Stegen-Pose discussed by Völler, with competition announcement following
Germany's World Cup Qualifier Approach: Focus on Fitness and Playing Time for Ter Stegen
The German national football team, under the guidance of Bundestrainer Nagelsmann, is gearing up for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The team's first match in the qualifiers will be against Slovakia on September 4.
Rudi Völler, the 1990 World Cup winner, has set two key conditions for Marc-André ter Stegen to be the number one goalkeeper for the German team at the upcoming World Cup. Ter Stegen must have regular playing time ("Spielpraxis") and be fully fit ("Fitness").
Ter Stegen, currently demoted to third choice at FC Barcelona, is expected to be out for several months following back surgery. His fitness and match experience will be crucial for regaining the number one spot for Germany. Völler expressed optimism about Ter Stegen’s World Cup participation if these conditions are met, regardless of whether Ter Stegen achieves this at Barcelona or another club.
In the defensive midfield position, Joshua Kimmich will play for the DFB team, according to Nagelsmann. The team's group opponents for the qualifiers are USA, Mexico, Canada, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg.
Völler has expressed confidence that the German national team will play a strong role in the 2026 World Cup. He also mentioned that the team will try out a few things during the qualifiers. The team aims to win the games and be number one in the group.
Oliver Baumann is likely to start in goal for the German national team in the opening World Cup qualifier against Slovakia. The 2026 World Cup qualifiers will take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Völler acknowledged that a few nations are ahead of Germany, but believes the German team will be difficult to beat in the 2026 World Cup. Some of the U21 European vice-champions are expected to be seen in the senior national team.
Julian Nagelsmann is likely to have ter Stegen at his disposal in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, which begin in September. Völler did not express any specific concerns about the team's fitness or playing time for ter Stegen in the upcoming qualifiers.
In summary, Ter Stegen must be both fit and be the first-choice goalkeeper at his club to be considered Germany’s number one for the World Cup. The team's first match in the qualifiers is against Slovakia, and the qualifiers will take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The team aims to win the games and be number one in the group.
Ter Stegen's recovery from his back surgery and regaining his first-choice status at FC Barcelona will significantly impact his potential to become Germany's number one goalkeeper for the World Cup, as fitness and regular playing time are crucial factors for Rudi Völler's selection. Despite the team's group opponents including strong contenders like the USA, Germany aims to dominate the qualifiers, striving to win each game and secure the top position in the group.
