Marc-André ter Stegen Germany national team goalkeeper debate, Digi Mart USA News: Germany coach Jürgen Klopp’s decision to keep Marc-André ter Stegen (34) as the No. 1 goalkeeper of the German national team is generating debate. Sky expert Didi Hamann (53) does not understand the choice and questions the Ajax keeper’s sporting justification.
In naming his squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Serbia (November 13) and the Netherlands (November 16), Klopp reaffirmed that ter Stegen remains the first choice for now. The former Barcelona keeper therefore stays ahead of Alexander Nübel (29) and Bayern talent Jonas Urbig (22).
Lothar Matthäus sees this goalkeeper as Germany’s future No. 1. Hamann, however, takes a very different view.
On the Sky talk show “Triple – der Hagedorn Fußballtalk,” he clearly challenged the coach’s decision: “I don’t understand why Marc-André ter Stegen should have earned this.”
His reasoning is that ter Stegen has not yet convinced enough in the national team: “Yes, he had a serious injury. That was one reason why Manuel Neuer came back.
But one also has to say that ter Stegen has not kept goal well for the national team.”
Bayern legend Oliver Kahn (56) also sat on the Sky panel. The former national goalkeeper disagreed with his fellow expert and considers ter Stegen’s nomination deserved.
Kahn said: “At the moment, Marc-André ter Stegen appears stable.” He does not, however, see any reason to commit to a long-term choice of goalkeeper: “I don’t think there is currently a reason to firmly settle on one, because in Germany we currently do not have the absolute No. 1 that we had with Manuel Neuer over many years.”
Kahn considers the current situation in the German goal a special challenge. After a goalkeeping icon like Neuer, care must be taken that no major vacuum emerges.
He sees Bayern keeper Urbig as the most likely challenger.
Hamann’s own suggestion is even more surprising: the TV expert would apparently also give Schalke goalkeeper Loris Karius (33) a chance. Karius has impressed this season with strong performances and a save rate of more than 80 percent.
Hamann enthused: “When we talk about Füllkrug, who is the best German striker, then there are arguments for saying: Karius is the best goalkeeper.”
He also said of the Schalke keeper: “There is a man in goal where I have the feeling: nothing can go wrong there.”
