Ter Stegen: What his injury means for the DFB team

analysis

It is a special pain that has accompanied Marc-André ter Stegen for a long time in his career. This pain could not be localized exactly, but it hurt, very much, for more than ten years. It was the suffering of wasting away in the shadow of Manuel Neuer, the super goalkeeper who was idolized by all the national coaches, so that they let him play even when Neuer was no longer the terror of all the strikers in the world.

At the beginning of this month, ter Stegen was finally released from his misery. National coach Julian Nagelsmann declared him the new number one, which did not require much courage, however, as Neuer, 38 years old, 124 international matches, had retired in August.

Marc-André ter Stegen is considered one of the best

Anyone who saw ter Stegen in the days following his appointment could sense what a fine sportsman he is. He never said a bad word about Neuer, who had stood in his spotlight for so long – quite the opposite. In his first press conference as his successor, he praised Neuer’s achievements at the DFB in detail – although the day should actually have been about him, ter Stegen.

Ter Stegen then played two very decent international matches. He had become the first-choice goalkeeper in the team that had only ever wanted him as a substitute – even though he had been a star at FC Barcelona for years and is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the Spanish league.

However, the two matches against Hungary and the Netherlands will remain brief moments of happiness for ter Stegen, as he suffered a serious injury on Sunday.

Again the right knee, again the patellar tendon

It was the 45th minute of the match against Villarreal when ter Stegen jumped up to catch a corner kick from the right. In mid-air he was lightly touched by an opposing player – the TV images are not clear – but in any case ter Stegen landed awkwardly on his right foot. Lying on the ground he immediately raised his arm, which means: It’s serious, I need help.

Ter Stegen was eventually carried off the pitch and taken to hospital for examination. He left that evening, sitting in a wheelchair.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said after the 5-1 win at Villarreal: “We are very sad because I believe it is a serious injury.”

On Monday afternoon, Flick’s dark fears were confirmed. FC Barcelona reported that ter Stegen had torn the patellar tendon in his right knee. The team captain will undergo surgery shortly.

Parallels to Scholl, Deisler and Reus

It is therefore clear that ter Stegen will be out until well into next year. National coach Nagelsmann, who had just rebuilt the defense after the departures of Neuer and Kroos, said: “The news of Marc’s injury was a big shock for us. We will miss him a lot in the national team, both on and off the pitch.”

It is not the first time that ter Stegen has been slowed down by his body. The former Gladbach player missed the 2021 European Championship because he had to undergo surgery on the same patellar tendon in his right knee – just like in 2020. Ter Stegen’s medical records now show parallels to the tragic stories of Mehmet Scholl, Sebastian Deisler and Marco Reus, who were always injured when they had just secured a place in the national team.

Ter Stegen now faces the next test. Again he will have to be patient with his body, again he will have to fight his way back, and the position in the German goal will initially be filled by Oliver Baumann or Alexander Nübel.

There is little time left for a comeback

Ter Stegen doesn’t have much time left for a comeback. He is already 32, an age at which other goalkeepers think about retiring. The 2026 World Cup should be his tournament, his first as Germany’s number one. It may also be his last.

Ter Stegen will have to come back quickly so that he is not remembered as a sufferer, but as what he is on his healthy days: an outstanding goalkeeper of his time.