Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been successfully coaxed out of international retirement by Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, securing a place in the 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The 40-year-old had announced his retirement following the 2024 European Championship, making his inclusion a significant U-turn for the national team.

Neuer’s recall comes as a considerable setback for Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann, who had reportedly been assured of the number one spot. Until recently, Baumann, 35, maintained that Nagelsmann had confirmed him as the starting goalkeeper for the tournament.

Despite this personal disappointment, Baumann, known for his team-first attitude across more than 500 Bundesliga appearances, is expected to maintain his professionalism.

Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen, once considered Neuer’s natural successor, has been plagued by injuries, making only two appearances for Girona after joining on loan in January.

Neuer, with 124 caps compared to Baumann’s 11, last featured for Germany in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, an extra-time 2-1 loss to eventual champions Spain. His recent outstanding performances for Bayern Munich, particularly in the Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid, are understood to have swayed Nagelsmann.

However, concerns persist regarding Neuer’s recurring injury issues. He was forced off early during Bayern’s final Bundesliga match of the season due to muscular problems in his left calf, casting doubt over his availability for the German Cup final.

In an effort to build anticipation, the German Football Federation (DFB) adopted a staggered approach to announcing the World Cup squad, revealing players one by one before Nagelsmann’s official declaration.

Midfielder Joshua Kimmich was among the first confirmed, alongside Deniz Undav, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz, and Bayern star Jamal Musiala. Musiala’s inclusion follows impressive club form and a successful recovery from a broken leg sustained at the Club World Cup in July.

Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown will also add to his three international appearances. Bayern forward Serge Gnabry has been ruled out due to injury, while young teammate Lennart Karl has recovered in time to make the squad.

Four-time champions Germany will compete in Group E against Ivory Coast, Ecuador and newcomers Curacao, as they aim for a fifth World Cup title.

Preparations are scheduled to commence in Herzogenaurach on 27 May, two days later than initially planned.

The team will play warm-up matches against Finland in Mainz on 31 May, followed by a fixture against the United States in Chicago on 6 June.

Germany World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nübel (Stuttgart)

Defenders: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), David Raum (Leipzig), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Pascal Groß (Brighton), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich),

Forwards: Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sané (Galatasaray)

Roads and markets have emptied during afternoons and some farmers have switched to nighttime work to avoid scorching temperatures as a heatwave grips large parts of India.

The India Meteorological Department forecast maximum temperatures Thursday of around 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in the capital, Delhi, where authorities have opened temporary “cooling zones” to help people cope.

The weather department warned conditions will likely persist across several northern regions in the coming days, with temperatures staying well above seasonal averages. Authorities urged people to stay indoors during the hottest hours and take precautions against heat-related illnesses.

India declares a heat wave whenever temperatures are above 40C (104F) in the plains and 30C (86F) or more in its hilly regions.

The extreme heat has disrupted daily life across several northern states.

In some parts of Uttar Pradesh state, India’s most populous, roads and markets have closed in the afternoons as people stayed indoors while some traders shifted work to early mornings. Farmers began working at night because daytime conditions became unbearable.

The heat also disrupted schools, with authorities in several areas announcing early summer vacations and suspending classes as the maximum temperature shot up to 48.2C (118.8 F) on Tuesday in the city of Banda.

Health authorities urged people to avoid going outdoors during peak afternoon hours, stay hydrated and seek medical help if they experience symptoms such as dizziness or high fever.

In Delhi, residents and tourists sought relief from the heat inside cooling shelters set up across the capital. The shaded space provides air coolers, fans, drinking water and oral rehydration solutions to help people deal with the extreme heat.

Inside one tent on Wednesday, people rested beside air coolers as officials distributed cups of water mixed with rehydration salts.

“We had come here for outing. But it is too hot here. The cooling system here is good for us,” said Basharat Ahmad Malla, a 25-year-old tourist.

Climate experts say India’s rising temperatures are part of a broader global pattern linked to climate change.

India has faced more frequent and intense heat waves in recent years, with all of its warmest years on record occurring in the last decade.

