Jamal Musiala
Germany had a World Cup to forget as they exited the competition in the group stage. The poor performance against Japan in the first group eventually turned fatal for Hansi Flick’s team. Despite the disappointing exit, the biggest takeaway for Germany was the emergence of Jamal Musiala as a key player in the starting XI.
The young attacking midfielder played on the left flank and number ten role for Germany during the three group games. Musiala was the key man for Germany in the final third, as he created the most chances for the team. Moreover, his immaculate dribbling skills helped in creating space for other players in the final third. He provided the vital assist to the equalizer against Spain in the second group game.
Musiala would have been a strong contender for young player of the tournament if Germany had gone deep in the competition. The German attacking midfielder was completely unfazed by the biggest stage, which bodes well for the next big competitions.
Flick should look to build the team around Musiala for Euro 2024. The World Cup in Qatar has shown that Musiala will get even better if he is deployed in the right role with the right players. Meanwhile, Julian Nagelsmann will be hoping to see Musiala shrug off the disappointment of the World Cup and continue his good form in Ruckrunde.