Julian Nagelsmann has confirmed Manuel Neuer will be Germany's first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup, admitting his relationship with Oliver Baumann "suffered" when he informed the Hoffenheim shot-stopper.

On Thursday, Neuer was named in Nagelsmann's 26-man squad for the upcoming tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, two years after retiring from international football.

In Neuer's absence, Hoffenheim's Baumann started all six of Germany's qualifiers, keeping four clean sheets and only conceding three goals.

Baumann also kept seven clean sheets in 34 Bundesliga appearances for Hoffenheim this campaign, registering a 64% save percentage – marginally better than Neuer's 60% for Bayern.

But Nagelsmann has already made up his mind regarding who will start between the sticks against Curacao on June 14, going with the experience of 40-year-old Neuer. 

"With a team, you try to nominate the largest possible number of top players. With the goalkeepers, the main task is to nominate the three best goalkeepers," he said. 

"That's why we decided to ask him if he would like to play for the national team again. There were many conversations, both with him and between the coaching team. 

"Everyone knows what kind of aura Manu has and what he gives to a team. He has committed himself to playing a tournament again. 

"We are planning with him as number 1 – with the knowledge that we have a world-class 1B solution with us. The decision has been made and is the right one, for me."

Asked how Baumann had taken the news, Nagelsmann added: "The internal communications between Oli and me or Manu and me will remain internal. 

"We told Oli in March that we had spoken to Manu. In the end, the decision was a blow for Oli. It's never nice news. 

"I take my hat off to him for playing a good season. He performed very well and he said that he would never let the team down.

"When Manu plays, he helps the team. Manu has an extremely large number of titles, has an aura, an extremely big name. 

"That's why Oli doesn't feel degraded. He has been given the confidence to qualify for the World Cup. I am very grateful to him for that. 

"We've known each other forever. Of course, the relationship suffered a bit when you convey such a message."

Germany will also face Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E and are the Opta supercomputer's sixth favourites to win the World Cup, with a 6% chance.

Spain (16%), France (13%), England (11%), Argentina (10%), Portugal and Brazil (both 7%) are all more heavily favoured than Nagelsmann's team.