Thomas Müller on Musiala, Wirtz & Co.: From talent to “performer”.

Veteran before 125th international match

Before his 125th international match, DFB veteran Thomas Müller has clear expectations of the next generation around the youngsters Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz. “The national team has many talented players in its ranks, especially in the gaps and half-spaces. Now it’s also about ensuring that these talented players are also performers,” said Müller on the DFB team’s trip to the USA before the test match against Mexico in Philadelphia on Wednesday (2 a.m./ARD).

“Performance means that I bring my performance to the pitch every week and the fluctuations become less. The main task of an offensive player is to be involved in goals through direct finishing or the last pass,” explained the 34-year-old. At his debut against the USA, the new national coach Julian Nagelsmann had the 20-year-old Leverkusen player Wirtz and the Bayern professional Musiala, who is the same age, lined up together in the attacking midfield. Musiala scored the goal to make it 3-1 in Hartford.

With market values ​​of 110 and 85 million euros respectively, Musiala and Wirtz are the two most valuable German footballers. The duo is also at the forefront of the international comparison of all U21 kickers. Only ex-Dortmund Jew Bellingham is rated higher than the Munich native, with Bayer talent Wirtz in seventh place. However, there is a larger gap before Karim Adeyemi and Youssoufa Moukoko follow with market values ​​of 40 and 30 million euros, respectively.

Müller sees the DFB team as being well positioned in attack – ahead of their 125th international match

Müller sees the DFB team in a good position eight months before the home European Championship. “Overall, we can draw on a broad portfolio. We already have a lot of different types of players in the offensive area. Filling the striker position was more of an issue,” said the 2014 world champion.

Müller, who only came on as a substitute against the USA, hopes to be in the starting line-up against Mexico. But that has nothing to do with the number 125. “The number of games inevitably happens the longer you’re there. Such anniversaries or any numbers and records are now very casual for me,” said Müller, who made his debut in the DFB team in 2010 at the age of 20. In terms of appearances, he is currently number four among all German national players, only record holder Lothar Matthäus (150), Miroslav Klose (137) and Lukas Podolski (130) have more international matches. With Klose and Podolski, Müller became world champion in Brazil nine years ago.

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