Top five goalkeepers to watch out for at Euro 2024

Manuel Neuer will look to deliver Germany’s first European Championship since 1996.

As Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany, all eyes will be on the elite shot-stoppers tasked with protecting their nation’s goal. Having world-class goalkeepers can make or break a team’s championship hopes on the biggest stages. While the modern game demands more from the position than ever before, the fundamental job remains to make game-changing saves when it matters most.

With a blend of veteran maestros and fresh emerging talents, this year’s European Championship has no shortage of elite goalkeeping talent ready to steal the spotlight. Here are the top five goalkeepers who could play a role in deciding Euro 2024:

5. Jordan Pickford (England)

The 30-year-old Everton custodian remains a polarizing figure for his propensity for errors at club level. However, Pickford has been a model of consistency when representing England, seldom putting a foot wrong. His performances at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020 highlight his ability to raise his game on the big occasion.

England manager Gareth Southgate has shown complete faith in Pickford as his unquestioned number one, and he’ll be hoping for more heroics from the often-criticized keeper.

4. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)

At just 25 years old, Donnarumma has already racked up over a decade of experience as a starter through precocious rises at AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian’s incredible reflexes and athleticism have him regarded as one of the world’s premier shot-stoppers. After leading Italy to Euro 2020 glory three years ago, Donnarumma will be keen to repeat that success as the Azzurri’s last line of defence. His continued improvement in areas like dealing with crosses could make him unbeatable in Germany.

Also read: Italy at UEFA Euro 2024: Full squad, preview, match schedule, venue, telecast info

3. Mike Maignan (France)

The 28-year-old has emerged as a worthy successor to French great Hugo Lloris with his spectacular performances for AC Milan and Les Bleus. A truly modern goalkeeper, Maignan has excellent distribution skills to go along with his razor-sharp reflexes and commanding presence. His performances have him regarded as potentially the world’s best at the moment.

2. Jan Oblak (Slovenia)

The Atletico Madrid stalwart has long been recognized as one of the world’s elite shot-stoppers through his outstanding domestic and international exploits. Oblak‘s tremendous agility, positioning, and reflexes have made him almost unbeatable on his day for both club and country. The 31-year-old Slovenian will be keen to showcase his world-class ability on the biggest stage again as he aims to lead an upset deep into the tournament.

1. Manuel Neuer (Germany)

The legendary 37-year-old German captain showed he’s still at the peak of his powers last season after recovering from a devastating leg injury. Neuer‘s incredible shot-stopping, sweeper-keeper skillset and world-class distribution make him a complete, modern goalkeeper.

Having led Germany to World Cup glory in 2014, he’ll be aiming to cap his glittering career by finally delivering his home nation’s first European Championship since 1996. The pioneer of the sweeping goalkeeper role will have huge expectations on his shoulders in Germany.

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