BERLIN: Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen said Thursday the end of a 12-year wait to succeed Manuel Neuer as Germany’s number one goalie felt like “a balm for the soul.”
First called into the squad in 2012, Barcelona captain, Ter Stegen will take the field as Germany’s permanent number one choice between the sticks against Hungary in Duesseldorf on Saturday.
In announcing Joshua Kimmich would take over from Ilkay Gundogan as Germany captain, coach Julian Nagelsmann said Monday: “Ter Stegen is the new number one.”
The 32-year-old has had a successful club career, winning the 2015 Champions League as well as five La Liga titles and five Spanish Cups with Barcelona.
Ter Stegen, who arrived in Catalonia from boyhood side Borussia Moenchengladbach in 2014, has played 40 times for Germany but was unable to push past Neuer.
With Neuer, widely considered as among the best goalkeepers of all time, retiring from international duty in August, Ter Stegen said that knowing he was Germany’s main goalkeeper was “a different feeling.”
“I’m glad the wait is over,” Ter Stegen told reporters from Germany’s camp in the Bavarian village of Herzogenaurach, saying the praise he has received since the appointment was “a balm for the soul.”
“I’m looking forward to this new task and to what I have ahead of me. I want to be successful.”
Ter Stegen revealed he dealt with the disappointments “professionally” despite feeling “frustrated,” but added “there were always moments where you said ‘wow, that’s another blow’.”
After their game against Hungary, Germany travel to Amsterdam to take on the Netherlands next Tuesday.
Ter Stegen celebrates being named Germany No.1 after 12-year wait
https://arab.news/5tt55
Ter Stegen celebrates being named Germany No.1 after 12-year wait
- The 32-year-old has had a successful club career, winning the 2015 Champions League as well as five La Liga titles and five Spanish Cups with Barcelona
- Ter Stegen has played 40 times for Germany but was unable to push past Neuer
Nigeria’s Chukwueze calls for AFCON to get same respect as World Cup
- “Everybody wants to play in AFCON. It’s one of the best competitions in the world,” Chukwueze told On Sports TV
Nigeria forward Samuel Chukwueze believes the Africa Cup of Nations should be given the same level of respect as the World Cup and the European Championship following controversy over the timing of the tournament in Morocco.
Initially scheduled to take place in the summer, this year’s AFCON was scheduled for December 21-January 18, depriving leading European clubs of key players participating in it at a crucial stage of the domestic season. “Everybody wants to play in AFCON. It’s one of the best competitions in the world,” Chukwueze told On Sports TV. “You have to respect the AFCON the same way you respect the European Championship or World Cup.”
The Fulham winger will miss six games for his club if Nigeria reach the round of 16.
“We understand they scheduled it at the wrong time of the year, but when it’s important, if you get recalled you have to go,” he said. “You don’t have any choice, your club can’t stop you and no one should say anything bad about the AFCON. Yes, they put it at the wrong time, but saying it’s not a good competition or a great competition is unacceptable.”
Chukwueze helped Nigeria secure an opening 2-1 win over Tanzania in Group C ahead of their second game against Tunisia on Saturday.
