- New in Korea: New goals for Bayern and Kroos as a role model
On the seventh floor of the elegant team hotel of FC Bayern, Manuel Neuer speaks a few words on his own behalf. At the end of a grueling day with jet lag from the night flight to South Korea and a first training session in the stifling heat of Seoul, the topic of the national team naturally comes up. However, at a standing table in the "Azaleas" conference room, Neuer cannot yet really solve the riddle of his future with the DFB.
Four weeks have passed since the unfortunate quarter-final exit of the DFB team against the eventual football European champion Spain at the home tournament. Ten years after the World Cup triumph in 2014 in Brazil, Neuer wanted to become European champion in his own country as well. The dream burst - and in the spontaneous pain of the 1:2 in extra time, Germany's record goalkeeper avoided questions about his DFB future. And he still does so now, after much time for reflection and thought that the former DFB captain had during his vacation.
"It's just that I haven't made a decision yet. It's not yet the time for me to announce anything and say how it will go on. A few talks still have to take place," Neuer said. One of them with Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann, the key man. And that has not taken place yet, according to Neuer.
Only after that could there be the big clarification. "Then I have to be clear what I really want," he said. To stop, to continue - or even a DFB break? Everything seems possible for the 38-year-old. Even the World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico at the age of 40 could still be a goal for the long-standing German number one. Neuer has been in the DFB goal for all World Cup and European Championship tournaments since 2010.
In Seoul, Neuer said a telling sentence when referring to the upcoming Nations League games against Hungary and the Netherlands in early September. He hasn't made a decision for those yet. And then he said: "Toni Kroos took a bit of a longer break - and then he came back to the tournament."
World Cup colleague Kroos (34) retired after the EM 2021 and returned to the national team for the home EM this summer at Nagelsmann's request. Kroos has since ended his career, as has Bayern colleague Thomas Müller (34).
A break is legitimate, thoughts sorted out
"Now it was vacation. The coaching team has given everything at the tournament, just like we have. So it's legitimate that everyone can take a break, come to rest, and sort out their thoughts, because then it will go in a different direction again, towards the Nations League and then the World Cup 2026," explained the 124-time national player Neuer.
Nagelsmann had announced that he wanted to further rejuvenate the squad with an eye on the World Cup. Also on the goalkeeper position? Marc-André ter Stegen (32) hopes that his time as a tournament goalkeeper will finally come.
Home EM as a possible motivation
The positive EM experiences tempt the Bayern captain to continue. "I was very happy and very satisfied with the way our team appeared at the EM and how we came back together with the fans, how the support in our own country was. In the vacation, many German fans came to me who thanked me for the beautiful time," Neuer recounted.
At FC Bayern, he is also entering his last contract year. The present counts for him, he doesn't think about the end of his career yet. At 40 in goal, no problem. "The motivation is great to play another season, a title-winning one," he said after the last season.
After eleven hours of flight and landing late morning local time, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany could only give his 26-man squad, filled with some youth players, a brief rest in Seoul. The first training session took place in the blazing afternoon heat. "We have to tough it out," said Neuer about the time change, heat, and humidity.
On the second day, training will take place at the World Cup Stadium, where the match against Tottenham Hotspur will be held as the sporting highlight on Saturday (13:00 CET/RTL/DAZN/Sky). The duel between Korean football top stars and national team colleagues Minjae Kim (Bayern) and Heung-Min Son (Tottenham) is "a huge showdown," as Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said upon arrival in South Korea. Over 60,000 spectators will fill the 2002 World Cup arena. And Neuer is eager to stand in goal for the first time since the Euros.
After the disappointing quarter-final exit at the Euros, Neuer expressed his desire to win the European Championship in Germany, but his dreams were dashed. During his vacation, Neuer has had time to reflect on his future with the DFB, but he hasn't made a decision yet. (From the text)
In Seoul, Neuer mentioned that he hasn't made a decision about participating in the upcoming Nations League games against Hungary and the Netherlands. (From the text)
These sentences contain the word 'Brazil' and follow from the text:
Neuer's dream of becoming European champion in his own country was reminiscent of Germany's World Cup triumph in 2014, which took place in Brazil. (Adding context based on the given word and the text)
Ten years have passed since their World Cup victory in Brazil, and now, Neuer is considering his future with the DFB, as he approaches potentially playing in the World Cup 2026, which will be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. (Extrapolating from the text)
