MHPARENA — A little bit of Jamal Musiala is all you need.
This was not a night for slaloming through tackles and flighty gallops, but taking the first chance that came his way. Even when Germany are not at full tilt Musiala stalks the opponent with his hair trigger boots ready cocked.
Until the second goal went in, this was Germany strangely subdued, collared by the organisation and discipline of a Hungary side that had a plan and executed it bravely.
A stumble in the box that allowed Ilkay Gundogan to recover possession and put the ball on the toe caps of Musiala was all that separated the teams until the skipper himself swept home in the 67th minute.
Musiala was never missing from 10 yards, the ball rifled off in a split second to make the night a little less awkward than it had appeared in the opening 20 minutes. He resurfaced in episodic flashes, notably at the start of the second half with a dash into the box that stiffened the limbs of a Hungarian defence slow to react.
It pains English minds to reflect on what might have been had Musiala not rejected a future alongside Jude Bellingham in the England team.
A video of England Under-16s against Poland reveals all the traits that separate them now; pace, power, quick feet, the ability to snake past any challenge and a raging desire to be the man.
Like Kylian Mbappe, Musiala and Bellingham play like they came down from Mount Olympus, gods among men with all that comes with that higher station. The air they breathe, the space they occupy is theirs alone. They know how good they are and delight in their omnipotence.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann urged Musiala to continue in this approach, to retain the pure joy of playing. “He has been brilliant in both games, not only the goal but he is tough for opponents to defend.
“He should just play like he is on a small pitch, like he is playing with his friends. He should not worry about the pressure because he is brilliant at just playing soccer.”
Man of the match Gundogan agreed. “It is a joy to play with him,” he said. “Someone who can do the unexpected, such a difference-maker for our team, maybe the most important one for us, and at such a young age. Giving the final pass and scoring goals is important. He is such a nice guy, very humble and if he keeps playing like he is now he can become one of the best.”
Manchester City’s reported interest in Musiala might be the only thing capable of disrupting his rhythm. The move to Bayern five years ago and the switch from England to Germany two years later appeared to erase his English connectivity for good.
But the Stuttgart born, New Malden-raised striker is entering the megastar bracket, and should Bayern continue to struggle a move to the English champions, or even a return to Chelsea, cannot be discounted.
Rival coaches might have been buoyed by Germany’s labours in the opening hour, particularly Gareth Southgate, who took a heap of flack for a performance that was at times only marginally more flat-footed than this.
Nagelsmann acknowledged that Hungary proved an uncomfortable opponent in a match they needed to win having already lost to Switzerland.
Germany could not quite fire the attack as they had on that flamboyant opening Friday against the Scots. Though banked in slabs of five, Hungary were never passive, closing aggressively and hitting quickly on the break.
Where Scotland were pulled all too easily out of shape, there was no shifting Hungary. Only in the final quarter did they begin to falter. By then Germany’s young stylists Florian Wirtz and Musiala had their feet up, Germany’s passage to the group stage secured.
Germany eventually shook off their malaise and could have doubled their score in the final 20 were Leroy Sane anything like the player he was at Manchester City. Sane’s career arc appears to be tracking that of Marcus Rashford, the ball not at his command as it once was, and confidence draining. Sane came on only when the game was won. His pace is still there but the sat nav is kaput.
Germany face Switzerland in their final group match. The goal is to win the group and to keep the party going. The upswing in mood has proved contagious. Gundogan and Nagelsmann both again referenced how much the team is riffing off the crowd.
“It is such an amazing mood,” Negalsmann said. “A fan march past the hotel when we were getting on the bus was incredible. In the 30th minute the fans started chanting the national the anthem.
“We saw videos before of fans celebrating in Hamburg. That moves us. It is our job to keep the fans dreaming. We want to take that mood forward.”
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/K4Maq6d
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