The World Cup discussion surrounding Manuel Neuer (39) is moving the entire German football!
The 2014 world champion should also be the goalkeeper in next summer’s tournament (11 June to 19 July 2026). national team stand? Our biggest goalkeeping figures are now discussing this on SPORT BILD!
Oliver Kahn (56, runner-up in 2002, 86 international caps): “Manuel himself has to want it first. But I like to say that we have a new era and give young goalkeepers a chance. Oliver Baumann didn’t make any mistakes in the DFB goal.”
Bayern legend Oliver Kahn (56)
Bodo Illgner (58, world champion 1990, 54 international matches): “Manuel Neuer, why not if everything is fine? I mean: the performance has to be right, Manuel has to want it, and the coach has to want it if things get tough with Ter Stegen.”
Timo Hildebrand (46, third place 2006 World Cup, seven internationals): “Oliver Baumann is doing a good job in the national team, discussions are not helping him. Manuel has resigned. And that’s a good thing. Period. Oli is holding up well. Why should the national coach open up another opportunity in this position?”
Andreas Köpke (63, World Champion 1990, European Champion 1996, 59 international matches): “If the best have to play, then obviously yes. You don’t have to decide anything now and have to wait and see what happens with Marc-André ter Stegen.”
Toni Schumacher (71, European champion 1980, 76 international caps): “If he shows the same form as he has shown in recent months, there is only one person who should be aiming for the German goal at the World Cup: Manuel Neuer. Age doesn’t matter. He is a goalkeeper who has taken the whole goalkeeping game to a new level – and he is in top form. The fact that Bayern are unbeaten this season is also thanks to him.”
World and European champion Sepp Maier (81)
Sepp Maier (81, World Champion 1974, European Champion 1972, 95 international matches, former national goalkeeping coach): “First, you have to ask Manuel if he still wants to. I don’t think so, he’s done with the national team! Besides, what’s the point? We also have a good goalkeeper who is not Manuel Neuer, but is suitable for the national team!”
René Müller (66, 46 internationals for GDR): The question is how much he can rely on his body. If he stays in this state of health and performance, with his charisma, with all the trimmings, why doesn’t it work?”
Wolfgang Kleff (78, European champion 1972, world champion 1974, six internationals): “Whether a goalkeeper is 18 years old, 48 years old or Methuselah – as long as he is good, he has the right to play in the national team. That’s what I see from Manuel Neuer. He has age, but most importantly he has charisma and quality. I would say to him: ‘Start again, Germany need you!’ Marc-André ter Stegen can be relied on to be in his best performance before his injury. With another goalkeeper I’m not so sure if it would work.”
Gladbach legend Wolfgang Kleff (78)
Ann-Katrin Berger (35, 27 internationals): “He’s so experienced that you have to let him make his own decisions. It’s important that he doesn’t let himself be persuaded by others. And how he feels is very important. If he has the strength for the World Cup, he has to do it. But tournaments like this don’t just happen for a goalkeeper. You often underestimate the hectic schedule of matches and travel. Age does play a role.”
Dirk Heyne (68, ten internationals for the GDR): “When the World Cup starts, Manuel Neuer will be 40 years old. And at that age you actually have different priorities. But he has shaped Germany’s goalkeeping game for a decade. If he says he is ready, then he is also the absolute number one for me. But so far he has not made any clear statements about the World Cup. It is fair for the competitors if he says clear words now. The discussion has to stop.”
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Roman Weidenfeller (45, five internationals): “If Manuel wants to come back again and stay healthy, then he is the best German goalkeeper we have. With his charisma and tournament experience, he will help the team a lot. Although Marc-André ter Stegen is making great progress in his development training, no one knows when he will return and, most importantly, where he sees his future.”
Ron-Robert Zieler (36, six internationals): “Oliver Baumann does his job very well and is a good source of support. But you can see what an extraordinary athlete Manuel Neuer is when, at his age, he still puts in performances like he did recently against Paris St-Germain. He also has a lot of experience and has personality.”
Jürgen Croy (79, 88 international games for GDR): “I wouldn’t retire if I were him. He’s still in very good form, but I don’t think the national team has a problem with goalkeepers. At Bayern Munich we know that small mistakes are made up for by three goals of our own – everything is different in the national team.”
