Weird controversy in Germany with Ter Stegen’s ‘1’

The goal of the German team has been a delicate matter for a long time. A year after the country hosted the Eurocup and with its coach Hansi Flick on the trigger for the poor results achieved, the German press is analyzing all the details, whether they are disputed or not. The latter draws attention, not because of the old differences that existed between the main characters in the past, but because of the unique interpretation made of what seems to be a simple anecdote. under the headline ‘Provocation gegen Neuer’ (‘Provocation to Neuer’), Bild He pointed to the fact that FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc André ter Stegen played two international matches a few days ago, against Poland and against Colombia, with the number 1 visible on his shirt.

“Surprising: Ter Stegen used the number 1 on his game clothes in seven places on their display: two in jersey, gloves and boots and once in shorts”. it is interpreted as “a challenge for Manuel Neuer after the former ‘Gladbacher’ has recently emphasized several times that he wants to wrest his regular place in DFB goal from the Bayern star.”

According to the same information, “Neuer must not like it”. Bild recalled that “the Bayern goalkeeper is still awaiting his return from the destruction of his tibia and fibula in December 2022 last week, an injury that occurred while skiing, and “because Neuer has not yet traveled to national team for his rehabilitation , the goalkeeper of The FC Barcelona replaced him in the friendly against Poland (0-1) and Colombia (0-2) in the German goal”. They also recalled some statements in the ‘Süddeutsche Zeitung’ of Ter Stegen where Zamora from La Liga he said that “at the moment I am number one and I intend to remain so”.

‘Bild’ confirmed that the thick black number 1 gloves were made to measure for Ter Stegen’s final appearances with the German team. “When he was still using 22 with the DFB, it didn’t show much on his gloves,” they pointed out, although looking at some pictures of Ter Stegen in previous performances for the German team, his number 22 is equally visible , as well as on the chest of his shirt and on the pants

Continuing his analysis, it is understood that all this “should only motivate the Bayern goalkeeper on the road to his return.” And he finished: “According to information from Bild, Neuer has ambitious plans to finally return to the team on the pitch for the start of training on July 13. Since then, the 2014 World Champion can and will give it his all to reclaim his undisputed number 1 status. both in his club and in the national team”.

Ter Stegen, 31, closed the best season of his career, winning his first Zamora in the League with the best numbers in the history of the award given to the best goalkeeper: in 38 games in the League got he only 18 goals and, moreover, in 26 games he kept a clean sheet. All these merits, however, do not seem to give him the same recognition that he has in Spain in his country, where the shadow of Neuer, even injured by a prohibited activity with a soccer player and in 37 years old, has been going on for a very long time. .