Jamal Musiala is expected to be one of the key players for the German national team at the World Cup. But just before the World Cup opener against Curaçao, there are still questions about the Bayern star’s form. Now Lothar Matthäus has also spoken out critically about the current situation.
Expectations for Jamal Musiala are sky-high. The FC Bayern attacker has been considered one of the greatest talents in world soccer for years and was supposed to play a pivotal role in Julian Nagelsmann’s team at the World Cup.
So far, however, there hasn’t been much evidence of that.
In the two warm-up matches against Finland and the U.S., Musiala repeatedly demonstrated his exceptional technical skills, but he failed to make a significant impact on the game. In particular, the ease and consistency that distinguished him before his serious injury have so far been evident only in flashes.
Matthäus is skeptical: Is the World Cup coming too soon for Musiala?
Lothar Matthäus views the situation with concern. “Unfortunately, he’s not in the form I’d like to see and that I’m familiar with,” the record-holding national team player said of the Bayern star.
While Matthäus continues to hope for an improvement in performance as the tournament progresses, he doesn’t seem truly convinced. “I hope he’ll take that step in the next week or two. But I don’t think he’ll make it,” the 65-year-old emphasized.
A statement that is sure to spark debate.
In fact, many observers share this assessment, at least in part.
It’s less about fundamental doubts regarding Musiala’s abilities. Rather, the question is whether the World Cup might still be coming a bit too soon.
Just under a year after his serious injury at the Club World Cup, the 23-year-old appears physically stable, but especially during explosive moves, not every detail seems to work seamlessly yet.
Musiala frequently seeks out one-on-one situations, tries to take charge, and demands the ball. Yet in many situations, he lacks the final conviction that once made him one of Europe’s most dangerous attacking players.
Sammer and Völler remain optimistic
While Matthäus takes a rather skeptical view of his current form, other experts see his development in a much more positive light.
Matthias Sammer recently stated that Musiala shouldn’t overcomplicate things and needs to regain confidence in his own abilities. The former Bayern advisor is convinced that the playmaker can take the next step in his development as early as this tournament.
DFB sporting director Rudi Völler isn’t worried either. “No problem. He’s getting great support here. He’s very close to becoming the old Jamal Musiala again,” Völler emphasized.
The 66-year-old was particularly optimistic about the upcoming matches: “I’m totally optimistic that it will work again as early as the next game.”
The next opportunity for that comes as early as Sunday. That’s when Germany faces Curaçao in their World Cup opener. There are strong indications that Musiala will start the match.