It is still unclear whether and when goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from FC Bayern will return to the goal of the German national soccer team after his months-long injury. Former national player Dietmar Hamann has a clear opinion on this.
“Basically the door is open to everyone. But Manuel Neuer will be a big and important personality in the spring, as long as he stays healthy,” said the 50-year-old in an interview with “Sky”.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann did without Neuer for the last international phase, which was ultimately disastrous with the defeats against Turkey (2:3) and Austria (0:2), – according to his own statement – for reasons of rest, after he only made his comeback at the end of October.
“It was a joint decision,” said the former FC Bayern head coach. There are “clear statistics that can be proven after such a serious injury. Then the first few games are very, very good – then it is clear that there is a small hole in which there is a risk of muscular injuries.”
With a view to Neuer’s future in the DFB team, Nagelsmann explained: “We all hope that he plays extremely consistently until the next international break (in March, editor’s note), then the signs will look completely different again.”
National team needs players “who intervene”
Neuer could be particularly important as a leading player in the struggling national team, even if Hamann does not see an acute mentality problem.
“I wouldn’t deny the players’ mentality because many in their clubs show that they can do it. Whether it’s a Mats Hummels or a Jonathan Tah – the important thing is that they do it together,” said the long-time England legionnaire.
In the field, Hamann sees a deficit in terms of defense in the DFB team. “We don’t need players who march, but who intervene. At the moment we are trying to play the football that Spain played 15 years ago as a miracle team, only with the difference that we are not half as good,” criticized the former Professional.