'It's one of the cruellest stories' - Khedira sympathises with Ter Stegen ahead of World Cup

Ter Stegen was set to become Julian Nagelsmann's number one choice after Manuel Neuer's retirement from international football following the 2024 European Championships, but he has struggled with injuries this season.

The 33-year-old missed the start of the 2025-26 campaign with a back injury while at Barcelona, causing him to miss their World Cup qualifiers, where Oliver Baumann started all six matches.

Ter Stegen then joined Girona on loan in January as he looked to stake his claim for the role at this summer's World Cup, but suffered a hamstring injury in just his second game, with reports claiming he could be out for up to three months.

Despite making his professional debut with Borussia Monchengladbach in the 2010-11 season, and his senior Germany debut in 2012, Ter Stegen has never represented his country at either a World Cup or Euros.

"It's one of the cruellest stories," Khedira, who won the World Cup with Germany in 2014, told AS.

"You finally have the chance to be number one, especially at a World Cup, and then you get injured again. It's incredibly tough.

"As an athlete, I feel really bad for him. But Baumann is also doing well. He's not Neuer, but he's performed well for Germany.

Germany will face Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in the group stage at the 2026 World Cup, hoping to progress into the knockout stages for the first time since their triumph in 2014.

They finished top of their qualifying group, winning five of their six matches to book their place in the tournament.

Khedira added: "If the core of the team - Baumann, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Wirtz, Musiala - is physically and mentally strong and can maintain that level for five weeks, Germany could be a favourite.

"Even so, right now I see Spain, England, and France as a step ahead because of the depth of their squads.

"I'm really looking forward to the World Cup. And I'd venture to say that I think we'll do better than in the last two World Cups."

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