Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (left) tackles Algeria’s Islam Slimani during their round of 16 match on Monday. (AFP)
Manuel Neuer, the latest in a long line of outstanding German goalkeepers, took the plaudits yesterday after almost single-handedly keeping the Germans’ wobbly defence together in a 2-1 extra-time win over Algeria in the World Cup last 16.
In arguably his best performance for his country, Neuer stopped seven Algeria shots and defused a number of dangerous counter-attacks playing like a sweeper with an astonishing 19 touches of the ball outside the penalty area and 59 in total.
“I didn’t change my style of play - I’ve often played like that for Bayern Munich and the ‘Nationalmannschaft’,” Neuer told reporters after his charges to the edge of the area and beyond had fans on the edge of their seats around the world.
Although he was already known for his field play, Neuer probably had more sprints out of the area against Algeria than he does in a half season at Bayern.
“I had to play like that because the pitch was wet,” said Neuer, one of the world’s top goalkeepers. “I had to risk my neck at times. Sure there was a risk but I had to take the chance.”
Neuer, like his illustrious Germany predecessors Oliver Kahn, Jens Lehmann, Andreas Koepke and Sepp Maier, has been a stalwart for his country since making his debut in 2009.
They have lost only three of the 49 matches the 28-year-old Neuer has played between the posts, winning 39, and he is hoping to mark his half-century on Friday with victory over France in the quarter-finals.
“I think all that needs to be explained once we’ve done a reasonable analysis of the (Algeria) match,” he said.
“But I don’t want to be too critical now. We’re in the next round. I think we just need to react more quickly.”
German football association (DFB) president Wolfgang Niersbach got on the PA system of the Germany team plane on the flight back from Porto Alegre to their base in north-eastern Brazil to single out Neuer for special praise.
“I think we can all say a big thanks to our number one today,” Niersbach told the team on the plane, according to a DFB statement. “Manu, your performance was absolutely world class. Absolutely world class.”
Coach Joachim Loew was also pleased.
“Neuer saved us from a number of very dangerous situations because he came out as a sweeper and cleared the ball at the last-possible second,” he said.
Neuer acted as if he did not understand the fuss. “I’ve always enjoyed playing in an outfield position when I’m just kicking around in my spare time,” said Neuer, who seems to enjoy running around on the field in kickabouts with teammates.
Neuer could provoke repeat of 1982 incident: Schumacher
Berlin: German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer’s habit of charging out of his area could see a repeat of the notorious incident from the 1982 World Cup semi-final between France and Germany, the villain of that match Harald Schumacher said yesterday.
Schumacher acquired the nickname of the ‘Butcher of Seville’ for his shoulder charge outside his area on Patrick Battiston which left the Frenchman unconscious on the ground, he subsequently lost a couple of teeth, suffered cracked ribs and bruised vertebrae.
On Monday in the 2-1 win in extra-time over Algeria, Neuer saved his defence on several occasions by rushing from his area to clear the ball, coming close to bringing down opponents at the same time.
“It’s a split second thing,” the 60-year-old smartly-dressed Schumacher replied to a question from AFP at a gathering of journalists organised by tabloid daily Bild in Berlin.
“If one looks at yesterday’s match and how many times Neuer came out of his goal.....he can always be unlucky and arrive too late and something like what happened (in 1982) can occur.”
Schumacher, who was presented to the press as ‘a man who knows the French’, refuses still to change his version of events in that he did not intend any harm to Battiston and he was just going for the ball, although the Frenchman had already shot at goal by the time the collision occurred.
“This subject comes up with me at every major finals,” he said.
“Later I apologised, but only because I did not go to his aid after the incident,” added Schumacher, who instead retreated to his goalline and nonchalantly chewed gum waiting to take the goal kick and also taunted French fans.
Schumacher, whose behaviour was held responsible back in Germany of reviving negative opinions of the Germans held over from World War II by the French, praised Neuer for saving the team on several occasions against the feisty Algerians but did not spare the rest of the team.
“Without Neuer it would have been a debacle,” said Schumacher.
“For me he is one of the best if not the best goalkeeper at the finals. The team has not clicked yet, there is no unity.”
However, despite that reservation Schumacher, who caused even greater consternation in German football when he claimed in 1987 in his biography that doping was rife in the Bundesliga and how teams enjoyed the company of prostitutes in pre-season training, still believes the Germans will win.
“I bet on 2-1 for us (the Germans), I believe we are going to beat the French.
“They are dangerous. They have very good players and they are very very difficult to play against but at the end of the day I am German and I bet on Germany.”
However, never one for being sentimental Schumacher gave a terse response when asked would it be a special match for him.
“No,” he said as he got into a taxi to take him off to the airport.