Following the German national team’s early exit from the World Cup, Manuel Neuer addressed the fans with an emotional statement. Despite the disappointment, the Bayern captain looks back on his DFB comeback with no regrets.
The German national team’s surprising World Cup exit continues to weigh on the squad even days after their round of 16 loss to Paraguay. Now, Manuel Neuer has addressed the fans with a personal message on Instagram.
The 40-year-old, who had celebrated his return to the national team for the World Cup, made it clear that he has no regrets about his decision despite the disappointing tournament run.
“This ending really hurts.”
In his statement, Neuer was self-critical and expressed disappointment with the DFB team’s performance. “Our early exit from the World Cup is extremely sobering. We clearly fell short of expectations and should have advanced further in this tournament. This ending really hurts,” wrote the Bayern captain.
Germany was surprisingly eliminated by Paraguay in the round of 32, thus dashing hopes for a successful tournament early on.
The 2014 World Cup champion explained in great detail why he had decided to play for the national team once more, despite his retirement following the 2024 European Championship.
“I made a very conscious decision to play for Germany one more time. For one thing, because wearing the national team jersey has always filled me with deep pride.”
Neuer doesn’t regret a single second
He also wanted to contribute his experience in a targeted way. “Second, because at 40 years old and with the experience I’ve gained from four World Cups, I wanted to support the young players as best I could—both on and off the field—and help German soccer.”
The Bayern goalkeeper leaves no doubt about his decision. “Despite the bitter ending, I don’t regret this move for a second.”
In closing, Neuer addressed the German fans with a few personal words. “My disappointment is indescribable, yet I remain deeply grateful. Thank you for your support over all these years and throughout this tournament.”
Immediately after Germany’s elimination, Neuer had confirmed that the match against Paraguay would be his final international appearance. With a total of 128 appearances, the Bayern captain ends his career with the national team as one of the most successful and influential goalkeepers in DFB history. Furthermore, after his fifth World Cup, he is now the oldest German national team player of all time.