How is Neuer’s form?
A small goalkeeper concern occupies the DFB team
By Sebastian Schneider
31.05.2024, 19:14
The German national football team is facing a major problem at the European Championships at home: what about the goalkeeper position? Manuel Neuer has had a difficult season after breaking his leg, and there are also problems with his replacement. And yet: Nagelsmann is clearly relying on his number one.
It has been exactly 546 days since Manuel Neuer last guarded the goal for the German national football team. Back then, it was in the desert of Qatar: The DFB team won the last World Cup group match 4:2 against Costa Rica, but still had to pack their bags early. Being knocked out in the group stage was nothing new for the national team after 2018, but their captain had to experience something unusual: criticism of Manuel Neuer, the actually untouchable multiple world goalkeeper.
On Monday, when the DFB team plays its penultimate test before the European Championship in their own country, Neuer returns to the pitch against Ukraine (8.45 p.m./ARD and in the ntv.de live ticker) The 38-year-old’s long spell with the DFB is set to end. The number one is returning to goal. But a lot has happened in that time. Still with a lot of World Cup frustration in his luggage, Neuer went on a ski tour at Tegernsee a few days after his return from the desert and broke his tibia and fibula. The comeback at FC Bayern dragged on for weeks and months. Finally, Neuer returned, almost a year after the injury. First to FC Bayern and now, a year and a half after the accident, to the DFB team.
The injury turned out to be more serious than expected over time, and former Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel called it a “great gift” that Neuer had returned. Little things kept setting him back. Only “one in 20,000, one in 20 million players” manages a comeback after such an injury, said Tuchel. Normally, an injury like this obviously means the end of a career, especially at an advanced age for a footballer.
Neuer suddenly wobbles
And yet: Neuer may be back, but the DFB team’s unshakeable pillar has cracked. First of all, physically. In February he was plagued by slight knee problems, but he was fit just in time for the top match against Leverkusen. But he was unable to prevent the 3-0 defeat. He had to cancel the national team’s March international matches with a torn muscle fiber. After missing Julian Nagelsmann’s home debut in November, the DFB comeback was also canceled. And now again: This time he can only start later due to a gastrointestinal infection, and is watching the training camp in Thuringia mainly from the fitness tent.
It is nothing new that Neuer does not travel to a tournament in top form. He did that in 2018 (broken foot) and 2022 (shoulder problems), so it is perhaps not the best omen. But in addition to his physical condition, there are also slight sporting doubts. Like for many Bayern pros, he has had a difficult season – despite his comeback. He was only able to parry just over 60 percent of the shots that flew at his goal in the Bundesliga. Compared to the rest of the league, that is a mediocre figure at best.
There were also surprising lapses. On the last Bundesliga matchday, FC Bayern had nothing left to play for, but Neuer showed a surprisingly error-prone performance. In the 2:4 defeat against Hoffenheim, he didn’t look good on three of the four goals conceded. He twice passed to his teammates ungratefully, and in the 2:3 defeat he misjudged the situation and didn’t even go for the ball.
Now it can be argued: well, it was ultimately a better performance against TSG, even if it cost Munich the runner-up spot. Actually. But he didn’t just make mistakes in an unimportant game, but also at a very high level – for example in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. There it became clear how unfair the goalkeeping position actually is. Neuer made several world-class saves, but probably no one remembers them. Because the multiple world goalkeeper experienced his very own Oliver Kahn moment. Shortly before the end he dropped a ball from Vinicius Jr., Real’s Joselu pounced on it, and Neuer found himself in a nightmare.
What does this mean for the DFB team?
He will definitely be in goal for the European Championships at home, the long-time captain was guaranteed a starting place by Nagelsmann back in March. “If he’s healthy,” the national coach emphasized again, Neuer will be in goal for the opening match on June 14 in Munich against Scotland. “Of course,” he added. Nagelmann also deviated from his self-proclaimed performance principle – only Leroy Sané and Manuel Neuer were given these special roles. Because Manuel Neuer is still Manuel Neuer. The goalkeeper who can drive world-class attackers to despair and decide games.
Especially since the goalkeeper position in the DFB team is not a weak point, at least on paper. Behind Neuer there is someone who also deserves the title of “world class”. The unfortunate Marc-André ter Stegen has been playing at a high level for FC Barcelona for years. He was player of the season last year, and “Marca” once dubbed him “Messi with gloves”. The 32-year-old would probably have a secure place in any other national team – but no other national team has a Manuel Neuer.
This time, too, timing is not playing into his hands. Ter Stegen has had a difficult year. He has been struggling with back problems for a long time, and FC Barcelona has had a similarly chaotic and unsuccessful season as FC Bayern. Most recently, he made a huge mistake when he tried to lob a Valencia FC attacker. Ter Stegen’s ball only made it to chest height, and Hugo Duro was able to slot it into the empty goal. The Spanish press then tore the German number two to shreds.
And even if Nagelsmann has not changed the goalkeeper rankings, the national coach has reacted in some way. The usual three keepers are not going to the European Championships at home, but four. The reason: load management. “For anyone who has ever been in goal, when 20 players suddenly fire 400 shots, it is relatively stressful,” explained Nagelsmann when nominating the squad. “And we have a tight schedule of games. That’s why it’s good to distribute the load. That’s why we’ll go with four goalkeepers.” And perhaps also to be well prepared for possible absences given the injury history.