Manuel Neuer, Germany’s sweeper-keeper ‘Terminator’

There was an inconspicuous moment during Germany's narrow win over Algeria earlier this week that seemed to perfectly sum up Manuel Neuer's evening.
As Toni Kroos and Bastian Schweinsteiger worked the ball around the midfield, trying to find a way through the Africans' solid defence, the German goalkeeper was crouched at the edge of his penalty area, vigorously stretching his hamstrings.
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Neuer, a blonde-haired, big-necked, Terminator-like presence, was repeatedly called upon to rapidly rush out and thwart Algerian attacks. He did so with self-assurance, playing the sweeper-keeper role to perfection and producing arguably his finest performance in the national shirt.
His explosive sprints ensured that the fleet-footed opposition frontline could not exploit the gap between the goalkeeper and a sluggish defence.
Neuer essentially became a fifth defender, his heat map resembling something more akin to that of a centre-half. Of his 59 touches, 21 occurred outside his area – more than any other goalkeeper at this World Cup.
Yet it was no Rene Higuita performance. Neuer was measured and disciplined, taking risks, but never unnecessarily.
When Islam Slimani breached the defence wide on the left, the Algerian must surely have thought of cutting in on his right foot and testing the goalkeeper.
He never got a chance. Before he had even looked up, Neuer was on him like an aggressive policeman, vanquishing the attack with venom.
The man between the sticks helped limit Algeria to only two shots in regular time and was singled out on the plane back to their base in north-east Brazil by the German football association president, who called the 28 year old goalkeeper's performance "absolutely world class".
If Germany are to defeat France in Friday's World Cup quarter-final at the Maracana, they will need Neuer to replicate that level of display.
In Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba and Mathieu Valbuena, France offer considerable pace in attack and will look to capitalise on a glacial German defence.
Presumably, French striker Olivier Giroud will have briefed Benzema and friends that Per Mertesacker, his teammate at Arsenal, is slower to turn than Austin Powers stuck in a small space with a big car.
It is because of Germany's stagnant and occasionally rash backline that coach Joachim Loew often opts to deploy Philipp Lahm as a deep-sitting midfielder, providing protective cover to a defence ordered to play a high line.
Lahm, the captain, spoke earlier this week about how his job is as much about keeping the team together as anything else, and he will be as essential as Neuer.
When right-back Shkodran Mustafi tore his hamstring against Algeria, Loew was forced to revert Lahm to defence, and immediately, the Africans were able to reassert a foothold in the game.
The possible return of Mats Hummels, who missed the Algeria slog with flu-like symptoms, would solve the problem, since Jerome Boateng could be shifted out wide.
Yet if Hummels, the Borussia Dortmund tackler, is deemed unfit, it will provide a major tactical headache for Loew.
Regardless of who fills the defensive slots, however, when France line up in the tunnel before the game, it is Neuer – the 1.93-metre giant – they will be sizing up.
If they are to defeat the Germans, they ultimately must defeat Neuer.
He has been on the losing side with his national team just three times in 49 matches. This quarter-final match is his 50th international cap.
The Terminator will be in no mood to be beaten.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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