Nagelsmann Dims Ter Stegen's World Cup Hopes

G. E (Elbotola)

29 March 2026at18:45

Julian Nagelsmann, coach of the German national team, stated on Sunday that goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen's chances of making the final squad for next summer's World Cup are extremely slim. Nagelsmann attributed this decline in the goalkeeper's prospects to his ongoing recovery from a left hamstring injury that required surgery earlier.

Regarding the injury's background, the goalkeeper suffered a hamstring tear last February while on loan at Spanish club Girona, during a match against Oviedo. This led the German coach to emphasize the urgent need to accelerate the physical rehabilitation process, considering time a crucial factor in determining the final status of the goalkeeper, who, as Nagelsmann put it, "is no longer 21 years old."

Nagelsmann affirmed in his press statements that he would not definitively close the door on the international goalkeeper's participation. He stated, "Out of respect for him, I will not close the World Cup door on him, but the probabilities are very slim. He has been absent for almost a year, and he must step on the gas in his rehabilitation process. Although he is not currently experiencing significant pain, everything takes time, especially since he is no longer 21 years old."

Regarding the current preparations for the Mannschaft, the coaching staff is relying on Oliver Baumann as the primary goalkeeper in the squad, with Alexander Nübel available as a backup option. Nübel is scheduled to participate in the upcoming friendly match against Ghana tomorrow, Monday, at the MHPArena in Stuttgart.

Q&A

What happened to Marc-André ter Stegen's World Cup chances?

Marc-André ter Stegen's World Cup chances have significantly decreased, according to German coach Julian Nagelsmann. His ongoing recovery from a left hamstring injury, which required surgery, is the primary reason for his slim prospects. He has been absent for almost a year.

How does Ter Stegen's injury affect Germany's goalkeeping situation?

Ter Stegen's prolonged absence means the German coaching staff is currently relying on Oliver Baumann as the primary goalkeeper for the national squad. Alexander Nübel is serving as the backup option and is scheduled to play in an upcoming friendly match.

What must Marc-André ter Stegen do to improve his World Cup prospects?

To improve his World Cup prospects, Marc-André ter Stegen must urgently accelerate his physical rehabilitation process. Coach Nagelsmann emphasized that time is a crucial factor, especially given the goalkeeper's age, and he needs to "step on the gas" in his recovery.