Jamal Musiala will play a key role in the German national team’s World Cup opener against Curaçao. Despite recent discussions about his form and fitness, national team coach Julian Nagelsmann remains fully committed to the Bayern star. At the pre-match press conference, the 38-year-old made it clear that he has a clear plan for Musiala.
Ahead of the German national team’s first World Cup match, there was intense debate over whether Jamal Musiala was already ready for a starting spot. Following his long injury layoff and some mixed performances in the friendlies against Finland and the U.S., experts questioned whether the attacking player might be better suited to a substitute role.
For Julian Nagelsmann, however, this discussion was never really an issue.
The national team coach confirmed ahead of the match against Curaçao that Musiala will start and remains one of the most important players in Germany’s attacking play.
Nagelsmann has confidence in Musiala’s development
The DFB coach made it clear that a return to peak form can only happen through playing time. “That’s enough for the starting lineup. Jamal still has a few steps to take. But he can only take those steps if we let him play and give him the time,” Nagelsmann explained.
In the national coach’s view, the Bayern pro is on the right track. Musiala has made steady progress in recent weeks. “He has improved from training session to training session, from game to game. He’s making an increasingly better impression,” Nagelsmann emphasized.
The fact that Musiala hasn’t quite reached his previous level of performance yet is not disputed internally either.
After breaking his fibula last summer and spending several months with a reduced workload, the attacking player still lacks his usual fluidity in certain situations.
That is exactly why Nagelsmann wants to place his trust in him. “Sure, he hasn’t had that intense rhythm for a long time now. Fortunately, he’s been playing more recently at Bayern. We trust him completely. We need Jamal in top form,” explained the national team coach.
This statement underscores the importance Musiala holds within the DFB squad.
World Cup opener as a chance for a breakthrough
For the Bayern star, the match against Curaçao could be exactly the right moment to take the next step.
Germany is expected to have a lot of possession, and Musiala should find himself in promising attacking situations frequently. A goal or a strong performance could give him an extra boost of confidence and quickly silence the discussions about his form.
The mental aspect often plays a decisive role, especially for creative attacking players.