Photos: Manuel Neuer the 'sweeper keeper' saves Germany in World Cup

[caption id=“attachment_1597141” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is well known for his shot-stopping prowess but last night against Algeria, he played a different but important role, that of ‘Sweeper-keeper’ where he used his feet to great effect and bailed Germany out on numerous occasions. Germany edged out a battling Algeria 2-1 to make it to the quarters. Here Neuer challenges Algeria’s Islam Slimani outside the box. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1597145” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Neuer clears the ball from Algeria’s Sofiane Feghouli. The German defense played a high line but with very little pace and time and again, Neuer rushed out of the box to clear the ball. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1597147” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  The Bayern Munich shot-stopper often stormed out of his area to tackle, he also used his head to great effect for clearances as the lethargic German defense wasn’t able to cope up with Algeria’s pace on attack. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1597149” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (C) makes a save between his teammate Thomas Mueller (L) and Algeria’s Islam Slimani. It was a high risk strategy but Neuer made sure that he didn’t make any mistakes and was pretty effective. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1597151” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Of the 59 touches that Neuer had during the game, staggeringly, Neuer had 21 of them outside the box. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1597153” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  Not only did the champion goalkeeper just make tackles and clearances, he was all around the field supplying passes as well. He passed the ball a staggering 32 times, more than the goal scorer Andre Schurrle who had 21 to his name. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1597155” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  And then, there were the odd saves inside the box too…. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_1597157” align=“alignleft” width=“940”]  After a heroic effort for most of the match, Neuer was finally beaten in the 121st minute but it was too little too late for Algeria as the heroic efforts of the Neuer had made sure that Germany made it to the quarterfinals. Reuters[/caption]