Niklas Süle speaks on squad competition, Manuel Neuer, and more at Germany’s press conference

Niklas Süle joined Germany’s assistant coach, Thomas Schneider, and U-20 coach, Frank Kramer in a press conference earlier today at Die Mannschaft’s camp in Eppan, Italy (via Dfb.de). During the presser, Sule spoke on Germany’s overall preparations for the World Cup, his Bayern teammate Manuel Neuer, competition among the squad, and more.

Realizing that there is a plethora of defenders in Germany’s provisional squad for the World Cup, Süle admitted that it’s entirely up to Joachim Low who he chooses to play, and also said that he hopes Boateng is fully fit before the tournament begins:

We have great players at the center back position. I know Mats from the club team, and I hope that Jerome gets healthy for the tournament. I think Jogi Löw will pick the best options. It obviously won’t be easy for him, but he wanted it that way.

Still, though, the center back is grateful to see so many players having worked their way from Germany’s junior squads all the way to the senior team:

It’s nice that so many players from the Confederations Cup on the team. We really were one unit. It’s obviously a great sign for the DFB that so many national team players have already played together at the U-Levels. It shows we’re on the right path.

Neuer was back in action for 70 minutes during the senior team’s scrimmage against the U-20 squad and put in a solid shift. Speaking on his Bayern teammate, Süle said that the keeper hardly looks like he’s been out for several months:

Neuer picked those things [balls] out of the air as if he’d never been gone. His body language is unbelievable, he’s the best goalie in the world. He did a great job today, and had two or three really good reflexes. In the first game against the U-20 we played together, and he just has unbelievable charisma. He’s extremely important for us.

Looking forward to the friendly against Austria this weekend, Süle knows it will be the best test yet for the squad since starting their training camp:

It’s an important test for the entire team. Austra has a very good team. We train very hard and might possibly be fatigued, but we have to function as a team. Every player wants to prove himself to be able to jump on the world cup train.

Comically, Süle also commented on his love of including burgers in his diet. The towering center back reminded everyone that he’s never missed a training session this season or had any real injury problems: