Manuel Neuer has set an unfortunate record for the German national team as he continues to struggle in World Cup matches.
Since the victorious 2014 final, Neuer has not managed to keep a clean sheet in any World Cup appearance. This ongoing crisis came to a head during a recent match where South America’s Ecuador took full advantage, scoring their first goal of the tournament and compounding Neuer’s challenges.
By conceding the opening goal, Neuer has now extended his streak to eight consecutive World Cup matches without a clean sheet, placing him among the six worst runs in tournament history. Ecuador capitalized on this, finally registering their first goal in this World Cup.
Germany’s difficulties did not stop at one goal. In a moment of misjudgment, Neuer’s costly error allowed Ecuador to score a second goal, giving them a 2-1 lead as the match approached its final moments.