“India has warmed considerably as a result of anthropogenic (human-made) climate change in the last decade compared to previous years. Northwestern India has warmed much faster than many other parts of the country,” said Anjal Prakash, author of several United Nations climate reports and professor of public policy at Pune-based Flame University.

Mr Prakash said India is accustomed to summer heat but “climate change is loading the dice towards extreme and pervasive episodes like those we see now”.

Studies by public health experts found that up to 1,116 people have died every year between 2008 and 2019 due to heat. Public health experts say the true number of heat-related deaths is likely in the thousands, but because heat is often not listed on death certificates, many deaths are not counted in official figures.

Due to rising costs of fuel and passenger numbers being low, the railway has launched a fundraiser

A popular Cambridgeshire railway is raising money to “secure its future” – amid passenger numbers being low and cost of coal rising. Nene Valley Railway in Wansford, near Peterborough, has been a family-favourite destination for nearly 50 years.

As well as being home to Thomas the Tank Engine, the heritage railway has a number of trains that people enjoy taking journeys on. But just like any charity, the heritage railway is continually looking for funding to secure it for the future.

With passenger numbers decreasing, as well as the cost of coal increasing, Nene Valley has launched its resilience fund. Communications manager Chris O’Regan said it has been launched to “ensure the railway is here for generations to come”.

Chris added: “Money is tight and passenger numbers have been down across the tourism industry. We have been seeing lower visitor numbers for the last year and the same going into this year.

“People are feeling the pinch. But as a heritage way, we have lots to cover. There is a lot of ongoing maintenance, whether it be track repairs that could cost up to £400,000 for a mile of track, or maintenance on locomotives. There are essential things that need to be done.”

To run water for a steam engine in one day costs £50, while one tonne of coal for one round trip costs £375. If the railway had to replace metal rails on one mile of track, it would cost around £240,000. Chris said the charity is being “cautious” with its money.

He added: “There’s also investments we want to make to improve the experience. So, we’re looking for money now. But, the resilience fund is also about building for the future.”

Nene Valley Railway holds a number of events all-year round, including its popular Christmas journeys. While tickets sold are a large part of income earned for the railway, the sales are “not enough to cover ongoing costs”, said Chris. He added: “They [ticket sales] have never been and they almost certainly never will be.

“So, we rely on donations. In a nutshell, that is what the resilience fund is about. It’s helping us now, but it’s also setting us up for future generations.”

Nene Valley has brought joy to many generations, and Chris hopes it can continue to do that. “It’s really important we retain that – to educate people, build memories to last a lifetime and bring joy to families and individuals,” said Chris.

He added: “One of the things I love the most is when somebody comes up to me and says my grandparents used to bring me here, but now I’m bringing my grandchildren.”

Next year, Nene Valley Railway celebrates its 50th year, which Chris described as a “big deal”. He said: “I would hope in 50 years that people will probably not come up to me but somebody else and say my grandparents used to bring me here. That’s why we are here, for those next generations.”

To find out more information about Nene Valley Railway, visit the website. Anyone who would like to donate to Nene Valley’s resilience fund can do so here.

Know your legal rights when neighbours park in your designated space

Arriving back home following an exhausting day to find another car parked in ‘your’ space can prove an incredibly frustrating situation for both homeowners and tenants. However, while many motorists believe they can take immediate action, parking rights are often considerably more complicated than most individuals realise.

Citizens Advice indicates that conflicts between neighbours over parking are growing more common across the UK. The body explains that rows usually arise from residents being unsure about whether a parking bay is legally possessed, officially assigned, or merely utilised on a casual arrangement.

Legal experts highlight that public highways outside homes aren’t automatically reserved for the adjacent property owner, reports the Liverpool Echo. The RAC indicates that drivers are typically allowed to park on public thoroughfares, as long as they comply with local parking regulations and don’t illegally block entry.

The situation can, nevertheless, vary substantially regarding private driveways, allocated parking spots, and spaces specified within property documentation or rental contracts. The HomeOwners Alliance suggests that property owners examine Land Registry records or tenancy paperwork to determine exactly what parking rights relate to their home.

