National team: “Not entirely cool” – Baumann on Neuer’s decision

DFB goalkeeper becomes clear

Baumann on Neuer’s decision: “It wasn’t entirely cool”

Despite a strong season and good performances in the World Cup qualification, Oliver Baumann is only the German number two at the World Cup behind Manuel Neuer. Now the goalkeeper has commented on the situation – and takes a deep look.

2-1 against the USA in the dress rehearsal before the start of the World Cup, but a lot of effort: The German national team’s performance on Saturday afternoon local time in Chicago was mixed, but at least successful in the end. A key factor in the DFB team’s game was once again goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who saved national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team from worse with strong saves against the hosts, who were at times furious. Baumann only played because the actual number one, Manuel Neuer, is still suffering from a calf injury and, in the best case scenario, will be ready to play again for the start of the World Cup against Curaçao.

It will remain that way despite Baumann’s strong performance – Nagelsmann had finally persuaded Neuer to make a DFB comeback in a much-noticed return campaign and put him in front of Baumann a few weeks before the start of the World Cup.

“When we arrive in Winston-Salem, he will start team training, that’s the plan, and then play against Curaçao,” said the national coach on RTL. At the same time, he gave Oliver Baumann “a huge compliment.” As a new representative, the Hoffenheim player played the two preparatory games for the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada and, according to Nagelsmann, “put himself at the service of the team” in an exemplary manner.

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In any case, after the game, the 36-year-old Baumann answered questions from RTL reporter Felix Görner for the first time since his demotion – and spoke unexpectedly openly about how he dealt with the situation: “It was hard at the beginning, of course. That wasn’t entirely cool in my opinion,” Baumann openly admitted.

“But it was immediately clear to me that I would be there for the team and go. I didn’t even think about not going. For me it’s a World Cup, I want to be there and help the team. I said that in the qualifying, and that’s what it is now.” The TSG Hoffenheim goalkeeper continued: “I want to make my contribution, that’s what it’s about. Full focus on myself, full focus on the team. Everything else is left out.”