Manuel Neuer’s legacy in the German national team is only partially settled. Young keepers with international prospects have become rare. But even on them, you can place a bet at 22Bet.
Manuel Neuer has made his decision: The 2014 world champion is retiring from the national soccer team after 15 years as number 1.
When Tobias Haupt was still working as head of the academy for the German Football Association (DFB), the far-sighted professor liked to put his finger in the wound. The former Bayernliga goalkeeper warned two years ago that Germany was not prepared for the time after Manuel Neuer. When Marc-André retires at the latest, we will have a shortage of German goalkeepers.
Someone was worried that Germany was gambling away its reputation as a goalkeeping nation. Admittedly, the problem is not yet acute following Neuer’s retirement: for the time being, Marc-André ter Stegen (32) should be pleased to finally enjoy the confidence of the DFB team.
At the home European Championships, the FC Barcelona goalkeeper swallowed his frustration with difficulty. For twelve long years, the Mönchengladbach player, who was voted the best player in the Spanish league in the previous season, has remained in the role of crown prince.
Since September 2023, Tommi Schmitt has been accompanying the national team players Marc ter Stegen, Robin Gosens, and Niclas Füllkrug in the crucial preparation phase before the European Championship.
Rudi Völler Is Not Worried
“He’s another world-class goalkeeper waiting for his chance. We have no worries,” said DFB sports director Rudi Völler recently. When the squad is named for the Nations League games against Hungary (September 7) and the Netherlands (September 10), national coach Julian Nagelsmann is expected to officially announce the new status of the 40-time national keeper. If only to avoid creating uncertainty in this key position.
Behind him, Alexander Nübel (27) from VfB Stuttgart, who was booted out as fourth goalkeeper before the European Championships, is hoping to be appointed as deputy, as Bernd Leno (32) from Fulham FC, Oliver Baumann (34) from TSG Hoffenheim and even more so Kevin Trapp (34) from Eintracht Frankfurt are no longer considered long-term solutions. Trapp had already passed through Nagelsmann’s sieve in the spring because his opening no longer suited his style.
Goalkeeping Coordinator Marc Ziegler Sees A Cardinal Problem
The age structure shows that Haupt was quite right to present detailed statistics on how much more match practice the Italian classman Gianluigi Donnarumma had already gained at a young age. Together with DFB goalkeeping coordinator Marc Ziegler, he therefore launched the “N28” project during his time in office to shape a goalkeeper with international prospects by the 2028 European Championship.
Up-And-Coming Goalkeepers Need Time
In the Bundesliga, foreigners often hold the regular positions: the Finn Lukas Hradecky at Bayer Leverkusen, the Swiss Gregor Kobel at Borussia Dortmund or the Hungarian Peter Gulacsi at RB Leipzig. The association has therefore created a “goalkeeper DNA” with the requirements profile of the future to future-proof its selection teams in this position.
The problem: such projects take time – and the clubs have to go along with them. Trainer Ziegler repeatedly named the cardinal problem: “The older players play because they are good, the young players don’t generate added value because they don’t play. They have to take detours.” They also need support, such as that enjoyed by Noah Atubolu (22) at SC Freiburg. Even after failures, mentor Christian Streich kept building up the German U21 international keeper.
The Talents Play In The Bundesliga 2
The promoted Moritz Nicolas (26) at Borussia Mönchengladbach and Michael Zetterer (29) at Werder Bremen received similar encouragement. To discover German goalkeeper prospects, you have to look to the Bundesliga 2, where the youngsters are playing. First and foremost, Jonas Urbig (21), the new regular goalkeeper at 1. FC Köln, but also Felix Gebhardt (22) from Jahn Regensburg and, of course, Ernst Tjark (21) at Hertha BSC have good potential.
But Are They Growing Up To Be World-Class?
Neuer was 20 years old when Mirko Slomka trusted him at FC Schalke 04, then soon after Joachim Löw in the national team.
The Gelsenkirchen native was supposed to take goalkeeping to a new level worldwide. His heirs are not expected to do so, as they are simply expected to lead the DFB team to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico without any mistakes. Nobody can seriously predict what will happen in the German domain after this tournament.
But we will see what the future brings. But for sure the German national team lost many of its talents this year. Not only Manuel Neuer but also Thomas Müller and many more. We are looking forward to meeting all the new gifted players in the upcoming tournaments.
