The return of Manuel Neuer to the German national team has come as a surprise to many, even after months of speculation. The 40-year-old goalkeeper stepped back from international duty following Euro 2024, which was hosted in Germany.
However, his impressive performances this year, especially in the Champions League, brought him back into contention. Initially, Marc-André ter Stegen of FC Barcelona had been expected to succeed Neuer as Germany’s number one, but ter Stegen was sidelined for most of the season due to injury.
This led to Oliver Baumann of TSG Hoffenheim taking the starting spot, including playing twice against Luxembourg in World Cup qualifiers. In March, Baumann was clearly established as the first choice during Germany's most recent round of international fixtures.
Yet, just before the tournament, national team coach Julian Nagelsmann opted to reinstate Neuer as the starting goalkeeper. Former Luxembourg international Ralph Schon believes this was the right call and is supporting Germany at the World Cup.
"For me, Neuer is the best, so he has to play. Of course, it is tough for Baumann, but football is a performance sport. In the end, the best player plays. If Baumann wanted to start, he would have to be better than Neuer right now, which unfortunately is not the case. So I think it's normal that Neuer is starting. Still, I appreciate that Baumann agreed to be part of the squad and is ready to step in if needed, because he is also an excellent goalkeeper."Ralph Schon
Germany's national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has not only faced scrutiny over his decision regarding Neuer but also for a series of controversial public statements and his approach to squad selection.
In particular, his remarks about Deniz Undav in March, as well as public criticism of certain selection choices, have sparked debate. At thirty-eight, Nagelsmann is accused of poor communication, which has added to the pressure ahead of the World Cup.
"I think Nagelsmann hasn't always presented himself well recently. He’s said things that really should not have been said. Sometimes he speaks before he thinks, as in the situation with Undav. These kinds of statements make him vulnerable, especially given the constant media attention on the German national team. The German press is particularly harsh, often stirring up unrest ahead of the tournament rather than keeping things calm. His communication on the goalkeeper situation has not come across as very confident either. That said, a lot is exaggerated by the German media and they aren’t doing themselves any favours. It ends up being more negative than positive." Ralph Schon
Ralph Schon, who currently plays in goal for FC AS Housen in the First Division, also shared his broader predictions for the tournament. He believes France are strong favourites to claim a third World Cup title, while Austria could emerge as one of the surprise packages.
Discussing Group E, where Germany will play the Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao, Schon suggested Germany should be able to progress but warned their opponents must not be underestimated.
"In theory, Germany have a manageable group on paper," Schon said. "But they must be careful, because the Ivory Coast and Ecuador are not easy teams to play against. They both have strong individual players, such as Moises Caicedo and Yan Diomande. These are players with pace, creativity, and good dribbling skills. I don't know much about Curaçao, but I hope Germany do not make things too difficult for themselves. Still, nothing is guaranteed – they should finish top of the group, but in football you never know."Ralph Schons
Both the Ivory Coast and Ecuador are experienced sides, having qualified for the World Cup several times. For Curaçao, this marks their first appearance at the tournament.
While their squad is relatively unknown, it does feature some players with international pedigree, such as Armando Obispo (PSV Eindhoven), Tahith Chong (Sheffield United), and Jearl Margaritha (SK Beveren), who is a teammate of Luxembourg captain Laurent Jans.
As for the Ivory Coast and Ecuador, alongside stars like Yan Diomande and Moises Caicedo, their standout names include Amad Diallo, Evan Dicka, and Elye Wahi for the Ivory Coast, and Pervis Estupiñán, Joel Ordoñez, and Jeremy Arévalo for Ecuador.
