14 June,2026 09:39 AM IST | Berlin | Agencies
Germany’s Jamal Musiala trains ahead of their FIFA World Cup encounter vs Curacao on Friday. Pic/AFP
Germany legend and 1990 World Cup winner Lothar Matthaus threw his full support behind Die Mannschaft's attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala, despite the Bayern Munich player's injury-ridden season, backing him to be the country's most vital player if they are to make a deep run in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The four-time world champions kick off their campaign against minnows Curacao on Sunday, and while Musiala seems to be an indispensable member of Julian Nagelsmann's starting eleven, pundits in Germany, including the likes of Thomas Muller and Jurgen Klopp, have suggested it would be better to pick Deniz Undav over the out-of-form Musiala. But Matthaus was having none of it.
"I accept their opinion, but I don't want to let it stand. I feel it lacks sensitivity. To have a successful World Cup, Germany needs the quality of Musiala. That's why he needs to be given trust and playing time. We all know that Musiala isn't yet at his best. But instead of creating unrest around him, we should be supporting him," said Matthaus, who won the Ballon d'Or in 1990.
Germany will be hoping to make a statement against Curacao, after suffering the ignominy of back to back group-stage exits in the previous two World Cups. "We are the favourites, and I'm confident we'll win. On Sunday, we want to show how good we are," said Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck.
Meanwhile, World Cup debutants Curacao, who are also the smallest nation population-wise (150,000) to be playing at the global showpiece event, will try their best to spoil Germany's party.
Despite a world ranking of 82, the bulk of Curacao's squad ply their trade in the Dutch top division, and in 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, they have an experienced coach who has helmed the Netherlands and South Korea in World Cups gone by.
03
No of goals scored by Jamal Musiala at Euro 2024; the joint-highest in the tournament
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