Coach Míchel names the time for ter Stegen's national team

Marc-Andre ter Stegen returns to the German national team after 15 months without playing since his 44th international, as his coach Míchel of Ajax Amsterdam confirms. The 34‑year‑old goalkeeper, who last featured on June 8, 2025 against France in a Nations League match, is now expected to be used again during the upcoming international break.

Míchel's Reason for the Omission

Coach Míchel explained the omission of ter Stegen in the league match on Tuesday evening against Willem II Tilburg due to a serious injury. “Marc is recovering from a serious injury,” he said, emphasizing that the upcoming international break makes the timing for a return ideal. He selected the backup Maarten Paes so that ter Stegen can fully recover for the Saturday match and during the break. The available time is sufficient.

National Team Plan and Upcoming Appearances

Head coach Jürgen Klopp plans to use ter Stegen, now 34, as the future number‑1 goalkeeper, after he already held the position under Julian Nagelsmann following Neuer’s retirement after Euro 2024. His last international appearance was on June 8, 2025 against France, a 0‑2 defeat at the Nations League stadium in Stuttgart.

German media predict three-way points race in Nations League group

Klopp will announce his squad on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. The DFB eleven will meet the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Saturday, September 24, as part of the Nations League. Further opponents are Greece on September 27, Serbia on October 1, and Greece again on October 4.

The primary challengers are considered to be Alexander Nübel of Besiktas and Jonas Urbig of FC Bayern, while Augsburg’s Finn Dahmen is also in the race – unlike the now permanently retired Neuer from the DFB selection and the current number 2 Oliver Baumann.