Is Jamal Musiala one of the best younger prodigy within the historical past of soccer? Even when he isn’t, he actually has seemed the half in Germany’s two Euros video games. He’s scored two targets and added an help in simply two appearances, each of which Germany has received.
One was a rocket of a ball blasted within the high left nook by means of a Kai Havertz-powered cutback towards Scotland. The opposite was a exact completion after İlkay Gündoğan stabbed a cross in the direction of Musiala, with an open aim to attain towards Hungary.
He’s made the nation of Germany his captive viewers as he makes artwork from his opponents — exploding previous defenders along with his energy and highly effective stride whereas delicately evading extra along with his pinpoint contact and technical prowess. The pitch is his canvas, the ball his paintbrush, and the product of which figures to be a generational efficiency on the Euros. Musiala is a person amongst males, and his presence on the pitch is plain. We’re watching historical past.
Germany advances to knockout rounds
The near-complete efficiency of Musiala fortunately coincided with Germany’s push to say their first Euros title since 1996 — round seven years earlier than Musiala was born. They only got here off a dominant show of soccer after manhandling a poor Scotland aspect 5-1. A win in Stuttgart would carry them by means of to the knockout stage and cement their standing as early Euros contenders.
They confronted a Dominik Szoboszlai-led Hungary that wanted a optimistic consequence to remain in rivalry to advance to the knockout spherical. A loss to Germany, nevertheless possible, would all however get rid of them from the Euros.
“We’ve paid for these (errors) within the first sport and tomorrow we’re enjoying Germany which, for my part, is the hardest rival, hardest staff to play now, however we’ll do our greatest,” Hungary supervisor Marco Rossi brooded forward of the sport. “We all know on paper the German staff is best than us. This could additional encourage us, permitting us to present our best possible present. Hopefully, we will grasp a degree tomorrow and that may enable us, I hope, to qualify for the subsequent spherical.
“However this may name for the proper match, all these enjoying should give 100%.”
It appeared that, for a second, Hungary might play the proper match and stun the keen viewers of 54,000. Simply 13 seconds into the match, Joshua Kimmich did not take care of a Hungary lengthy ball in entrance of the field, leaving attacker Rolland Sallai with a one-on-one with keeper Manuel Neuer. Fortunately for the Germans, Neuer rushed out and smothered the shot earlier than it left Sallai’s foot.
Germany discovered itself seeking to break down Hungary’s low block all through the sport, and its principal resolution was to loft lengthy balls as much as Kai Havertz. He made a number of nice runs into the field however couldn’t latch on to any of them. Havertz and Germany shredded by means of Hungary with clever link-up play.
That link-up play was additionally how Germany bought its first aim. Heart-back Jonathan Tah received a ball out of the way in which, which rolled out to Florian Wirtz. Wirtz performed a pinpoint ball to Musiala, who flicked a cross to the streaking Gündoğan. Gündoğan’s awkward contact rolled into the palms of Hungary stopper Péter Gulácsi, however it leaks out to Gündoğan, who faucets the ball to Musiala, who faucets the ball into an open web. 1-0.
Hungary fights again
Though most reward will go to the dominant Germans, Hungary performed very nicely regardless of not holding a lot of the possession. They created a number of possibilities and even noticed one in every of their targets overruled for offsides. If not for a superb efficiency from Neuer and a scarcity of vigor up high, Hungary might have taken a degree (or three!) from the match.
Germany continued to increase its lead within the second half, with its second half going by means of Musiala once more. It was Musiala who drifted into the half-spaces, receiving the ball along with his again turned to aim with 4 Hungarian gamers converging on him. Musiala made a wonderful flip to seek out Maximilian Mittelstädt open on the wing, who then squared it again to Gündoğan, who neatly slotted his shot to the underside proper nook. It was a pleasant second for the Barcelona playmaker, who has at all times struggled on the worldwide stage with Germany.
Hungary discovered it troublesome to claw again from the two-goal deficit as Germany considerably slowed down their tempo.
It appeared like Musiala was toying with Hungary all through the match. The mix of intelligence and technicality allowed him to simply penetrate Hungary’s protection. Musiala might do something he needed to, nearly magically. With a wave of the wand, he burst down the sector, leaving defenders in his wake. A number of possibilities had been created. The offense stemmed by means of him.
He wowed viewers with a grimy nutmeg on Milos Kerkez (though the ability didn’t result in something). The Bayern winger accomplished 87% of his passes and made a number of deep journeys into the field. He was additionally important for link-up play and the important thing to Germany’s success within the Euros. Germany might very nicely win the Euros, with one in every of their youngest gamers within the squad making the most important distinction.
Vital journeys up subsequent
Germany and Hungary face essential video games with their final match of the group stage.
They’ll face Switzerland in a top-of-the-table conflict on Sunday. Germany is already by means of to the knockout spherical with their win over Hungary. A win or draw towards Switzerland would make them group winners. Julian Nagelsmann, who simply prolonged his contract with Germany, will look to go three for 3 in main tournaments.
Hungary will play Scotland, needing a win to undergo in third. The Hungarians aren’t proud of the consequence, however they get one final likelihood to undergo towards an inconsistent Scotland aspect. “We have now a foot out of the Euros, so we’re not out of it mathematically,” a blunt Rossi grumbled. “Within the last sport, we’ll attempt all the pieces to win. We don’t wish to exit with no single level. I don’t suppose we should be on zero factors at this stage of the competitors.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
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