Euro 2016: Manuel Neuer, Germany's Great Wall
Manuel Neuer, who is a virtual wall in front of goal is once again turning out to be a key player in Germany's quest of another major title. Just how big a factor is the Neuer factor?
Highlights
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Germany missed 3 penalties against Italy, the most in a shoot-out
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Manuel Neuer has conceded just one goal so far in Euro 2016
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Neuer saved two penalty shots in the quarter-final against Italy
On Saturday night, the best goalkeeper in the world currently went head to head vs a man who held that title for many years. And at the end of the day it was Germany's Manuel Neuer who emerged triumphant vs Gianluigi Buffon. But then Neuer is a virtual wall.
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The Germany vs Italy Euro 2016 quarter-final that went to penalties once again highlighted just how big a factor Neuer is as far as German domination is concerned. Especially considering the fact that Germany missed 3 penalties vs the Azzurri. The most ever in one shootout in German footballing history.
Neuer's two saves in the wild penalty shootout that saw as many as 18 shots were key to a somewhat below-par Germany beating Italy for the first time ever in a competitive fixture. It even forced the usually poker-faced keeper to say, "It wasn't easy. It was a war of nerves."
The 30 year old though holds his nerve very well. His on-field persona is definitely one of the calmest. He almost oozes self-confidence. Before the quarter final vs Italy, Neuer had kept a clean sheet in every match Germany played in Euro 2016.
He can also very easily stake claim to being the best sweeper-keeper in the business. Completely unafraid to take on strikers by himself, outside the box.
But then his records also allow him to have that confidence in himself. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Neuer conceded just one goal in the group stage. In Euro 2012, he let the opposition score past him just twice in the group stage.
He kept as many as 4 clean sheets in the 2014 World Cup, including in the final, which Germany won 1-0 vs Argentina. In fact, Neur was adjudged the best goalkeeper in the tournament and was awarded the golden glove.
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Neur, who got his first football when he was two, has become a giant force to reckon with at both club and international level. It's not a surprise that he has made as many as 161 appearances for German giants Bayern Munich. And has a wax statue at Madame Tussauds. And is an advertiser's delight in Germany
If Germany go on to win a record 4th Euro title, Manuel Peter Neuer is sure to be one of the biggest architects of that triumph.