News Focus
- Manuel Neuer comes out of international retirement to reclaim the Germany gloves for the World Cup.
- Oliver Baumann drops to the bench after starting every qualifying match.
- Thomas Müller insists Neuer’s experience makes him the correct choice for the tournament.
- The Bayern Munich legend dismisses complaints about how the manager delivered the news to the goalkeepers.
Manuel Neuer will start between the posts for Germany at the World Cup despite stepping away from international duty following Euro 2024. National team coach Julian Nagelsmann has confirmed that the veteran shot-stopper will wear the number one shirt in the tournament.
This decision pushes Oliver Baumann to the substitutes’ bench. The Hoffenheim keeper played every minute of the qualification campaign and kept the team competitive with solid displays. However, Neuer’s return from retirement has changed the hierarchy in the squad.
Thomas Müller, who shared a dressing room with Neuer for over a decade at Bayern Munich and for Germany, fully supports the manager’s call. Speaking on the Bild podcast “Bayern Insider”, the former striker explained that selecting the strongest possible squad matters most.
“Yes, absolutely, because we want the best goalkeepers available,” Müller stated. He accepted that Baumann deserves credit for his recent form but argued that Neuer’s quality is undeniable. “Olli has played really well and is an excellent keeper. However, when you can call upon Manuel Neuer and you saw his level on the biggest stages this spring, you must pick him as your number one.”
Müller was keen to stress that this praise does not reduce Baumann’s abilities. He also tackled the negative comments aimed at Nagelsmann regarding how the coach told Baumann about the demotion.
“Regarding the communication, I agree with Matthias Sammer. We are professional athletes. Decisions bring disappointment. That is part of the job,” Müller remarked. “If we want to win again, we cannot waste energy arguing about whether someone heard the news too early, too late, or with the wrong expression on the coach’s face.”