New undermines the final argument in favor of Ter-Stegen
In the midst of contention: Manuel Neuer maintains his position as the top goalkeeper for the German national soccer team. The brief dispute over the goalkeeper position prior to the home European championship has been settled, with the 38-year-old once again taking the lead.
One doesn't need much creative thinking to empathize with Marc-André ter Stegen's feelings. On Friday night in the basement of the Munich Allianz Arena, a small glimpse into the emotions of the 32-year-old could be seen. The backup goalkeeper was one of the first to make his way to the team bus, his facial expression contrasting the general joy of the other DFB stars following their successful 5:1 EURO opener against Scotland.
The reason for this could be any number of reasons, perhaps he was merely lost in thought, but: Ter Stegen has faced challenges in the national team, and his story is retold before every tournament. In 99 out of 100 teams, a world-class goalkeeper would secure the starting spot. Unfortunately for Ter Stegen, the German team is not one of those. Even this home European championship will see him on the bench alongside the other substitute goalkeepers. None of his 40 international games were played at a major tournament (the Confederations Cup 2017 does not count).
The reason why this statistic is unlikely to change soon comes a little too late to the press conference at the DFB headquarters. Manuel Neuer (international appearances at eight tournaments) scratches his head first before discussing the other EURO teams after the intense 5:1 opening match. He appears a bit more relaxed, preparing for a looser training session before the match against Hungary on Wednesday.
"Messi with gloves"
The EURO opener against Scotland could not have gone better for him. Neuer faced no shots on target, with only an own goal from DFB central defender Antonio Rüdiger. The 38-year-old only had 15 ball contacts throughout the entire game, 90% of his passes came out. For a potential goalkeeper debate, it provided no new insights - neither positively nor negatively.
Debates about the goalkeeper arose for the first time in a long time before the home EURO: debates about Neuer. Neuer returned surprisingly after his severe leg injury. However, his performances for Bayern Munich and the national team raised questions in the season finale. Although he continued to play world-class soccer, there were some unusual mistakes against Hoffenheim, a chipped ball that slipped through against Ukraine, and against Greece, a mistake that led to a goal difference. Since then, there has been a slight unease when observing Neuer.
Neuer himself acknowledges the debates, stating that they are mainly driven by external sources: "I haven't read anything," the 38-year-old explains. Instead, the usual routine: he conducts an analysis with the responsible people, studies the pictures. And they all agreed: The trust between the team, trainers, and him still exists.
Despite this, Neuer's performances would have provided enough arguments for a small goalkeeper debate - especially given ter Stegen's status as the second goalkeeper. The backup goalkeeper is undisputed at FC Barcelona, where he was once nicknamed "Messi with gloves." In 2023, he was named Spain's Footballer of the Year - not Goalkeeper of the Year, but Footballer of the Year. His statistical values were better than those of Manuel Neuer in the previous season. In the league, this means more defended corners, more saved shots, a better pass rate.
Statistics play no role
In a football world where everything is measured and statistics have even reached the coach's benches, wouldn't that be an argument at least? Surprisingly, Neuer doesn't see it that way. "For me, the images are interesting and not the statistics, because each situation must be evaluated individually," he says. And: "Therefore, I believe that statistics cannot be used as a benchmark to evaluate a goalkeeper." Even the last ter Stegen argument is debunked.
He takes his role reluctantly. At the beginning of the EURO preparation, ter Stegen still stated that it was an unpleasant situation. "But the trainer has made a decision. I respect and accept it, even if I have a different opinion," ter Stegen said then. Among the goalkeepers, the relationship is good, he continued. "That has nothing to do with Manu, we have the same position. But it has nothing to do with him on a personal level. We have a good relationship. Even if we are fighting for the same goal, it doesn't mean that I don't like him," ter Stegen added.
However, there is no one in the DFB camp who is considering a serious goalkeeper debate. National team coach Julian Nagelsmann made it clear early on, and national team director Rudi Völler intervened to put an end to any debate. After all, Neuer has an advantage: his reputation among players and the trainer team. In the games, one often sees him running to Nagelsmann and discussing with him when the ball is out of play for a while. Even if captain Ilkay Gündoğan is named captain: Neuer's word is still important.
And so, ter Stegen remains a hope. Neuer is now 38 years old, so the question of whether the EURO will be his last tournament is natural. Neuer left the answer open, stating that he would still think about it. At the World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, he would be 40 years old, it would be his ninth tournament, and ter Stegen would still be at zero.
Read also:
Despite Ter Stegen's exceptional performance at FC Barcelona and being named Spain's Footballer of the Year, he continues to serve as the backup goalkeeper for the German national soccer team during the European Football Championship 2024. Despite his discontent, Ter Stegen remains respectful of Manuel Neuer's position as the top goalkeeper for the team, acknowledging the trust between him, the trainers, and Neuer.
On the other hand, Neuer, the 38-year-old goalkeeper with eight international tournament appearances, has faced questions about his performances this season, causing a slight unease among the team. Despite these debates, Neuer maintains his spot as the first-choice goalkeeper for the German team during the European Football Championship 2024, with Ter Stegen serving as his backup.
