Who will replace the long-term injured ter Stegen for Germany?
| Marc-André ter Stegen. | Photo: Clément Bucco-Lechat, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 |
It was confirmed on Monday that Germany and FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André has suffered a ruptured patella tendon and is expected to be sidelined for around eight months.
Ter Stegen had only recently become Germany's first-choice goalkeeper after Manuel Neuer announced his international retirement following Euro 2024, and the big question now is who will fill in for him during his long spell on the sidelines.
According to a report from Munich-based publication TZ, Manuel Neuer is not considering coming out of international retirement at this time.
Kevin Trapp is injured, while the experienced Bernd Leno has not been called up recently, leaving Alexander Nübel and Oliver Baumann as the two favorites.
At the age of 27, Nübel should have plenty of years ahead of him as a footballer and is probably the most realistic long-term successor to ter Stegen.
He was called up to Germany's provisional squad for Euro 2024, but was ultimately left out - unlike 34-year-old Oliver Baumann, who remained in the squad.
Both were on the bench for Germany's friendlies against Hungary and the Netherlands earlier this month. Neither has yet made his senior international debut.
Nübel is in his second season on loan at Stuttgart from Bayern Munich. Baumann has been playing for Hoffenheim since 2014.