Jan 22, 2026
3 min read
For Marc-Andre ter Stegen, going to Girona also paves the way to return to the first place in the national team.
The loan move to FC Girona Ter Stegen: a step back should also help him in the DFB
Marc-André ter Stegen's move to Girona also paves the way for a return to the first team.However, the keeper, who has always been seen as the logical successor to Manuel Neuer, meets a new star in the DFB.
The question of who scores for the national team in a major tournament is traditionally a matter of national importance.Before the World Cup 2006, the "T question" divided football fans in the country. Then the Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann dared to appoint the "goalkeeping titan" Oliver Kahn as a substitute goalkeeper at all home stadiums.
Even before the World Cup in the summer, the position of the goalkeeper is being debated again.Lately, calls for the appointment of Loris Karius have been especially loud from the wider Schalke area.The veteran is among the places in the second team, but he has been brilliant for the "Royal Blues" for weeks and has come into the game as the third choice goalkeeper for the DFB team.
The position in Germany's goals has been settled: The coach of the country, Julian Nagelsmann, has repeatedly emphasized that Marc-Andre ter Stegen is his number one.The coach of the country said that the 33-year-old player will return to the goal of the DFB in the international matches against Switzerland and Ghana in March.
Moving to Girona: Prerequisites for the World Cup
The final hurdle should have been cleared by Tuesday night when the long-serving Barca goalkeeper's move to FC Girona was officially confirmed.Since the national team coach chose Ter Stegen as the starting goalkeeper, Rudi Völler, the sporting director of the DFB, said in a statement: Despite all his qualities, Ter Stegen also needs match training, said Völler recently in view of the World Cup summer, also referring to his long history of injuries.
The Barcelona captain missed an entire season after suffering a serious knee injury in September 2024. Last year, he was completely sidelined by Barcelona after another back injury.According to the instructions issued by the headquarters of the German Football Association, in the summer, even for a relegation club like Girona, the only way out for eternal heir Ter Stegen is to finally compete in the middle of the big competition.He showed up.
Baumann has been strong in goal for the DFB recently
For years, Ter Stegen was regarded as Germany's best goalkeeper since Manuel Neuer - and therefore also the logical successor to Neuer, who only vacated his permanent place in goal at the DFB after the 2024 European Championships. But recently DFB officials, including sporting director Föhler, have repeatedly emphasized how well Oliver Baumann has done his job as interim number one in World Cup qualifiers;he had not conceded a goal in his last four international matches.
Based on this, the following thoughts should be allowed: if Baumann has proven himself in the DFB box and is an undoubted supporter in the Bundesliga for a team that has returned to the top, then a change in the goal of the DFB team can cause danger.
"The goalkeeper position is something special in Germany. We have no problem with this position. Oliver Baumann did it very well," said ARD expert Almuth Schult on SWR."Even if Ter Stegen is back to his best, we have world-class goals."
Ter Stegen wastes a training session in the DFB goal
What is certain is that Ter Stegen will first have to resume training expressly requested by the DFB.He has made just one appearance in the Cup for Barça this season.He missed all of the World Cup qualifiers with the DFB and, despite playing 44 international games, Ter Stegen's appearances outside of friendlies have been manageable: he was the last player in the German penalty area in June 2025 at the Nations League finals, in the two defeats against Portugal and France.
Bowman lets the show speak for itself
It will also be interesting to see how Bauman fares in the coming months.Before the 2006 World Cup, Jens Lehmann always quietly refused to accept the role of deputy until he was truly number one.
It is unlikely that such a declaration of war came from Baumann.The Hoffenheim goalkeeper recently said that of course he has the right to score goals at the World Cup, but he won't say it out loud through the media."What do you think one newspaper or the other is doing?" is his interview.For now, he'll let his performance speak for itself.
