Germany’s legendary goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, has announced that he will contemplate his future in international football after the conclusion of Euro 2024. This tournament marks the 38-year-old’s eighth major competition since his debut.
Neuer, who has been a cornerstone of Germany’s national team, revealed on Monday that he has yet to decide if this will be his final appearance in the national colors. “I’ll turn my mind to it after the tournament,” he stated.
After a challenging year recovering from a broken leg, Neuer made his comeback for Bayern Munich in October. During his absence, Ilkay Gundogan took over the Germany captaincy. Despite some high-profile mistakes both for Bayern and Germany, coach Julian Nagelsmann reinstated Neuer as Germany’s No. 1 goalkeeper ahead of the Euro 2024 opener against Scotland.
Neuer faced criticism for his errors in pre-tournament friendlies against Ukraine and Greece and in Bayern Munich’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid. These blunders have intensified calls for Barcelona’s Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to replace him. A recent survey by German tabloid Bild, involving 80,000 readers, showed that 72 percent favored Ter Stegen over Neuer.
Unperturbed by the debate, Neuer focused on Germany’s preparation for the tournament. “I didn’t read anything about it,” he commented. “The focus for me was on the first game against Scotland and the upcoming matches.”
In Germany’s 5-1 victory over Scotland, Neuer had little to do, with the sole goal against Germany coming from an own goal by Antonio Rudiger. Reflecting on his performance and the ongoing debate about his position, Neuer said, “I’ve actually always done it in such a way that I go into the analysis with those responsible here, and we discuss everything, look at the pictures and then evaluate everything. That’s why I haven’t given much thought to this debate.”
The seasoned goalkeeper emphasized the importance of trust within the team. “Of course, the relationship of trust between our team and the players is important,” he concluded.
As Euro 2024 progresses, all eyes will be on Neuer, not just for his performance on the field but also for his impending decision about his future in football.
AFP
