The direct duel with the German number 2 falls out for Manuel Neuer. The captain of the German national soccer team has to watch his FC Bayern team play against FC Barcelona and goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen injured in the Champions League two weeks before the World Cup nomination.
The 36-year-old has already missed four competitive games due to a bruised shoulder joint, and his possible return was postponed to the Bundesliga game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday.
Presumably the last World Cup for Neuer
As before the tournaments in 2014 and 2018, the untouchable number 1 in the German goal of the national team is stopped by an injury in preparation. Before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where the outstanding newcomer led the German team to the World Cup triumph, the keeper had to worry about his appearance in the opening German game due to a torn capsule in the right shoulder joint. But he was between the posts in the 4-0 win over Portugal.
Four years later, after breaking his metatarsal, it was far from clear whether he would even be fit in time for the finals in Russia. But he was then in the three group games until the historic World Cup debacle. Judging by the tournament countdown, it's business as usual for Neuer before his presumably last World Cup. However, at the age of 36, he is certainly feeling the strain of a long career in professional football.
As in 2014, it's a shoulder injury this time, it's said to be the left shoulder. Coach Julian Nagelsmann recently spoke of a "tightrope walk" with his captain. "Every game that's too early throws him back," said the 35-year-old. Before the Hoffenheim game, Nagelsmann admitted that the match agreed with Neuer in the top Bundesliga game at the beginning of October against Borussia Dortmund (2-2) came "too early afterwards".
Especially before the World Cup (20.11. to 18.12.) Neuer doesn't want to take any risks again. This is in the spirit of national coach Hansi Flick, who nominated his squad on November 10th. Four days later we go to the preparatory camp in Oman. There the World Cup test against the local national team is pending. The first group game will take place on November 23 against Japan. With Neuer in goal?
Flick: "Of course, Manuel is number 1 with us"
Flick already knows about the importance of Neuer from his time as Bayern coach and long-time national team assistant. He recently emphasized this again when Neuer had to do without the only international matches of the World Cup season after a corona infection. "Clearly, Manuel Neuer is number 1 with us, Marc-André ter Stegen is number two," said the DFB head coach before the two Nations League games against Hungary and three days later in London against England.
Ter Stegen had represented him at the time. Now the 30-year-old can prove his class in the Catalans' presumably penultimate Champions League game this season. Behind Ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt) is the third goalkeeper at Flick. The number 4, Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann, lost 0-2 at the weekend against Bayern with goalkeeper Sven Ulreich between the posts. The 34-year-old Ulreich will also be in goal on Wednesday (9 p.m. / DAZN) at the Camp Nou instead of Neuer.
Neuer was "still in pain", the injury was in a "stupid spot", reported Nagelsmann on Friday. "Something can basically happen if you get on too early, a long downtime or it can become something structural or chronic." His World Cup forecast was positive. "I don't think the World Cup is in danger."