Advertisement

According to official GOV.UK guidance, it is against the law for anyone to block access to a driveway in a way that stops vehicles from being able to pull in or out of a property. Local councils and police forces may step in where such obstruction creates difficulties accessing a property or breaches parking rules.

Specialists also warn homeowners against taking matters into their own hands by boxing vehicles in, clamping cars or causing damage to property. Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, clamping vehicles on private land without lawful authority was made illegal in England and Wales.

For those living in flats or managed developments, parking rows can occasionally draw in management companies or permit schemes. Consumer advice consistently recommends carefully reading through lease terms before taking complaints further with neighbours.

Online forums are filled with complaints from homeowners frustrated by neighbours repeatedly parking in designated bays, visitor spaces or directly outside their driveways. Many disputes appear to escalate when parking shortages worsen during evenings and at weekends.

According to Citizens Advice, residents dealing with persistent parking issues are generally encouraged to first attempt to resolve matters informally through a calm conversation. Should problems continue, homeowners may need to contact landlords, managing agents, councils or seek legal guidance depending on where the disputed parking space is located.

On Thursday, the Israeli charge d’affaires Daniela Grudsky Ekstein was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which said the move reflected the UK’s “strong condemnation of his (Mr Ben-Gvir’s) conduct in taunting those involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla”.

Ashley Cole was cemented as England’s first-choice left-back for the 2010 World Cup, but who would go to South Africa as his understudy?

With Wayne Bridge making himself unavailable, the choice for boss Fabio Capello came down to either Everton’s Leighton Baines or Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock, who both made the provisional squad.

When the group returned home from their pre-tournament training camp in Austria, it was still unclear who he would take.

“We were told we’d get a phone call one way or another,” Warnock recalled. “We knew the call would come on the day the squad came out, from a certain number and before a certain time, because they would be announcing it straight afterwards. So I was at home, literally just waiting by the phone.

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to go because in the two warm-up games we’d just played, against Mexico and Japan, I hadn’t kicked a ball.

“My England career at that point was the seven minutes I’d played against Trinidad and Tobago two years earlier, in June 2008.

“I’d gone to Austria with an ankle injury that I’d picked up in Villa’s last game of the season.

“I went on holiday but had a scan when I was away and then spoke to the physios when I came back and basically told them I am going to do everything I can to get in the World Cup squad.

“I told them to strap me up and I would limp through training for the first week. When I was in Austria I was having physio every hour of the day I could get it, and I worked on my ankle as much as possible.

“I don’t know if that was being relayed to the management, but when I didn’t play in either game, I thought that was me done, that Capello wasn’t going to take me now.

“I remember exactly where I was when I got the call.

“I am divorced now but I was in the house with my now ex-wife and I went upstairs to my bedroom when the phone rang, because I just wanted to be on my own. I just remember walking downstairs saying ‘I’m going!’ and I was probably in a bit of shock.

“It was Franco Baldini [Capello’s assistant] who rang and I have no idea if he called everyone else to tell them – I didn’t know how it worked, and I didn’t care!

“Baldini just said, ‘listen, you’ve had a great season, we knew what you were capable of anyway and we love your attitude – we think you will be perfect around the camp for training and things like that.

“‘You know Ash is going to be difficult to budge, because he doesn’t get injured and he doesn’t not play, but we think you’re the perfect back-up to him, in terms of your professionalism and everything else’.

“I was like, “yeah 100%, that will do me”. I knew what my role would be anyway, so that was fine.”

While the good news came as a surprise to Warnock, a clue was already out there.

The previous day, England kit manufacturer Umbro had sent muralists to the hometowns of every player in the squad to paint their shirt number in a prominent place as a play on their ‘tailored by’ slogan.

For Warnock, that was a wall on the side of the O’Este restaurant at a busy crossroads in Ormskirk.

As Wales prepares for a heatwave reaching 32C, Abereiddy’s Blue Lagoon in Pembrokeshire offers the perfect wild swimming escape – named by The Telegraph as one of the UK’s finest spots, with turquoise waters that rival the Greek islands

A stunning blue lagoon presents the ideal opportunity to escape the heat as Britain prepares to sizzle hotter than Ibiza.

