The German team lacked penetrating power against Hungary. It should be better against England. The beacon of hope is Jamal Musiala, to whom national coach Flick has given a guarantee.
London, Wembley – before the last group game of the German national team in the Nations League in England, everyone looked at the youngest in the German team again. At the national team’s final training session on Sunday in Leipzig, Jamal Musiala first skilfully juggled a ball. Then he pushed a few short passes back and forth with Manchester professional Ilkay Gündogan, another England expert.
Offensive ideas are needed
After his unsuccessful use of the joker in the sobering 0-1 draw against Hungary, Musiala’s narrow shoulders are filled with hope for more inspiration and creativity in the German offensive on Monday (September 26th, 2022) in London. Upon arrival in London, Hans Flick confirmed that Musiala would indeed be his attacking line-up answer at Wembley and gave him a guarantee: “Jamal will play, I don’t have to keep that a secret.”
The national coach had already hinted at this fact immediately after the Hungary game. He only brought the Bayern youngster after 70 minutes because he had decided on a different formation up front. Flick practiced self-criticism: “Jamal has that certain something when a team is deep and defending compactly.” What the Hungarians did. “He certainly would have done us good in the first half. But we chose eleven other players.”said Flick.
Braised on the bench against Hungary
Musiala had injured himself in training three days earlier. In a duel with Thomas Müller, he suffered a painful laceration on his leg, which is perhaps why Flick avoided the risk against Hungary. Against England, however, Musiala’s qualities are urgently needed to show a reaction and still develop a good World Cup feeling.
Especially since it is a special game for the teenager who moved to England with his family at the age of seven and played there at the Chelsea FC was trained as a footballer before moving to FC Bayern in 2019 and making a rapid start in Munich. “England is my second home”, says Musiala today. This can also be heard when he speaks. It is still an unmistakable Denglish.
Already there at the EM knockout against England
As a junior, Musiala mostly played for the English youth teams before deciding to join the German senior team. Games against England are therefore “something big” for him. He has already experienced this feeling, even at Wembley: Flick’s predecessor Joachim Löw only switched him on in injury time in Germany’s knockout against England in the 2021 European Championship round of 16 – too late.
In the 1-1 draw in the Nations League first leg against the English in June, Musiala played well at the home game in Munich. The fans voted him “Player of the Game”. There is also a video showing him as an 11-year-old playing an interlude at his school at Wembley, in which he scored four goals. “When you’re 11 years old, every stadium seems huge, but I think Wembley is still extraordinary for everyone today.” Musiala once said in a DFB interview. “Really cool”he called it being allowed to twirl on the grass in England’s football cult site.
“Pleasure to see him play”
Flick and the DFB team need a whirlwind just before the World Cup, even if the current Bayern crisis has not stopped at Musiala. Nevertheless, the national coach said before the Hungary game about the carefree teenager: “It’s just a pleasure to see Jamal play.” He raved about it “Ease on the ball“.
Musiala also knows where the goal is, even if he has only scored once in 16 international matches in the national shirt and was more conspicuous as a preparer. “Even at his young age, Jamal is very dangerous. He stays calm in the box under pressure and takes the shot in such a way that the goalkeeper can’t get to the ball.”praised Flick: “He’s really good at it.” Preferably also on Monday evening at Wembley.