“Thomas may”
DFB star gives Müller special permission
06/13/2026 – 01:53 amReading time: 2 minutes
At the World Cup, Thomas Müller is not on the pitch, but in front of the camera as a TV expert. He now receives special permission from a German national player.
William Laing reports from the DFB headquarters in Winston-Salem
Deniz Undav admitted that Thomas Müller made critical comments in his new role as a TV expert at the World Cup. “As long as he’s right, I won’t call,” said the DFB striker on Friday at a press conference in the German national team’s World Cup headquarters in Winston-Salem.
Müller, who became world champion with the DFB team in Brazil in 2014, resigned after the 2024 European Championship after 131 international matches. The pay-TV broadcaster Magenta has hired the long-time FC Bayern professional as an expert for the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico. At the opening game in Mexico City between Mexico and South Africa (2-0), Müller was in front of the camera in a new role for the first time at a World Cup game with former BVB coach Jürgen Klopp and presenter Johannes B. Kerner.
Undav supports the fact that Müller is now passing on his knowledge from almost twenty years of professional sport to fans in front of their TV sets. “I think it’s good because Thomas knows a lot about football,” he explained. And further: “If he has something to criticize or something to praise, then it probably has something to do with it.” Müller could also “perhaps talk a lot more on television than before.”
Criticism from Müller “probably has merit”
Undav also wants to face possible criticism from the 36-year-old during the TV broadcasts. “I’m happy when someone like Thomas criticizes or praises me,” emphasized the Stuttgart native. The reason: “If he criticizes you, then of course he means it for a good cause, that he can do it better next time and because he knows that he can do it.”
Meanwhile, Undav is also looking forward to potential praise from Müller. “Then you know: He praised you, you did something right.” His conclusion about Müller’s new task: “No matter what Thomas says, Thomas is allowed.”