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Will Marc-André ter Stegen wear the number “1” in the German national team permanently? This topic became even more relevant after the injury of captain Manuel Neuer. Due to his absence, Ter Stegen has now grabbed the Neuer number for the upcoming friendlies against Peru and Belgium. In addition, Kevin Trapp and Bernd Leno will wear the numbers “12” and “22” respectively. This decision not only shows the current goalkeeping hierarchy but also indicates a possible promotion for Ter Stegen in the future.
Although Neuer is out for the season due to a broken leg, he plans to make a strong comeback with both Bayern and the national team. However, Ter Stegen is not going down without a fight. In a recent interview, he expressed his desire to be number one in both FC Barcelona and the national team. His impressive performance this season in the Spanish league, where he conceded only nine goals in 26 games and kept 19 clean sheets, speaks for itself.
Interestingly, in the last international matches without Neuer, the number one was not given to Ter Stegen but to Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann. He was on the bench in September 2022 during the 3-3 draw in the UEFA Nations League against England.
Finally, besides the discussion of the goalkeeping situation in Germany, Ter Stegen also received special praise from South Korea coach Jürgen Klinsmann. Klinsmann was impressed by Ter Stegen’s performance in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup, where Ter Stegen played a crucial role in securing Germany’s place in the semifinals.
In conclusion, although Neuer’s injury is unfortunate, it offers an opportunity for Ter Stegen to prove himself as a worthy successor. Only time will tell whether he will permanently wear the number “1” for Germany.
