Jonas Urbig has performed strongly for the DFB. Dietmar Hamann, however, doubts that the Bayern goalkeeper will rise to the number 1 spot just yet.
Jonas Urbig has used his first international break under Jürgen Klopp to make a lasting impression. The 23-year-old kept a clean sheet in both the 2-0 win over Serbia and the 0-0 draw against Greece, making him one of the standout performers of the DFB training camp.
Nevertheless, Dietmar Hamann does not yet see the FC Bayern goalkeeper at the top of the German goalkeeping hierarchy. Above all, Urbig’s still limited playing time in Munich is a decisive factor for the former national team player.
“Urbig can only gain from this right now,” Hamann told the tz. Every appearance helps the young keeper become “more experienced and a bit better.” The Sky expert therefore views the current situation at FC Bayern as fundamentally positive: Manuel Neuer consistently makes room for him, and the duo gets along well.
Hamann warns, however, against drawing too many conclusions based on Urbig’s strong performances for the German national team. He sees a significant difference between occasional appearances and the long-term responsibility of being the starting goalkeeper: “But it’s a different story if he’s supposed to be in goal on a permanent basis. When you’re the starting goalkeeper, there’s nothing to gain—only to lose.”
Hamann still sees ter Stegen ahead of Urbig
Hamann also doesn’t expect a change in the DFB squad for the time being. Marc-André ter Stegen currently remains the number one under Klopp, while Urbig continues to be ranked behind Neuer at FC Bayern. It is precisely this lack of regular playing time that could work against him in the competition for the starting spot.
With Alexander Nübel, Finn Dahmen, Noah Atubolu, and ter Stegen, there are several competitors who play in goal week after week. Hamann’s conclusion is therefore clear: “I don’t think Klopp will make Urbig the number one just yet.”
Klopp himself also explicitly made it clear that Urbig’s second start against Greece was not a promotion. The national team coach made it clear even before the match that the additional playing time was primarily due to Urbig’s lack of playing time at FC Bayern and had “nothing to do with number-one status.”
(function(){
var iframe=document.getElementById(‚polls-fcbinside‘);
if(!iframe)return;
window.addEventListener(‚message‘,function(e){
if(e.source!==iframe.contentWindow)return;
var d=e.data||{};
if(d.type===’FOOTY_WIDGET_HEIGHT’&&typeof d.height===’number‘){iframe.style.height=d.height+’px‘;}
});
})();
The fact that Urbig is nevertheless putting pressure on the established goalies is evident after his two shutouts. Oliver Kahn, too, had recently described the goalkeeper situation at the DFB as still up in the air, while at the same time highlighting ter Stegen’s experience. Kahn did, however, criticize Klopp’s reasoning for wanting to give Urbig playing time through the national team.
Hamann continues to have high hopes for the Bayern goalkeeper in the long term. His doubts primarily concern the timing. Should Neuer indeed retire next summer, Urbig would have to prove for the first time on a permanent basis at FC Bayern that he can be the number one goalkeeper at a top European club.
Until then, he remains in an unusual situation: He has made a name for himself with the DFB through strong performances, but at his club, he is still waiting for regular playing time. It is precisely this contradiction that is likely to determine how quickly Urbig can take the next step with the national team as well.