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May 17, 2026 04:08+06:00 Translated by
A tragedy for Baumann and a total loss of credibility: Julian Nagelsmann's handling of Manuel Neuer's potential return to the DFB has become a communications disaster
World Cup FEATURES Opinion Germany M. Neuer O. Baumann J. Nagelsmann
Manuel Neuer appears set to return to the DFB squad, a move that would be a personal setback for Oliver Baumann—and one for which Julian Nagelsmann would bear the blame. The Bayern goalkeeper's comeback would also damage the national coach's credibility, creating a communications disaster that could have been avoided. A commentary.
One thing cannot be held against Julian Nagelsmann during his tenure as Germany manager: the players always knew exactly where they stood. Even in the build-up to the 2024 European Championship on home soil, the 38-year-old used clear statements to ensure that every player knew his intended role, cutting off misunderstandings at the pass. Sometimes, though, his candour went too far—notably in his much-discussed handling of Deniz Undav. Ahead of the World Cup, Nagelsmann told Undav that, despite his strong form and impressive statistics for VfB Stuttgart, he was not a first-choice striker—a decision that sparked debate during the recent friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana.
It is therefore surprising that the national coach has shown a lack of clarity and decisiveness regarding Manuel Neuer's potential return to the German national team. During his appearance on Saturday evening on ZDF's 'Aktuelles Sportstudio', Nagelsmann again declined to comment specifically and emphasised that he had not yet been in contact with the players. "I stand by my initial position that I will seek a conversation with the players first. The player is always contacted first. There is a 'Day X' when the squad is announced. If I start pre-empting and announcing things simply because I feel pressured and Germany is discussing certain issues, then I am not assessing everything I see. I am far from letting myself be swept along," the 38-year-old deliberately sidestepped presenter Jochen Breyer's questions.
Should Neuer's name still appear on Thursday's provisional squad list, however, the resulting lack of clarity would constitute a communications disaster and erode the coach's credibility. For months he insisted that the conversation was pointless, given Neuer's definitive retirement from the DFB squad after Euro 2024 and his own plan to install Oliver Baumann as first-choice goalkeeper for the World Cup. Should Neuer suddenly change his mind, the initiative would have to come from him; Nagelsmann would simply be reacting to a retraction of retirement. Yet, given the time already invested in planning, such a late U-turn now looks implausible.
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Manuel Neuer's return would come at the expense of Oliver Baumann. For TSG Hoffenheim's goalkeeper, a Neuer comeback would feel like a cold shower. Since stepping up, the 35-year-old has hardly put a foot wrong in the national jersey; during the World Cup qualifiers he was at times outstanding and consequently prevailed over Stuttgart's Alexander Nübel in the battle for the number one spot at the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico. As recently as Saturday afternoon, immediately after Hoffenheim's 0-4 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach, Baumann appeared confident of going to the World Cup as first-choice goalkeeper. Nagelsmann had, in a "one-on-one conversation", clearly and unequivocally "expressed his confidence in me. I have my information. Full stop." Should the 35-year-old suddenly be asked to step aside for Neuer, it would feel like an unprecedented snub. In a position where continuity matters most, such seesawing would be counterproductive.
Should Neuer give the green light to a return, he would definitely travel to the World Cup as the number one and push Baumann – who is actually well-established within the team – onto the bench. The comparison cited by some experts with Toni Kroos's comeback ahead of Euro 2024 therefore does not hold water.
AFP
Julian Nagelsmann should have sought a meeting with Manuel Neuer. The whole affair could have been easily avoided, according to Neuer. According to Neuer, the pair were in regular contact, yet when talk of a potential return surfaced months ago, the coach failed to call him in for a decisive chat. Nagelsmann should have forced the keeper to clarify his future in the DFB squad much earlier. Instead, he appears to have let Neuer string him along, conceding only when overwhelming public pressure forced his hand.
On the pitch, the numbers do not unequivocally favour Neuer. While the 40-year-old's vast experience can be invaluable at a tournament, Baumann's season was hardly inferior. Neuer's outstanding first-leg display against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final is offset by a rise in high-profile errors. With the World Cup only weeks away, the squad should be focusing solely on the tournament, yet this avoidable distraction continues to dominate headlines. And it is unlikely to fade soon: no matter which keeper starts, the next mistake will spark another round of debate.
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