European Championship quarter-finals - Quarter-final specialist Neuer the trump card against Spain
On the oldest player on the German football national team, it particularly matters against Spain. Manuel Neuer, the quarterfinal specialist for the DFB team, is determined to crown his impressive international career at home EM with the title. This title is still missing from his football CV as the World Cup champion of 2014. "We have been ready for the EM title for a long time," Neuer said.
For him, it's now about "putting the last puzzle piece in place." The strong Spaniards are the ultimate test on the way to the final in Berlin on Friday (18.00 Uhr/ARD and MagentaTV). "I feel good and am looking forward to every game," Neuer said in the MagentaTV interview. He has already put to rest initial doubts about his status as the reliable number one and as a backup.
116 goals conceded in 123 international games, 50 clean sheets
In the 2:0 against Denmark in the round of 16, he kept a clean sheet for the 50th time in an international game. In 123 games for Germany, he conceded a total of 116 goals, which is less than one per game. His record shows 81 wins, 23 draws, and 19 losses. He spent a total of 10,980 minutes in the DFB goal, which is equivalent to 183 hours or 7.6 days.
However, what is more important: With Neuer in goal, the national team has so far successfully played every quarterfinal game at a tournament. And the eternal German number one had a hand in that on multiple occasions. World Cup 2010 in South Africa: 4:0 against Argentina. European Championship 2012 in Poland and Ukraine: 4:2 against Greece. World Cup 2014 in Brazil: A 1:0 against France on the way to the title win.
The penalty shootout drama against Italy
And most recently at the European Championship 2016: The first German success ever against anxiety opponents Italy, as Neuer saved the penalties from Leonardo Bonucci and Matteo Darmian in a dramatic penalty shootout with a total of 18 shots and several missed attempts on both sides. Who knows, Neuer could be the penalty shootout hero again in Stuttgart against Spain.
The upcoming International match against Spain presents a significant challenge for Neuer and the German national team. With Baden-Württemberg serving as the host for the tournament series, the DFB team aims to secure a victory in the soccer final in Berlin. Neuer, known for his outstanding performance in quarterfinals, hopes to seal his career with the EM title.
The strong Spanish team provides the ultimate trial on the path to the final on Friday at 18:00 Uhr on ARD and MagentaTV. Despite facing early concerns about his performance, Neuer has proved his reliability as the top goalkeeper and backup. His impressive record includes 81 wins, 23 draws, and 19 losses in 123 international games, where he has conceded just 116 goals, averaging less than one goal per game.
Neuer's influence on the team has been proven in various tournament quarterfinals, including the 4:0 victory against Argentina in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Moreover, he played a crucial role in the 2012 European Championship, where Germany won 4:2 against Greece, and the World Cup 2014, with a 1:0 victory against France.
Furthermore, Neuer showed his prowess as a penalty shootout hero in the 2016 European Championship, saving the penalties from Leonardo Bonucci and Matteo Darmian against Italy, paving the way for Germany's first-ever win against the anxiety opponents in a dramatic penalty shootout. The final match in Stuttgart against Spain presents another opportunity for Neuer to display his penalty shootout heroics.
The Bavarian-born Manuel Neuer's journey towards securing the title in his hometown continues, and he remains optimistic about the future, expressing his excitement for every game while training diligently to impress his 43.9 million Instagram followers, adding another achievement to his already impressive football CV.
