by Sportswriter Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Seven injury losses have turned this Friday's UEFA Euro League encounter against Bosnia-Herzegovina into a test project for Julian Nagelsmann.
One of the second-row nominees stepping into the limelight is Stuttgart keeper Alexander Nubel. His debut in the German shirt is the preliminary climax for the 28-year-old on his way to one day succeeding Manuel Neuer in Bayern's goal.
Before achieving his breakthrough in the German first flight ending up second in the 2023/24 national league season with Stuttgart, the former Schalke keeper went through curious ups and downs.
When leaving Schalke in 2020, and signing a contract with Bayern, the succession of the Bavarian icon Neuer seemed settled. As Neuer continued his career, insisting on staying the number one, the deal turned into a noisy issue.
The progress of a once-promising career seemed at stake.
Nubel, after four games in Bayern's shirt, left on loan to Monaco for two years, disappearing from the public radar, before another turnaround took him to Stuttgart.
Meanwhile, things have cooled down. Nubel extended his contract with Bayern until 2029 and from today's perspective remains the man to succeed Neuer, when the 38-year-old German icon is retiring assumedly in 2026.
Simultaneously his on-loan contract in Stuttgart got extended until 2026.
Called the man of the future, Nubel is currently benefitting from the knee injury of Germany's new number one, Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, who is sidelined for several months.
Having to find a replacement for Ter Stegen, Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann and Nubel are said to battle it out until Ter Stegen returns.
Nubel is the choice for the game against Bosnia while Baumann is moving in for his test run this upcoming Monday against the Netherlands.
Having survived the detour in Monaco and a significant career low, Nubel fought his way back onto the stage and turned into one of the German national league's best keepers.
While Baumann is 34, Nubel is seen as Bayern's next keeper and enjoys the promising option to one day take care of the German goal.
"I have been through a lot over the recent years, but am happy to have moved to Stuttgart," Nubel said.
Nagelsmann announced to choose between Baumann and Nubel when it comes to the German games on the way to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the German coach hopes for the return of 32-year-old Ter-Stegen next summer.
Nubel's time as the German number one might come after the 2026 World Cup. For now, challenger Nubel has reached a promising stage, to be the number one after Ter Stegen in two years.
The Barca keeper missing eight to nine months is providing a second chance for Nubel: In the German team, aside from the opportunity to deliver a satisfying performance proving his class to be a deserved successor of Neuer in Munich. ■
