This could have been TSG Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann finally getting his World Cup moment.
After holding down the No. 1 spot for Germany during qualifying, Baumann was relegated to the understudy role following Manuel Neuer’s sensational late return to the team.
However, thanks to a new tiebreak format FIFA introduced for this year’s tournament — the first tiebreak is no longer goal difference but head-to-head — Germany has already clinched first place in its group. Thus, notions of momentum
aside, mostly only bad things can happen in the final group stage match against Ecuador on Thursday: yellow cards accumulating towards suspensions, injuries, the like. Neuer himself is only freshly returned from a late-season injury that took him out at halftime of the final Bundesliga match.
It is a good argument for any national team coach in Nagelsmann’s shoes to go heavy on the rotation. Even — perhaps especially, because there is not normally an opportunity for the backup to get even a single minute of action — at goalkeeper.
And at least some Germany players reportedly agree! According to Sky Germany, as captured by @iMiaSanMia:
Some of the national team players would like to see Oliver Baumann start in goal against Ecuador tomorrow, and thus make his World Cup debut as a ‘reward’ and a show of appreciation for him. The topic has been discussed in the dressing room in recent hours. It remains to be seen whether Julian Nagelsmann and Manuel Neuer will make it happen [@SkySportDE]
However…it’s not happening. Almost as soon as the idea was teased, it was shot down. From Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg:
🚨ℹ️ Julian Nagelsmann has confirmed that Manuel Neuer will start against Ecuador.
Oliver Baumann will be on the bench. Goalkeeping coach Andreas Kronenberg has informed Baumann of the decision.
Come on, Nags (and Neuer). Give the people what they want!
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