football
Neuer is injured for the national team’s European Championship tests
National goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is injured for the next two international matches. photo
© Arne Dedert/dpa
Shortly before his comeback in the DFB goal, Manuel Neuer suffered a setback. The FC Bayern goalkeeper is injured during training with the national team. The national coach has to reschedule.
Injury instead of an international comeback: Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer suffered injuries during training The national soccer team suffered a torn muscle fiber in his left thigh and will be out of the European Championship test matches on Saturday against France and three days later against the Netherlands. The DFB announced this.
The 37-year-old had already left the team hotel in Gravenbruch near Frankfurt. According to dpa information, national coach Julian Nagelsmann wanted to name the FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper his number one for the home European Championships in the summer. Nagelsmann will speak at a DFB fan press conference from 6 p.m.
Marc-André ter Stegen will probably be in goal
It was unclear who would be in goal against France and the Netherlands. In the hierarchy of goalkeepers still present, Marc-André ter Stegen is the expected deputy. The 31-year-old from FC Barcelona was his first substitute in Neuer’s absence after he broke his leg in the winter of 2022 and had hopes of becoming the starting goalkeeper at the European Championships in the summer. In addition to ter Stegen, the current squad also includes Bernd Leno from FC Fulham and Oliver Baumann from TSG Hoffenheim.
The 37-year-old Neuer and ter Stegen, who is six years his junior, have been competitors in the DFB selection for twelve years. Both have been among the world’s best goalkeepers for years. After DFB regular goalkeeper Neuer’s serious skiing accident following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the time seemed to have come for ter Stegen. Now Neuer’s comeback in the DFB jersey was actually imminent – and again as number one with an eye on the home European Championship.
Downtime still uncertain
After his return to the Bayern goal almost six months ago, the ambitious newcomer also set his sights on taking part in the home European Championships. “I’m concentrating on myself, on my performance and will give my all again for the national team,” he said last weekend about his ambitions for a comeback as number one and added: “The coach will then decide.”
It is uncertain how long Neuer will have to take a break. However, he is unlikely to be available to Bayern beyond the international break. The first game is on March 30th in the Bundesliga against Borussia Dortmund. The quarter-final first leg of the Champions League will take place at Arsenal FC in London on April 9th.