Manuel Neuer was one of the most invaluable players in the World Cup due to his ablity to play a "sweeper keeper" role.

"With our goalkeeper we had an 11th outfield player," said Joachim Löw. "I believe that Manuel Neuer is sparking a change in world football.

"It's not just that he makes clearances outside his box in extremis. More importantly, he is the first person to start the play at the back, and orchestrates the others. That's the future for football.

"I have already seen in a few Bundesliga games that the keeper has stood much further up the field than in the past."