The Wusiala controversy grips Germany's societal discourse
Toni Kroos, a previous World Cup champion, entered the discussion ignited by Dietmar Hamann regarding Jamal Musiala's playing style, extending his backing to his former teammate. On his podcast "Just Luppen," Kroos asked his brother Felix, "By the way, about the wrong-way driver. Felix, did you want to talk about Didi Hamann too, did I hear that right?", introducing the topic of the national team.
Kroos recognized that Germany is "very fortunate" to have Musiala, along with the similarly aged Florian Wirtz, who have been longed for in the country for years. "They will be responsible for carrying us in the next few years, winning games for us." These two proficient players have the ability to transform an apparently innocuous situation into a hazardous one on their own.
Hamann, in his Sky article, characterised Musiala as an "individual player" and "often a one-man show." Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, Hamann stated, he would switch with Musiala "immediately" if he could. Following criticism from Hamann, the retired player has somewhat softened his stance on Musiala, referring to him as "probably the best dribbler in Europe or the world."
To achieve triumphs, the enchanting duo is vital
Wirtz possesses an "unbothered attitude" and is indeed "a bit more blunt," Kroos noted. Musiala has the benefit that "for him, one against two could be like one against one for others." Musiala isn't intimidated when two opponents approach or one is very close, and he resolves the situation using his skill.
Kroos explained that it's a "good starting point if they are not completely alike to play together." "If Germany wants to win titles in the future, it will need impressive performances from Musiala and Wirtz in the next few years to have a shot at it."
Kroos believes that the two successful Nations League games against Hungary (5:0) and the Netherlands (2:2) signify the "first positive step." From now until the 2026 World Cup, it's mainly about "individual players continuing to grow" and the team's cohesion "becoming more stable."
Soccer is the sport where Musiala and Wirtz are making their mark, showing their ability to transform seemingly innocuous situations into dangerous ones. If Germany wants to win future titles, Kroos believes that impressive performances from Musiala and Wirtz in soccer will be crucial.
