Germany head coach Joachim Loew has confirmed that Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Manuel Neuer will play a game each during the forthcoming internationals. Ter Stegen was involved in a public spat with Neuer over the goalkeeping role with Germany last month and it appears that Loew wants to keep both shot-stoppers content with gametime this time around.
Speaking in a press conference, Loew confirmed that the goalkeeping duties would be shared between Ter Stegen and Neuer during the forthcoming internationals against Argentina and Estonia. He added that Neuer still remains the first-choice shot-stopper and captain, and he should start between the sticks during the 2020 European Championship.
He said: “Together with [goalkeeper coach] Andreas Kopke, we’ve decided that Marc will play in Dortmund and Manu in Tallinn. We’ve discussed it with both players. I have confirmed numerous times that Manuel Neuer is our captain and our No 1 regarding the European Championship – so long as nothing extraordinary happens.”
Germany have gone through a transitional period following the previous World Cup and a number of senior players including Jerome Boateng, Thomas Muller and Mats Hummels have fallen out of contention under Loew. The 2014 World Cup champions had a forgettable Nations League campaign as they finished bottom of the group and were relegated, but their performances have since improved with the introduction of a number of young players.
Since the start of the Euro qualifiers, Germany have been solid with four wins and just one defeat, but they can’t rest on their laurels with Northern Ireland just behind them on goal difference while the Netherlands are three points adrift with a goal in hand. For the current international break, Germany have just one qualifier against Estonia and they should be overwhelming favourites for the game with their opponents conceding an average of more than three goals.
