At 38 years old, Manuel Neuer once again defends the goal of the German national team at Euro 2024 for the eighth consecutive major tournament, a title that has not been seriously contested for three decades. That fact has been an implicit obstacle for a whole generation of German goalkeepers, among others Marc André ter Stegen, FC Barcelona goalkeeper who, at 32 years old, assumes the secondary role as best he can. The tensions of other times have given way to a kind of acceptance of a ‘status quo’ which, however, may soon change. Media like Bild are wondering these days if the Neuer of 2024 is really as good as the one of 2014, when he won the World Cup for Germany.
The question of his possible departure from the national team after the Euro Cup was transferred to Neuer himself. “I can’t reveal it, but I will think about it after the tournament,” said the legendary Bayern Munich goalkeeper, who was criticized for his accumulated errors against Real Madrid, in the Champions League, and against Hoffenheim, in the final Bundesliga match day.
The example of Toni Kroos, who hung up his boots at the age of 34 at the peak of his career as a midfielder for Real Madrid and the host team of the Euro Cup, has drawn hateful comparisons.
According to Bild, both the national team and his club, Bayern, are “confident” that this will be Neuer’s last tournament.faced with the inevitable fact that the goalkeeper will turn 40 at the 2026 World Cup and his contract in Munich runs until 2025.
Ter Stegen had no qualms in declaring a few weeks ago that, although he would have liked otherwise, his sense of responsibility to the team would lead him to “help in any way he can” to achieve the goal, with nothing but winning. the European Championship. However, phrases like “being the substitute goalkeeper is very frustrating” or “it’s not a pleasant situation” remained there.
Before the start of the tournament, coach Julian Nagelsmann ended any debate by announcing that he did not want to “discuss the role of the goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer is and will be our starting goalkeeper. I will not allow any discussion. , even though everyone is trying to start one,” he said.
The need to argue ownership of the German cause is no longer almost taboo. Both for Ter Stegen and for all the goalkeepers who will follow Neuer, if this change scenario is confirmed, the World Cup is only two years away. Ter Stegen is still 34 and has two more left to run on his current Barça contract.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
