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1 month ago
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Having been in the shadows of the legendary Manuel Neuer in the German national team for years, Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen is all set to gain the No. 1 status with Die Mannschaft.
This is because earlier today, Neuer, 38, announced his retirement from international football today.
The Bayern Munich and Germany legend was expected to continue playing for the national team and fight for his place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America.
However, following in the footsteps of Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, Neuer has decided to step down from national team duty with Germany.
Ter Stegen gets his chance
As mentioned earlier, Ter Stegen has had to play second-fiddle to Neuer at the national team level throughout his career.
Since making his debut back in 2012, the 32-year-old has made only 40 appearances for Germany. In the recent past, the Barcelona skipper has made no secret of his frustrations regarding the situation either.
“It’s not a pleasant situation,” he said in June, heading into the UEFA Euro 2024 in his home country.
“At the end of the day, you have a responsibility to the group to help where I can.”
“I told the national coach that one thing is sporting and another is human, I want everyone to be able to trust me,” he further remarked.
Ter Stegen also clarified that he has no issues with Neuer, saying: “It has nothing to do with him on a personal level either, we have a good relationship.”
Now with Neuer stepping down from national team duty for good, the No. 1 spot in the Germany squad is Ter Stegen’s for the taking.
With the likes of Neuer, Gundogan, Thomas Muller, and Toni Kroos all retiring from international football, Ter Stegen also becomes one of the most senior members in the Germany national team.
With the new responsibility set to be entrusted upon his shoulders, the Barcelona captain must step up to the plate and help Germany reach great heights after their recent decline at the international level.
