National soccer goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is leaving his future in the DFB team open at the age of 36. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar does not necessarily have to be his last World Cup, said the FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper.
He is “assuming that it will be the last World Cup for me,” said the captain of the national team two weeks before the German opening game against Japan on November 23 in “Sports Illustrated”. But you never know, “it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way,” added Neuer meaningfully.
The Bayern Munich goalkeeper has played 113 international matches so far. The World Cup in Qatar will be his seventh major tournament – with the highest goals: “I’m not afraid to say that we want to be world champions. We know that many nations want that. A lot plays a role, we need the right momentum .”
Football World Cup 2022 in Qatar: Neuer encourages his DFB teammates to make clear statements
The 2014 world champion described his exchange with national coach Hansi Flick as “open and honest”.
He “must not mince his words. I don’t treat him any differently than I would a player, I can just throw my opinion out there.”
Neuer also encourages his colleagues to express their opinions clearly in relation to the controversial World Cup in Qatar. “The most important thing is that we, as players with strong opinions, don’t hide or be afraid in an interview. Everyone should express their opinion,” demanded the Bayern star. It should be primarily about sport, “but that any of us will be silenced: I can’t imagine that that will happen to us.”