The nation is bracing for scorching temperatures, with some areas forecast to hit a sweltering 30C on Saturday, 23 May, and 32C on Sunday, with the hot spell anticipated to extend into the week ahead. Britain’s blistering conditions will surpass Ibiza’s Mediterranean warmth, which is expected to reach just 23C and 24C over the weekend, undoubtedly encouraging Britons to embrace the glorious home-grown sunshine.

The timing of the heatwave couldn’t be better, arriving just before the May half-term and bank holiday weekend, with people across the country already plotting excursions to local beaches, parks and lidos to soak up the sun.

One tranquil bathing location that could be mistaken for a slice of Greece, thanks to its striking azure waters, lies in Pembrokeshire.

Advertisement

The Blue Lagoon, alternatively known as Abereiddy, is a cherished wild-swimming haven tucked within Abereiddi Bay, surrounded by striking, craggy cliffs. The protected lagoon offers perfect conditions for cooling swims throughout the summer season, while its vivid blue depths have established it as a favoured location for cliff diving from its rocky platforms.

Undoubtedly amongst Britain’s most breathtaking natural swimming spots, this lagoon has been sculpted from a former quarry, with traces of its industrial past still on display. The quarry’s slate is thought to give the lagoon its signature turquoise colour, which attracts countless visitors, and The Telegraph even ranked it amongst the nation’s best wild swimming destinations.

After a visit last September, one Tripadvisor user gushed: “What a wonder, a beach indeed a bay with breathtaking views, climbing the hill is simple and the view of the lagoon is simply spectacular. Not to be missed.”

Another traveller remarked: “A real surprise! A five-minute walk from the beautiful beach, this lagoon is different. It’s in a stunning setting with gorgeous views. Green water, deep and clear, pretty cold! Places to jump in, but you need to know what you’re doing! It’s a slate quarry mixed with water, so skin and clothing mixed means you end up pretty grubby, but it’s worth it! Memorable early evening experience.”

A third observed: “Much easier to view Blue Lagoon from Aberrieddy than walking from Porthgain unless you’re more energetic than me. When we went in May, people were jumping from the top. Nice beach at Aberrieddy and ice creams.”

Yet Pembrokeshire’s appeal extends far beyond its stunning Blue Lagoon. The county boasts extensive sweeps of golden sandy shores, striking clifftop panoramas, and vast expanses of undulating rural terrain within the spectacular Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Keen walkers can tackle the 186-mile coastal path, with the flexibility to cover whatever distance suits them while absorbing the scenic beauty along the way. Nevertheless, with warm sunshine bathing the UK, a cooling plunge into its azure waters and a leisurely beach day could prove the ideal way to spend the weekend or May half-term break.

The former Manchester United manager has been linked with a return to Portuguese football having been out of work since leaving Old Trafford in January

Representatives of Ruben Amorim have released a statement confirming the Portuguese manager will not return to work in Portugal, emphasising his desire to pursue his career overseas. The former Manchester United boss had been touted as a potential successor to Jose Mourinho at Benfica, with ex-United chief Mourinho poised to take over at Real Madrid after agreeing to rejoin the Santiago Bernabeu.

Amorim, who established his managerial reputation with Sporting Clube de Portugal, joined Old Trafford with considerable acclaim. But he experienced a difficult 14-month tenure in charge before being dismissed by the club in January.

United’s form has subsequently improved significantly under Michael Carrick, who is now widely anticipated to be given the head coach role permanently. Amorim, on the other hand, maintains strong connections to both Sporting and Benfica and shares a close friendship with Benfica president Rui Costa, who worked as the club’s sporting director during Amorim’s playing spell at the Estadio da Luz.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Their relationship had generated speculation about a potential homecoming to Benfica as manager. Nevertheless, AS1 Sports, the agency acting for Amorim, has stated that he will not assume control of any Portuguese club.

