Germany has always been a goalkeeper country. With the maximum number of goalkeepers, national coach Julian Nagelsmann wants to attack at the European Championships in his own country from June 14th, when the German national team plays the opening match against Scotland in Munich. 27 players have been named in his provisional squad for the European Championships at home, including four goalkeepers.
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At least one player still has to be eliminated, as a maximum of 26 players are allowed. However, a goalkeeper will not be eliminated, said Nagelsmann. Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern), Marc-André ter Stegen (FC Barcelona), Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim) and Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart) will be there.
“We have nominated four goalkeepers and will also go to the European Championship with four goalkeepers,” explained Nagelsmann when announcing his squad: “There is no longer any duel. Nübel has earned the nomination because Bernd Leno (FC Fulham), who would have been nominated, is injured.”
Reck: “Would have nominated Ortega”
Former Bundesliga goalkeeper Oliver Reck (Werder Bremen and Schalke 04) would have preferred a different name. “I would have nominated Stefan Ortega (Manchester City). He has gained match practice at the highest level in the Premier League and he is a penalty killer, which could be important in a final,” the 59-year-old told SPORT1.
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Former national goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand, who finished third with Germany at the World Cup in his own country in 2006 and became German champion with VfB Stuttgart in 2007, sees things differently.
“Ortega is the reserve goalkeeper at ManCity and only plays now and then. When he is in goal, he is really good. But as it is, everything is fine with the situation in the German goal,” the 45-year-old told SPORT1.
Reck and Hildebrand have no problem with four goalkeepers. “I think that by nominating four goalkeepers, we want to defy all eventualities,” says Reck. After all, there are injuries, suspensions, fluctuations in form and even the occasional penalty shootout.
Four goalkeepers for Hildebrand “makes sense”
For Hildebrand, four goalkeepers “make sense”.
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For the numbers three and four, it is “of course a bit thankless, because everyone knows their role. That’s why they are only training goalkeepers, but it is also an honour for them to be part of a European Championship in their own country.”
As a head coach, you simply have more options in training, “if game variations are practiced.” With more options, you can do a lot to control training. Everyone has to know their role.
Would Reck have wanted to have four goalkeepers back in his day? “Yes,” he says and has to laugh: “Then maybe I would have become world champion in 1990.”
Ter Stegen? “The ratings don’t speak for him”
There are different views on the number 1 in the German goal. In recent years, Marc-André ter Stegen has repeatedly fought to challenge Manuel Neuer’s status as the undisputed number 1, but injuries have repeatedly set him back.
“Ter Stegen’s record doesn’t exactly speak in his favour. Manuel Neuer hasn’t exactly been brimming with confidence in recent games. It’s a difficult decision, as with many other positions,” says Reck.
“The question has been discussed many times and Julian Nagelsmann has simply made up his mind. And ter Stegen has to accept his decision. Of course he is performing outstandingly and deserves to be number 1. Ultimately, the coach decides,” says Hildebrand. It is “getting increasingly difficult for young goalkeepers to get match practice in the first division,” says Reck. “For this reason, it is also becoming increasingly difficult to recommend yourself for the national team.”
Reck and Hildebrand are equally convinced of one goalkeeper. They are talking about Alexander Nübel. “Alex played a great season in Stuttgart, as did the whole team. It was important for him to get match practice in Monaco over the past two years.” Match practice “cannot be replaced by anything.”
Praise for Nübel
Hildebrand is also full of praise. “Nübel played a really good season. He certainly benefited from the team. But he played consistently and only made one or two mistakes. But that happens to every goalkeeper in a season.”
He continued: “Nübel has reached a really good level that he can build on. Sometimes he is too playful or wants to find a solution where he can just kick the ball away. But his season was outstanding.” Hildebrand generally sees the situation in goal as “still really good.” Recently there has been a lot of talk about a goalkeeping problem.
Hildebrand doesn’t see it that way. “We have a good goalkeeper in Alex Nübel, even if he’s not that young anymore. There’s no problem in the German goal, they’re all great keepers. They all play at a top level.”
Most recently, Nübel extended his contract with FC Bayern until 2029, but will play for VfB for another two years on loan. For Hildebrand, this is a good deal. “Nübel is doing everything right, he’s giving himself another year or two to gain even more stability,” says Hildebrand. “He still has time to develop. Nübel will then be the clear number 1 at Bayern. I think that’s a very good option.”
2024-05-24 21:25:56
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