Augsburg celebrate Finn Dahmen after record-breaking Bundesliga match, look ahead to 2026 World Cup prospects | OneFootball

Augsburg were able to clinch effective Bundesliga safety on Saturday afternoon thanks in large part to another command performance from keeper Finn Dahmen. The 28-year-old earned Man-of-the-match honors after making nine crucial saves in the 1-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

Dahmen also found himself a part of Bundesliga history. Leverkusen’s 36 registered shots served as the most efforts on target any Bundesliga team has sent on goal without winning a match. FCA head coach Manuel Baum, as well as Dahmen and his teammates have commented on the historic affair. 

Finn Dahmen on his performance

“[Now that we’ve clinched safety] We don’t have to worry so much and can just enjoy the next few games,” Dahmen told German broadcaster DAZN. “I’m obviously happy that today was such a goalkeeper’s game and that I was able to help the team. Once you’ve saved three, four, five shots, you just get this feeling that today is a really good day. It’s fun, of course. But I’d also be happy if we conceded one or two fewer chances in the coming weeks.“

Augsburg praise for their keeper

“We could have defended better,” head coach Manuel Baum noted at the post match press conference. “But he played a huge role in this. I think if you put together a highlight reel on Finn today, it would last over ten minutes. The performances he puts in week after week render him fully deserving of a spot on the World Cup squad. I’d be thrilled if Finn can move onto the tournament after this season. He proves week after week that he fully deserves it.

“Finn is clearly a German national team goalkeeper,” Dahmen’s Augsburg teammate Cedric Zesiger added in the mixed zone. “That’s my opinion.“

Will Dahmen feature at the World Cup?

Dahmen – who chased club and Bundesliga club records last season and is known for his clutch performances – did make Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann’s selection during the recent March internationals break. The 28-year-old still remains without an international cap after Nagelsmann opted to start Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nübel in the two friendly fixtures. 

Neither Baumann nor Nüel particularly impressed. As a result – despite the fact that he has repeatedly rejected a return to the national team – many German press sources believe that Bayern Munich legend Manuel Neuer will make sensational news and actually start in goal for Germany during the World Cup. Baumann and Nübel still only have 14 caps between them. 

Nagelsmann initially selected four keepers for his Euro 2024 squad, though Nübel ultimately didn’t survive the final cut. Freiburg’s Noah Atubolu and Bayern’s Jonas Urbig have also earned call ups under Nagelsmann without earning their first cap. It’s entirely possible that – given the situation – Nagelsmann will nominate four keepers again.

Dahmen’s might receive an audition in one of the pre-tournament friendlies, but it’s far likelier that Nagelsmann will be focused on getting Baumann as much experience as possible. It’s also worth noting that the Wiesbaden-native recent form also hasn’t been quite as consistent as his club teammates suggest.

Dahmen let in five goals against Stuttgart three weeks ago and also turned in a shaky performance in last week’s 2-2 draw against Hoffenheim. Dahmen – born to an English mother – is also eligible to represent the Three Lions internationally.

Dahmen remains far down the pecking order on the German Nationalmannschaft. While one certainly doesn’t wish to take anything away from the keeper following his brilliant performance against Leverkusen, the possibility of Dahmen earning his first international cap soon is rather remote. 

Germany’s Fuggerstädter still have much to celebrate in their regular No. 1, particularly on the day they secured their 16th consecutive season of Bundesliga football. The Bavarian Swabians have still never been relegated from the German top flight.

GGFN | Peter Weis