Julian Nagelsmann’s squad selection has come in for criticism (Picture: Getty Images)
Former Germany goalkeeper Uli Stein has hit out at Julian Nagelsmann for picking Manuel Neuer in his Euro 2024 squad, while leaving Alexander Nubel at home.
Bayern Munich superstar Neuer turned 38 this year and has made some high profile mistakes for club and country of late.
The veteran generally played well in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid, but an error cost Bayern, while he fluffed a save in the most recent Germany friendly against Greece, costing his side a goal.
Stein, who won the European Cup with Hamburg back in 1983 and picked up six caps for West Germany, feels Neuer is past his best and not only shouldn’t be in the team, but should have been left out of the squad entirely.
‘If you take a Manuel Neuer with you, you have to let him play. But he no longer justifies it in sporting terms,’ Stein told Kicker. ‘With a heavy heart, but with common sense, he should have been left at home – after this shaky preparation.
‘A goalkeeper over 30 also needs the luck to avoid injuries. Manuel was not that lucky.
‘For a long time, he lacked the normal training and game rhythm that maintains confidence and security in his own processes in goal. You can see that in his performance now.’
Manuel Neuer has won 119 caps for Germany (Picture: Getty Images)
Neuer, Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann are Germany’s three goalkeepers this summer.
34-year-old Baumann is uncapped and Stein feels that Alexander Nubel, a 27-year-old who has impressed on loan at Stuttgart from Bayern, should have been included in the squad.
‘Alexander Nubel, a possible man of the future, is not allowed to get a taste of tournament air,’ said the 69-year-old.
‘Instead, Oliver Baumann, who is certainly not going to have a great DFB career, is in the squad.’
Germany get their tournament underway on home soil against Scotland on Friday evening in Munich.
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