Scotland fans are, by their nature, a hopeful bunch. And if they are looking for reasons to be optimistic this week before Steve Clarke’s men take on the might of the Germans in their own back yard, they might just find one between their sticks.
It seems strange to say that Manuel Neuer, arguably the finest keeper of his generation, may be a weak link for Germany these days, but the nature of Greece’s goal against them in their final warm-up match for the European Championships at the weekend hinted that perhaps the Bayern Munich legend’s reflexes aren’t what they once were.
He spilled a tame shot from distance into the path of Greek striker Giorgos Masouras, who duly tapped home to give the visitors a shock lead, before a Kai Havertz equaliser and a late strike from Fabian Groβ gave the hosts victory.
But the gaffe by Neuer has ramped up the pressure on Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann to drop the 38-year-old and replace him with Barcelona keeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen, with ‘Die Mannschaft’ legend Lothar Mattheus the latest to express his concern at a series of mistakes Neuer has made recently.
Nagelsmann is unlikely to bend to that public pressure, and his decision to stand by his Manuel has been backed by someone who knows Neuer extremely well, having been in Ter Stegen’s position as his understudy at the World Cup that Germany won in 2014.
Roman Weidenfeller, the former Borussia Dortmund keeper who won five caps for Germany, is adamant that his former squad-mate has to be the man handed the gloves against the Scots, but even he admits that he isn’t so sure his abilities are up to the same level they once were. Which, admittedly, was quite the high bar.
“It is very important to have Manuel Neuer in our goal,” Weidenfeller said.
“There is a lot of experience in our team and in our squad and he has played a lot of tournaments.
“And, of course, Munich is also his home city, so, although he cannot relax, he knows what he is doing and he is very important for the German team.
“Manuel Neuer has played in so many finals and tournaments and is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. And is the best goalkeeper in the world. Just now, I don't know, but before, of course."
What is exciting to Weidenfeller is the mix of world class experience and potentially world class prospects that now make up the German national side, with Toni Kroos coming out of international retirement to round off a glittering career by playing his part in this home tournament.
At the other end of the age scale, there are talents like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, who is just off the back of a stunning campaign with Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
“It is exciting to have the young players to do this job,” he said.
“You know, Florian Wirtz has just been named the Player of the Year [in Bundesliga] and he was in the final of the Europa League.
“Toni Kroos, he has won the Champions League six times, so all of those players have a lot of experience and have had great performances.
“And then, just now is also the time for those younger players. They will both [young and experienced] push this term team and we want more.”
The Tartan Army may have found other reasons to be hopeful had this match arrived a few months ago, when Scotland were in a better run of form and Germany were on a considerably poorer run than they are now.
Victories over The Netherlands and France have given the Germans renewed optimism ahead of the Euros that they may well be able to compete to win the tournament, while the Scots travel looking simply to compete, and perhaps become the first Scottish side to reach the knockout stages of a major competition.
Weidenfeller though did offer some crumbs of comfort to any anxious Scots ahead of Friday night, acknowledging that the greater anxiety on the field may come from the German players. The former Dortmund number one knows all about the pressure that German fans can place upon their national side, and with this being their home tournament, he feels that may prove to be a factor.
“It is a very important game because it is the start of the European Championship in Munich for Scotland, but it is the same for the German team and it's important to have a good performance,” he said.
“It is not easy to start in your championship and then also, for our team against Scotland, they are playing very strong and physical.
“The recent results from the German team have been good. They have the pre-tournament sessions and the training camps and the most important thing now is the start.
“It is important they start well in this tournament and then they can push it forward with the people around Germany.
“Everyone in the country is celebrating having this championship and, of course, we need a team with good results and a good performance.”
