It’s not often a World Cup winner finds himself battling for promotion in the second tier.
And, as Ron-Robert Zieler produced a Man of the Match performance during Hannover’s 2-0 victory over Bundesliga.2 rivals Fortuna Dusseldorf on Tuesday night, the visiting supporters found out first hand why a man who was part of Joachim Low’s chosen 23 back in 2014 could be in line for a move to one of the biggest clubs on the continent.
“We failed due to our own inability (to score). And an unbelievable goalkeeper,” Fortuna ace Christoph Klarer told the Rheinische Post at full time.
Fortuna mustered 22 shots on the night. Ten of which hit the target. Zieler, however, was in one of those ‘thou shalt not pass’ sort of moods; quite literally throwing his body on the line in pursuit of a clean sheet.
“He showed everything he’s capable of,” adds Emmanuel Iyoha, who was one of many Fortuna players who tried and failed to find a way past the former Manchester United and Leicester City glovesman. “Zieler did a great job.”
World Cup winner Ron-Robert Zieler shows why Liverpool want him
With a return to the promised land of the Bundesliga in their sights, reports linking Zieler with a third spell in English football is enough to keep Hannover supporters up at night. According to BILD, Jurgen Klopp is on the lookout for an experienced back-up goalkeeper to replace the out-of-contract Adrian and 33-year-old Zieler – who counts as homegrown in the UK due to his spell in the Man United academy – ticks plenty of boxes.
“He has played (himself) into focus,” says Die Roten coach Stefan Leitl. “It’s a nice rumour to associate Hannover 96 with Liverpool.”
‘Nice’ maybe, but potentially problematic too.
As team-mate Cedric Teuchert pointed out, Zieler kept the hosts in the game during a prolonged spell of Fortuna dominance; ensuring that Hannover remain in touching distance with the top of the table leading into the World Cup break.
Life without Zieler, with promotion on the line, really doesn’t bare thinking about. February 1st, then, really cannot come soon enough.
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