Julian Nagelsmann has the next goalkeeper debate on the neck

When national coach Julian Nagelsmann announces the squad for the upcoming World Cup qualification games late Wednesday afternoon, he will have a goalkeeper debate on the neck again-at least a small one. Since Manuel Neuer declared his resignation from the national team in August 2024, Marc-André Ter Stegen has officially been the new number one. But in truth, the position is vacant, also with a view to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, because Ter Stegen is always failing for various reasons.

Currently, the 33-year-old goalkeeper, who had had to be satisfied with the status of number two behind Neuer for eternal times, is not ready for use because he has undergone back surgery in the summer. It will probably fail until December. Before that, he was missing for several months after he had torn the patella tendon in his knee. As the new number one, the Mönchengladbacher native has only played four international matches since September 2024. In the other games, he was alternately represented by Oliver Baumann by TSG Hoffenheim or Alexander Nübel from VfB Stuttgart.

But even if Ter Stegen is fit again, a return as number one in the German goal is currently unlikely because it was degraded by his club, FC Barcelona, ​​to number three. The Catalans would like to delete him entirely from the list of salary. Ter Stegen is out of the German gate without a regular place.

But what options do Nagelsmann remain in such a case? This year there are still five qualification games. The national coach will bridge it with Baumann, as he announced at the nominating PK.

And in December? Nagelsmann is in a dilemma. Neither Baumann nor Nübel have pushed themselves up as a clear number one. And then there is a certain Manuel Neuer, who continues to play at a high level in Munich and has an experience through which none of the other candidates have. The man is finally 39 years old and has a lot to show.

And newer has advocates. Lothar Matthäus, a leading football expert in the country, has opened the debate as a precaution. “If Ter Stegen becomes fit and should get game practice, he is number one. Otherwise I see Manuel Neuer, if he is available, as our goalkeeper at the World Cup,” said Matthäus the “Sport Bild”. Baumann or Nübel are “good, but that’s not enough for the World Cup,” said Matthew in the “kicker”. Basically, it is very simple when it comes to Matthew.

Nagelsmann and DFB director Rudi Völler have one Returns of Neuers categorically excluded. The statement was given the all-purpose phrase “Stand now”. Negotiating in December. And then the debate could be really big.

Sources: Dpa, “”, “”.