EM 2024 - Friday sees a duel between the wonder boys
Regular Potatoes or Rather Tortillas? It is set in stone: When Germany and Spain face off in the UEFA European Championship quarterfinals on a Friday, it will be the much-anticipated clash of the most convincing teams so far. For their colors, four exceptional youngsters will take the glamorous stage of the European Championship: Florian Wirtz (21) and Jamal Musiala (21) for Germany, and Lamine Yamal (16) and Nico Williams (21) for Spain. This quartet sheds light not only on their sporting strengths and culinary weaknesses but also on the remarkable lives of the Superbubi team.
Whirlwind and Viral Sensation: Florian Wirtz
When Germans refer to themselves as "potatoes," it is meant in a self-deprecating way. Despite countless culinary possibilities, the potato still reigns supreme in German kitchens in every form. This seems to apply to the Wirtz family of 12 from Pulheim near Cologne as well. When their youngest son, national team player Florian, was supposed to miss out on a ranking of potato dishes, he spontaneously put the "regular potato in the spotlight" - even before fries, gratin, and the like. The absurdly witty TikTok video has since become a Viral Hit. The Wirtz Potato song is already being played at the Ballermann.
Gourmet Potato Gratin with Wumms
Football-wise, Florian Wirtz is anything but an "ordinary potato." Rather, it's a refined potato gratin with plenty of wumms. With his relentless dribblings, creamy passes, and satisfying finish, the offensive midfielder has helped Bayer Leverkusen win their first championship title in their history. The DFL then named him Player of the Season. At the EURO, Wirtz literally kicked off the current wave of German football euphoria. His goal in the opening game against Scotland was the entrance to the new summer fairy tale.
In the other three EURO games, Wirtz did not convince everyone despite his enormous potential. When first critics emerged, none other than football legend Lothar Matthäus (63) came to his aid: "Who criticizes Wirtz doesn't know anything about football," Matthäus said. With a market value of 130 million Euros, the Pulheimer born Wirtz currently leads the Bubi Quartet.
Inherited Talent - Little Known Girlfriend
His sporting talent is undeniably inherited from his parents. Father Hans Joachim, now Florian's advisor, was active as a football coach for a long time. Mother Karin was a handball coach. Sister Juliane (22), who plays for Werder Bremen, has also made it into professional football. Sister Sophia takes care of Florian's social media fans - there are 2.4 million of them on Instagram alone. Wirtz, who is likely to stay with Bayer for another year after the EURO, is in demand - even among female fans. With girlfriend Aaliyah, he has been together since 2022 - little is known about her beyond her beauty. Will she cheer him on from the stands on Friday in the jersey with the number 17?
Yam Jam: Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal, the youngest of the quartet, is only 16 years old but has already made a name for himself in the Spanish league with Sevilla. His explosive runs and precise passes have earned him comparisons to former Real Madrid star Isco. The youngster from the Canary Islands has a market value of 30 million Euros and is considered the next big thing in Spanish football.
Speed Merchant: Nico Williams
Nico Williams, the fastest of the quartet, has been a regular in the Spanish league with Real Sociedad since 2019. His blistering speed and precise finishing have made him a fan favorite. The 21-year-old from the Basque Country has a market value of 50 million Euros and is considered a valuable asset for the Spanish national team.
The Old Fox: Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Matthäus, the oldest of the quartet, is a football legend. The 63-year-old former German international and World Cup winner has been a pundit and coach since his playing career ended. He has been a vocal supporter of the young talents and has given them valuable advice during the EURO. His expertise and experience make him an invaluable asset to the German team.
The quartet's culinary preferences are not mentioned in the text.
Slim Legs, brown eyes: A few years ago, Jamal Musiala was given the nickname "Bambi" by his training colleagues. He moves through the enemy lines as gracefully as a young deer does today, but muscled and more effective than before. Musiala is currently the best player of the tournament so far. He can be trusted with anything - and he has delivered in all four games. He leads the goalscorer list with three goals. A pass success rate of 92%, a top speed of 34.71 km/h, and running distances of 33.63 kilometers leave no questions unanswered: This is world-class! Recently, during a press conference about his role as the protective "Bambi" nickname, he said: "I am no longer 'Bambi' anymore, I have laid down the status of the young supertalent that needs to be watched."
Kumpel-Duel with Jude?
With his performances for Bayern Munich and the national team, the shy Jamal has earned himself a great deal of respect, 9 million Euro annual salary, and a market value of 120 million Euro. It was not always clear that German fans would be ecstatic about the birthplace of the native Stuttgart player. His Nigerian-German parents, along with the young Jamal, emigrated to England. He first kicked for the FC Chelsea - and for English youth national teams. It's no wonder that he and Jude Bellingham (21) are the best of friends. Will there be a direct duel between Jamal and Jude in the final on July 14th?