The 41-year-old has previously managed SC Braga, Sporting and Casa Pia during his spell in his homeland.

The statement read: “In light of the latest news regarding Ruben Amorim’s future, particularly by SIC’s ‘Jornal da Noite’ – it is important to clarify the following: Ruben Amorim made the decision a long time ago to pursue his career abroad.

“Therefore, he has not had any meetings with Portuguese clubs to discuss working conditions, structure, squad, salaries, or any other matters; anything said beyond this is mere speculation and has no basis with reality.”

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

Advertisement

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

With Amorim having taken himself out of contention, reports now suggest Fulham manager Marco Silva is poised to assume the role at Benfica, with an ‘agreement in principle’ already said to be in place.

Silva, who has been at Craven Cottage since 2021, is understood to have favoured a homecoming over prolonging his tenure with the west London club. When quizzed about his prospects, Silva acknowledged he has never ruled out embracing a fresh challenge.

“[The Premier League] is a league that, I won’t hide, fulfils me – It’s a league where I believe all coaches have that goal and that little bug of wanting to try it one day,” he said in an interview with DAZN Portugal last week.

“It’s a league where I want to see my team fighting for other things, I want to see my team able to fight for something more, and that has always been the goal.

“But I’ve also never closed any doors to anything, I’ve never said that I wouldn’t be in league A, B, C or D in the future. Regardless of controlling all the decisions I might make regarding it, the future is open.”

Born in Lisbon, the manager had brief spells in charge of Sporting and Estoril before taking the reins at Olympiacos, subsequently going on to manage four English clubs – Hull City, Watford, Everton and Fulham.

The King and Queen have kicked off the final day of their three day visit to Northern Ireland with a visit to Newtownards.

Bringing Their Majesties’ NI visit to a close, The King and Queen are visiting the Co Down town and its community.

The King is visiting Ards Allotments, which was founded by Maurice Patton after watching Charles visit an allotment on the news more than 20 years ago.

Charles is meeting the community of volunteers, gardeners and growers who use the allotment space to grow fresh produce as well as forging social connections.

Elsewhere Camilla is set to meet survivors of domestic abuse being supported by Women’s Aid in Newtownards.

The royal couple arrived in Belfast on Tuesday. Their latest Northern Ireland visit began with a vibrant celebration of music, creativity and rich, diverse cultural heritage, as they joined organisers and performers to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann coming to Belfast this August, for the first time.

The King and Queen also visited Titanic Distillers where they met distillery staff, learned about the whiskey‑making process and had the opportunity to sample some themselves.

In the afternoon, the royal couple went their separate ways. The King visited the W5 Life (Learning Innovation for Everyone) programme, at Belfast SSE Arena, which works in partnership with the King’s Trust, Microsoft and Almac to build Stem capability and open up new career pathways.

Meanwhile Queen Camilla visited Fane Street Primary School, which has 285 pupils representing 45 countries and speaking 47 different languages.

Later during audiences at Hillsborough Castle, King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

On Wednesday, The King received an unwanted memento from a visit to Newcastle where he celebrated the work of local charities – a splattering from a seagull. The Queen carried out a solo royal visit in Royal Hillsborough which included pouring a pint of Guinness.

The royal couple ended their day by hosting a garden party at Hillsborough Castle, the King’s official residence in Northern Ireland, and the Queen met soldiers and officers from The Rifles, the regiment she serves as Colonel-in-Chief.

Follow our live blog below or for all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here.

The group have moved to the car park of Newbury Community Centre in Farnworth.

The Bolton News received reports of the encampment on the evening of Tuesday, May 20, with images showing multiple caravans parked across the site at Buckley Lane, Bolton.

Their arrival comes just a day after travellers were reported to have parked up in Peel Park, Little Hulton, on Monday, May 19.

Unauthorised encampments happen when groups stop on land without the landowner’s permission.

Councils and police have legal powers to deal with encampments, but they must follow specific procedures before people can be moved on.

It is not yet known how long the group intends to remain at the site.

Bolton Council has been contacted for comment regarding the encampment and whether any action will be taken.