The whole of football Germany is puzzled about the World Cup squad!
There are still almost three weeks until the biggest tournament in the world in Qatar. One thing is clear: on November 10, national coach Hansi Flick (57) will announce which 26 players are allowed to travel for the DFB selection.
Until then, however, a few questions still need to be answered. Who will actually replace Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (36) if the five-time world goalkeeper should really fail with his shoulder injury?
With Marc-André ter Stegen (30/Barcelona) and Kevin Trapp (32/Frankfurt) there are two top candidates for the backup post. Record national player Lothar Matthäus (61) commits himself: He would bet on Trapp!
Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp would be the best option for Lothar Matthäus should Manuel Neuer fail
Photo: WITTERS
In his column for “Sky”, Matthäus writes: “On a purely emotional level and from what I’ve seen over the past two years, I would choose Trapp. The success story of the SBU, which is also strongly linked to him and many incredible saves and also led to victory in the Europa League, makes me tend towards him a little bit more.”
The record national player adds that he “fairly” has to say that I see games with Frankfurt and Trapp a lot more often than FC Barcelona games with Ter Stegen. I know that he is the undisputed number one, has asserted himself over the years in this big club, which is difficult for goalkeepers, and continues to keep a lot of clean sheets. However, there has been unrest in Barcelona for a long time, there have not really been many titles in the recent past and even now it was not even enough for the knockout phase of the Champions League. In the league, Barcelona stays within striking distance of Real Madrid, not least because of Marc-Andre’s many great saves, and I don’t want to be taken to mean that the ex-Gladbach player isn’t a great number one for Germany. But my gut feeling would lean towards Kevin Trapp here.”
04:09
That would be a bang…
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In addition to Trapp, Matthäus is also committed to the nominations of Mario Götze (30) and Mats Hummels (33).
About Götze, who shot the DFB team to the World Cup title in a 1-0 win against Argentina in 2014, the world footballer from 1991 says: “He is definitely a candidate for the World Cup. And I can very well imagine that even when he’s substituted on, he can still be responsible for these very special moments. Just like in 2014.”
And further: “Of course, Messrs. Florian Wirtz and Marco Reus, who are currently absent or just coming back, can play in his position. But Jamal Musiala and Thomas Müller are also vying for this place. A Mario Götze in top form – and that’s what he is right now – would definitely look good on our national team.”
Matthew thinks similarly about Hummels. However, a nomination of the BVB defender would only make sense if the Dortmund defense chief really played a leading role in the tournament in Qatar.
Matthäus: “It’s similar with Mats Hummels, who has performed very well again in recent weeks and would also cut a fine figure in the DFB jersey. But if he does, then he has to go to Qatar as an important player. Maybe not as an absolute regular and in every game from the start, but also not as number 23 and for the good mood in the team or to pass on his experience. He is too good for that and his name is too big.”
