various points, been emphatic that Neuer's international career was over following the 2024 European Championship. Nagelsmann had pointed towards Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann as the new number one, and many Germany supporters had warmed to the idea of moving on.

Yet here we are. Neuer is back, and the questions are coming thick and fast. Has Nagelsmann been entirely consistent in his messaging? How does Baumann, who has been backed by a significant portion of the Germany fanbase, now fit into the picture? A goalkeeper headache of this sort is hardly the ideal preparation for a major tournament, and Germany will be aware that uncertainty between the sticks can filter through an entire squad. The coming weeks will reveal whether Nagelsmann views this as a pragmatic decision or one born out of a lack of conviction in what was supposed to be a settled plan.

Neymar Ends Brazil Doubt

There had been genuine uncertainty over whether Neymar would be fit and available for Brazil at the World Cup, but the forward has been named in the squad and will travel to the tournament. His return will be welcomed by Brazil supporters who have watched him struggle with serious injury in recent years, though questions about whether he can recapture his best form at the highest level remain entirely legitimate.

His inclusion also reignites debates about the balance of Brazil's squad and the pressure that inevitably accompanies him on the international stage. João Pedro's omission from the squad has drawn attention as well, highlighting the difficult calls Dorival Júnior has had to make in assembling his group.

Spygate: A Continental Perspective

The controversy surrounding Southampton's alleged spying activities has not gone unnoticed across Europe. The consensus from those embedded in continental football appears to be that intelligence-gathering of some description is not uncommon in European football — it occurs regularly at clubs across the major leagues. What has generated interest is the apparent scale and brazenness of what Southampton are alleged to have done. Whether this episode shifts attitudes around the practice more broadly remains to be seen, but it has certainly put the issue firmly on the agenda.

Elversberg's Bundesliga Dream

Amid all the drama surrounding star names and international squads, one of the most heartwarming stories of the European season belongs to SV Elversberg. The club from Saarland, a small community in the south-west of Germany, have won promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in their history after finishing second in the 2. Bundesliga this season.

The journey has not been straightforward. Elversberg narrowly missed out on promotion the season before, and then lost their manager of six years, Horst Steffen, who departed for Werder Bremen. To bounce back so decisively speaks to a resilience and team spirit that is genuinely admirable. They will be among the smallest clubs to have ever competed in German football's top flight, and their supporters — including those from the ELV Friends Bliesen fan group — are entitled to savour every moment of it.

When the Bundesliga season kicks off next term, SV Elversberg will be there. That alone is a reminder of why football, at its best, remains capable of producing stories that no scriptwriter would dare invent.

Serie A's Champions League Finale

The final weekend of the Serie A season arrives with the top-four picture still unsettled, as several clubs fight for the Champions League places that will define their summers. Cesc Fàbregas' Como have been one of the genuine talking points of the Italian campaign, while there are reported tensions at both AC Milan and Juventus as the season draws to a close. How that shakes out will have significant implications for the transfer window to come.

Frequently asked

Why has Manuel Neuer come out of international retirement for Germany?
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has recalled Manuel Neuer to the squad for the World Cup despite both having previously indicated his international career was finished after the 2024 Euros. No official explanation has been given beyond squad selection, and the decision has sparked debate about the future of Oliver Baumann, who had been earmarked as Germany's new number one.
Is Neymar playing in the World Cup for Brazil?
Yes. Neymar has been named in Brazil's World Cup squad after uncertainty over his fitness and availability. His return ends speculation that he might miss the tournament altogether.
Who are SV Elversberg and why are they in the Bundesliga?
SV Elversberg are a football club from Saarland in south-west Germany. They have been promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in their history after finishing second in the 2. Bundesliga this season. They are considered one of the smallest clubs ever to reach Germany's top division.