Germany’s goalkeeper talks to EURO2020.com looking forward to a massive fixture at Wembley.
Perhaps the most recognizable face in Germany’s UEFA EURO 2020 team, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer hopes to keep a low profile when his team meets England at Wembley in the round of 16.
A FIFA World Cup winner with Germany in 2014, the 35-year-old aims to add the EURO title to his huge personal trophy drive, but a formidable look awaits Germany when they face England – with home fans at Wembley still remembering penalty kicks that ended Three Lions campaigns at the 1990 World Cup and EURO ’96.
I think the attitude remains the same, the motivation as well. We play in a EURO. We started against some really strong teams, and we continue in the same way. We play England at Wembley, which is very special for us Germans, and of course we all burst with motivation. We have to give everything and the small details will be crucial. We can not afford to make mistakes.
There is always a trade-off between taking risks in attacks and keeping it tight in defense. We have scored many goals in the tournament, but at the same time we have let the opposition do a little too much. This means that with our attack we get many chances and we also get them against England. In a knockout game, however, it will be important to be solid on the back so that we can keep clean. So far we have lacked in that respect, but the good thing is that we now have a chance to try again.
Germany won EURO 96 / Alessandro Sabattini / Getty Images
Is it an incentive to create our own history at Wembley? Yes, of course it is. Some of the Bayern players have already made history at Wembley [beating Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 UEFA Champions League final]. Now we have the opportunity to do it with the power [Germany] so it’s time for us to write a new chapter.
England have not played attacking football so far and have not scored many goals, but still deserved to go through as group winners. They have shown good performances in defense. They are always dangerous in the future and in regular matches. They have fast forward players, good one-on-one players and a good center-forward in Harry Kane. So we have to be careful and be on all the time. If we can get our defense under control, England will have its own problems, and it can be an open game.
