Under 50 percent! Is Neuer’s World Cup save percentage a cause for concern? | OneFootball

There’s a lot being written right now about Manuel Neuer and his return to the national team. The debate is intense, and what’s happening right now is exactly what shouldn’t have happened during the World Cup. 

After all, things should be calming down. But that’s not the case, because every expert has an opinion on the Neuer issue. Christoph Kramer, a ZDF analyst, also finds the debate a bit unfortunate;he recently got almost worked up on live TV. 

What remains, however, is the impression Neuer makes on the field. The occasional pass doesn’t find its mark, and some goal kicks land right at the opponent’s feet. And he hasn’t made many saves yet either.

Neuer’s stats spark debate

In the world of statistics, there’s plenty of data available even for goalkeepers. And one statistic that stands out is anything but reassuring when it comes to Neuer and his performance.

Photo: Getty Images

With a save percentage of 42.9, Neuer has the lowest of all 40 goalkeepers who have played in at least three matches in this tournament. That’s not good. In the last three World Cups, he never fell below 60%; in 2014, when Germany won the World Cup, his save percentage was absolutely outstanding, at more than 80%.

Now there are explanations—for example, that Germany didn’t face that many shots directly on goal. And Neuer was powerless to prevent the goals conceded against Ivory Coast and Curaçao. Against Ecuador, one could argue whether there was a mistake or not. But what is clearly evident to outsiders in any case is that Neuer is no longer an exceptional goalkeeper.

Rather, he is an experienced goalkeeper who still delivers world-class performances from time to time. For someone his age, that’s no big deal, but national team coach Julian Nagelsmann also justified the selection by citing the special “aura” that Neuer exudes when an opponent appears in front of him. So far, there hasn’t been much of that to see.

But now the tournament is entering the phase where things really get interesting. And perhaps Neuer still has an ace up his sleeve—that’s what will matter most now. If not, the debate is only likely to grow louder.