Germany has long been known as a true powerhouse in international football. Its rich history comprising a multitude of football legends and world-class players has built up a prideful national heritage.
However, even international football giants like Germany go through stretching periods of challenge. Since the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Germany’s performances in major international tournaments have failed to meet the expected standards. Group stage exits from the 2018 and 2022 World Cups as well as the round of 16 elimination from Euro 2020 sent a strong signal that change was needed.
That is where Germany’s new generation of wonderkids can come to the rescue. Among the rising stars with incredible potential are Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz who give German football fans hope for a promising future.
Jamal Musiala
21-year-old youngster, the pearl of Bayern Munich, Musiala has already demonstrated his elegance on the football pitch numerous times in his unripe career. Mainly playing as an attacking midfielder, Musiala is gifted with impressive technical abilities. His great vision, dribbling and playmaking skills already shape him as one of the best players in the world in his position.
Musiala has also shown that he is capable of playing as a winger, adding an extra dimension to Germany’s attacking options. Playing on the left flank allows him to cut inside to his right foot and make a shot on goal, while playing on the right wing creates more opportunities for link-up plays.
In the current 2023/24 campaign with Bayern Munich, Musiala has recorded 19 goal contributions in 31 matches in all competitions. So far, he has 10 goals and 6 assists in 21 Bundesliga matches. As long as Musiala stays fit and maintains his recent top form, he should be a golden option for the German national team in the upcoming Euro tournament and future international competitions.
Florian Wirtz
Twenty-year-old Bayer Leverkusen prodigy Florian Wirtz is enjoying an incredible season with his team. Under the coaching of Xabi Alonso, Bayer has turned into an unstoppable force, sitting on top of the Bundesliga table with a comfortable ten-point advantage over second-placed Bayern.
Wirtz has been an integral piece of this historic transformation. Like Musiala, Wirtz is known for his exceptional dribbling skills, quality playmaking, vision and creativity. Bayer’s attacking midfielder has impressed the football world with his mature performances and ability to dictate the tempo of the game. He has recorded 11 goals and 17 assists in 36 games for Bayer this season.
On 4 December 2022, Wirtz suffered a serious knee ligament tear, ruling him out for a total of 265 days, and potentially undermining his immense growth as a player. Nevertheless, the German talent managed to come back stronger than ever and continues to develop at a rapid pace.
Musiala and Wirtz link-up
The connection between the two German stars has already been tested in a friendly match against France, as part of the preparation for the Euro 2024 tournament.
The German internationals secured a convincing 2-0 win with both Musiala and Wirtz in the starting line-up. Musiala started as a right-winger, while Wirtz was put on the opposite flank, and İlkay Gündoğan in an attacking midfielder position. Wirtz managed to score a goal with a long-distance attempt in the seventh second of the game.
Musiala shared his thoughts on working together with Wirtz after the match: “I feel comfortable with (Wirtz) both on and off the pitch… We talk to each other a lot and always look to see where the other is when we start dribbling. The connection between us gets better with every game.”
In the upcoming Euro tournament, Germany will participate in the group with Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland. German football fans count on their young stars.