National team - Goalkeeper Ter Stegen threatened with a setback at the European Championship: speculation about surgery
Marc-André ter Stegen is in danger of being ruled out of the duel with Manuel Neuer for the goal of the national soccer team. Spanish media even speculated that the 31-year-old might have to undergo an operation due to his persistent back problems.
"The alarm bells are ringing: An operation is imminent," headlined the Catalan newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" in a report on the FC Barcelona goalkeeper. The coaching staff and doctors at the traditional club want to discuss "the next steps".
There has been no reaction from ter Stegen or his club, nor has there been a prognosis on how long he will be out of action. Coach Xavi Hernández merely acknowledged the prevailing uncertainty after the 1-0 win in the top match against Atlético Madrid: "Marc has some discomfort in his back and we'll see how things go this week. He has these complaints that he hasn't been able to cure yet and we'll see," he said.
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Ter Stegen had already missed the DFB team's two test matches against Turkey (2:3) and in Austria (0:2) at short notice due to back problems and also had to sit out three of Barça's subsequent matches. "Nothing has been decided one hundred percent yet, but as conservative treatment is not producing the expected results, it is time to consider other options," wrote the specialist newspaper "Sport".
Ter Stegen had been in goal for the national team in eight of nine international matches this year until he was ruled out in November. Thanks to his good performances in the DFB team and with the Spanish champions, he was considered the clear number one in the absence of Manuel Neuer following his leg fracture and the designated starting goalkeeper for next summer's European Championship.
Following Neuer's comeback in goal for FC Bayern Munich in October, there are increasing signs that the 37-year-old could once again replace his long-time deputy as a regular. Neuer has recently reiterated this claim several times. At the European Championship draw in Hamburg on Saturday, national coach Julian Nagelsmann assured that Neuer would be back in the DFB squad for the next international matches in March, "if he stays healthy and plays like he is now." Kevin Trapp was in the DFB goal in the November games. The Frankfurt player is considered the number three for the European Championship behind Neuer and ter Stegen.
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Source: www.stern.de
