German football experts cast their verdict on Baumann's potential starting role at the 2026 World Cup.
Header image via Yahoo Sports
This summer, Germany will enter a major tournament without Manuel Neuer for the first time since Euro 2008. The Bayern Munich goalkeeper retired from international football in August 2024, after eight major tournaments, 124 appearances and 51 clean sheets.
Having debuted for the national team in 2009, Neuer almost immediately claimed the starting spot for the 2010 World Cup ahead of experienced keepers Hans-Jörg Butt and Tim Wiese, before solidifying his role as Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper for nearly 15 years.
He brought unmatched big-game experience, having captured over 20 major honours with Bayern Munich, including two Champions Leagues and 17 Bundesliga titles, as well as the 2014 World Cup for Germany.
“Germany hasn't produced a goalkeeper who matches up in every area. Neuer’s just better. More consistent, plays at a higher level of the game", German Football Correspondent for The Athletic, Seb Stafford-Bloor, opined to Goalkeeper.com.
“There's never been a credible conversation about anybody else whilst Neuer is fit and available,”
ESPN's voice of the Bundesliga, Derek Rae, added, “There’s nobody quite like Manuel Neuer. He’s undoubtedly cemented himself as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. If you couldn't do everything as well as Neuer could, then you’re not getting a look-in. None of them came close.”
Whilst most would have expected Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to take the reins from Neuer, a mix of form and injury in the national team's goalkeeper roster means, with the 2026 World Cup approaching, 35-year-old Oliver Baumann will take the responsibility of guarding Germany’s goal.
Three weeks ago, Germany Manager Julian Nagelsmann said, speaking to German outlet Kicker, that 'If Oli stays as healthy and stable as he is now, he’ll have a great World Cup. We have absolutely no concerns about the goalkeeping position.'
But unlike his predecessor, the Hoffenheim goalkeeper has yet to win a senior trophy in his nearly 20-year career. Is he the right man to guard Germany’s goal at a World Cup?
Debuting in the Bundesliga in 2010, Baumann has bided his time to break through internationally. Recognised for his positioning, reflexes, and calm decision-making, he has since made over 500 league appearances.
Sky’s Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard told Goalkeeper.com of a formative encounter in his early days at Freiburg.
“There was a meeting where manager Christian Streich effectively told him off, which really stayed with him.
“After that, you started to see the real kind of development of him psychologically in terms of being able to deal with the setbacks of being a goalkeeper.
“There’s a famous game against Hamburg, where he was responsible for all three goals they conceded. He had an absolute nightmare.
“But Streich stuck with him. Kept him in the team, and in the next game against Nürnberg, he kept a clean sheet.”
Baumann made 141 Bundesliga appearances for Freiburg before joining Hoffenheim in 2011, later linking up with current Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, who became Head Coach in 2014.
“Working with a guy like Nagelsmann is always going to rub off on you because you listen to the way players talk about him,” Hatchard continued.
“He teaches them so much. He gives them the authority to really develop their own games. He learned a lot from him.
“The fact that they finished in the Champions League spots two seasons in a row really was phenomenal.”
Fifteen years later, Baumann remains Hoffenheim’s number one and has since become club captain.
“The fact that he's been willing to stick it out and see off talented potential replacements is important,” Hatchard says.
“By nature, Hoffenheim is a club where, if you reach a certain level, you move on.”
“Gregor Kobel was on Hoffenheim's books at one stage, and in the end, the decision went Baumann's way.
“So he effectively saw off one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga. At the time, Hoffenheim felt that Baumann was the best bet, which has been proven not to be a terrible idea.”
Rae added, “When you have a competent and experienced goalkeeper like Baumann behind you, it can give you confidence to perform at your best.
“He has been so important for Hoffenheim, and his commitment to them is a testament to his character.”
Baumann has experienced all the highs and lows during his time at Hoffenheim, from Champions League football in 2017 to relegation battles as recently as last season.
Now, as we head towards the 2026 World Cup, they are within touching distance of Champions League qualification again, and the goalkeeper’s performances and leadership have played a key part in the sudden upturn in form.
“The thing with Baumann is that you look at the example he sets,” Hatchard says. “He's incredibly diligent in terms of his diet. He says he's never been drunk. He looks after himself incredibly well.
“His wife jokes that she has to sneak the odd burger here and there because he won't even have it in the house. So he's religiously disciplined.”
“It’s said quite often that goalkeepers get better with age, and that is accurate with Baumann,” Derek Rae added.
“He’s played some of the best football of his career this season.”
Following Neuer’s retirement in 2024, Nagelsmann handed Baumann his opportunity against the Netherlands, and the then-34-year-old took his chance with both hands, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win.
Speaking to UEFA.com, Baumann said: 'To play for my country, I'm very thankful. The shots I saved weren't that easy, but I'm happy I could help the team.'
Nagelsmann said at the time that there were millimetres between him and Alexander Nübel in deciding who to pick for that game, but his decision paid off.
Stafford-Bloor agrees. “Germany did not play very well until the final games. But Baumann was very good. He deserves it. No one should think of Baumann as someone who is just there by default.
“Yes, he's got some lucky breaks, and he's played well at the right time, but he's also played really well, and he's earned the right to be first choice.”
Baumann would go on to start all six games of Germany’s successful World Cup qualifying campaign, keeping four clean sheets in the process, cementing his manager’s faith in him.
“Unlike in previous years, Germany don’t quite have the strength in depth of goalkeepers to challenge Baumann for the number one spot,” Hatchard says.
“Marc-André ter Stegen has had lots of injury problems, has lost his place at Barcelona, has gone to Girona on loan, but is injured again. So that takes him out of the equation.
“You have Nübel at Stuttgart, who is capable of miraculous saves, but he is also guilty of huge lapses in concentration.
“That would worry me in a major game, a World Cup, that he would dwell on the ball too long, or he would make a mistake with his handling.”
Stafford-Bloor added, “I like Augsburg’s Finn Dahmen, but I'm not sure he's on Baumann's level. For a while, people thought he was a rising force, but he’s not a contender anymore.”
Current Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu was the number one for the German U21 team at Euro 2025, but Stafford-Bloor can’t see him being in the conversation.
“Atubolu could grow into a great goalkeeper. His decision-making isn’t quite there. But in terms of the tools, he's got everything.
“Brilliant shot-stopper, quick reactions. But he doesn't have the senior international experience. No one has put him under that spotlight yet to see whether he's really up to it.”
Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig has also earned his first call-up to the international squad this month. “He is certainly one for the future,” says Rae.
“He is seen as the successor to Neuer at Bayern, and probably will be for Germany. But he’s still young and will be one to look at for Euro 2028.”
Though Germany may lack a ‘superstar’ goalkeeper this summer, they do have an extremely reliable successor.
Oliver Baumann’s journey from Bundesliga regular to national starter shows Germany’s goal remains in safe hands.
As the World Cup approaches, all eyes turn to him to see if he can fill those gloves.
