Injury instead of return: Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer tore a muscle fiber in his left thigh during training with the national soccer team and will be out of the European Championship test games on Saturday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the international soccer matches and on ZDF) against France and three days later against the Netherlands. The DFB announced this on Wednesday afternoon.
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.
After Neuer’s injury, Marc-André ter Stegen should be in goal in the European Championship friendlies against France and the Netherlands. National coach Julian Nagelsmann announced this early on Wednesday evening at a fan press conference organized by the German Football Association. “Thank God we have a world-class goalkeeper who will be in goal and will definitely put in a good performance,” said Nagelsmann about ter Stegen (31). The national coach described Neuer’s failure as “very, very annoying”.
Ambitious new guy
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.
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.”
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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.