Manuel Neuer had no problem at all fronting up after Germany’s defeat to Ecuador.
The 40-year-old Bayern Munich goalkeeper was singled-out by the media after the 2-1 loss as he was questioned for both goals.
The first he dived late, and the second left Neuer looking stupid as he stood to catch a flick on from a corner, only for Gonzalo Plata to stick his foot in and prod home the winner.
Neuer, though, doesn’t see any problems.
Neuer denies Germany error
Asked if he was to blame for the high-profile winner, he responded: “No.”
Asked why, he said: “Because it’s a perfectly normal header flick-on and I try to catch the ball. So, a completely normal situation.
“Every goalkeeper who’s played knows that I have to position myself like that and try to catch the ball like that.
“I was looking at the ball and trying to catch it. Of course, I couldn’t see him from behind.
“I had to focus on what was happening in front of me, where the ball was, and what was happening with it.
“That’s why I simply wanted to catch it, and that would have been the safest solution.
“It was definitely not a blunder.”
Former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger commented; “I think he should have done better with the second goal.
“It’s not a performance that calls for a fundamental question [if he should be replaced]. If a discussion about this starts now, we might as well go home. It wasn’t so bad that we need to discuss exactly that.
“That’s all happening too fast for me. I think we knew before the tournament that Manuel Neuer isn’t absolutely flawless anymore.
“I stand by my conviction: Manuel Neuer is still good enough to win games. We’ll need him again later, when things get really tight and he makes an impossible save.
“He’s still capable of that. Therefore, I wouldn’t continue this discussion today.”
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