At last the DFB has another national player to fall in love with
What Florian Wirtz has been conjuring up on the pitch for weeks is fascinating. The 20-year-old Bayer professional has been instrumental in his club's current success. And Wirtz is raising the hopes of German fans for a successful 2024 European Championship in their own country.
"If he's there and plays well, our game will reach a new level." There is no better way to express the class of Florian Wirtz in simple words than Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso. The still only twenty-year-old Bayer professional has been demonstrating for weeks how a single player can direct an entire team, pull them along and push them to their limits. It's fascinating to watch the man with the number 10 on his back kick. With him and because of him, the anticipation for the 2024 European Championship in his own country is growing again. Finally, there's another national player to fall in love with.
When Florian Wirtz returned to the soccer stage in the spring after tearing his cruciate ligament, his teammate and national team colleague Jonathan Tah said: "We're glad he's back. We all know that he can help us a lot. He's brutally important." At the time, however, nobody could have guessed what a magnificent performance the Bayer team would put in since the start of the season. Xabi Alonso's team is currently celebrating soccer from another planet. And the Pullheim native is playing a key role in this new successful soccer.
Florian Wirtz always seems to be playable for his team-mates these days. He is always on the move, runs free, opens up spaces and runs and runs and runs. He has already completed over 300 sprints this season, running an average of twelve kilometers per game. Even if the statistics don't quite show it: He is reminiscent of his current coach in terms of his presence. They once called Xabi Alonso a "ball magnet" because he had an incredible 206 ball contacts in Bayern's match against 1. FC Köln in September 2014. The ball landed on the then record champions' midfielder every 26 seconds in that match.
The difference between Alonso yesterday and Wirtz today is that the Leverkusen midfield strategist's actions take place a little further forward - and often create situations that lead directly to goals. And it's no coincidence that national coach Julian Nagelsmann praises him: "Wirtz has the extreme talent to get the ball into the half-spaces in front of the chain, dribble towards goal at speed and set up other players." When Florian Wirtz wants to and is allowed to, he is increasingly becoming the famous difference-maker who can significantly influence and decide games with his presence and skill. However, his coach at Bayer Leverkusen does not hide the fact that there is a weakness here and there in Florian Wirtz's game, which Xabi Alonso describes as "will". And so the Spaniard says: "Wirtz has this level and we have to help push him to play like that. Sometimes it's a little less, but we have a lot of fun with him."
Julian Nagelsmann also wants to have fun with Wirtz in the future. And the national coach even favors a solution about which he himself says: "I read a few months ago that the two of them can't play together, but I think it's a very good idea." This refers to the duo Jamal Musiala and Wirtz. And it is precisely this idea that also inspires the Bayern superstar. Musiala says of his interplay with Wirtz: "We combine well and look for each other. We both just enjoy playing soccer together." Unfortunately, Musiala is currently injured and will miss the next two international matches, but there are high hopes for the future of this young and successful team at the DFB.
And who knows? Perhaps the two will even play together at FC Bayern Munich from next season. Together with Leroy Sané, the three could then form an outstanding dream trio. But for now, Florian Wirtz will give his all to be as successful as possible with Bayer Leverkusen and the national team. And what happens then is probably less in his hands than the Bayer game these days is in his feet.
Source: www.ntv.de