Maultaschen as a Single Passion
In TV interviews and through his five million Instagram followers, Jamal Musiala is not only heard talking about his German-English background in a charming way. He also frequently pays homage to his Swabian homeland and its culinary pride: Maultaschen. Musiala rewards himself regularly with the filled dumplings, as he refers to them on YouTube: "For lunch, dinner, or as a snack - Maultaschen are always in my refrigerator." He currently appears to be preparing them only for himself - Musiala is considered single.
Future Promise of World Football: Lamine Yamal
When Lamine Yamal whirls around on the pitch, some football fans think to themselves: "What did I do at 16?" It's clear: Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana, his full name, is not an ordinary 16-year-old. He is one of the greatest future promises of world football - and he keeps his word. The son of a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother was born on July 13, 2007, in a Barcelona suburb. He joined FC Barcelona at the age of five, and since then he has been turning the football world upside down on the right wing. The flags of his parents' homeland are attached to his shoes. Lamine Yamal gives his opponents little opportunity to look at them: His sprints are too fast, and with his hooks, he overcomes the opposing defensive lines.
Between Billions-Ransom and Youth Protection
Impressive are always the numbers that come with Lamine Yamal's young career: youngest player in EM history, 90 million Euro market value, 8.3 million Instagram followers, a billion Euro release clause, and 2.5 million Euro annual salary. No bad "pocket money" for a 16-year-old - on the one hand. But if Lamine Yamal plays at the EM in Germany, the German Youth Protection Law applies to him, strictly speaking. This law allows teenagers of his age to engage in professional activities until a maximum of 11 p.m. If an EM game takes place at 9 p.m., for example, the final on July 14, Lamine Yamal would legally have to finish work by 11 p.m. - including possible extensions, penalty shootouts, showers, and interviews. Whether the 17-year-old actually makes it to the final the day after his birthday with Spain is also decided by the quarterfinals on Friday.
Wing Wizard with a Hard Fate: Nico Williams
Two days before the final in Berlin, Nico Williams will turn 22 on July 12. Together with Lamine Yamal, the left winger forms the feared wing pair of the EM. When the man from Athletic Bilbao sets off to his sprints with a good 34 km/h, many defenders are left behind. That Nico Williams jumps over hurdles symbolizes his entire life up to now. His parents Maria and Felix fled from Ghana to Spain 30 years ago. With his older brother Inaki, his mother was pregnant at the time, who later also became a professional with Athletic Bilbao. Upon arrival in Spain, the parents were first arrested before they received asylum and settled in Bilbao. "When you hear the story of my parents, you want to fight even harder to give back what they sacrificed for us," brother Inaki once said.
"We want to be European champions"
The two brothers grew up in poverty - and today they are the pride of their parents, Athletic Bilbao, and two national teams. While Inaki decided to play for the Ghanaian national team, Nico has been successful for Spain. The shooting star of the tournament with a market value of 60 million Euro currently earns 10 million Euro a year - a trend that is rising. Big clubs like Chelsea are already chasing after him. But he and colleague Lamine Yamal share a dream: "One day to share the dressing room at FC Barcelona." Many female fans want to share their lives with Nico Williams - and there is hope. Williams is currently single after a short-lived relationship with influencer Lucia Correa. Williams and Lamine Yamal have only one goal: "We want to be European champions." Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala will do everything they can on Friday to prevent the party marathon of their Spanish counterparts.
- In preparation for the EURO 2024 quarterfinals, fans of both Germany and Spain are eagerly anticipating the clash between their teams, featuring four notable young players: Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Lamine Yamal, and Nico Williams.
- Florian Wirtz, a reputable TikTok sensation, showcased his humorous side in a video about potato dishes, despite being a talented footballer for Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
- Being crowned 'Player of the Season' by the DFL, Wirtz has further maintained his status as a vital asset to the German team, contributing to their recent successes on the field.
- As for his private life, Wirtz is currently in a relationship with his girlfriend Aaliyah, with speculations about her cheering him on at the upcoming quarterfinals.
- Named 'Bambi' by his training colleagues, Jamal Musiala demonstrates his world-class abilities in the EURO 2024 tournament with exceptional goal-scoring records and superb performances.
- Having a shared history with fellow star Jude Bellingham, Musiala and Bellingham are hailed as promising prospects, potentially facing off in the tournament's final.
- Beyond his football career, Musiala seems to have a fondness for Swabian cuisine, specifically Maultaschen, a local delicacy often featured in his social media platforms.
- Initially considered an outsider by some German fans, Musiala, the product of a German-English heritage, has managed to prove his commitment to his adoptive country while preserving his identity.
- Regarding his relationship status, Musiala remains unattached, enjoying his footballing journey without a girlfriend by his side.
- Lamine Yamal, hailing from Spain, has rapidly made his way into the Spanish league with impressive performances for Sevilla, often drawing comparisons to Real Madrid's Isco.
- At only 16 years old, Yamal, a multitalented figure with Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean roots, is a force to be reckoned with in European football, amassing a sizable fanbase and numerous records in his young career.
