5 Players To Watch This 2018 World Cup : Goalkeepers

#1 Marc-André Ter Stegen (Germany)

Marc-André ter Stegen has 19 international appearances for Germany since 2012.

Marc-André Ter Stegen is having one of the best seasons of his professional career, with 18 clean sheets in La-Liga and five in seven games in the Champions League, it is difficult to argue otherwise.

Signed by Barcelona in 2014 for €12 million, Ter Stegen has adapted well to life in Catalonia, winning nine trophies in the time to showcase his contribution to the team.

With quick reflexes, good decision-making and excellent shot-stopping abilities and a defense of Samuel Umtiti and Gerard Pique in front of him, Ter Stegen is flourishing well under his new manager.

While his skills between the posts are unquestionable, his ability to perform on the big stage was initially a doubt, but with Barcelona's ambitious approach to every new season, that doubt seems to have faded away.

Manuel Neuer is still recovering from a long-term injury, that has kept him out of the majority of the Bundesliga season.

With Ter Stegen's control and accurate distribution of the ball, he functions as a sweeper-keeper and his ability to play the ball out from the back makes his inclusion in the squad a perfect replacement for Neuer, should he not get fit in time for the World Cup.

Barcelona are performing exceptionally well domestically and in Europe to which Ter Stegen has been pivotal and having started all the matches.

Ter Stegen deserves a shot at being the first choice keeper of the German national team as 'die Mannschaft' try to defend their title as champions this year.